Originally posted by Dragunov21
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Hi all, I am a newb needing suggestions and new machine, under $650?
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You can get a PID/SSR/TC kit for forty bucks... if you were going to go to the effort of installing something, you'd probably be better off doing that
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[QUOTE=CafeLotta;499979]Just be aware that if the screws you remove to fit the temp display show any signs of having been tampered with, it may jeopardise your warranty if the retailer can see the machine has been opened.[/
I was worried about the warranty issue but fortunately as luck has it you must take the screws off to get the laser paper off anyway so no issues there. Off to try my first shot....
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Might grab one of the ones that also has a built in timer on it. Will be useful for timing shots as well.
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..and what do you think is inside that "probe "? ....a TC on the end of a heatproof wire !
a little ingenuity to remove the probe sheath...and away you go !
.. choose one with the longest "probe"
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The problem with the meat thermometers is they don't really have a thermocouple which is very boiler friendly. Most of them have a probe for shoving into a hunk of meat
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Just be aware that if the screws you remove to fit the temp display show any signs of having been tampered with, it may jeopardise your warranty if the retailer can see the machine has been opened.
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If you check the Auction site, you will find those temp displays + Tc's for $2.00 (with free postage !).
but a little more looking and $5 will get you the "meat thermometer" that goes up to 300C !
..but you will probably have to find your own piece of sticky tape !
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Thanks for all the suggestions! Have paid my $19.95 and await the temperature boiler gauge.
I will see how the budget goes in terms of a grinder..... Saw Thor Tampers......so grinder will have to wait
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ok, thats what I was wondering. I've not seen any of those style digital gauges that go above 110.
So how exactly did you attach the thermo couple to the boiler?
I ubnderstand that it's not going to give you the actual water temp at the group head, but it does give you a reference point in the heating routine of the machine.
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I took the lazy option. Head over to that very well know online auction site, and search for "boiler temperature gauge" - you may need to do an advanced search an search ended items as the seller doesn't have any listed currently.Originally posted by mentasm View PostDamien, care to share what you used and how you did your temp readout?
$19.95 delivered (next day from memory), and a two minute install without any technical nous required. It's simply a small digital temp readout, with a thermocouple wire that simply gets tapped onto the outside of the boiler.
Downside is that the readout used maxes out at 110 degrees. Covers the brew cycle, but just shows "Hi" when it's heated for steam. I'd imagine there would be a lag between water temp, and the temp of the outer casing of the boiler (which is what you're getting an indication of), but I've found it helpful in seeing what the machine is doing, and improving consistency in my routine.
Pm me if you want more specific item/seller info.
Cheers,
Damien
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Damien, care to share what you used and how you did your temp readout?
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Good choice... I'd imagine if you had've waited for responses, they would've been dominated by recommendations of the Silvia in that price-point (perhaps following the standard "what grinder do you have?").
I've recently got a Silvia, and put a temp read-out on it. I'd say for the money it cost, and the simplicity of the install, it was worth the cost. Takes some of that guess work and learning curve out of figuring out it's cycling temperature. I'm finding it a little more fussy than my old Breville Ikon (single boiler), but it is clearly capable of noticeably better results when you do get it right (grind/dose/tamp).
Also, having upgraded from the Sunbeam grinder to the Breville Smart grinder, and still having the Sunbeam at work (now paired with the Ikon for my workplace coffee fix), I can certainly recommend keeping an eye out for specials on the Breville. It really shows the Sunbeam up for grind consistency, and is a heck of a lot neater to use... the Sunbeam is terrible when it comes to grind retention (and spitting a fair % of grinds all over the bench, rather than into the basket!).
Good luck, I'm sure you'll enjoy!
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No, I was ready to buy so I spent the day researching as I needed it for Mother's Day but now wondering about PID or a boiler temperature gauge.
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