No steam this morning. The steam light is flashing and I can hear the faint "whirring" sound it makes when the heater kicks on, but no hot water either.
V2. Probably 4 or 5 years old.
Heating element bad? I have never taken this thing apart. Guess it is time I learned!
- Bryan
Steam boiler not heating
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blgros
Re: Steam boiler not heating
Took the machine apart and noticed my wires connecting to the boiler heating element don't have the big black connectors in Chas's great photos. MIne are white, and the red wire leading to one of the connectors was black and the insulation had melted. I touched it and the wire broke right in two. Likely my problem. Seems like it is going to be a hassle to replace the set of wires, but I guess I'll call Chris Coffee and get their opinion.
The heating element didn't have much scale on it. There was a bit of sediment in the bottom that I need to clean out, but overall, I was pleasantly surprised the boiler was in great shape.
Will likely replace the heating element while I've got it apart, and also add on the timer.
The heating element didn't have much scale on it. There was a bit of sediment in the bottom that I need to clean out, but overall, I was pleasantly surprised the boiler was in great shape.
Will likely replace the heating element while I've got it apart, and also add on the timer.
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chas
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Re: Steam boiler not heating
The missing black things shown in the photos are just covers that snap on over the connector. I had the same issue as you with overheating/melting wires on the steam boiler. In my case that also melted the black covers so that they would no longer snap on so I had to leave them off. That's probably what happened to yours. Without the black covers what you see is the white plastic part of the crimp connector that also gets brittle and falls apart after a couple of years.
In that hot, humid environment moisture gets into the copper strands just above the crimp connector and the wire starts to corrode. This increases the wire's resistance causing it to overheat and melt the plastic cover as well as the wire's insulation. In my case - over the course of two different machines and 5 years - I replaced the crimp connector three or four times. The last time I replaced one I purchased really high quality crimp connectors with a nice thick insulator and didn't have the problem again. There was enough wire on mine that I was able to just cut off the bad part, strip the end, and put on a new crimp connector. It would be a hassle if you had to replace the entire wire all the way back to the connector on the Triac/SSR board.
In that hot, humid environment moisture gets into the copper strands just above the crimp connector and the wire starts to corrode. This increases the wire's resistance causing it to overheat and melt the plastic cover as well as the wire's insulation. In my case - over the course of two different machines and 5 years - I replaced the crimp connector three or four times. The last time I replaced one I purchased really high quality crimp connectors with a nice thick insulator and didn't have the problem again. There was enough wire on mine that I was able to just cut off the bad part, strip the end, and put on a new crimp connector. It would be a hassle if you had to replace the entire wire all the way back to the connector on the Triac/SSR board.
Chas
LM GS/3 & LaSpaziale Dream v 1.25 (US 120V)
Mazzer Kony E, Customized Rocky
Hottop P/B
LM GS/3 & LaSpaziale Dream v 1.25 (US 120V)
Mazzer Kony E, Customized Rocky
Hottop P/B
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blgros
Re: Steam boiler not heating
Looks like I'm back in business.
I snipped off the three inches or so of frayed and blackened wire. I bought some similar connectors and crimped/soldered one on the end of the wire I cut. Created a 3" piece of wire to then connect the shorter white wire to the heating element.
I did clean out the boiler (not a lot of sediment) and soaked the heating element in vinegar for a day or so.
And I discovered the timer connector inside, so now I finally have a timer on order.
I snipped off the three inches or so of frayed and blackened wire. I bought some similar connectors and crimped/soldered one on the end of the wire I cut. Created a 3" piece of wire to then connect the shorter white wire to the heating element.
I did clean out the boiler (not a lot of sediment) and soaked the heating element in vinegar for a day or so.
And I discovered the timer connector inside, so now I finally have a timer on order.