Didn't get to use my machine today for myself. Made wife a quick drink as I ran out of the door this morning. I normally work from home.
Her drink was "acceptable", not as good as yesterdays. I'd increased the boiler temp by +2C and did a long flush to 89C. Shot was 88->86C on EricsT.
I'm guessing that with a higher boiler temp I need to aim lower on the ET.
Bluenoser wrote:
Yeah if your PID has an offset programmed into it.. like a DB does.. it can really throw a monkey wrench into your expectations. You should be able to find out all the Gicar parameters through its user interface.. such as it is.. (one or 2 buttons).
I've got the full manual from Gicar for it. It's very very basic. No display just an 8 way DIP switch.
You set the desired temp (in C) using the bottom 6 bits (7th is a ghost bit that is always on. e.g. (1)011111 = 95C.
It can be viewed
here under the name "Termosteco board for coffee boilers or cup warmers"
I dislike it enough that I'm considering switching it with a
Sestos PID like this guy here did in his blog on adding a PID.
It should be an easy straight swap, I've already got all the parts which were inexpensive.
My only concern is that the Sestos will over shoot by too much on start up and cause the over pressure valve to vent too much due to it being a surface mounted heat sensor. The Gicar manual does state that it aims for 10C below its target and then takes it easy after that to get there.
I wouldn't use the Gicar thermocouple I'd use a K thermocouple with the same ring connector for surface mounting. Got it in the post yesterday.
I'm holding off for now to see if I can live with it as it is first.
Bluenoser wrote:
Not having been in espresso for a long time.. and being an electronics guy.. I'm into data.
My under grad is Electronics/Comp Sci. I've spent my career working in software but still dabble in electronics from time to time.
Bluenoser wrote:
You'll find the E61 really influences the final temp. Anything from seasonal changes to air currents can cause a significant temp fluctuation in the brew water
My previous machine, which was also a Sanremo, wasn't an E61 and was made in the mid-90's. I had, at the start of this year, after several years using it finally figured out how to pull a good shot from it using a temp sensor and a flushing technique. Then summer came and the ambient water temp ruined it and I decided it was time to go E61 thinking it wouldn't suffer the same problems. How wrong I've been...
Bluenoser wrote:
If you have zero restriction, then you will have to flush a lot to cool the group. These system are generally designed for cafes where you are pulling shots ever few minutes so the group doesn't overheat.. With zero restriction you will need to go through a bunch of water.. is it plumbed in?
Yes, it has a rotary pump which is unusual for a HX E61. I do find I need to empty the water tray every day now.
I think it was meant to be in a cafe and on all day primarily.
I was about to say that I didn't think it had a restrictor and then I realised that I had the exploded diagram of all its parts and that if it did I'd see it there.
Low and behold does it not have a weird looking circular thing labelled part #53 "OT GIGLEUR D 3mm HOLE" that appears to go inside the outlet of the top of the HX on the boiler.
If I was to remove that part what would be the net effect?