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DIY Scace 1 (like) thermofilter device advice sought

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  • DIY Scace 1 (like) thermofilter device advice sought

    Hi all,

    I'm in the process of honing my HX flushing ritual.

    Having failed to locate a genuine Scace device for rental, I'm biting the bullet and making my own.

    I mostly know what I'm doing, but would greatly appreciate some guidance from anyone who's been there and done that. I understand it won't be the real thing.

    I already have a K-type thermocouple and a non-data-logging DMM that will read it. I anticipate using my naked portafilter, but I haven't determined how to get the thermocouple into the puck and whether to just go with coffee, or to rig up some kind of flow rate restrictor. This is the bit where I'm on pause.

    Can anyone suggest a basic blueprint to get me up and running.

    Much appreciated!

  • #2
    I'd also be interested in something like this as it seems no one owns/rents one of these in Bris

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    • #3
      Use cut pads of kitchen sponge to adjust your flow rate.

      The probe may be able to be simply hooked over the side of the portafilter/basket depending on how it's sheathed and how soft your group gasket is.

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      • #4
        Originally posted by Dragunov21 View Post
        Use cut pads of kitchen sponge to adjust your flow rate.

        The probe may be able to be simply hooked over the side of the portafilter/basket depending on how it's sheathed and how soft your group gasket is.
        Thanks, but not having much luck with the sponges. Using the bright coloured ones cut into a circle. Can't really get more than one layer in, and flow isn't slowing appreciably - about 30 grams in 5 seconds.

        Where am I going wrong?

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        • #5
          Originally posted by Seaperson View Post
          Thanks, but not having much luck with the sponges. Using the bright coloured ones cut into a circle. Can't really get more than one layer in, and flow isn't slowing appreciably - about 30 grams in 5 seconds.

          Where am I going wrong?
          Try a single layer of cling wrap, with 2 or 3 small holes pricked in it. Drape over the p/f, get it so it is sitting relatively flat inside the filter basket, sit thermocouple in basket, bent over the side of p/f. Vary your holes / size / amount to get the trickle that comes out to the right amount.

          You need to flick the pump switch on and off a couple of times to slowly build up the pressure so that the cling wrap does not completely burst.

          You have to take into account that temps will be a slightly different when dealing with a compressed puck. But this can give a good indication prior to trying the thermocouple on top of the actual puck.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by Seaperson View Post
            Thanks, but not having much luck with the sponges. Using the bright coloured ones cut into a circle. Can't really get more than one layer in, and flow isn't slowing appreciably - about 30 grams in 5 seconds.

            Where am I going wrong?
            Ahk, in that case, make a double, pour it until you're only getting water out, and then put the sponge on top of that to add a little extra resistance. I only needed one layer myself.

            Dirty, but it works.

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            • #7
              Originally posted by Steve82 View Post
              Try a single layer of cling wrap, with 2 or 3 small holes pricked in it. Drape over the p/f, get it so it is sitting relatively flat inside the filter basket, sit thermocouple in basket, bent over the side of p/f. Vary your holes / size / amount to get the trickle that comes out to the right amount.

              You need to flick the pump switch on and off a couple of times to slowly build up the pressure so that the cling wrap does not completely burst.

              You have to take into account that temps will be a slightly different when dealing with a compressed puck. But this can give a good indication prior to trying the thermocouple on top of the actual puck.
              Tried it with Glad Wrap. Think it ripped on the way in. Tried it again. Disaster.

              You must have stronger cling film or a lighter touch. But thanks for your help.

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by Dragunov21 View Post
                Ahk, in that case, make a double, pour it until you're only getting water out, and then put the sponge on top of that to add a little extra resistance. I only needed one layer myself.

                Dirty, but it works.
                My sponges are about 15mm thick when damp. One layer almost fills the puck. Is that what you're using?

                I imagine if you have a sponge on top of a spent puck you must be pushed up quite tight against the shower screen. Do you position your thermocouple bead to make sure it's not pressed against metal?

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                • #9
                  Remember that sponges are very compressible. It is still a tight fit though.

                  I put my TC bead just buried in the surface of the puck then put the sponge on top of that and lock the PF in place.

                  There'll be some thermal conductivity to the bead through the sponge but that should be rendered irrelevant as soon as water is coursing through it all.

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                  • #10
                    Dropping it across the spent puck seems to do the trick. It's, as you say, dirty, but close enough to see what's going on. Now I need a meter that resolves to .1 degrees so it's not jumping up and down a degree at a time.

                    Edit: just picked up a cheap Digital Thermometer that comes with 2 K-type probes, with 0.1 degree resolution, plus you can calibrate it. Under 30 dollars delivered. Bargain.
                    Last edited by Seaperson; 11 October 2013, 03:52 PM. Reason: eBay link removed

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                    • #11
                      Yeah, you'll wanna calibrate it against something known.

                      Calibrating thermocouples

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Dragunov21 View Post
                        Yeah, you'll wanna calibrate it against something known.

                        Calibrating thermocouples
                        Ah, that's the easy part. I have a couple of other excellent digital thermometers - including a thermapen - to compare.

                        My initial observations using the quick and dirty method suggest that by the third shot I'm pushing water that's a little bit cool. The first couple are okay, but then the temperature plummets and takes ages to come back up.

                        I'm going to have to look at boosting my recovery time somehow. Not sure whether cranking up the boiler will do the trick.

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