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Faema Carisma S1 pressure guage.

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  • noidle22
    replied
    Originally posted by Horrie39 View Post
    Hi, Mal,
    The 16 (on my machine around 14) bar pressure only happens with the blanking filter in place for flushing. Nevertheless that 16 (or so) bar is throughout the circuit from the pump to the pump pressure gauge. Puts a heavy load on the gaskets. Normal coffee production is around 10 bar on the gauge as you suggest.
    Your gauge should read the same with a blind filter as when you are extracting coffee, not different readings. If you are getting a high reading with a blind filter, that means the OPV is set incorrectly and the pump is probably deadheading. By getting a lower reading when extracting, this means you are likely grinding coarse or underdosing which is limiting the system from reaching maximum pressure.

    The OPV on the Carisma is of poor design in my opinion. I had one in the other day and it was reading real high on the gauge with the blind filter, this was attributed to never being set up properly when it was sold (common practice with dodgy sellers, never bench testing machines).

    To adjust the OPV was a really .....fun.... experience. Once you spot it behind some plumbing up against the front panel of the machine, you think it's an easy job of just turning the big nut that the hose comes out of to change the pressure, much like pretty much every other machine on the market. Nope, this just loosens the nut causing a leak, the real adjustment is a very small flat head screw inside the OPV. Thanks to Faema not adding an access panel underneath (which would have been very easy to do) or just orienting the OPV in a more manageable location, you will need to remove the entire OPV in order to get a screwdriver into it to make the adjustment. Removing the full assembly which incorporates a tee fitting and the boiler fill solenoid is the easiest solution I found. I turned the screw out about 1.5 turns I think which gave 9.5-10 bar measured at the group with a portafilter gauge. Real extraction pressure will be slightly lower.

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  • level3ninja
    replied
    The OPV should be immediately after the pump, there's no need for any more than 10bar beyond that point, it'll only stress your machine. You only need 9bar at the puck.

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  • Horrie39
    replied
    Hi, Mal,
    The 16 (on my machine around 14) bar pressure only happens with the blanking filter in place for flushing. Nevertheless that 16 (or so) bar is throughout the circuit from the pump to the pump pressure gauge. Puts a heavy load on the gaskets. Normal coffee production is around 10 bar on the gauge as you suggest.

    Leave a comment:


  • Dimal
    replied
    Originally posted by Horrie39 View Post
    Sixteen bar pump pressure is around 230psi so needs a good robust seal.
    I wouldn't be too happy to have my system setup such that it generates 16Bar in the brew circuit.
    Much better to adjust the OPV so that the maximum is limited to ~10Bar...

    Mal.

    Leave a comment:


  • Horrie39
    replied
    Yeah, similar problem....5 replacement gauges in two years. I discovered that the teflon washer between gauge and capillary tubing was not sealing properly so the pump pressure was forcing water into the tubing until it filled the capillary, displacing the air and then entered the gauge. The gauge needs a cushion of air in the capillary to average out the pulses of the pump so as to read an average pressure. Fill with water and there is no cushion, thus jiggling gauge and internal water. I made up a small brass adaptor for the gauge input that would take a 7mm x 1.8mm viton O ring, dried out the gauge and capillary and, for several months now seems to have cured the problem. Sixteen bar pump pressure is around 230psi so needs a good robust seal.

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  • butchok
    replied
    Same as mine, Vittoria brand. I’m not sure how the water got trapped in the line. I bought mine new from a Bloke that won it in competition and it already had this small issue. First, i thought it was the pump that causing it that’s why I replace it. As you said, they are well engineered machine. Its got everything I was looking for on HX machine. (PID, Boiler and Brew Pressure)

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  • cafelazio
    replied
    That is good news Butchok. Pleased to hear your gauge is steady. What was up with your pump and how do you think water was trapped in the capillary tubing?
    The faema carisma s1 i have has Vittoria stamped on it. I've been very pleased with it. Well engineered i must say.

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  • butchok
    replied
    Yes, Sydney. Thanks for your help Cafelazio. After spending a lot of time with the pump and expnsion valve, finally fix the pressure gauge. As you said, it was moisture in the line and water in gauge that’s causing it to go crazy. As a bonus for trying to fix the gauge, I manage to lower to brew pressure to 10bar because of the new expansion valve installed. Thanks again.

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  • cafelazio
    replied
    After disconnecting capillary tube from the gauge some carefully applied heat to drive any moisture out if it is the problem should do it.
    Good luck butchok, let us know how you go. Are you in Australia ?

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  • butchok
    replied
    Hi cafelazio, thanks for the reply. I replace the expansion valve as discussed on the other thread to eliminate this part with this issue. I installed an adjustable expansion valve and elbow for better access to it when adjusting pressure. But still have same issue with pressure gauge. What’s the best method to remove trapped air in gauge line?

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  • cafelazio
    replied
    Hi butchok, could be any number of causes, apart from the pump or pressure gauge. Expansion valve/opv could be sticking; the dampening on the gauge is no good.
    Water and air trapped in the gauge line would cause it. Process of elimination.

    Leave a comment:


  • butchok
    replied
    The pressure gauge on my Faema Carisma keeps fluctuating. Can’t read anything on the pressure gauge when brewing. Had this issue since new. Any ideas? Is the gauge or pump broken?

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  • cafelazio
    replied
    Hello Airfireman1, i,d agree with the above. I have the same Carisma s1. I think 1.6 bar is a high pressure to be running generally - and scorching your coffee - unless you're pumping out the espresso's with a fast work flow to run that kind of pressure and even then. Faema have a very well engineered home machine. I set the PID at 117° C (0.8 bar) steam is still ok but excellent espresso water temp -no need for cooling flushes. Try that and as Lyrebird suggested the vacuum release valve working correctly; might just solve you're problem. Let us know how you went. Lazio.

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  • Greenlai
    replied
    Originally posted by Airfireman1 View Post
    It sits idle quite well with no pump noise. I do however seem to get excessive pressure on the guage when turned on and heating up. If I operate the grope head valve the pressure drops and stays steady and it does not seem to get condensation in the guage. If I do not release the pressure (sometimes at 16 bar) it causes condensation in the guage.
    Is it over pressurising? And why.
    I'm guessing you mean 1.6 bar, which from memory is where it is set from the factory (1.5 bar). That pressure is good if you are making lots of coffee back to back but I generally set it at 0.9-1.1 bar. The lower pressure reduces your cooling flush.

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  • Airfireman1
    replied
    It sits idle quite well with no pump noise. I do however seem to get excessive pressure on the guage when turned on and heating up. If I operate the grope head valve the pressure drops and stays steady and it does not seem to get condensation in the guage. If I do not release the pressure (sometimes at 16 bar) it causes condensation in the guage.
    Is it over pressurising? And why.

    Leave a comment:

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