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.
LMWDP #017
Kill all my demons and my angels might die too. T. Williams
Kill all my demons and my angels might die too. T. Williams
- cafeIKE
- Supporter ❤
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.
Whether that will save the heating element is as yet undetermined.

Ian's Coffee Stuff
http://www.ieLogical.com/coffee
http://www.ieLogical.com/coffee
- Psyd
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?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 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?
Espresso Sniper
One Shot, One Kill
LMWDP #175
One Shot, One Kill
LMWDP #175
- HB
- Admin
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?Fullsack wrote:Notice how the pressurestat and reset mechanism are leaning downwards, it must have gotten pretty hot.
I fried a heating element once... the heat bent it around so tightly, I had to pry it out of the boiler.

Dan Kehn
- Fullsack (original poster)
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.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?
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.
LMWDP #017
Kill all my demons and my angels might die too. T. Williams
Kill all my demons and my angels might die too. T. Williams
- Fullsack (original poster)
No idea why, but the little red button never popped. Same thing wrecked our Thanksgiving turkey one yearHB 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.

There wasn't a drop of water in it.
My heating element isn't budging either, the Lusso may be totaled.
LMWDP #017
Kill all my demons and my angels might die too. T. Williams
Kill all my demons and my angels might die too. T. Williams
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.

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)
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.terryz wrote: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.
LMWDP #017
Kill all my demons and my angels might die too. T. Williams
Kill all my demons and my angels might die too. T. Williams
- 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.
LMWDP #151
- 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.
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.
LMWDP #017
Kill all my demons and my angels might die too. T. Williams
Kill all my demons and my angels might die too. T. Williams