Just the solenoid? Or the valve too? On Wed, May 17, 2017 at 10:01 AM, herman dickens <[email protected]> wrote:
> Sounds like you need to replace the solenoid. > > Herman > > On Wed, May 17, 2017 at 9:59 AM, Howard Griffin <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> I think I have made some progress. I examined the fill sensor and it >> seemed clean so I left it alone. I then proceeded to test the fill valve >> solenoid as outlined in Todd's WLL video (beginning at 18:08 here: >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIiLeRdVWAU). >> >> I disconnected the fill sensor and the pump and switched the power on and >> off to see if the solenoid clicked the valve open and shut. >> >> I could not hear the solenoid clicking. >> >> I took the solenoid off the valve and measured the resistance across the >> solenoid with an ohm meter, getting a reading of 369 (see photo). In his >> video Todd got a reading of 400, and I don't know if my lower reading of >> 369 indicates a problem. >> >> Before re-coupling the solenoid to the valve I rewired it and tested its >> magnetism with a screwdriver, and it seemed to have plenty of magnetic >> strength. >> >> I reattached the solenoid to the valve and, lo and behold, the valve >> started clicking again when power was applied! Even though all I had done >> was removed and reattached the solenoid to the valve. I put the machine >> back together and it worked fine for the rest of the day. >> >> The next morning the problem was back: the pump would not stop running >> after powering up the machine. I did manage to finally get the pump to stop >> running after repeatedly turning the power on and off and raising and >> lowering the brew lever between power cycles (about 15 times before the >> pump went silent and the machine began to heat up). >> >> What does this suggest? To this noobie it seems like the fill valve may >> be sticking. If it needs to be cleaned or replaced, how do I do that? I >> can't find any instructional videos or guides for that. In his video, Todd >> simply says that if, after verifying that the solenoid is good, you're not >> getting water through the pump, then you have to take it apart and clean it >> out or replace it. >> >> Thanks for your help. >> >> >> >> On Mon, May 15, 2017 at 10:49 AM, Ben McCafferty <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> Yes, that's the ground. Usually you can just clean it but no harm in >>> replacing. >>> Best, >>> bmc >>> >>> Sent from my iPhone >>> >>> On May 15, 2017, at 07:46, Howard Griffin <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>> Yes that makes sense. Thank you for the thorough and thoughtful >>> explanation. I am committed to figuring this out and fixing it myself. I >>> assume that the "ground probe" is this part:<level probe.jpeg>. When I >>> ordered the new vacuum valve I also ordered this part too, but didn't >>> install it after the machine started working again. So I guess my next step >>> is to install the new probe. I will let you know how that goes. >>> >>> On Mon, May 15, 2017 at 10:18 AM, Benjamin McCafferty <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Sorry, one more thing. If all of that fails, and if I’m correct on the >>>> solenoid being fired by relay, there is a chance the relay is the culprit, >>>> which means replacing the giemme controller (this did happen on mine >>>> also—both things failed eventually). I’d wait for someone else to chime in >>>> with more knowledge than me (Todd, Ira, etc.) before purchasing the giemme. >>>> But, for reference, I think the giemme was about $75, the solenoid maybe >>>> $100. So still very worthwhile repairs if the rest of the machine is doing >>>> well. >>>> best, >>>> bmc >>>> >>>> On May 15, 2017, at 07:12, Benjamin McCafferty <[email protected]> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>> Hey Howard, >>>> I think you’re mixing up a couple of causes/symptoms. Here’s what >>>> happens (normally) when the machine comes on. >>>> >>>> --It senses whether the steam boiler is full via the ground probe that >>>> sticks into the top of the boiler (and can be adjusted up or down, by the >>>> way). >>>> --If not, it opens the solenoid (via relay in the giemme controller, I >>>> believe) and starts the pump, until the water in steam boiler reaches the >>>> ground probe. >>>> --It then stops the pump and the solenoid closes. >>>> --The pump is now available to push pressure on demand through the brew >>>> boiler, which only happens when the lever is lifted to its top position. >>>> --The steam boiler heats first, and when it’s close to pressure, the >>>> vacuum breaker you