Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

How long do you leave your machine turned on?

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • How long do you leave your machine turned on?

    Just curious as how long other CSers leave their machines turned on.

    I know this is machine type dependant, but let us all know your what YOU do!

    Personally I turn my VBM on at about 6am and turn of after cleaning about 8pm.

  • #2
    Re: How long do you leave your machine turned on?

    Gazz,

    La Cimbali 2 group.... is on 24/7

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: How long do you leave your machine turned on?

      If you do a search youll find many posts on this topic.

      Google is your friend.


      Java "site:coffeesnobs.com.au" phile
      Toys! I must have new toys!!!

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: How long do you leave your machine turned on?

        Last year when I wasnt working it was on 0600 - 2359.

        Now that Im emplyed again its on around 0530 for my morning cuppa.
        It goes off then (timer) about 1130 so my wifes had time for a tea or two.
        It then goes back on to welcome me home in the evening and off about 2330.

        Weekends it back to 0600-2359.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: How long do you leave your machine turned on?

          Turn it off if you are not using it....that goes for all domestic and semi-commercials.

          As far as I remember the Domobar is fitted with the small pressurestat as fitted to almost all semi commercials. The contact points in the microswitch attached are *minute* compared to those in commercial size pressurestats fitted to regular size commercial machines.

          If you leave it on, the contacts do their job, hour after hour, every day. opening closing etc etc etc ad infinitum.

          So whether you made coffee or not, the designed in "service life" of a very small component is ticking itself away on you, for no gain on your part if the machine is not actually being used to make coffee.

          When left on like this we generally see them come in anytime soon after about 12 to 15 months, the pressurestat (or infact the microswitch attached) fails due to the points pitting and burning, it costs you money to repair and more importantly, loss of your machine for however long it takes for the service to be done.

          These machines are not meant to be left on all the time unless actually being used, and their real warm up time due to their small size is quite fast.....

          As a point of interest I leave my in home Diadema Junior Plus on between breakfast and lunctime only as that is when I drink coffee. It is off from lunchtime until next morning. Management in this way kind of maximises the service life of the components given a certain convenience in leaving the machine on for "instant" service only during the times I am likely to imbibe!

          Regardz,
          FC.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: How long do you leave your machine turned on?

            I leave mine on more than I should. Often it is on all day. Although I should be turning it off, I never know when Ill want a coffee.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: How long do you leave your machine turned on?

              Most weekdays its only on for about 1 - 1.5 hours in the late afternoon.
              Weekends it usually is on for about 1.5 hrs in the morning and again later in the afternoon,
              apart from that, mostly off.

              Generally I like to let it warm up and stabilise for about an hour if I can,
              usually seems to pour a bit better.

              Regards
              Bullitt

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: How long do you leave your machine turned on?

                Originally posted by Fresh_Coffee link=1186040328/0#4 date=1186093682
                Turn it off if you are not using it....that goes for all domestic and semi-commercials.

                If you leave it on, the contacts do their job, hour after hour, every day. opening closing etc etc etc ad infinitum.

                So whether you made coffee or not, the designed in "service life" of a very small component is ticking itself away on you, for no gain on your part if the machine is not actually being used to make coffee.

                When left on like this we generally see them come in anytime soon after about 12 to 15 months, the pressurestat (or infact the microswitch attached) fails due to the points pitting and burning, it costs you money to repair and more importantly, loss of your machine for however long it takes for the service to be done.

                These machines are not meant to be left on all the time unless actually being used, and their real warm up time due to their small size is quite fast.....

                Regardz,
                FC.


                Good point FC.

                I agree it makes little sense to leave the machine on for hours on end when not in actual use.

                It is worth noting that the actual reheat time is much faster than normal if the machine has been in use (and turned off) within 4 to 5 hours due to the thermal mass of the unit itself. A good flush of the group / water / steam wand as soon as the boiler is up to pressure further shortens the time to full operating temp.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: How long do you leave your machine turned on?

                  I bought a Kambrook electronic / programmable timer that can accommodate multiple on/off programs.  Good value for ~$27!

                  Weekdays - On 5:00 am / Off 10:00 am
                  Weekends - On 6:00 am / Off 6:00 pm (were a lot more prone to visitors dropping in on weekends  )

                  Cheers,

                  CQ

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: How long do you leave your machine turned on?

                    Originally posted by Bullitt link=1186040328/0#6 date=1186111458
                    Generally I like to let it warm up and stabilise for about an hour if I can,
                    I also like mine on for a bit before i use it then off it goes. Usually under an hour in the morning and arvo (but sometimes in the evening as well).

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: How long do you leave your machine turned on?

                      Plus they aint cheap to run.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: How long do you leave your machine turned on?

                        Originally posted by Skamp link=1186040328/0#10 date=1186448764
                        Plus they aint cheap to run.
                        As has been discussed in other threads here they arent as expensive to run as you might think. Electricity cost for a 2 group commercial machine left on 24/7 is only about $20-$25 a month.

                        As much as people may want there to be one right answer, there isnt. The right answer is as different as the people asking it are. Each and every situation has to be looked at individually and a determination made for the specific situation.


                        Java "The answer is....It depends!" phile
                        Toys! I must have new toys!!!

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: How long do you leave your machine turned on?

                          I put in this way
                          it costs me approx $2.50 - $3.00 for a good coffee, my consumption is around 5 a day at work, more when Im on my 4 days off shift, sooo theres minimum 50 per 4 day shift - when my machine is working I tend not to buy anymore as I can hold out till I get home, when at home that figure would be higher, so if a machine is going to cost 20-25 per onth to run plus say 1 kilo per week used at around 10 per kilo i think leaving mine on would work out cheaper!

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: How long do you leave your machine turned on?

                            Agreed Javaphile: about $1 a day for electricity has to be condidered relatively inexpensive.

                            My monstrous 3-phase air conditioner costs about $2 AN HOUR to run, central heating about the same. $1 of petrol will drive me some 4 kilometres in light traffic.

                            From memory of calculations I made months ago, leaving the coffee machine on all day is only marginally dearer than for 15 hours -- a matter of cents.

                            --Robusto

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: How long do you leave your machine turned on?

                              Hmmm, I guess some people still dont believe in Global Warming  >

                              I have mine on gas for about 4 or 5 min, 4 times a day + about 3 minutes worth of microwaving ;D

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X