Re: VBM domobar Electronica history?
Thanks Guys
I spent the weekend tinkering and I think I have it sorted or pretty close to it.
I had to do some service work on the LMs at work last week and ordered up an extra p/\/stat (yes the boss knows). It fit no worries or mods needed although the factory setting was a bit too high. I have it adjusted to a very small deadband and the element probably only cycles for 10 seconds or so although I havent timed it but its a hell of alot quicker that the old set up and much better steam.
I also took the group temp and pressure handle (not scace but similar?) home for a play with some restrictors, unsure on what size to use I made my own plastic restrictor and got out my jet size drills from my mechanic days. After a bit of trial and error ended up at 3.2mm.
Im gunna keep playing but at the moment im pretty happy. Much much better steam and I only need a small cooling flush (20-30ml) after long idle times.
Thanks again for your help and intrest to everybody that posted
Nick
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Re: VBM domobar Electronica history?
Restrictors and pressurestats are dead easy to do.
Give Craig from 9Bar Espresso Services a call. Hell sort you out with some tecnical advice and parts.
If youre in Melbourne, he could also do the work for you if you wanted.
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Re: VBM domobar Electronica history?
Sorry- musta missed it...
Given that a pressurestat is essentially a pressurestat, why not?
Figure that the LM one is probably $$$. You could just use a Mater. They have a 0.1 bar dead band. Most commercials are a 0.2 bar dead band...
The Izzo does it with a PID and SSR if you want to get serious
Id have a play with a Scace and thermosyphon restriction as well on this machine.
Chris
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Re: VBM domobar Electronica history?
Interested to hear chriss responce to this Q......
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Re: VBM domobar Electronica history?
Hey thanks again Chris.
I have changed my mood somwhat to yesterday from being a bit bummed to now taking it as a challange to make it a nicer machine, (I guess its the mechanic in me) afterall it was the little things that it dose have that made me like the VBMs (dual gauge, 2 stage on off switch and nice drip tray). and if I can make it perform a little better I will still have a e61 hx for a pretty good price I guess?
If you dont mind, I have a question for you (or anybody else) regarding pressurestats.
I was going to replace mine cause of the large deadband. Is it possible to use a new style La Marzocco stat with the overall adjustment and lower limit adjustment?
I was thinking this might be even better than the Mater option for not much more outlay?
Any thoughts?
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Re: VBM domobar Electronica history?
Hi CM,
It can be improved somewhat with a themostability upgrade. We did one a few months ago and its behaving far better.
Id recommend a chand of pressurestat to the more arrucate Mater at the same time.
Cheers
Chris
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Re: VBM domobar Electronica history?
Thanks Chris
That probably wasnt what I wanted to hear but it makes sence. I thought I got a pretty deal at around the price of a new silvia but maybe I shoulda kept saving.
Ive droped the OPV back to 9 bar and adjusted the psthat to get the brew temp back to 93 or so after reasonable cooling flush but the steam is very weak this was the main thing that struck me as odd cause by reputation they are ment to steam like champions.
Well I guess this is proof if it looks too good to be true it is. now back to saving the pennies and ill give you a call when they are replennished
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Re: VBM domobar Electronica history?
Yes CM,Originally posted by 23242E26123E39283B28233E4D0 link=1268278782/0#0 date=1268278782A little while back A volumetric domobar and Afim best come up on ebay well inside my limited budget so I snapped them up...
Im happy with them both but a little curious regarding the age of VBM
It has a few little differences to the ones you see on the shelves these days the water and steam taps have 5 or 6 points, like an Rocket for example not the little triangle shape ones.
This doesnt worry me but the next 2 items have got me thinking.
Firstly the sticker under the cup tray rates the heating element at 1400w not the 1800 as the new ones are advertised, and secondly I have only had the cover off once so may be mistaken, but im pretty sure it has no flow meter and the way the volumetrics work when the grind is changed its like they work off a timer rather than a water flow.
Dont get me wrong for the price the machine is great and I pull shots by eye anyway Im just interested to know what vintage this machine could be?
Any VBM buffs out there? :-?
These old machines found their way to Australia under the old importer and they have pretty much nothing in common with current machines other than that they use the same case.
They run a circa 1.8-2L boiler and Jager domestic pressurestat and the internal build is pretty sloppy as well. The previous importer did nothing with them so you will find that it runs thermonuclear hot with big cooling flushes and the OPV is probably set to about 12 bar as well...
I hear that the original importer dumped them like hot spuds at about $1.5K when they lost import rights.
I hope you got a bargain, because in my opinion, unless they get a whole heap of work to make them work well via a thermostability upgrade, theyre not that nice to use :-/
Sorry to bring you bad tidings, but in this case, Domobar Super does not equal Domobar Super...
Chris
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VBM domobar Electronica history?
A little while back A volumetric domobar and Afim best became available well inside my limited budget so I snapped them up...
Im happy with them both but a little curious regarding the age of VBM
It has a few little differences to the ones you see on the shelves these days the water and steam taps have 5 or 6 points, like an Rocket for example not the little triangle shape ones.
This doesnt worry me but the next 2 items have got me thinking.
Firstly the sticker under the cup tray rates the heating element at 1400w not the 1800 as the new ones are advertised, and secondly I have only had the cover off once so may be mistaken, but im pretty sure it has no flow meter and the way the volumetrics work when the grind is changed its like they work off a timer rather than a water flow.
Dont get me wrong for the price the machine is great and I pull shots by eye anyway Im just interested to know what vintage this machine could be?
Any VBM buffs out there? :-?Tags: None
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