Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Automatic timer switches

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

  • Automatic timer switches

    Anyone use one of those timer switches to turn your machine on in the mornings.

    Im talking about those devices at the power socket where you set your time desired, then have both your machine and the power outlet turned ON.

    Any harm in using them with espresso machines?

  • #2
    Re: Automatic timer switches

    Ive been using one for ages.
    No problems at all.
    The machine wakes up same time as me and by the time I shower and dress its ready to make my morning cuppa.

    In fact, Ive noticed that the switch on my Expobar appears to be a little damaged and it cant be from turning it on/off because it stays on and the timer does all the work.

    If Id have been manually turning the machine on and off the switch would have been completely broken by now.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Automatic timer switches

      I use one for sure, no harm as far as I can see... but you just have to take note of how much load (amperage) youre plugging into it and that the switch can take it. Most on the market are fine. Switches 45mins before I wake and then on again 30 mins before I get home from work.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Automatic timer switches

        TG, damaged how? as in cracking or crackling, or bad connection(high resistance from corrosion). I read somewhere someone used a timer switch on an Expobar for so long and never actually used the actual switch that maybe some condensation mucked around with the terminals cos it never got used. Wasnt substantiated though. Could have just been a dodgey switch.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Automatic timer switches

          I got a digital one from bunnings - works a treat - for most of the higher end machines I have seen switching it on/off at the wall will make no difference then switching it on/off at the machines switch.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Automatic timer switches


            Switches 45mins before I wake and then on again 30 mins before I get home from work.
            **shudder**
            Make sure you have a working smoke alarm nearby fellas.

            Please be extra paranoid about unattended, hot and wet electrical items.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Automatic timer switches

              Well, my on/off switch on the Expobar actually died.
              It basically crumbled away like the plastic holding some of it together just perished.

              I too use a timer (7 day programmable from www.dailydeals.etc), so the switch is rarely in the off position.

              I dont know if it was the always on syndrome or the fact that the switch was dodgy, but I had to replace it.

              It was all of $2.75 to replace, but finding a shop that had the damn thing was the challenge.

              I went to Middys but no luck, they sent me to another electrical wholesaler, they had none, they sent me to an audio specialist who had buckets of them. I bought 2 just in case it happens again. Not exactly the same as the original (slightly different terminals - 6 rather than 4, and no markings on the switch - but they did have some with ON/OFF), but the same size, same colour and does the same job. Took 5 minutes to replace.

              I now toggle my switch off and on when I do my weekly chemical backflush.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Automatic timer switches

                Yep - Ive been using one on my La Pavoni commercial machine for yonx.
                This thing costs a second mortgage in power bills if Im not careful.
                I set the timer to come on at times I know Im gonna be at home and want a coffee...
                works well!
                Cheers, Anthony

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Automatic timer switches

                  Me too - I use a slim HPM unit, works well - Point of Caution, make sure the steam valve is shut properly and all switches in the right place

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Automatic timer switches

                    Originally posted by Andy Freeman link=1211203775/0#5 date=1211205195
                    Switches 45mins before I wake and then on again 30 mins before I get home from work.
                    **shudder**
                    Make sure you have a working smoke alarm nearby fellas.

                    Please be extra paranoid about unattended, hot and wet electrical items.
                    I also have it on its own designated residual current device so Ive got that part covered. And yeah the smokie is around the corner. You do those things as a sparky. Thanks for your concern though Andy and good advice

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Automatic timer switches

                      Originally posted by argon link=1211203775/0#8 date=1211239751
                      Me too - I use a slim HPM unit, works well - Point of Caution, make sure the steam valve is shut properly and all switches in the right place
                      Haha, yea hI learnt that one early on. After leaving the steam knob open to bleed the boiler on shut-down, I forgot to do it back up again only to wake in the morning to hissssssss. I havent done it since.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Automatic timer switches

                        I use a programmable switch from DSE. It is programmed for morning and afternoon with different start times at the weekend (later times at w/e ). I would always advise additional precautions such as RCDs etc and avoid cheap and nasty crap. Mine has been in use for around 3 years without problem (so far).

                        Ron

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Automatic timer switches

                          A frightening number of "I need to replace the boiler [or pump] on my Silvia" stories begin with "I had my Silvia on a timer, but I accidentally left ...."

                          Proceed with caution.

                          Jim

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Automatic timer switches

                            Originally posted by PIDKits link=1211203775/0#12 date=1211252868
                            A  frightening number of "I need to replace the boiler [or pump] on my Silvia" stories begin with "I had my Silvia on a timer, but I accidentally left ...."

                            Proceed with caution.

                            Jim
                            Jim, I hear what you are saying, and what Andy had to say earlier. I would have thought, however, that there would be at least an equal number of people who could say "If Id had my machine on a timer, it wouldnt have been left to leak all night, Id have picked up the leaking wand when I woke up / got home from work after it had only leaked for 1/2 hour....."

                            If you are someone who uses your machine frequently throughout the day, then turning her off and on and waiting for her to warm up every time you want coffee isnt an option. In this case a timer to make sure the machine is off overnight and while youre out of the house seems to be good sense to me.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Automatic timer switches

                              Originally posted by Andy Freeman link=1211203775/0#5 date=1211205195
                              Switches 45mins before I wake and then on again 30 mins before I get home from work.
                              **shudder**
                              Make sure you have a working smoke alarm nearby fellas.

                              Please be extra paranoid about unattended, hot and wet electrical items.
                              In order to protect the silvia we also put a surge protector - not that it is the most sensitive piece of equipment in the house (good idea for the 6910 with its circuit board and all) - with an inbuilt earth leakage switch in addition to the one for the house. We are paranoid for all our equipment as we are renting an old house with fairly dodgy electricals.

                              Have been greatful for it once already as when I was last descaling I spilled water on the machine causing the earth leakage on the machine to trip ( I was touching the machine at the time).

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X