The risk of using a timer

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Fullsack
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#1: Post by Fullsack »



The boiler cap leaked and this morning I had an empty boiler and no power. Looks like I am in for at least a new heating element, but maybe a new boiler, pressurestat and reset mechanism as well.

Notice how the pressurestat and reset mechanism are leaning downwards, it must have gotten pretty hot.
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cafeIKE
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#2: Post by cafeIKE »

One advantage of a PID is that it won't allow the temperature to go over the upper alarm temperature, 255°F here.

Whether that will save the heating element is as yet undetermined. :wink:

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Psyd
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#3: Post by Psyd »

Fullsack wrote: The boiler cap leaked and this morning I had an empty boiler and no power. Looks like I am in for at least a new heating element, but maybe a new boiler, pressurestat and reset mechanism as well.
I'm not sure exactly what I'm looking at, here, 'Sack. You mean that the boiler drained overnite, and while you slept the timer turned the element on and superheated the boiler?
I'm not sure that the timer is the culprit in that scenario, but maybe I misunderstood. If it had been on in a 24/7 manner, it would have had the same result?
What am I misunderstanding?
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HB
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#4: Post by HB »

Fullsack wrote:Notice how the pressurestat and reset mechanism are leaning downwards, it must have gotten pretty hot.
Thanks for posting the photos. I don't understand why the over-temperature safety didn't cut off the power. If it's like other steam boilers, it should have tripped around 165C. The Lusso also has a low-water shutoff. Why didn't it cut off power?

I fried a heating element once... the heat bent it around so tightly, I had to pry it out of the boiler. :shock:
Dan Kehn

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Fullsack (original poster)
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#5: Post by Fullsack (original poster) »

Psyd wrote:I'm not sure exactly what I'm looking at, here, 'Sack. You mean that the boiler drained overnite, and while you slept the timer turned the element on and superheated the boiler?
That's about it, not the timers fault, I was trying to do to many things at once and didn't tighten the boiler cap enough. If I was awake during the meltdown, I probably would have heard it and saved myself from this mess.

If you turn on a machine manually for a 24/7, you are usually around when the pressure first builds, so these types of stumbles can be headed off before they become damaging.
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Kill all my demons and my angels might die too. T. Williams

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Fullsack (original poster)
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#6: Post by Fullsack (original poster) »

HB wrote:Thanks for posting the photos. I don't understand why the over-temperature safety didn't cut off the power. If it's like other steam boilers, it should have tripped around 165C. The Lusso also has a low-water shutoff. Why didn't it cut off power?

I fried a heating element once... the heat bent it around so tightly, I had to pry it out of the boiler. :shock:
No idea why, but the little red button never popped. Same thing wrecked our Thanksgiving turkey one year :)

There wasn't a drop of water in it.

My heating element isn't budging either, the Lusso may be totaled.
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Kill all my demons and my angels might die too. T. Williams

Caffewerks
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#7: Post by Caffewerks »

I wouldn't say totaled ( unless that is what you want :wink: ) but it did get hot didn't it!

If the element will not loosen up, try tightening first and then loosen. Replace the thermo reset and the P-Stat for sure. It seems that you had quite an event, as it is rare to have the P-stat stick, and a thermo switch fail, but it is an espresso machine after all, so I guess anything is possible.

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Fullsack (original poster)
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#8: Post by Fullsack (original poster) »

terryz wrote:I wouldn't say totaled ( unless that is what you want :wink: ) but it did get hot didn't it!

If the element will not loosen up, try tightening first and then loosen. Replace the thermo reset and the P-Stat for sure. It seems that you had quite an event, as it is rare to have the P-stat stick, and a thermo switch fail, but it is an espresso machine after all, so I guess anything is possible.
Thanks Terry, the tightening first trick worked, good thing, it's a great machine and I'd hate to have seen it turned into a parts horse.
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Kill all my demons and my angels might die too. T. Williams

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narc
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#9: Post by narc »

Doug, is your Lusso boiler missing the low water cut off unit? Or did you remove it before taking the photo? Initially I found this "safety" switch a bit of a pain. But now I'm thinking maybe a good thing. Good to hear you are able to salvage the Lusso.
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Fullsack (original poster)
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#10: Post by Fullsack (original poster) replying to narc »

Noel,
I saw the "Cannonfodder" Lusso pictures, (great photos!), on the "Smackdown" thread, so now I know what you're talking about. No, my Lusso never had that. Mine must be an older model, my pressure gauge is different as well.
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Kill all my demons and my angels might die too. T. Williams

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