Posted Sun Jul 1, 2012, 2:37pm Subject: Re: Power management on a Gaggia?
It is pretty hard to hurt the Gaggia - if it ever gets really hot (the steam T-Stat would have to go bad and let it get even hotter than that) it will trip a thermal fuse. If that happens you wouldn't be able to turn it back on until you replace the fuse.
I've forgotten and left the machine on for days and it got pretty hot and wasted energy but didn't hurt the boiler.
Even if you let it run the boiler dry it won't burn up the heating elements the way the submerged heater boilers do ... but still try not to do that.
Posted Sun Jul 1, 2012, 8:29pm Subject: Re: Power management on a Gaggia?
Good news to hear. Looks like i can turn it on in the morning and leave it until after my last drink of the day. I only see one problem with this.....I am willing to bet this will lead to well more than my current 2-3 doubles!!!
Posted Sun Jul 1, 2012, 9:01pm Subject: Re: Power management on a Gaggia?
I'm not sure I'd recommend leaving it on all day ... I was just saying that you won't damage it.
The Carezza has the spring loaded group valve --- and the T-Stat will swing the temp pretty high and then gradually cool down. I think the boiler temp hits around 240F at the top of the swing and then starts to gradually cool down. That spring loaded group valve (and possibly your steam valve) will drip a bit each time the temp swings to the top. Yours may not ... but most of them do drip a bit.
So if you leave it on all the time, you may want to occasionally top up the boiler (it only holds a bit more than 3oz so it can run out really fast). Definitely if it has been sitting for awhile and you are thinking about pulling a shot, you will want to make sure the boiler is full and then give it a few minutes to come back up to heat.
The Carezza heats up so very fast (plastic case - not much metal to conduct the heat away) that I really just turn it off after I pull my shots.
Anyway ... you won't hurt it .. but I'd still turn it off when not using it.
D4F Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2012 Posts: 1,188 Location: USA Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID Grinder: Preciso
Posted Mon Jul 2, 2012, 8:59am Subject: Re: Power management on a Gaggia?
If you want to leave it on for longer times, look into a PID. You can set the temperature below boiling and not get the wide temperature swings. I still do not leave mine on all day.
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