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Machines to and from the USA: How easy?

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  • #31
    Re: Machines to a from the USA: How easy?

    Originally posted by 0A3E293F24130F232A2A29294C0 link=1293198143/29#29 date=1293584928
    Cam,

    I cant see the need to do anything other than clean the machine thoroughly incl backflushing the group with the propretary detergent then re seasoning as normal. Use the group head brush to clean the group ring. Use the back flushing detergent to wipe out or soak the group handles. Do not soak the black handles just the filter holding part. The detergent is aggressive and if allowed to soak into the steel stud that connects the plastic handle to the brass filter holder part, will eventually cause problems with corrosion exploding the handle and seizing the stud into the holder turning it into a throw away.

    Then I would turn the machine off so the auto fill is not activated when I then open the hot water valve, and let a couple of cup fulls of water out of the boiler. Then close the valve.

    Open the steam valve and let out all the steam.

    Pack up.

    Write down what you did and leave it on top of the machine for when you come back.

    When you return, switch it on and because you let water out of the boiler before packing it up, it will put clean water into the boiler first up....the auto fill  will obviously run for an extended period. Open the steam tap and leave it open until steam starts to leak out as the machine heats up. Once it has started to leak out, close the steam tap.

    If you want to flush more water through the boiler, let some out and it will refill with mofre frsh water.


    Grinder. Wash hopper with warm soapy water, dry thoroughly.

    Stick vacuum cleaner hose down inlet throat and suck it out. Start grinder and let it spin out remaining grinds, suck out again with vacuum cleaner. Suck out of doser unit.

    Clean up and pack away.

    Other than that I cant see the point in doing much else, but someone please correct me if you have any other ideas.

    Regardz,
    Attilio.  
    Thank you so much for this post. Information like this is pure gold and the fact that you share it so generously and willingly is humbling.

    Comment


    • #32
      Re: Machines to a from the USA: How easy?

      Originally posted by 6373647575333231393632010 link=1293198143/30#30 date=1293599482
      Thank you so much for this post.Information like this is pure gold and the fact that you share it so generously and willingly is humbling.
      DITTO... a wealth of information that took more than a token minute or two to put together. Much appreciated and will make certain that these steps are followed the next time I get shipped off somewhere.

      Comment


      • #33
        Re: Machines to a from the USA: How easy?

        Thankyou.

        Comment


        • #34
          Re: Machines to a from the USA: How easy?

          hello,
          if buying a 110 v espresso machine is it easy? possible? sensible? to somehow convert it to 220v if living outside the US?
          what needs to be done? just buying a converter?
          short of a converter how expensive is it to convert a machine to 220v? can one buy gadgets from places like orphanespresso to do this? (ihave emailed orphan recently and they dont respond).
          any ideas would be helpful.
          thanks

          Comment


          • #35
            Re: Machines to a from the USA: How easy?

            Hello mankini,

            Your question has been spliced to this thread as its essentially the same question, but in reverse.

            2mcm

            Comment


            • #36
              Re: Machines to a from the USA: How easy?

              Originally posted by 6D5255524F5A48485E3B0 link=1293198143/17#17 date=1293367107
              I think youll find that many of the electrical components (wiring loom, switch etc...) as opposed to the electronics, of a 240v machine easily withstand anything a 110v system can throw at it in the US and will, therefore, not need to be changed at all
              Not true.... :P

              Be careful what you recommend unless you have the qualifications to make such recommendations c w. The heating element current draw on U.S. machines is considerably higher since similar heat output demand at the lower voltage requires nearly twice the current. This would definitely rate as a fire risk, at the very least.....

              Mal.

              Comment


              • #37
                Re: Machines to a from the USA: How easy?

                It depends on the machine and how long you intend to keep it, its cost there (here) , shipping cost, and the cost of making it work there, the probable lack of warranty, and the possible damage to it when shipped. Also consider that its resale value there will be limited as well.

                Conversion? Probably not worth it - heating element, pressurestat, indicator lamps, control box, etc.

                Comment


                • #38
                  Re: Machines to a from the USA: How easy?

