15A vs 20A

[ebprod]

I was looking at Home-Barista.com on another one of the "this machine" vs LaSpaziale threads.

What caught my eye was a comment from Niko about how slow the 15A version is.

I have had a 15A V11 for about 3 weeks now, and the machine has been nothing short of awesome. Steaming on this machine is phenomenal. I can't imagine what would improve with the 20A version.

Is this one of the improvement of the V2 over the V1?

-Joe

[Niko]

It's all about speed.
The 15A mode SERIOUSLY cripples the steam boiler in the worse way possible if you make a lot of milk-based drinks. The group boiler always has priority and if you're in the middle of steaming a normal sized pitcher of milk...the Spaz is out of gas because that group boiler is busy cycling while the steam boiler waits.
To me, the Vivaldi in 15A mode is single boiler machine.
But if someone only makes espresso, 15A mode is great.

There is no improvement on the VII for 15A mode.


I make about 10 Cappuccinos a day (avg.) and at least as many espressos, the machine could not keep up with a Cappuccino demand like that in 15A mode for me.

[ebprod]

Hi Niko,

I'm not pushing my machine to the same degree as you are- the most Cappas I tried at once was three, but still- I have never come close to running out of steam.

I'm curious what the experience of other users with 15A machines is. I do have a 20A circuit in my kitchen, but there are other devices using the circuit.

-Joe

It's all about speed.
The 15A mode SERIOUSLY cripples the steam boiler in the worse way possible if you make a lot of milk-based drinks. The group boiler always has priority and if you're in the middle of steaming a normal sized pitcher of milk...the Spaz is out of gas because that group boiler is busy cycling while the steam boiler waits.
To me, the Vivaldi in 15A m

[Niko]

You should be just fine for just 3 Cappas or so.
The problems I have is my family is rather large, I pull an average of 60 shots on any given party or simple get-together.
Some people have a voracious appetite for Cappas, one guy in particular will have at least 8 every time he visits! At one party I went through 3 gallons of milk.
I guess you can say my machine gets some usage, in 15A it slows me down so they might start throwing tomatoes and boo me off the stage....

[Barry]

Hi Niko,

I'm not pushing my machine to the same degree as you are- the most Cappas I tried at once was three, but still- I have never come close to running out of steam.

I'm curious what the experience of other users with 15A machines is. I do have a 20A circuit in my kitchen, but there are other devices using the circuit.

-Joe

I have had no issues running in 15A mode. I make an Americano and Latte every morning without running out of reasonable steaming capability. Depending on your wiring, you can probably get away with running in 20A mode without tripping the breaker so long as you don't put something else on the same circuit. Worse case scenario you have to put it back to 15A mode. Do not try this if you have an older house with older wiring!