beerwiffle Senior Member Joined: 6 Jul 2012 Posts: 8 Location: San Francisco Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: '76,'94 europiccola Grinder: Vario Drip: Aeropress Roaster: Poppery II - Hot Rod
Posted Thu Jul 19, 2012, 11:02pm Subject: 2 switch La Pavoni Professional
As far as I looked, I haven't seen anyone do this kind of mod.
A little background: I accidentally bought a '76 europiccola in need of some serious TLC, and while I was waiting for that one to arrive I bought a '77 pro locally for 300$. All it needed was a descale and some gaskets. Fast forward a couple weeks--I bought a '94 europiccola that made 3 espressos and just sat on a counter. Then on a whim I bought another abused europiccola cheaply. After further examination, this last machine was a '76 model, but the heating element was in pristine condition and bore a date in the 80s. I am seriously considering just using it for a parts machine--having an extra group head around for easy biweekly-monthly dow111 re-lubings, and then for the pro: switching out the pstat for a 2 switch model.
Am I crazy for wanting to change my pavoni pro into a 2 switch model?
hankbates Senior Member Joined: 2 Feb 2012 Posts: 30 Location: Yarmouth Port, Cape Cod, Massachusetts Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Pavoni Professional... Grinder: LaPavoni Jolly Roaster: Hottop
Posted Sun Jul 22, 2012, 7:32am Subject: Re: 2 switch La Pavoni Professional
If the heating element and the pstat are both working on the pro, I would leave it alone, saving the parts machine as backup. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
I have used both single switch and dual switch machines, and see only disadvantages in turning switches on and off not only to maintain temperature but also to keep from boiling all the water out.....
If I ever needed to replace the single pro element with the double, I would even consider keeping the pstat in (drill and tap a hole in the center of the element to mount it). This would combine the ability to provide low heat input when and if ever actually required, with the ease of operation of the pstat.
Posted Sun Jul 22, 2012, 8:09pm Subject: Re: 2 switch La Pavoni Professional
I've considered putting a two stage heating element in a pro, or otherwise swapping a pro boiler into a Europiccola. Given the quantity of machines you have I think it's worth exploring. Do you have prefer the two switch operation to the pstat? You might want to pay attention to any differences in the tuning of the relief valves.
What I would like to see is a Pro with three modes: low, high, high w/ pstat
N.B. It's nice to see someone else on the forum with the tendency to purchase large numbers of La Pavonis. Last week I was at 5, now I'm down to 3.
beerwiffle Senior Member Joined: 6 Jul 2012 Posts: 8 Location: San Francisco Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: '76,'94 europiccola Grinder: Vario Drip: Aeropress Roaster: Poppery II - Hot Rod
Posted Mon Jul 23, 2012, 4:07pm Subject: Re: 2 switch La Pavoni Professional
I do prefer the 2 switch. With the pstat, I have to time my shot pulling because with a .2 bar band--I don't want it kicking on in the middle. As far as conversions go, the only difference between the pressure reliefs is the spring, which I have. Just in having so many machines--they are all fundamentally the same, but they have different personalities. I was just looking to have the best of all worlds.
It just feels more natural on a manual machine for the user to be the ultimate gauge of temperature/pressure control. Partially this thread was started because I want to get down to 2 main machines (usually whichever one has water in it) and keep one for parts. I am just torn which one needs a new home.
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