Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Boema Single Group Adventure

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Boema Single Group Adventure

    Hi all, just picked up a second hand boema espresso machine and grinder. A little bit of a project/adventure.
    Being fairly green as far as coffee machines go, I was hoping to maybe find some potential guidance.

    About the machine; Boema Single Group, 2400w 10A, $250nzd auction buy. Ex cafe/shop. Been sitting for approx 12months, working when removed from service, with slight water leak.

    About Me; current set up, sunbeam em0480 grinder and breville cafe roma. Pan roasting beans, and weighing/timing my brews.

    Technical abilities; by trade an industrial electrician dual traded in instrumentation.

    Before I have a go at running up the machine for the first time, my plan is to replace the relief valve and insulation test the element, and maybe flush the boiler and refill it until the element is not exposed (still has water sitting in the boiler, so not sure if this is a problem given the machine has been sitting for 12 months.

    One thing I was wondering is if anyone knows where I could get a service manual for the machine if there is such a thing.

  • #2
    Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_20180412_124807.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	312.1 KB
ID:	746984Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_20180412_125009.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	347.3 KB
ID:	746985

    This is the machine and internals.

    Comment


    • #3
      Id fill boiler with descaler (through the relief valve while you have it out...after boiler is cleaned, id run new descaler through the systems to clean the pipes and solenoids.
      Then flush and start looking to fire it up and find the leaks.
      You could make a fitting to utilize a bike pump to pressurise the boiler to aid in leak detecting so its not to hot to work on.

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by hunty View Post
        Hi all, just picked up a second hand boema espresso machine and grinder. A little bit of a project/adventure.
        Being fairly green as far as coffee machines go, I was hoping to maybe find some potential guidance.

        About the machine; Boema Single Group, 2400w 10A, $250nzd auction buy. Ex cafe/shop. Been sitting for approx 12months, working when removed from service, with slight water leak.

        About Me; current set up, sunbeam em0480 grinder and breville cafe roma. Pan roasting beans, and weighing/timing my brews.

        Technical abilities; by trade an industrial electrician dual traded in instrumentation.

        Before I have a go at running up the machine for the first time, my plan is to replace the relief valve and insulation test the element, and maybe flush the boiler and refill it until the element is not exposed (still has water sitting in the boiler, so not sure if this is a problem given the machine has been sitting for 12 months.

        One thing I was wondering is if anyone knows where I could get a service manual for the machine if there is such a thing.
        Hey mate. Where are you? I’m in Canterbury and restored one of these last year so probably have quite a bit of info that could be helpful to you. Send me a PM and maybe we can connect via email if not in person. I have PDFs of the parts lists as well as a basic manual and a few photos of my rebuild.

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by hunty View Post
          [ATTACH=CONFIG]18826[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]18827[/ATTACH]

          This is the machine and internals.
          Hey mate. Where are you? I’m in Canterbury and restored one of these last year so probably have quite a bit of info that could be helpful to you. Send me a PM and maybe we can connect via email if not in person. I have PDFs of the parts lists as well as a basic manual and a few photos of my rebuild.

          Comment


          • #6
            Hey Leroy, sent you a message. I have seen a parts list from the boema Web site, haven't looked into whether or not it is relevant to this machine given it is older, but I'm hoping it will be.I'd love to see the photo of your rebuild.

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Jackster View Post
              Id fill boiler with descaler (through the relief valve while you have it out...after boiler is cleaned, id run new descaler through the systems to clean the pipes and solenoids.
              Then flush and start looking to fire it up and find the leaks.
              You could make a fitting to utilize a bike pump to pressurise the boiler to aid in leak detecting so its not to hot to work on.
              Hi Jackster, thanks heaps for the tips. Found and bought a 1/8th fitting schrader valve today (air compressor tank fill valve?) which should do the job, that and some snoop or home made equivalent should help me find any leaks above the water line.

              Comment


              • #8
                Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_20180413_211534.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	430.1 KB
ID:	747005Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_20180413_211616.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	348.1 KB
ID:	747006

                So a bit more investigation this evening, side cover off showing what appears to be a build up around the element, I'm guessing this was the source of the leak I was told about, I'm also guessing the build up is scale deposits from the leak???? Has anyone seen anything like this before?

                Comment


                • #9
                  I'm thinking the plan might evolve to an element replacement and maybe remove that end plate and replace the gasket.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_20180412_132331.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	430.3 KB
ID:	747007
                    This is the grinder that came with the machine, goes way finer than the sunbeam I have. It's pretty big and solid, and heavy.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_20180417_150654.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	447.7 KB
ID:	747018

                      Boiler has been removed for a clean

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_20180417_150921.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	379.0 KB
ID:	747019

                        And its pretty filthy inside. I like that it has a removable end plate from a maintenance perspective. I also like that the element appears to be a standard size hot water element.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_20180421_183003.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	268.2 KB
ID:	747043

                          Is anyone able to provide me with any information about this controller? I'm interested in whether or not relay 1 and relay 2 are both activated by the level probe, and whether or not they activate at different times.


                          Boema RL40/IES/F

                          Does any one have a data sheet for this or some documentation of any kind?

                          If I had to guess, I would say relay 2 is activated as soon as water touches the probe (this would give you low water protection, illuminating the empty lamp and requiring the manual fill valve if water dropped below the probe).

                          And for the above to be true, relay 1 would have to activate via a difference in resitance/voltage/current depending on how much of the probe was under water.

                          So probe should always be in the water, and the controller will start filling at a point when less of the probe is in the water, then stop when more of the probe is covered by water.

                          If the probe ever ends up completely out of the water, relay 2 will cut power and turn on warning lamp, manual fill switch could then be used to refill the boiler.
                          Last edited by hunty; 21 April 2018, 11:00 PM.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Click image for larger version

Name:	boema electrical wiring.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	29.0 KB
ID:	747046Click image for larger version

Name:	boema electrical wiring2.jpg
Views:	1
Size:	78.6 KB
ID:	747047

                            been tracing through the wiring, think I have it pretty close, still not sure about the RL40 though, if both RL1 and RL2 operate at the same time i cant see that it could get up to temp (unless i have the wiring wrong). On the down side, the GICAR 1d5 fell to bits while i was tracing the wiring, the plastic was extremely brittle, im guessing that could be expensive :-O

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Hi hunty
                              I'm afraid I don't have any info on your control circuit but I would suggest that you may be on the wrong track regarding the operation of the water level probe.
                              I have always been under the impression that these only work as a bi-state sensor, albeit with a bit of latitude in their switching point which would be caused by variations in the conductivity of the water due to the different TDS levels and scale coatings on their surface.
                              I would think that variations in these would make them too inaccurate to use for an analogue signal as you suggest -

                              "And for the above to be true, relay 1 would have to activate via a difference in resitance/voltage/current depending on how much of the probe was under water."

                              The control circuit probably incorporates some hysteresis to avoid frequent pump switching when the tip of the probe makes or breaks contact with the surface of the water in the boiler.
                              Hope this helps
                              Trev

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X