Do you recall the cap value? I would like to check my inventory or order 
before I tear into my working machine.

Thanks!

Ken

On Saturday, November 26, 2022 at 12:27:32 PM UTC-7 [email protected] wrote:

> The board pulls right out of the plastic enclosure.
>
> My cap wasn't bulging. Use your multimeter's capacitor test function. Its 
> capacitance degrades over time. If its below spec replace it. Probably I 
> will wait until symptoms before I replace it again. The symptom is an loud 
> 60hz buzzing from machine - as if something was very wrong... :)
>
>
>
> On Tuesday, November 15, 2022 at 2:52:52 AM UTC-8 Ken wrote:
>
>> Great write up. I am thinking I should check that cap on mine. Is it 
>> difficult to separate the board from the plastic case of the giemme control 
>> module? Much easier to replace a bulging cap now than to source that relay! 
>> Mine is working perfectly but preventative is easier.
>>
>> On Thursday, November 3, 2022 at 5:01:36 PM UTC-6 [email protected] wrote:
>>
>>> Ok. Happy ending and some good stuff to share.
>>>
>>> The relay on the board is a finder 44.62S, which was discontinued more 
>>> than 10 years ago. Its improved replacement is the Finder 40.62.7.024.4000.
>>>
>>> But that modern relay has also been discontinued for a while. They're 
>>> available from places in UK and poland, to be shipped in 2023 and with 
>>> exorbitant shipping prices. 
>>>
>>> I found one "new old stock" from radwell. $5 for the relay, then $15 
>>> service fee and $10 shipping.
>>>
>>> Plan was to get my local phone repair store to replace the relay, but 
>>> then what caused the relay to fail?
>>>
>>> Luckily I came across "Boyt Enterprises", I emailed Mr Boyt and he 
>>> explained it was probably a bad capacitor that caused the relay to be nuked.
>>>
>>> I took it to Boyt who swapped the burned relay for my new one, he also 
>>> replaced the capacitor with a new higher temp rated unit that should last 
>>> 4x as long.
>>>
>>> FWIW my capacitor had ZERO capacitance.
>>>
>>> Understand... the control board receives AC signal. There's a diode that 
>>> cuts off the bottom of that signal, then it goes to the capacitor that 
>>> charges on positive signal, then discharges during the quiet time where the 
>>> negative signal used to be, thus producing a sort of DC current. Well... 
>>> when the capacitor has stopped working the downstream receives the signal 
>>> from the diode, essentially a 60HZ ac signal. The relay gets this ac signal 
>>> and fip-flops at 60 hz. The pump and steam fill solenoid received that 60 
>>> hz signal. Everyone is buzzing like crazy at 60 hz because they are getting 
>>> turned on and off at 60 hz, instead of receiving a steady dc signal out of 
>>> the capacitor.
>>>
>>> The first thing to fail in my case was the relay on the control board, 
>>> can see how its burned and the contact is actually welded in place for 
>>> steam fill. When the relay got welded the control board could no longer 
>>> switch from steam fill to steam heat, so filled and then just sat there. 
>>> Worse would be if relay welded itself the other way, then I'd have power to 
>>> steam element but tank not filled... there might be protection but maybe 
>>> not.
>>>
>>> So we're clear what is being discussed, here is my giemme control board. 
>>> It lives just below my gicar pid.
>>>
>>> [image: giemme3.jpg]
>>>
>>> Here is the control board with my new relay and Boyt's capacitor 
>>> installed. He tested the transformer (brick on the left) and it was fine.
>>>
>>> [image: giemme2.jpg]
>>>
>>> Top view:
>>>
>>> [image: giemme_outside.jpg]
>>>
>>> Again. If your machine is making a horrible buzzing sound. STOP. Don't 
>>> use it. Get that capacitor replaced or you'll burn out your relay. 
>>> Capacitors are still easily available and are like 25 cents, and capacitors 
>>> wear out. You can test your capacitor if your DMM has a capacitor test 
>>> feature (mine doesn't.).
>>>
>>> Boyt also said "Radwell is the worst place in the world to buy relays." 
>>> He said he sources a better one that supports higher current and it costs 
>>> him about $2 per.
>>>
>>> End of the day:
>>>
>>> Reassembled machine just now with repaired control board and... perfect. 
>>> Steam fill is 'quiet' now and steam heat light came on as soon as fill 
>>> completed.
>>>
>>>

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