roulstones Senior Member Joined: 9 Jul 2002 Posts: 8 Location: london Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Andreja Premium Grinder: Mazzer E Roaster: Hottop
Posted Sun Mar 2, 2003, 9:31am Subject: Protect Your Espresso Machine
I have rarely rear such complete no scientic rubbish. Espresso machines are basically kettles with pumps. Motors and elements can easily absorb spikes. Any "brain" will be fed by a transformer or switch mode supply which will also absorb any domestic spike.
taoster Senior Member Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 37 Location: Sydney Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Quaha Napoletana 2
Posted Sun Mar 2, 2003, 10:32pm Subject: mm..
i have to agree.. while a surge protector can protect any electrical application from a lightening strike.. it's hard to see how minor spikes and surges affecting a coffee machine.
terryz Senior Member Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 573 Location: Olympia, WA. Expertise: Professional
Posted Mon Mar 3, 2003, 3:41pm Subject: Thanks
Jim, Your article is interesting and I agree in part. The real trouble with 110 volt machines using control units for auto refill, comes from the constant cycling of the power switch and those machines connected to timers. In manufacturing we have adopted the use of inline relays on the line suppling power to the control unit. This has solved most issues in testing over the last year. We however also endorse the use of a simple surge protector on machines to sinmply help reduce the slow breakdown of electrical componants in espresso equipment. Thanks again for a great article.
Posted Tue Mar 4, 2003, 9:46am Subject: Surge Protection?
Jim, if a surge suppressor dumps a surge to ground, then how can it be used on a ground-fault interrupter circuit, which is required in all kitchen receptacles? Have you successfully used a surge supressor in a GFCI outlet?
Radically underemphasized by espresso machine companies, including on-line web merchants. Cheap protection for what often is several thousand dollars worth of equipment. I have surge/spike protection for all equipment, including large grinders and my Astra single-group Gourmet machine.
Posted Fri Mar 7, 2003, 7:24pm Subject: Have you seen actual failures?
I can imagine spikes damaging equipment, particularly from lightning strikes in the area or the surge when the power comes back on after an outage. Given the amount of internally generated noise, however, what with relays and solenoids turning on and off all the time, it's hard to imagine that the power supply to the electronics isn't pretty well filtered already, or it wouldn't work in that environment. What is the frequency of electrical failure in machines that actually have complex electronic control?
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