EM6910 not heating up/double shot light only working when machine is turned on

[LeroyC]

Great, will try drying it and see how we go. We're not afraid of DIY, but if necessary will take it to a repairer. By any chance are there any good ones in the Wairarapa, as that's where we're based? (or even Wellington?). If not I guess there's always the courier option, if it means it gets looked at by someone who knows what they're doing

LTC Electrical in the Te Aro/Mt Vic area are the ones to talk to. Nice people.

[Karyn]

BTW, thanks to you all for your help. Will try starting it up again tomorrow after a night by the fire and let you know what happens....

[Karyn]

Hmm, I never have removed the tank to fill it, in 10 years!

And here I was thinking I was one of few who fills from above.......good to know I'm not!

[Karyn]

^if you can solder... Even a board replacement needs soldering.

No problem to do a bit of soldering here

[Karyn]

That sounds like excellent advice.

Karyn you should definitely try some active drying of the control board before you try anything else. If that doesn’t work then a new triac or even a whole control board is still cheaper than a new machine. It’s potentially a DIY job, but there’s a couple of good repairers in NZ depending where you’re based.

Great, will try drying it and see how we go. We're not afraid of DIY, but if necessary will take it to a repairer. By any chance are there any good ones in the Wairarapa, as that's where we're based? (or even Wellington?). If not I guess there's always the courier option, if it means it gets looked at by someone who knows what they're doing

[Karyn]

Karyn, I had success in fixing my machine some years ago by taking the covers off and directing a heat lamp at the board for half an hour. Machine never failed again. (Because I filled it very carefully)!

Oh that's great. We don't have a heat lamp, but with 4 degrees here tonight the fire is cranking so the machine's now sitting beside it, just far away enough that the plastic bits don't melt. Will leave it there overnight and try it again tomorrow. Yes, I think we'll be filling much more carefully in future too!

[Karyn]

Well worth the effort in fixing it. And if as said above it is only a triac, all will be well. As for chucking it, I'll put my second crack worth here, happy for you to chuck it my way.
However, what would you get instead, maybe an Em7000, I have one, as well as an EM 6910. You would probably like that it makes less noise, it does not make better coffee, and has a silly temperature sensor in the steam wand. It does not read that accurately according to my milk thermometer.

So if it was me, and I was "forced" to send it to a repair place and spend $100.00 on it, compared with spending nearly $1000.00 on a 7000, I would fix my old one.

As I have said elsewhere, when I got my original EM6910 it had done around 7000 shots, I put at least another 3000 on it before I gave it to my daughter.
It is still going fine.

Now there is a real good guy on here, who knows everything there is to know about repairing these machines.
For the moment I forget his name, not Tampit or Journeyman, I will try and find out who it is.
I know I have read his posts before.

You've talked me into fixing it - although it didn't take much convincing. I don't mind spending a bit on parts/repairs
I'd say this machine has done around 10,000 cups too, but has recently been making some of the best coffee I've had out of it, until the last week or two.

[Karyn]

I've wondered about the sense of pouring water in from the top, above electricals, but figured if they designed it that way surely it wouldn't be a problem.
It seems not to be doing the automatic running thing now - it doesn't seem to be getting up to temperature, power light just keeps flashing and machine isn't feeling as warm as it should when operating properly.

Best bet on all tank machines is to remove tank to fill it. And remove tank and replace it with machine turned off.

Hard to feel sympathy if you dont

The triac is the transistor (switch) that turns the pump on and off. Often it fails in the on position, meaning as soon as you power the machine up, it powers the pump up.

[Jackster]

And now you are here with us....

[rawill]

Best bet on all tank machines is to remove tank to fill it. And remove tank and replace it with machine turned off.

Hard to feel sympathy if you dont
.

Hmm, I never have removed the tank to fill it, in 10 years!

[Jackster]

^if you can solder... Even a board replacement needs soldering.

[LeroyC]

Karyn, I had success in fixing my machine some years ago by taking the covers off and directing a heat lamp at the board for half an hour. Machine never failed again. (Because I filled it very carefully)!

That sounds like excellent advice.

Karyn you should definitely try some active drying of the control board before you try anything else. If that doesn’t work then a new triac or even a whole control board is still cheaper than a new machine. It’s potentially a DIY job, but there’s a couple of good repairers in NZ depending where you’re based.

[alexm1]

Karyn, I had success in fixing my machine some years ago by taking the covers off and directing a heat lamp at the board for half an hour. Machine never failed again. (Because I filled it very carefully)!

[rawill]

Well worth the effort in fixing it. And if as said above it is only a triac, all will be well. As for chucking it, I'll put my 2c worth here, happy for you to chuck it my way.
However, what would you get instead, maybe an Em7000, I have one, as well as an EM 6910. You would probably like that it makes less noise, it does not make better coffee, and has a silly temperature sensor in the steam wand. It does not read that accurately according to my milk thermometer.

So if it was me, and I was "forced" to send it to a repair place and spend $100.00 on it, compared with spending nearly $1000.00 on a 7000, I would fix my old one.

As I have said elsewhere, when I got my original EM6910 it had done around 7000 shots, I put at least another 3000 on it before I gave it to my daughter.
It is still going fine.

Now there is a real good guy on here, who knows everything there is to know about repairing these machines.
For the moment I forget his name, not Tampit or Journeyman, I will try and find out who it is.
I know I have read his posts before.

[Jackster]

Best bet on all tank machines is to remove tank to fill it. And remove tank and replace it with machine turned off.

Hard to feel sympathy if you dont

The triac is the transistor (switch) that turns the pump on and off. Often it fails in the on position, meaning as soon as you power the machine up, it powers the pump up.