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  • Giotto PP Problems

    2 Days before christmas I notice my Giotto PP is running hot, well over 1.5bar pressure and plenty of steam.
    On investigation I found that the preessurstat wasn't cutting out causing the element to keep heating the water.

    Trying to find a suitable pressurestat in Brisbane was a bit of a challenge but I ended up getting a "Lefoo" branded one (part number 541020) from a local supplyer.

    On installation and after heating up the Giotto was spewing steam from the connection to the p/stat so I removed it to inspect for the problem. Turns out the box had the wrong
    part in it and I had a 1/8th" p/stat instead of a 1/4".

    Next day (Christmas eve) I took it back to the Brisbane supplyer but he was unable to provide any other alternative.

    I had to wait until the new year to order a Sirai from a sponsor. Anyway the new one arrives and on installaion turn on the machine and the power trips.
    Double check the connections and all other electric wiring all looks good, try again same result - power fuse trips.

    Just to be sure I havent received a faulty p/stat the old one goes back on, same result - power trips. So the new one goes back on.

    If the power wires to the heating elememt are disconnected the machine turns on as normal and the pump operates to replenish the tank.
    of course nothing more happens because there is no heating.

    Plug the element cables back and it trips the power again.

    Any thoughts on the possible fault?
    Could the steam escaping from the pressurestat connection done damage elsewhare?


    Cheers
    Steve

  • #2
    Hi Steve,

    If you have access to a multimeter, test the resistance of your element. It may well have had it. Also, check that you have wired the pressurestat correctly!

    If a lot of steam has been released into the machine, it can get moist enough to create a short. This often happens at the solenoid and then will dry out in time- the short then disappears.

    Comment


    • #3
      Thanks for the response Chris,
      I dug out my trusty old multimeter earlier today but it has been unused for so long it now refuses to work at all. I will pick one up tomorrow. I did take the element out for a look and it has no visible signs of being damaged. (I know that is not the true indication but at least I see no obvious damage) The pressurestat is wired exactly as the original, I took photos and made notes before taking the old one out. The only difference is the new one is a 3 pole compared to the 2 pole original. The tricky bit for me is that the machine does not trip the power if the power to the boiler is disconnected.
      The amount of steam released into the machine was fairly minimal, I shut it down straight away but of course it took a while to all purge out and I wrapped a cloth around it.

      Thanks again

      Steve

      Comment


      • #4
        Hi Steve,

        It's almost certainly the element then. You should get circa 44 ohm resistance. If it's open, it's the element....

        Good luck...

        Chris

        Comment


        • #5
          Thanks Chris,
          I will pick up a mm and check it out


          Steve

          Comment


          • #6
            Heating Element

            Just had a look around for heating element and found this Picture.

            In my machine the element top shorter section actually bends downward and touches the bottom longer section.

            I guess that's not how it is meant to be

            Steve
            Attached Files

            Comment


            • #7
              I have seen plenty of similar ones Steve.

              More likely it has become porous as it has aged.

              Comment


              • #8
                Well I was hoping that it was going to be the element, would have been a simple fix. However it is measuring 46 ohm resistance so I need to look for some other cause.

                Steve

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