Two unrelated? Adventures - Steam Valve, Blown Fuse
Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2018 12:23 pm
I've had my Mini Vivaldi II for 9.5 years. During that time I've replaced one solenoid and the pump. Now, I've also replaced a steam valve and a fuse.
The steam valve stopped working after several episodes of getting stuck in the "on" position. I tried to stop it by cranking the handle up and down a few times, but that broke the small plastic link between the steam handle and the valve itself.
Getting the steam valve out was a major pain. The valve is accessible with the front and side panels of the machine removed. Everyone who's disassembled a Mini knows they're both very easy to remove. Next, I removed the steam wand, again, easy.
The valve is connected to the boiler via a plastic "steam delivery" tube with brass fittings on each end. The valve is mounted on a bracket. The steam delivery tube is cemented to the steam valve, and it was nearly impossible to get the fittings loosened, even with the large wrenches I was using. I had to hold the valve with a large expandable basin wrench to hold it secure enough to break the seal created by the cement. In doing so, I put a slight kink in the steam delivery tube, which I'm sure reduces its cross sectional area and adds resistance to steam flow.
I was worried that without cement to seal the new steam valve to the old fitting, it might leak. I had planned a trip to EspressoTec on Clark Drive in Vancouver anyway, and asked the techs there what they would do. They said they don't use sealer, or even Teflon tape, and the joints on the steam valves don't leak. I used Teflon tape, anyway, being careful not to get any in the steam path, and re-assembled it. No leaks, and much easier to work with than cement. This repair was completed more than a week ago, and there isn't a trace of leakage.
However, a week later, I found the machine dead while plugged in, with the "ready" light not blinking as it normally does when off but plugged in.
I soon discovered that the fuse (accessible without taking panels off - on the bottom right of the machine near the back) was blown. I checked online where I found them for $8 at Chris Coffee. Not wanting to wait, I went to Lee's Electronics on Fraser Street in Vancouver. They had replacements, found them immediately, and charged me $1 each. I bought 2.
Fuses don't usually blow unless they're protecting the device from a voltage or current spike. I see no effects from anything like that. Replacing the fuse brought the machine back to life, and it works as usual. We'll see what happens over the coming months.
While I was at it, I reset the steam pressure to the highest level using the onboard computer. It is a little faster, but more importantly, the quality of the milk foam it creates is far superior. It is now great for latte art.
The steam valve stopped working after several episodes of getting stuck in the "on" position. I tried to stop it by cranking the handle up and down a few times, but that broke the small plastic link between the steam handle and the valve itself.
Getting the steam valve out was a major pain. The valve is accessible with the front and side panels of the machine removed. Everyone who's disassembled a Mini knows they're both very easy to remove. Next, I removed the steam wand, again, easy.
The valve is connected to the boiler via a plastic "steam delivery" tube with brass fittings on each end. The valve is mounted on a bracket. The steam delivery tube is cemented to the steam valve, and it was nearly impossible to get the fittings loosened, even with the large wrenches I was using. I had to hold the valve with a large expandable basin wrench to hold it secure enough to break the seal created by the cement. In doing so, I put a slight kink in the steam delivery tube, which I'm sure reduces its cross sectional area and adds resistance to steam flow.
I was worried that without cement to seal the new steam valve to the old fitting, it might leak. I had planned a trip to EspressoTec on Clark Drive in Vancouver anyway, and asked the techs there what they would do. They said they don't use sealer, or even Teflon tape, and the joints on the steam valves don't leak. I used Teflon tape, anyway, being careful not to get any in the steam path, and re-assembled it. No leaks, and much easier to work with than cement. This repair was completed more than a week ago, and there isn't a trace of leakage.
However, a week later, I found the machine dead while plugged in, with the "ready" light not blinking as it normally does when off but plugged in.
I soon discovered that the fuse (accessible without taking panels off - on the bottom right of the machine near the back) was blown. I checked online where I found them for $8 at Chris Coffee. Not wanting to wait, I went to Lee's Electronics on Fraser Street in Vancouver. They had replacements, found them immediately, and charged me $1 each. I bought 2.
Fuses don't usually blow unless they're protecting the device from a voltage or current spike. I see no effects from anything like that. Replacing the fuse brought the machine back to life, and it works as usual. We'll see what happens over the coming months.
While I was at it, I reset the steam pressure to the highest level using the onboard computer. It is a little faster, but more importantly, the quality of the milk foam it creates is far superior. It is now great for latte art.