I'm wondering if it can be done or not. I'm kinda in love with those levers. And... woo hoo! Got my Sama today!

Might want to email Doug and Barb at OE. I'm sure they've done it.

doubleOsoul wrote:I'm wondering if it can be done or not. I'm kinda in love with those levers. And... woo hoo! Got my Sama today!

Orphan has a transformer that does a great job for around $70. Works great and is a no fuss solution leaving the Caravel original.

Yes, the transformer should work fine, and the 220 will heat up reasonably well even on 110.

With a modest amount of skill it would be possible to retro fit a new 110 heating element under the kettle. They are very much like the old coil elements on an electric range, if you can figure out how to reshape one?

You can also just pour boiling water into the kettle, wait till it cools to around 90 C, then brew.

A Caravel love affair is well-founded, or even a Caravel/Sama love triangle...

PC

I really admire Peacecup's resolve in these issues that seem impossible to everyone else...must be that "can do" Swedish attitude!
The 110v conversion has a number of obstacles...first, a rigid cal-rod element cannot be reformed easily. If so, we would be reforming relatively inexpensive coil elements to less than 1 1/2 inches to fit in a Riviera. But the Caravel presents a special problem since it is rigid like a stove burner and the kettle snaps down against the element and the two are held tightly together with springs, so it has to be rigid. Not that an element cannot be custom made for this machine at $$$$$, no problem. Even factoring in the economy of scale I have a feeling that if someone spent a few thousand dollars having 10 or so Caravel 110v elements made that not many people would consider a 300 dollar element a good value compared with a 70 dollar transformer.
Another thing one can do is run a 220 volt line for all of their cool European appliances if the transformer is not an option. Or. like Peacecup, simply move to where the 220 comes right out of the wall!!!!

I researched this problem a while back and someone on these forums pointed me to circular 'disc' elements. They have a flat face and I believe they could be made to work on the Caravel- although the heat wouldn't be as well dispersed across the base of the kettle. Also devising a spring base to ensure they suit snug against the kettle base would be a little tricky but I doubt insurmountable... I can try to find the link to these elements if anyone is interested...

Both in terms of convenience and performance it seems to me a 110 conversion is a solution in search of a problem. The transformer solution is simple, inexpensive and works. Waiting for a 240 to "warm up" on 110 is interminable. Why make it hard?

My solution is simpler and cheaper. I just pour boiling water into the Caravel, and plug the Caravel into a plug adapter from Radio Shack. The Caravel has no trouble keeping the water at temp using 110, but it takes a long time to heat from room temperature.

That is definitely a simpler solution! Why didn't we think of that?

Now to bid on some 220v Peppinas or Caravels!

Hey, I like that solution Sweaner! Very cool! Now I can set my sights on one.