The risk of using a timer

[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.

[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.

[Psyd]

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?

[HB]

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.

[Fullsack (original poster)]

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.

[Fullsack (original poster)]

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.

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.

[Caffewerks]

I wouldn't say totaled ( unless that is what you want ) 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.

[Fullsack (original poster)]

I wouldn't say totaled ( unless that is what you want ) 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.

[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.

[Fullsack (original poster)]

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.