Izzo Alex Duetto II discussion thread

[specialpants]

Re: Izzo Alex Duetto II discussion thread

F.03 Is the setting you want to play with if you want to change reading from F to C. edited because i gave wrong information - stick with Chriss advise!!

Do it at your own risk - otherwise take up Chriss kind offer.

Dont change anything else unless youre certain of what each parameter does!

[TC]

Re: Izzo Alex Duetto II discussion thread

Attached default settings for Australia and ^oC. We tested at 18 deg and recommend F.02=7 and T2=123^oC.

The overshoot and cranky behaviour appears typical when switched to ^oF and the use of these settings is not advisable.

The Gicar PID was ported to ^oF as I understand and our recommendation is that its best to use it as it was designed. These settings promote the most rapid recovery after a shot but some overshoot is of the PID not unusual. There are more conservative settings around as well.

Chris

[McCartan]

Re: Izzo Alex Duetto II discussion thread

Thanks for your help Chris et al. The "spluttering" stops when I adjust the brew temp below 90C.........but the coffee is rubbish!!! I think he will have to go for a drive.

[TC]

Re: Izzo Alex Duetto II discussion thread

I think he will have to go for a drive.

Yes- Assuming that the PID is now correctly set (do give it a little time to "learn" the settings), it can be one of two issues. Fortunately, both are relatively simple repairs.

Chris

[oton]

Re: Izzo Alex Duetto II discussion thread

My advice is run it in Celsius and with the user manual PID settings as recommended

Chris,
If the current PID settings are displaying in Farenheit (I am assuming it is in F as #s are the same as "American" settings in the manual) but the brew and steam temps are in Celsius, how do I get the PID to C? 
As I mentioned earlier, when I did a factory reset, it defaulted to Farenheit which I then changed to display in Celsius.

Dunno why, but my machine came with exactly the same settings, the "American settings", however it was set on Celsius. Why Izzo its programming the machines this way?

Attached default settings for Australia and oC. We tested at 18 deg and recommend F.02=7 and T2=123oC.

So youre recommending to run the machine in ECO mode? Good to know it. 2600 watts seems too much for me too and on the first day I changed the setting.

[TC]

Re: Izzo Alex Duetto II discussion thread

Not sure on that one Oton as youre in a different country and your specification including element capacity (which is higher) will be different.

We currently suggest F.02=7 as there in 0-little real world gain in using F.02=5. I have been testing a lower wattage dual simultaneous variant though and its running well.

Were fortunate in that we have PID programming gear, so we can really have whatever we want. As I understand, were the only supplier to have this gear.

[Dr_Dave]

Re: Izzo Alex Duetto II discussion thread

Hi All,
When I removed the transfer from the front of the group, it has left a lot of residue (gum) on the front of the group
What should I use to clean it off? I assume white spirits, but is it OK on the chrome?
Thanks in advance
Dr Dave

[TC]

Re: Izzo Alex Duetto II discussion thread

Hi All,
When I removed the transfer from the front of the group, it has left a lot of residue (gum) on the front of the group
What should I use to clean it off? I assume white spirits, but is it OK on the chrome?
Thanks in advance
Dr Dave

Hi Dave,

I reckon eucalyptus oil is the best/safest.

Hope youre enjoying it

Chris

[scdowney]

Re: Izzo Alex Duetto II discussion thread

Watch on Alex Duetto 2 boiler safety valve.

Hello Alex Duetto owners,

A quick heads up to inform that we are experiencing a concerning rate of low pressure leaks (currently 10-15%) at pressures under 1.5 bar from the steam boiler safety valve in Alex Duetto espresso machines. This is higher than I would like to see.  This issue has been identified in machines in all markets.

The valve leak can be heard as a faint hissing under the top cover of the machine towards the RHS rear corner ahead of the tank and if present could lead to more frequent cycling/overshoot of the PID.

The repair for this issue is quite simple. The affected valve is replaced with a new and more robust unit and the task can be completed in about 15 minutes.

I would appreciate if you could check your machine for the leak, and if detected, please contact your selling dealer to arrange for a replacement valve to be installed. We have ordered extra stock of a revised valve to ensure that any machine that requires a repair can be promptly attended to. The revised valve will be fitted to all new stock we receive.

