Boiler not working

Post by **fxdxt** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 9:55 pm

This afternoon I tried to make my afternoon latte with Baileys and found my boiler not working. The red boiler light is blinking on and off, only when in economy mode.
I can change e mode just my taping the boiler switch no 10 second wait. The hot water switch only cycles when in

Post by **RGoldman** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:05 am

Hi Tom. Sorry to hear about your problem! Let us know what it turns out to be. I came in side the other day and saw some lights blinking on mine while it was supposed to be shut off. I had a terrible feeling something was wrong and I would be without it for a while. Luckily, I couldn't find an error code for the lights that were blinking and I just turned the machine on and off and the problem went away. I hope you get yours fixed quickly!

Ron

Post by **fxdxt** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 12:18 pm

Right now it looks like a bad element. When I get home to night I will measure the resistance across the heating element.
If that looks good then I have to measure the voltage across the element connectors.

Tom

Post by **RGoldman** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 4:45 pm

How difficult is it to replace the element if it is indeed bad?
Good luck and I hope you find the problem tonight!

Ron

Post by **Niko** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:35 pm

Chas replaced his heat element in the steam boiler a while back. He's got it documented on this site, from what I remember it happened to his old S1. It looks pretty involved, the only time consuming thing I see is the side panels, those are my Kryptonite, I can change just about anything on this machine but I'd rather have a root canal than re-assemble the side panels.

Post by **fxdxt** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:40 pm

I measured my heating element and it's wide open.
I will have a few days to take it apart.
It can't be any worse than changing the element in my Lyra.
Scroll half way down for a view.click here

Tom

Post by **Niko** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:54 pm

It's not "that" involved at all, what I meant was that it simply takes a little time to get to the actual part. I know you can do it with no problems Tom. Like I said, the hard part for me is those pesky side panels, I've popped them off several times but I keep forgetting what a pain in the glutes they are.

Post by **fxdxt** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 2:29 pm

Looking forward to doing the side panels tomorrow.
Most of the work is not hard just a big Pain in the Butt.
I just don't have a lot of room where my machine is set up.

Tom

Post by **Niko** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 3:50 pm

fxdxt wrote:I just don't have a lot of room where my machine is set up.

Tom, this is exactly the reason for my side panel problems.

Post by **fxdxt** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 10:29 pm

I got the VII up and running last Thursday.
The worst thing about taking it apart was the gasket.
I spent 20 min cleaning it out of the recess in the boiler.
Side panels were a piece of cake in comparison.
The second worst thing was drinking mediocre lattes at 3 bucks a pop
picture of it taken apart and back together again

Post by **RGoldman** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 10:40 pm

Glad to hear you got it fixed! Looks like you got your room finished too!
Could you see a visible defect in the boiler element? How old was it again?
Hope you are enjoying your morning lattes again.

Ron

Post by **Niko** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 10:58 pm

Great pics Tom.
The boiler looks nice and clean, as it should considering the machine is only a couple of months old.
You weren't kidding when you mentioned the tight space you had to work in!

Post by **fxdxt** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 11:27 pm

There is no visible damage to the element. It just opened up internally.
It was going on 3 months old.
Just for info purposes the element should read 10 ohms when in good condition.

Tom

Post by **Niko** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 11:34 pm

fxdxt wrote: Just for info purposes the element should read 10 ohms when in good condition.

Tom

Cool, I'll make sure my Fluke remembers that.