Mini-VI Dual Manometer Mod

[Endo]

I just bought a Mini VI. I live in Montreal and the VII is not offered here.

My Mini is a 2008 model but it has the old 5C increment LEDs and single round boiler gauge. Everything else is pretty much the same as the VII.

I can live with the 5C increment LEDs, since it can still do 1C increments (you just need to push a couple extra buttons to put it in 1C mode).

But, I would like to have the dual manometer to see the brew pressure. I could always buy the PF gauge, but I was hoping for something more permanent.

The service guys at CC are looking into it and it looks like it me be possible if I buy a new front panel, square dual gauge and tee fitting. The price seems like it will be about $100 (same as the gauge).

Has anyone here attempted this mod?

[JohnB]

What is the size of the round opening in your front panel?

[Endo]

I measure a 42mm diameter.

[JohnB]

I measure a 42mm diameter.

The hole for the rectangular dual pressure gauge is 60mmX49mm so you could just enlarge the hole in your existing panel if you are handy & save the cost of a new panel.

[Endo]

I thought of enlarging the holes, but it seems the rectangular version is more to the right.

No biggy though, the front panel is only $35.

[chas]

At one time I considered trying to mod my former S1 with a dual round manometer from Espresso Parts. However, those are slightly larger in diameter than the S1 hole.

http://www.espressoparts.com/product/F_ ... Gauge.html

I didn't have the tools or the confidence to try enlarging the hole, but this is a possible option if you do.

[Niko]

Funny to see this thread since I've been thinking about this same thing recently.
I wish CC does come up with a little dual mano kit for the old S1's. A little round gauge would be really nice and there wouldn't be a need for changing the front panel.

[Endo]

I'm discussing it with the guys at CC. We've been comparing machines and it looks possible. Seems I'll need a new front panel, dual gauge, tee fiting for the source pressure and gauge quick connect (to connect to the gauge).

These spare parts won't come in from Italy for another 4 months but hopefully when they do, CC will offer it as a kit. I'm hopeful the price will not be too much more than the cost of the gauged PF. We'll see.

[chas]

Chris actually had me try a beta dual gauge kit when I still had the S1. However, me and metal work just don't jive. I had an early S1 and had to precisely measure and drill a hole where the rectangular gauge bolts to the chassis. I screwed it up and couldn't get the gauge to center in the hole - not even close - so I punted back to the original gauge so I could sell the thing.

However, later models of the S1 have the required hole predrilled as if they already knew that the dual manometer model was coming down the pike. For those machines, installing the dual manometer with the required Tee adapter which picks off from the expansion valve, is pretty easy. You have to remove the boiler to get access to the area in order to get the old gauge out and the new gauge in, but that's not too hard.

[Endo]

The new machines have an elongated hole on the chasis for mounting the dual gauge with some amount of adjustability (see photo).

As you can see in this photo of my 2008 V1 Mini, my single boiler gauge is mounted under the frame (with two machine screws). Seems like a gauge switch should be easy since the hole is already there.

s_DSC01051.jpg (47.18 KiB) Viewed 13783 times

[chas]

In the original S1 the gauge just floated in the hole held only by the stiffness of the copper tube from the steam boiler.

How does the bracket on your mini attach to the gauge?

[MDL]

My S1 VII (purchased from Chris in April '07) has the dual gauge held on a very flimsy metal bracket and a single screw. The gauge got bounced out of position in shipping to me in CA and I was told to bend the bracket back to get the gauge into a reasonable position. I think that the bracket was just screwed into a single hole, but it was over 1.5 years ago and I have not removed the front panel to check. Sounds like the way the gauge is attached has evolved and is not always the same?
Mark

[Endo]

Here's a photo of the newer "tee" fitting you'll need for tapping the brew pressure for the VII dual manometer mod.

I also included a photo of the single fitting that needs to be replaced on the V1.

VII Tee Fitting

PIC 009.jpg (55.74 KiB) Viewed 13691 times

V1 Single Fitting

s_DSC01049.jpg (54.1 KiB) Viewed 13692 times

[JohnB]

This is all standard plumbing stuff. Why not look for a dual manometer the same size as your single & then round up the fittings at a plumbing store?