I was away for almost a year, and thus I stored away my beloved Silvia before leaving. However I just came back and tried the machine after a quick cleanup, filled up the water tank, put the power switch ON, then I tried the pump and heard a big scratchy noise and nothing... I turned it off immediately, then back on, then tried again but nothing. The power light is still on but the pump won't power up.
I opened it up and saw one wire which seemed burned off (view on picture) and was still warm to the touch...
Any help would be greatly appreciated, I was really looking forward to using my machine again :(
The overheated wire connects to the heating element. I would expect that wire to get warm after a time since some heat from the boiler will be conducted through the connection. But that looks too warm.
The melted wire in unrelated to the pump problem.
We also do not know if the heat-damaged connection was from before storage or after.
Check the thermostat on the front of the boiler, facing to front of the machine. It has a little red button. With the machine unplugged, see if the button will push in.
With the pump inoperable, the boiler cannot be refilled. Without refilling the boiler, turning the machine on can overheat and burn out the heating element.
If you are accustomed to working with electricity, the two wires going to the pump can be disconnected and connected directly to the mains power using an extension cord of some sort. If the pump doe not work at all, it needs replacement. The pump part of it (not the coil) may be stuck after sitting so long or the diode in the coil may be burnt out. It could be a bad switch, but there is certainly something wrong that needs to be addressed here.
If the melted wire is not the issue then I will let it be for now (I've forgotten the machine ON for a few hours once or twice, which may explain it). I actually just noticed that 2 other wire connections are also on the verge of melting. I should really get a cut-off timer.
I pushed the little red button, then reconnected the power and retried the machine but its the same, the pump won't do a thing.
I am somewhat comfortable with electricity, but don't have many tools to work with at the moment. I will try to borrow an ohm/volt meter from a friend to test things. I could surely find an old extension cord to connect directly the power to the pump but I'm not too keen on the idea. I'll try to find a way to test the current at the pump, if it gets there and nothing happens then I'll order a new one, if it doesn't get there then I guess the problem lies elsewhere.
I did notice that the 3-way valve expulsed a little bit of old water/coffee, if that is of any used.
I'll keep you updated when I've tested the pump.
frcn Said:
The overheated wire connects to the heating element. I would expect that wire to get warm after a time since some heat from the boiler will be conducted through the connection. But that looks too warm.
The melted wire in unrelated to the pump problem.
We also do not know if the heat-damaged connection was from before storage or after.
Check the thermostat on the front of the boiler, facing to front of the machine. It has a little red button. With the machine unplugged, see if the button will push in.
With the pump inoperable, the boiler cannot be refilled. Without refilling the boiler, turning the machine on can overheat and burn out the heating element.
If you are accustomed to working with electricity, the two wires going to the pump can be disconnected and connected directly to the mains power using an extension cord of some sort. If the pump doe not work at all, it needs replacement. The pump part of it (not the coil) may be stuck after sitting so long or the diode in the coil may be burnt out. It could be a bad switch, but there is certainly something wrong that needs to be addressed here.
Randy has you going down the correct road. The red button is a safety for the heater and has nothing to do with the pump. The connector covers get hard and yellow over time. You should make sure the connectors are tight, loose connections can get very hot.
The pump should work if you connect it directly to line voltage.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
Well, I just tested the wires going to pump with the voltmeter and the current is indeed getting there, and the pump is not working, so I'll order a new one. It doesn't seem to be too big a job to change, but is there anything specific to know?
Not really, just shop around for price. That pump comes with a plastic and a brass connection as well as two different watt rating. Some will say to go with the larger one but in my personal opinion, there really isn't much if any difference between them. I would go with the best price and install it. YMMV
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
Well, I just tested the wires going to pump with the voltmeter and the current is indeed getting there, and the pump is not working, so I'll order a new one. It doesn't seem to be too big a job to change, but is there anything specific to know?
As calblacksmith is saying 'noname', shop around for the best price., but I can save you the time, hassle, bother., etc. The cheapest & best price in Canada for quite a while now has been at the Greenbeanery for only $42.74! This is of course the Ulka series model E type 5P5 with plastic input/output fittings. Espressotec has more options (brass piston & output) for more money $55.25: Click Here (www.espressotec.com)
I just made the order last night actually, from Greenbeanery :)
Anything in particular I should know when installing the pump? It seems to be quite straightforward but again, i'm asking just to make sure I don't screw up :)
Hey, just wanted to drop by and say that I received the pump last Thursday, installed it and everything works perfectly again :) Thanks for the help! I can finally enjoy a good espresso again!
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