Commercial Coffee machine (expobar compact 2group) electrical fault

[Micky]

Hello all,

I've been a Barista for 7 years and started a mobile van 2 years ago with a broken down old Expobar Compact(90's) that I bought cheap at an auction, fixed and retro stress painted.

Anyway all it needed were new heads, seals, showers, group handles and water pump. It ran like a beauty for couple of years until recently after moving up to Burleigh Heads and leaving it for about 3 months. I pulled it out to teach a local kid how to make coffee like a pro, when I noticed that it was very slightly electrocuting me. This occurs as long as the machine is plugged in, whether the machine is switched on or off!

Now i wasn't wearing shoes and it doesn't do this when I am. So my father reckons it could have had the problem from the start and I never noticed. Also a few people have said this is probably the earth.

Basically I'm not an electrician so I was wondering if anyone knows how this could be occurring? and how to fix it?

[Dimal]

Don't play around with it mate - Too dangerous...

Best to get a licensed sparky to check it out for you, if you intend using it again. Otherwise, just scrap it...

Mal.
(Licensed sparky, among other things )

[jbrewster]

Best to get a licensed sparky to check it out for you, if you intend using it again. Otherwise, just scrap it...

Does your house have an RCD ("Safety Switch")? Leakage like that ought to be enough to trip one... If not get the sparky to install one while he checks the machine out

[ozscott]

You would be the first person in history to be slightly electrocuted but yes certainly don't use until a sparky checks it. My machine runs on its own circuit and has a RCD for that circuit. I had the sparky also put in a 15amp outlet downstairs on the same circuit so I can switch off my machine and go down and plug in my inverter welder.

Cheers

Cheers