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Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

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  • Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

    entertained myself by researching PIDs on espresso machines today..ended up buying a controller (with thermocouple included) and a solid state relay on ebay for a total price of around $95 delivery included...all i need now is an enclosure to put the unit in, wire the sucker into my machine, and set it up..cant wait for the bits to arrive...once bitten by the mod bug....theres no way of turning back...will post pics and results when fitted and running

  • #2
    Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

    Keep us informed Bidtfaun DIY projects are always most welcome.

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    • #3
      Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

      getting everything ready for when the PID & SSR arrive...made a couple of looms..left one is for the relay to element power switching. right one is for PID power source and so the PID can switch the relay on and off



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      • #4
        Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

        Bidtfaun -

        Your looms look good to me. Anxious to hear the final results.

        Pay close attention to the connections between your new wires and the existing brew thermostat wires. The Silvias wiring allows the use of a fully insulated male 6mm flat connector, so no conductors can become exposed.

        I think your Classic, however, might use a flag connector at the brew thermostat, so using partially insulated connectors (the red ones in your first photo) is probably necessary. Once youve joined the wires, though, inspect to be sure all the conductors are covered since these connections generally can move around a little.

        Jim

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        • #5
          Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

          thanks Jim yeah wherever I notice bare metal where AC power will be flowing, I will insulate accordingly to protect from zappage..a little heat shrink over the whole connection should suffice. I dont wanna know what AC feels like...nor does my wife or unborn child! I am waiting on my relay, and then the fun can begin...got my controller now...am going to be installing the PID into a PVC enclosure which wont look the best..but is electrically safe and easier to cut holes out of..

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          • #6
            Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

            okie dokie...one PID & one relay..to be fitted tomorrow after breakfast...

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            • #7
              Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

              After breakfast????? I reckon you should do it beforehand. Itll provide the incentive to work faster!

              Good luck with it JimBob.

              Evan.

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              • #8
                Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

                now now....I need coffee before i can start...silly person :P lol

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                • #9
                  Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

                  You finished yet??

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                  • #10
                    Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

                    nup..about to start ....geez you old people have no patience do ya! :P

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                    • #11
                      Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

                      Done yet?

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                      • #12
                        Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

                        alright youve pushed me...all done..well nearly..I just have to get some of that whizzbang double sided tape you have Evan to mount it on the side of the machine..it is set to 107 deg, but will have to do the auto tune function during a few runs to teach it how the machine behaves...

                        edit: forgot to mention..the hardest bit of this build was creating a thermocouple that would fit into the original brew thermostat hole...the one that came with the PID had a 6mm threaded fitting which obviously wouldnt go into a 4mm hole..so a 4mm screw had to have a hole drilled down the center of the shaft (first go too 8-))...cut off the thermocouple fitting and the exposed wires threaded through to the other side, where they were twisted and soldered with lead free solder....I would have taken a pic but didnt, and now its too late as it is fitted in the machine and there is no way I am removing it (was rather awkward to get into the boiler)...



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                        • #13
                          Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

                          Great stuff mate. Now, it all looks pretty schmicko but have you pulled a shot yet??

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                          • #14
                            Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

                            cheers Evan just pulled a decaf for my wife & I, and it was bloody beautiful..I seem to have a pretty vicious steam too...so I had a fantastic microfoam too...well worth it...just have to autotune during a few shots to teach it a few things...

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                            • #15
                              Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

                              Originally posted by 0D262B3B292E3A214F0 link=1238569278/11#11 date=1239331955
                              edit: forgot to mention..the hardest bit of this build was creating a thermocouple that would fit into the original brew thermostat hole...the one that came with the PID had a 6mm threaded fitting which obviously wouldnt go into a 4mm hole..so a 4mm screw had to have a hole drilled down the center of the shaft (first go tooCool)...cut off the thermocouple fitting and the exposed wires threaded through to the other side, where they were twisted and soldered with lead free solder....
                              Very nicely done.

                              I added a PID to a Gaggia a few months back (just for the experience and knowledge -- we do not offer kits).  I made a thermocouple probe very similar to yours, and found that it worked a little better than a washer-style probe fastened to the outside of the boiler.

                              FWIW, I found that with this style probe, a setpoint of 226F (btwn 107C and 108C) gave a brew temp of 200F (93C).

                              If you can find some 3M Dual Lock material, I have concluded that it is the very best stuff for mounting your enclosure.

                              Jim

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