cleaned closes and makes a seal to let pressure build. >>>> --The brew boiler heats second, to a preset temperature. >>>> >>>> Now then, if you think about it, the vacuum breaker has nothing to do >>>> with startup (it is not engaged until well after the problem you’re >>>> having). So here’s what you check: >>>> —Is the ground probe in the steam boiler connected and clean? >>>> —If so, you would look to either a stuck solenoid or a failing/failed >>>> pump. >>>> —Since you are developing 10bar of pressure, and the pump won’t quit, >>>> to me that says two things: >>>> —First, your pump is working, i.e. developing pressure in the brew >>>> boiler >>>> —Second, the pump is trying to fill the steam boiler, and can’t >>>> —Because of these two things, I’d bet dollars to doughnuts that the >>>> solenoid is stuck, and so no water is reaching the >>>> steam boiler, and so the solenoid never closes and shuts off the pump. >>>> >>>> Make sense? >>>> >>>> So, check the easy thing first (ground probe and wire, both ends), and >>>> then move on to ordering a new solenoid and replacing it. >>>> >>>> Others may have additional thoughts, but I’ve been down this road and >>>> it wasn’t this clear cut. The 10bar in the brew boiler is a dead giveaway, >>>> in my opinion. >>>> >>>> Best of luck and keep us posted! >>>> Ben/bmc >>>> >>>> On May 15, 2017, at 06:48, [email protected] wrote: >>>> >>>> I thought I had this problem solved after I took apart and cleaned the >>>> vacuum relief valve. It worked fine for the past two week but now the issue >>>> has recurred. When I turned the machine on yesterday morning the pump began >>>> to run and the pressure went up to 10 bar. The pump would not stop running >>>> and the pressure remained at 10 bar. I turned it off and tried starting it >>>> again several times thoughout the day but the behavior was always the same: >>>> constantly buzzing pump and pressure at 10 bar. Eventually a high pitched >>>> squeal developed along with the pump noise and I haven't turned it on again >>>> for fear of burning out the pump or causing other damage. >>>> >>>> Any ideas? I have a brand new vacuum relief valve that I will install >>>> tonight. If that doesn't help I'm stuck. >>>> >>>> Thanks, >>>> >>>> Howard >>>> >>>> Sent from my iPad >>>> >>>> On Apr 26, 2017, at 14:59, Howard Griffin <[email protected]> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>> I have had my Brewtus III-V (vibration pump) for almost seven years. >>>> Its usual behavior upon startup has been to buzz for a few seconds (5-10 >>>> seconds) and then start to heat up. The buzzing usually terminates with a >>>> very brief uptick in volume before stopping. A typographical representation >>>> might look like this: [click on] rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrRRR [noise stops machine >>>> begins to heat up]. Sometimes there would be no buzzing at all upon turning >>>> it on and it would begin to heat up right away. This was its normal >>>> behavior until recently. >>>> >>>> Now, when I turn it on the buzzing frequently goes on for a very long >>>> time—up to three or four minutes before resolving in an uptick in volume, >>>> like this: >>>> >>>> [click on] rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr >>>> rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrRRR >>>> [noise stops machine begins to heat up]. Sometimes it still starts up with >>>> no noise and begins to heat up right away. >>>> >>>> Is something about to fail on the machine? What should I check? Any >>>> advice would be appreciated. >>>> >>>> Howard >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups "Brewtus" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/brewtus. >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups "Brewtus" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/brewtus. >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups "Brewtus" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/brewtus. >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>> >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "Brewtus" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/brewtus. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "Brewtus" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/brewtus. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Brewtus" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/brewtus. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Brewtus" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/brewtus. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Brewtus" group. 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