                  Originally posted by 5974707C711D0 link=1293198144/35#35 date=1293693396
                  Be careful what you recommend unless you have the qualifications to make such recommendations c w. The heating element current draw on U.S. machines is considerably higher since similar heat output demand at the lower voltage requires nearly twice the current. This would definitely rate as a fire risk, at the very least....

                  Heating elements are designed with specify "watt density" - generally in the range of 15 - 40 W/cm2. This is used to determine the performance and materials used in construction.

                  Whilst we tend to focus JUST on wattage when we mostly talk about elements, the fact is engineers who design and build elements take BOTH the voltage and wattage into consideration.

                  If you apply a higher voltage to an element over a period of time, the element will burn out quicker. Remember, voltage is a positive potential or tension (force) being applied. Squeeze something hard enough for a while and yes, you guess the rest.

                  The inverse applies when you under-supply a lower voltage to an element. Say, if you feed a supply that was 50V under the rating on a element designed for 240V, then the heat output on a 1800W element will be 1425W.

                  The result of under-supply is longer heat and recovery times. The element will eventually get the boiler hot, it just takes a little longer because the heat output is lower.

                  I do not know the specs of the element in the Giotto, however, you will find that manufacturers of elements will NOT recommend operating their elements on a voltage for which it was not originally designed. This is a common policy across all suppliers of equipment that contain heating elements, ranging from hot water systems, kettles, ovens, heaters, etc.

                  The reason suppliers do not recommend operating equipment on incorrect voltage has very little to do with trying to prevent "grey marketing" and everything to do with your own personal safety.



                  (someone who gave up Electrical Engineering to roast coffee !)

                  Comment


                  • #39
                    Re: Machines to and from the USA: How easy?

                    Originally posted by 7F7F7F2E1C0 link=1293198144/37#37 date=1293751008
                    The reason suppliers do not recommend operating equipment on incorrect voltage has very little to do with trying to prevent "grey marketing" and everything to do with your own personal safety.
                    In Summary:

                    Heating elements are only one aspect. AC motors and control ccts also have the issue of frequency to manage.

                    Then there is the issue of insulation and the wiring and or component spacing on any boards running AC to maintain a safe system.

                    Many electronic units today may be rated 240/110 but in general they are in effect a DC system where the AC to DC power-supply has been designed to manage the different inputs and provide a stable DC at the loads required.

                    However I am unaware of any Coffee machine where all operations are under DC.

                    Machines are designed to run at a specific input for good reasons and attempts to do other wise; puts you and the machine at risk.

                    Comment


                    • #40
                      Re: Machines to a from the USA: How easy?

                      Originally posted by 32323263510 link=1293198144/37#37 date=1293751008
                      (someone who gave up Electrical Engineering to roast coffee !)
                      Me too.... At home

                      Mal.

                      Comment


                      • #41
                        Re: Machines to and from the USA: How easy?

                        The issue of frequency isnt a problem, the electronics rectify it down to DC for some of the machine s applications, and the power RMS for heating elements, is more an issue of the 240v vs 110V. So if you can score a 5000W step up transformer, you are in business. this 50hz vs 60hz is more an issue with TVs and clocks which use the frequency as part of their intrinsic , design , unless your machine usese the power supply to time the flows duration.

                        Must be a cheap transformer to make it worth it considering what things cost in the USA (new machine) if you wanted a new machine.




                        Comment


                        • #42
                          Re: Machines to and from the USA: How easy?

                          Originally posted by 494E5F5F4E594A5F4344464E2B0 link=1293198144/40#40 date=1293844534
                          The issue of frequency isnt a problem, the electronics rectify it down to DC for some of the machine s applications, and the power RMS for heating elements, is more an issue of the 240v vs 110V. So if you can score a 5000W step up transformer, you are in business. this 50hz vs 60hz is more an issue with TVs and clocks which use the frequency as part of their intrinsic , design , unless your machine usese the power supply to time the flows duration.

