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Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

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  • blend52
    Guest replied
    Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

    mompt.
    Yes the chinese PIDs are available for $25 -$30 with TC and free postage, likewise SSRs for $5 delivered.
    You can actually find the bigger sized PIDs for inder $20 !!
    I havnt come across any PIDs witha "built in" SSR, but most of them do have a built in "mechanical" relay, but usually only rated for a 3A max load.
    however, i recently fitted one of these chinese cheapies ( XMT 7100) to my Silvia before my SSR arrived and used the inbuilt relay to switch the heater ( 1100W = 4.5 A).
    It worked fine, but i only did it after i inspected the PID and noticed that the internal relay was actually stamped with a 7 A rating by its maker ( Panasonic).
    I have since installed the SSR to see if the functionality changes.
    I would suggest you carefully chose the thermocouple type ( K, Pt, etc) and tip size, since i believe the placement of this TC tip can make a big difference in temp control.
    Go for it !

    Leave a comment:


  • mompt
    replied
    Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

    Im sorry to dig this fossil up.. Thinking of PIDing my gaggia. Just cant make up my mind on the PID to get. Im going for the cheap ebay ones. Cant seem to work out whether Im misreading the ads or if some of the PIDs come with built in SSRs. Either way, I dont know if prices have dropped significantly in the past couple of years or if Im looking at the wrong things. But yeh looking for a rough price of 30-40AUD for the whole lot PID, SSR + thermocouple.

    I know i shouldnt be really posting this but heres what im looking at.

    Then dont post it. eBay link removed per site posting policy

    Leave a comment:


  • conan.obrien
    replied
    Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

    Originally posted by 18333E2E3C3B2F345A0 link=1238569278/15#15 date=1239403048
    did you find any difference to the steaming Jim? my steam for some reason is now REALLY strong....makes a huge difference to the milk 

    Ive been thinking about why a pid on the brew temp might improve the steaming and I think the pid might help reduce the temperature stratification within the boiler as a side effect of making the temperature more stable over time. When the top of the boiler is at steam temperature then more of the water in the boiler is hot enough for steaming.

    Maybe.

    Leave a comment:


  • Bidtfaun
    replied
    Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

    no probs...saved you from getting an incorrect thermocouple!

    Leave a comment:


  • ruurdjan
    replied
    Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

    Originally posted by 7C575A4A585F4B503E0 link=1238569278/22#22 date=1240135184
    ahh I see you are looking at WRENCH size, not the diameter of the bolt which if you measure with some vernier calipers is 4mm..hence M4

    upon close inspection of the parts page you linked to I see M4 under the thermostats, not M2
    Apologies, I stand corrected.

    RJ

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  • Bidtfaun
    replied
    Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

    ahh I see you are looking at WRENCH size, not the diameter of the bolt which if you measure with some vernier calipers is 4mm..hence M4

    upon close inspection of the parts page you linked to I see M4 under the thermostats, not M2



    Leave a comment:


  • Bidtfaun
    replied
    Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

    interesting....i will PM you a link...

    Leave a comment:


  • ruurdjan
    replied
    Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

    Thanks.

    Originally posted by 5E7578687A7D69721C0 link=1238569278/19#19 date=1240104261
    i believe it is M4 (which is 4mm) x0.7 (I think the thread pitch) and is 6 mm long
    4mm = M2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screw#Thread_standards)
    which, as I just found out, matches the Gaggia spare part diagram (http://www.coffeeparts.com/gaggia/gaggia2.html).

    RJ

    Leave a comment:


  • Bidtfaun
    replied
    Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

    i believe it is M4 (which is 4mm) x0.7 (I think the thread pitch) and is 6 mm long

    Leave a comment:


  • ruurdjan
    replied
    Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

    Originally posted by 4C676A7A686F7B600E0 link=1238569278/11#11 date=1239331955
    the one that came with the PID had a 6mm threaded fitting which obviously wouldnt go into a 4mm hole
    Just to confirm: the Gaggia has a M2 (=4mm) thermostat hole?

    Just so I can order a fitting thermocouple...

    thx.,

    RJ

    Leave a comment:


  • Bidtfaun
    replied
    Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

    odd that mine is stronger as I left the stock steam thermostat in too....

    anyway..here is the finished result



    Leave a comment:


  • jggall01
    replied
    Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

    Originally posted by 153E332331362239570 link=1238569278/15#15 date=1239403048
    did you find any difference to the steaming Jim? my steam for some reason is now REALLY strong....makes a huge difference to the milk  8-)
    I left the stock steam thermostat in charge of steaming, so no change.

    Jim

    Leave a comment:


  • Bidtfaun
    replied
    Re: Building a PID kit for Gaggia Classic

    did you find any difference to the steaming Jim? my steam for some reason is now REALLY strong....makes a huge difference to the milk 8-)

    Leave a comment:


  • jggall01
    replied
    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

    Leave a comment:


  • Bidtfaun
    replied
    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...

    Leave a comment:

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