Re: Sigh...was: Re: Steam boiler overprescribing

Bruce J keeler Mon, 27 Jul 2015 10:56:03 -0700

Perhaps the level sensor needs replacing, or is somehow shorted toground. If it was preventing the steam boiler from filling that couldexplain why your element burned out.


On 7/27/2015 10:37 AM, Benjamin McCafferty wrote:

Good lord, when it rains it pours.  OK, recap:

--Steam boiler wasn't firing, discovered that over temp switch wasbrittle and malfunctioning.--Totally disassembled machine, cleaned and descaled every part of itexcept teflon lines and chrome manifold.

--Replaced both overtemp switches and thermoprobe on the brew boiler.

--Steam boiler still not firing, figured out that the steam elementwas bad.

--Replaced both elements.

--Steam boiler still not firing, figured out that the pressure statwas bad.

--Replaced pressure stat, set pressure to 1.7 bar.

--Machine functioned normally for that afternoon, then the nextmorning the steam boiler wouldn't fire again.--Reset the overtemp switch, lowered pressure to 1.5 bar, machinefunctioned normally yesterday and today, except the steam wand was"spitting" instead of a nice smooth hiss.

--Today I flushed the steam boiler, i.e. ran all the hot water out ofit to cycle the water. I immediately noticed that a) there was farless water than normal in the boiler, and b) the pump did not kick onto refill the boiler. Realizing that this would overheat and kill thenew element, I turned the machine off.

OK, my techie instincts are that it is highly unusual for 3 separateparts of the steam system to fail at once, without some othermitigating circumstance. My best guess so far is that whateverswitch/sensor is responsible for filling the steam boiler was weak orfailed, and cause the boiler to run on whatever water was still inthere prior to all this happening. Since my hot water line wasclogged, I couldn't flush and therefore wouldn't have realized thatthe steam boiler was not refilling. The stuff in the steam boilerbefore cleaning was like oatmeal without the oats--thick goop. I'mstill unclear, however, on why the steam boiler filled partially afterall the recent service.

Does anyone have any thoughts or SWAGs on this? What is the next partI need that would trigger my pump to fill the steam boiler?

Sigh. Espresso-less again, but I have to be close and at least I'vehad a few great shots in the past 48 hours, right???


All the best,
Ben

Sent from my apple IIe

On Jul 26, 2015, at 16:14, Benjamin McCafferty <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:

The valve starts to gently hiss at 1.8, and blows off all the wayjust a bit over that, maybe 1.9.

best,
bmc

Sent from my apple IIe

On Jul 26, 2015, at 16:12, Todd Salzman <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:

Yes, that could be problem. I am a little surprised that he pressurerelief valve did not start to blow off at 1.7 bar.

We set the steam boiler to run between 1.3 and 1.4 bar.

On Sun, Jul 26, 2015 at 4:59 PM, Ben McCafferty <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:


    Thanks, Todd.

    Since I just replaced both switches, I am not sure what to
    think. My best guess is that I had set the steam boiler pressure
    a little bit too high at 1.7, and so perhaps the boiler was
    going long enough to activate the overtemperature switch. I have
    turned the pressure back down to about 1.5 and things seem to be
    working normally again.
    Best,
    bmc

    Sent from my iPhone

    On Jul 26, 2015, at 03:27, Todd Salzman
    <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:

    Most likely it is the over temperature switch.  If the pressure
    was set to high the pressure relief valve on the boiler would
    blow off before  the over temp switch would trip.

    You may want to try switching the over temperature switches
    between the brew and the steam boiler.  The brew boiler does
    not get as hot so the switch may not trip as much while you get
    a new over temperature switch.


    On Sat, Jul 25, 2015 at 12:01 PM, Graeme Burton
    <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:

        May be a silly question but did you adjust the pressurestat
        after installation?

        Graeme
        *From: *Benjamin McCafferty
        *Sent: *Sunday, 26 July 2015 00:00
        *To: *[email protected]
        <mailto:[email protected]>
        *Reply To: *[email protected]
        <mailto:[email protected]>
        *Subject: *Re: Steam boiler overprescribing


        Hi Todd and all,
        Got the new pressure stat in yesterday, and the machine

heated and functioned normally for the rest of the day.This morning, I turned it on and the steam boiler didn't

        heat.  I reset the over-limit switch (new) on the steam
        boiler and it's now heating.

        Is there something I should be concerned about here?  I'll
        see if it was a fluke, but not clear on why the new switch
        would pop.

        best,
        bmc

        Sent from my apple IIe

        On Jul 22, 2015, at 18:46, Benjamin McCafferty
        <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:

        Thanks Todd.  Is the wire that provides power the common,
        normally open, or normally closed?  I'll grab a multimeter
        but if you know right off hand...I can be lazy...
        best,
        bmc

        Sent from my apple IIe

        On Jul 22, 2015, at 18:07, Todd Salzman
        <[email protected]
        <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:

        I would recommend, pulling  the wire off pressure stat
        that supplies the power to the  pressure stat and see if
        it keep over heating.
        If it turns off when you pull the wire you need a
        pressure stat. If it keep heating you have another problem.

        On Wed, Jul 22, 2015 at 6:21 PM, Benjamin McCafferty
        <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:

            Doing a little reading, seems pretty clear that my
            pressure stat has failed also.  Quite a coincidence!
            Anyway, please send any other thoughts, but I'll
            order a new p-stat. It's been in there for at least
            five years; date of manufacture is 9/04 so it was on
            a shelf for at least 3 years before installation,
            maybe more.
            best,
            bmc

            Sent from my apple IIe

            > On Jul 22, 2015, at 14:44, Ben McCafferty
            <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
            >
            > Ahem. "Steam boiler over pressure"
            >
            > Sent from my iPhone
            >
            >> On Jul 22, 2015, at 14:30, Ben McCafferty
            <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
            >>
            >> Hi all,
            >>
            >> More parts arrived today. I have new elements in
            both boilers, new overtemperature switches on both
            boilers, new PID thermoprobe, new power switch.
            >>
            >> When I switch the unit on, everything looks good
            but the steam boiler continues heating on up to 2
            bar, and then the overpressure relief begins to blow
            so I switch the unit off and release some pressure
            from the steam wand. I have turned my pressurestat
            (jaeger) all the way down and no change. Any further
            ideas to help me solve this lingering problem?
            >>
            >> Thanks all,
            >> Ben McC
            >> Sent from my iPhone
            >>
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Re: Sigh...was: Re: Steam boiler overprescribing

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