                          Must be a cheap transformer to make it worth it considering what things cost in the USA (new machine) if you wanted a new machine.
                          Tell that to the control board, solenoid coil, pressurestat and pump- all of which will be expecting 60 Hz. Not to mention that all electrical replacement parts and your warranty will also reside in the US and that nobody will want it 2nd hand.

                          Comment


                          • #43
                            Re: Machines to and from the USA: How easy?

                            Originally posted by 65627373627566736F686A62070 link=1293198144/40#40 date=1293844534
                            The issue of frequency isnt a problem, the electronics rectify it down to DC for some of the machine s applications, and the power RMS for heating elements, is more an issue of the 240v vs 110V. So if you can score a 5000W step up transformer, you are in business. this 50hz vs 60hz is more an issue with TVs and clocks which use the frequency as part of their intrinsic , design , unless your machine usese the power supply to time the flows duration.

                            Must be a cheap transformer to make it worth it considering what things cost in the USA (new machine) if you wanted a new machine.
                            These arent the components Im concerned about, its more to do with electromechanical devices that are supplied direct with AC and therefore subject to shifts in impedance. One would hope that modern espresso machine electronic power supplies are of the Switched Mode variety and therefore not sensitive to variations in line voltage and frequency. This may not be the case with older machines though....

                            Mal.

                            Comment


                            • #44
                              Re: Machines to and from the USA: How easy?

                              Originally posted by 635740564D7A664A43434040250 link=1293198144/29#29 date=1293584928
                              Cam,

                              I cant see the need to do anything other than clean the machine thoroughly incl backflushing the group with the propretary detergent then re seasoning as normal. Use the group head brush to clean the group ring. Use the back flushing detergent to wipe out or soak the group handles. Do not soak the black handles just the filter holding part. The detergent is aggressive and if allowed to soak into the steel stud that connects the plastic handle to the brass filter holder part, will eventually cause problems with corrosion exploding the handle and seizing the stud into the holder turning it into a throw away.

                              Then I would turn the machine off so the auto fill is not activated when I then open the hot water valve, and let a couple of cup fulls of water out of the boiler. Then close the valve.

                              Open the steam valve and let out all the steam.

                              Pack up.

                              Write down what you did and leave it on top of the machine for when you come back.

                              When you return, switch it on and because you let water out of the boiler before packing it up, it will put clean water into the boiler first up....the auto fill  will obviously run for an extended period. Open the steam tap and leave it open until steam starts to leak out as the machine heats up. Once it has started to leak out, close the steam tap.

                              If you want to flush more water through the boiler, let some out and it will refill with mofre frsh water.


                              Grinder. Wash hopper with warm soapy water, dry thoroughly.

                              Stick vacuum cleaner hose down inlet throat and suck it out. Start grinder and let it spin out remaining grinds, suck out again with vacuum cleaner. Suck out of doser unit.

                              Clean up and pack away.

                              Other than that I cant see the point in doing much else, but someone please correct me if you have any other ideas.

                              Regardz,
                              Attilio.  
                              Attilio / Fresh Coffee,

                              Thanks for your detailed recommendation on prep for storing my machine - certainly appreciate your experience in this post.

                              I am now shopping the US websites for a replacement setup - go the aussie dollar - I might be inline for an upgrade

                              Thanks for all the other input from other members as well.

                              Cam.

                              Comment


                              • #45
                                Re: Machines to and from the USA: How easy?

                                Originally posted by 55595653515651380 link=1293198144/44#44 date=1294100429
                                Originally posted by 75797673717671180 link=1293198144/33#33 date=1293660269
                                hello,
                                if buying a 110 v espresso machine is it easy? possible? sensible? to somehow convert it to 220v if living outside the US?
                                what needs to be done? just buying a converter?
                                short of a converter how expensive is it to convert a machine to 220v? can one buy gadgets from places like orphanespresso to do this? (ihave emailed orphan recently and they dont respond).
                                any ideas would be helpful.
                                thanks
                                In case you didnt understand 2mcm - the answers above all apply to your question as well.

                                Specifically though:
                                Is it easy? - No.
                                Possible? - Yes (at a large cost).
                                Sensible - Probably not (considering the previous answer).

                                Comment

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