I have emailed all owners for whom I have email addresses and have also asked that our interstate dealers make contact with their owners as well.

Should you have any concerns, please contact your dealer and also please feel free to email or call me to discuss this issue.

Regards

Chris

Hi,

I ran across this post trying to troubleshoot my issue.  My Alex Duetto II started making a hissing noise a couple weeks ago.  It started as once every 30 seconds-ish, now it is constant.  I opened up the top, & I cant precisely locate where the sound is coming from.

After seeing your post, I called the vendor I bought my machine from, & they want me to ship the machine to them.  They were not familiar with the steam boiler safety valve issue.  My machine is under warranty, but I would rather not ship my machine across country if I can avoid it.

How do I tell if this is the issue or not?  I was told that if it is the steam boiler safety valve the steam gauge would go way up, but it doesnt - it hovers at 1.5, dropping a couple notches every minute or so, then back up to 1.5. 

Any help would be appreciated! Thank you!

ETA: I watched it for awhile with a flashlight & I can see a small amount of water hissing out of the bottom openings of the safety valve.  Chris, I am thinking you are Chris of Chris Coffee?  If so, is the valve I need Item #: OT0980VS?  1/4" thread or 3/8"?  I would post a link to the page, but this forum wont let me because I have less than 5 posts.

[Dr_Dave]

Re: Izzo Alex Duetto II discussion thread

Hi Chris,
I will buy some today - thanks so much
Yes - loving the machine and very happy with my choice of machine and supplier (you!) .As I said in a previous post, its like closing the doors in an expensive european car - you can feel the quality!
Have a great New Year
Cheers
Dr Dave

[TC]

Re: Izzo Alex Duetto II discussion thread

After seeing your post, I called the vendor I bought my machine from, & they want me to ship the machine to them.  They were not familiar with the steam boiler safety valve issue....I was told that if it is the steam boiler safety valve the steam gauge would go way up, but it doesnt - it hovers at 1.5,

What the???

Hooley dooley... :

Not sure where you are scdowney, but Id suggest it might be a good idea to find a tech who knows his stuff. This simple fault diagnosis is machine tech #101 and if they really think a leaking safety valve will cause a pressure spike, they should choose something simpler to sell. :

Chris, I am thinking you are Chris of Chris ? 

Nope. My company is site sponsor Talk Coffee. The Chris you refer to is the guy who didnt have the courtesy to reply to my email regarding one of his custom parts I was curious about :

Yes - loving the machine

Delighted to hear that Dave,

The right information leads the buyer to the right mahcine and that makes for a happy client- be it Aeropress or Duetto. This is what its all about IMHO.

Cheers

Chris

[scdowney]

Re: Izzo Alex Duetto II discussion thread

Ah, sorry for the assumption.  He seems to be the only US importer of the Alex Duetto II, and is all over the internet.  But you know what happens when you assume!  And silly me, this is an Australia site.  I am in Maryland, US.

Anyway, now that I have seen the small amount of water hissing out of the boiler safety valve, I am just about sure that is the issue, and your post helped me locate it so thank you!

[TC]

Re: Izzo Alex Duetto II discussion thread

No worries scdowney,

Its a bolt off bolt on fix- once you have the right valve. Theyre 1/4"- so a tad harder to find. Be careful to use 2 spanners on the valve and adaptor. Its not hard to overtighten it and break it off in the boiler.

Good luck

Chris

[Dr_Dave]

Re: Izzo Alex Duetto II discussion thread

Thanks Chris,
Eucalyptus oil worked brilliantly! Shiny +++
I couldnt agree more with the sentiment above regarding the seller and their follow up, after being stung once before with a dodgy salesman and my previous machine (VBM) . I didnt buy from a site sponsor as no sponsors were selling them at that time
Cheers
Dr Dave

[walshman]

Re: Izzo Alex Duetto II discussion thread

Nope. My company is site sponsor Talk Coffee. The Chris you refer to is the guy who didnt have the courtesy to reply to my email regarding one of his custom parts I was curious about

Glad someone else found the guy rude, I thought it was just me. So is the rest of his staff as well.