dqts Senior Member Joined: 12 Nov 2011 Posts: 45 Location: Federal way, wa Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Rancilio S20 midi de Grinder: Cunill Brasil, Capresso... Vac Pot: Aeropress? Drip: Chemex, French Press Roaster: Gene Cafe
Posted Tue Jul 24, 2012, 9:11am Subject: Expobar Office Pulser not office control trade for Rancilio S20
I have an opportunity to trade my Expobar Office Pulser not office control for a Rancilio S20.
they are both the same age but mine has seen less customers because the S20 was in a shop. However a catering company is looking to downsize as the machine runs off 220v which is hard for them during gigs. The Expobar runs off 110v. At first it seems like a good trade for me, and for them because it is what they want. however i dont know much about commercial machines. i plan on hooking it up in my home for a few years until i open a shop, so this machine would be good for me but better in the future.
i know i need to figure out how to plumb it in which shouldn't be too hard and i need a dedicated line.
is there anything else i should consider and is this trade worth it? thanks
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,680 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Tue Jul 24, 2012, 1:24pm Subject: Re: Expobar Office Pulser not office control trade for Rancilio S20
Lets see if I got it straight. You WANT a two group commercial machine and THEY want a 110v machine. You have no problems with electric and water instal as need and they get a easy to move pour over machine that is better for them.......
THEN you use up valuable time asking us here and that machine is not sitting on your counter???????
Really, I would just have them warm it up, pull some shots and make sure it is operating correctly, if all is well, load that machine in the trunk of your car and hand them your old machine and then get the heck out of there before they realize what they have done!
Seriously though, if it is in good shape, I really would not be too concerned about how many drinks it has made, it isn't like there is a count down counter in the machine that renders it junk at "0". Expect the normal stuff, a good cleaning, probably replacing the group head gaskets etc.
I have two single group and a two group commercial machines. When I use the Sylvia I rebuilt, it feels like a toy. It still can pull a good shot but a toy none the less.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,680 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Tue Jul 24, 2012, 1:27pm Subject: Re: Expobar Office Pulser not office control trade for Rancilio S20
Just a thought though, when you DO open a shop, you will be looking for a new machine for the shop, you won't want to loose this one from your counter at home :P
Once you get used to volumetric dosing and plumbed in, it is REAL HARD to go back, just a warning.. :D
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
dqts Senior Member Joined: 12 Nov 2011 Posts: 45 Location: Federal way, wa Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Rancilio S20 midi de Grinder: Cunill Brasil, Capresso... Vac Pot: Aeropress? Drip: Chemex, French Press Roaster: Gene Cafe
Posted Wed Jul 25, 2012, 1:07am Subject: Re: Expobar Office Pulser not office control trade for Rancilio S20
thanks calblacksmith
I was unsure of the true value of the s20 due to no one selling it anymore, it usually isnt the best idea to buy a discontinued item...
I also was hesitant because they initially were not able to hook it up to show me how it runs because they didn't have the correct adapter as their old one broke. However I am going to inspect the machine tomorrow and they said they have it up and running.
i have never done a plumb-in but assumed that it cannot be too difficult i have a water softener and a micron filter that i got when i bought the expobar but have not plumbed it in yet because it has not been annoying refilling it every few days. are there any diagrams that would help me to do it myself. i know chriscoffee.com has some equipment.
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,680 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Wed Jul 25, 2012, 5:38am Subject: Re: Expobar Office Pulser not office control trade for Rancilio S20
As to being out of production, the insides of most of these machines are pretty much made from "stock" parts. Yes the things like body panels may be hard to get or a control board if it were specific to that one machine but the parts like pump, temp control circuit (pstat) etc are "industry standard" and even if your specific part may not be available, there are other parts in the market that can be adapted to fit.
The value of any used equipment is only what you are willing to pay for it. I have LOTS of equipment that is no longer made but still works like a champ but then there IS always the risk of not being able to replace a part when need so, really, is the value to you worth the risk that in the future, it may need to be replaced?
For me, this answer is nearly always yes as I work deals that the $ value is in my favor and I am fairly handy when it comes to repairs. If you are NOT handy or are afraid to go inside the machine then you may not be a candidate for used euqipment.
When looking at used equipment, you need to hook it up and work it, if that option is not available, then the price needs to reflect the risk you are taking in the deal.
Looks may or may not be accurate when it comes to the condition of equipment. I have a beat to snot looking two group that works nearly like new and I have seen new looking equipment that has major flaws such as a cracked boiler so careful inspection by a person who is well versed in the equipment being looked at is a real +
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
dqts Senior Member Joined: 12 Nov 2011 Posts: 45 Location: Federal way, wa Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Rancilio S20 midi de Grinder: Cunill Brasil, Capresso... Vac Pot: Aeropress? Drip: Chemex, French Press Roaster: Gene Cafe
Posted Thu Jul 26, 2012, 12:46pm Subject: Re: Expobar Office Pulser not office control trade for Rancilio S20
Thanks again I ended up doing the swap, I got to try it out before I traded. Everything works great on the machine except the double shot buttons I don't yet know how to fix those but I am not afraid to get in there and rebuild it. I checked all the wiring nothing disconnected no fuses are blown everything looks Like it is all there. How should I go about testing to see that button problem? Test light? I downloaded the wiring schematic from rancilio
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,680 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Thu Jul 26, 2012, 2:26pm Subject: Re: Expobar Office Pulser not office control trade for Rancilio S20
did they not work at all or are they just not programmed? It likely is a connection to the pad or to the computer, If it is like most, there is a ribbon cable from the pads to the control box, check connections well, worst case, you just program the single buttons to give a double dose and don't worry about single shots YMMV! Got to go, late out the door!
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
dqts Senior Member Joined: 12 Nov 2011 Posts: 45 Location: Federal way, wa Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Rancilio S20 midi de Grinder: Cunill Brasil, Capresso... Vac Pot: Aeropress? Drip: Chemex, French Press Roaster: Gene Cafe
Posted Sat Jul 28, 2012, 7:08pm Subject: Re: Expobar Office Pulser not office control trade for Rancilio S20
ok i will check those things. i am in the process of moving so i wont be able to hook it up right away.
when the 2 cup buttons are pressed it sounds like it clicks on and a small amount of water comes out for about 1 second. i am not sure if it is not programmed
my second question is how would i program the single cup buttons? i am used to only adjusting the grind and tamp pressure so i am very excited if there is a new variable on the machine that I can adjust!
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