Hi sma, Glad to hear the issue is semi-resolved.
I guess it is personal preference. If it works, then it might be worth leaving it? If it is a loose fit, then am I to assume one or both of the little clips on the sides has either just gone hard (and has no spring) or broken? I wonder if you could somehow make a replacement for those clips? Replacement is going to set you back between $250 and $350 in parts; depending on if you replace with AKO, or upgrade to PID, so it depends on if you see value in that. I was lucky enough to have an SSR spare and ordered parts to replace the transformer which only cost me $30 or so; otherwise would probably have persisted with the AKO stock standard. PID should give you much better temperature stability in theory, but the fact that the steam boiler has control over when it takes power away from the brew boiler makes me feel like thermal stability is always going to be somewhat compromised anyway (so is the PID as important?). I think Expobar have planned for this even in the Bii design by making the brew boiler large enough to have enough thermal mass to be relatively stable using bang bang control (AKO) anyway. On Thursday, August 20, 2020 at 11:50:09 AM UTC+10 [email protected] wrote: > Hi OzAaron, > > I tightened up the wiring/connection into the AKO and it seems to have > fixed the problem but the AKO plastic casing started to fall apart on me as > its become brittle. The display is now loose due to the plastic breaking > away. Do you think its worth replacing even if its working now? > > Cheers > > On Thursday, August 20, 2020 at 10:52:46 AM UTC+10 OzAaron wrote: > >> Just a quick addition; I have not dealt with the PID units, but from >> screenshots I think I can make out 230VAC input rating, so may not require >> the transformer (would use the same wires that supply your current >> transformer direct into the unit). >> >> On Thursday, August 20, 2020 at 10:49:31 AM UTC+10 OzAaron wrote: >> >>> Hi sma, >>> >>> I'm currently rebuilding the same model. You can see my posts at: >>> >>> https://coffeesnobs.com.au/forum/equipment/brewing-equipment-pointy-end-1500-3000/836201-expobar-minore-brewtus-ii-repair-rebuild >>> >>> >>> The AKO controller has a traditional relay inside which is a mechanical >>> switch (rather than a solid state relay: SSR). I've just installed an SSR >>> in my unit (for future-proofing) and still using the AKO controller to >>> switch the SSR. I ended up replacing the transformer with a switch mode >>> supply so that I have 12V DC (and 8V DC for the AKO) which I may use in >>> future for a custom controller modification, but for now it takes the heavy >>> lifting out of the AKO (8A seems like almost too much load for such a >>> little controller). >>> >>> If the AKO controller looks OK (all segments are working all the time) >>> and it partially works (i.e. switches the brew boiler on for some time), >>> then I recon the relay inside the AKO might still be OK. I'd recommend >>> problem solving until you are sure it is the AKO (unless you really want to >>> change it anyway) otherwise you might end up replacing the controller only >>> to find something else is the issue (wiring/connection, heating element, >>> over-temperature thermostat). >>> >>> That being said; if you want the kit, I think Jet Black and Dibartoli >>> sell them in Australia. They're both in Sydney, so local for me; but I >>> suspect some other companies might have them in Melbourne too: >>> https://www.jetblackespresso.com.au/?rf=kw&kw=minore >>> https://dibartoli.com.au/search.php?search_query=expobar§ion=product >>> >>> >>> You can pick up the stock SSR and newer PID, or even a replacement AKO >>> from them. >>> >>> On Thursday, August 20, 2020 at 9:51:58 AM UTC+10 [email protected] >>> wrote: >>> >>>> I have a Minore II and wanted to upgrade the AKO Controller to a PID >>>> and install a separate SSR as my model doesnt have one (I think its built >>>> into the AKO). I'm currently having issues with the Brew Boiler not >>>> holding temperature and it looks like the AKO built in SSR is playing up >>>> and not sending power to the brew boiler. >>>> I'm in Australia and dont have access to WWL PID Kit. Can someone >>>> please point me into the right direction as to where I can get the parts >>>> to >>>> upgrade? >>>> Also, there is a small power transformer (Powertran M2851L) which I >>>> cant see in the newer machines, what does it do? Do I need to remove it >>>> if >>>> I do the upgrade? >>>> >>>> Cheers >>>> >>> -- 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 view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/brewtus/6ad4fe92-3c1e-4cfe-bdb2-248f0524e495n%40googlegroups.com.
