Upgraditis: 2-group Grimac Commercial

[robusto]

Re: Upgraditis: 2-group Grimac Commercial

True Dennis. The tyranny of distance. But if I rush from one to the other, the cooling air currents that creats only exacerbates things. Perhaps a portafilter tea-cosy is the go.

(Posted deadpan: no smilies or indicative punctuation to relay irony, humour or other mood)

-Robusto

[Dennis]

Re: Upgraditis: 2-group Grimac Commercial

True Dennis. The tyranny of distance. But if I rush from one to the other, the cooling air currents that creats only exacerbates things. Perhaps a portafilter tea-cosy is the go.

(Posted deadpan: no smilies or indicative punctuation to relay irony, humour or other mood)

-Robusto

Im starting to think you and I would make a great comedy team at the CS Christmas Party. Hmm, now theres an idea! What about a national CS convention - what a hoot that would be!

Sorry, back on topic...it would be nice if grinder/machine could hold hands like those otters.

[robusto]

Re: Upgraditis: 2-group Grimac Commercial

Um, I dont think Im funny enough. And two comedians might be overkill. Besides, youve got that crucial desire to be an entertainer.

--Robusto

[robusto]

Re: Upgraditis: 2-group Grimac Commercial

Not sure whether steam tips qualify to be in the extreme machine catagory.....but I supposed drilling into shiny new things may well be an extreme measure.

Ive drilled out the coffeeparts 2-hole tip, with a 1.6 ml bit. I had trepidations about whether the angle was going to be right, and whether the tip would slip off the existing hole, etc.

But Id barely rested the drill bit on, and it poked right through. Ditto for the second hole. About the easiest metal drilling Ive ever done.

Have only steamed one latte so far, so too early to critique the performance.

--Robusto

[Dennis]

Re: Upgraditis: 2-group Grimac Commercial

Have only steamed one latte so far, so too early to critique the performance.

--Robusto

Well, you could let us know how that one turned out???

[robusto]

Re: Upgraditis: 2-group Grimac Commercial

That one wasnt one of my best efforts -- nor was it the worst. Probably not as good as the toothpick wand tip -- but I had had a little more practice on that state-of-the-art device.

How is your Caprice going, Dennis?

-Robusto

[Dennis]

Re: Upgraditis: 2-group Grimac Commercial

hmm - good old user error!

Have posted re caprice here...
http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1175511560/30

[robusto]

Re: Upgraditis: 2-group Grimac Commercial

  ------ Powering Down-----

After consulting JavaB on the process involved,  Ive downsized from a 3200W boiler to a 2200W.

Ive disabled one of the three elements.  Why?  Another excuse to tinker primarily.  

And so that I can try plugging it into a timer.  Since all the ones I have here are 10 Amps, and the Grimac draws 13 Amps, disabling one of the elements brings the draw down to  a nominal 8.8 Amps.

So it gets to sleep between 8.30 pm and 6 am when it switches on, and an hour later is at operating temperature.

Incidently, as JavaB pointed out in another post, powering down the boiler does not save electricity consumption.

Instead of the heater going on for 20 seconds, its now 26 seconds. And the idle part of the cycle is 205" instead of 230 or more.  

So having it run all day 24/7 at 3200Watts =$1.08  per day, while at 2200Watts its $1.05.   (At current autumn ambiant temperatures).

Having it off overning does cut this down to about 60cents, but frugality is not my motivation.  More tinkering is.

-Robusto

PS: reducing the current draw was very simple: I removed a jumper lead with spade terminals at both ends.

[Dennis]

Re: Upgraditis: 2-group Grimac Commercial

an interesting post Robusto - Im wading through the posts on these beastie machines and hopeflly learning along the way.

With your hankering for tinkering...did you happen to cut down the existing boiler?

[JavaB]

Re: Upgraditis: 2-group Grimac Commercial

With your hankering for tinkering...did you happen to cut down the existing boiler?

Nope, Robusto didnt....

As the boiler is a pressure vessel - albeit not high pressure - Id recommend against tinkering with it unless you have a boiler makers ticket (welding qualification) or know someone who does.

[robusto]

Re: Upgraditis: 2-group Grimac Commercial

Um, I can weld, solder and braze, and I recall building a double-acting reciprocating steam engine (with copper boiler) as a teenager. (a couple of years back )

But no certificate. :-[

I wouldnt want the 5 litre boiler to be any smaller --cos then I would no longer be the owner of an EXTREME MACHINE ;D ;D ;D

-Robusto

[JavaB]

Re: Upgraditis: 2-group Grimac Commercial

Robusto

Good to hear your current modification worked and you are still alive to tell about it. ;D ;D

Ive had some experience with live steam models as well (5.5 and 7.25 inch gauge live steam). If you have an all copper boiler with an approved overlap (not butt jointed) you can DIY with high strength silver solder (contains a high percentage of silver and CADMIUM.....) and the cadmium is a poison in food preparation equipment.

Otherwise the boiler has to be welded by someone with a ticket. There is a minimum size which is exempt.... I think its about half a litre and smaller .

[robusto]

Re: Upgraditis: 2-group Grimac Commercial

Thanks JavaB, but I cant see myself taking the gas torches to the Grimac. Mind you, at 300 ml, a Silvia is a different proposition.

Only joking.


-Robusto

[robusto]

Re: Upgraditis: 2-group Grimac Commercial


A couple of updates: Steam tip and cycling

The drilled out two-hole coffeeparts steam tip is performing very well in the larger jug. Producing microfoam just about on par with Silvias, though the process needs to be paid attention to, and hands need to be steadier.

Since powering down from 3200W to 2200w, and simultaneously relocating the machine, the pressurestat cycle times are bewildering.

On full power, it was pretty regular from about 10 minutes from cold start up: 230 off, 20" on.

Now, powering up for the first time in days on Easter Sunday, for the first hour, it seems to be up to 5 off, 1 on. The sound of the water heating is more pronounced too.

The new location may be responsible for retaining heat as it is a corner with an overhead cupboard.

Or maybe the vacuum break valve is stuck --easy to check.

-Robusto

[JavaB]

Re: Upgraditis: 2-group Grimac Commercial

Robusto,

When switching on from cold I open at least one steam wand..... to allow the air in the boiler to be expelled..... and close it once there is a steady stream of steam.... (boy would that be hard to say ;D ;D)

Air **should** escape through the vacuum break - but I find it doesnt.... and trapped air in the boiler (not compressing like steam) gives weird results - both with boiler cycles - and especially when you try to texture milk!!