Vesuvius fault

Eddie57

Hi all, my Vesuvius has stopped working, keeps tripping the RCBO. I have tried disconnecting each boiler still trips out. there’s power going to the machine, but as soon as I turn the switch on the boiler light next to screen flashes and trips out.

there’s no burnt smell, doesn’t seem to be any leaks, could it be the switch? I cant seem to remove it to check it without breaking it.

my machine is a 2018 model, doesn’t seem to have a fuse inside that I can see.

need help please.

Cuprajake

check where the power goes into the machine,

are you uk based

Eddie57

Yeah UK, I did check there’s no fuse, and everything looks ok to me.

Elcarajillo

I think @Cuprajake meant check the cable where it enters the retaining block going into the M/ch. Not unknown for breakage in cores.

Cuprajake

yeah sorry where the kettle cord goes in

Eddie57

Yeah sorry I knew what you meant, I did check that seems fine

Gagaryn

Would be worth checking for arcing on the terminals on the rear of the power IEC socket and on the rear of the main, green, power switch. Incorrectly sized spade connectors can cause issues - there is considerable current drawn through both.

Eddie57

I cant really see anything cause the power isn’t on long enough. I cant get at the rocker switch to check it, how do you take them out, there’s no room to get your hand in.

DavecUK

you will have to be methodical about this.

Check live to earth and neutral to earth on the plug of the machine using a multimeter on the plug terminals. If it’s tripping an RCCBO it must be letting more than 30 mA BY, SO USE THE 10,000 or 20,000 ohm scale. This may or may not indicate fault…theoretically it should….unless it’s an insulation breakdown at 240V
Check for a dead short, as the RCCBO might be tripping for that reason rather than earth leakage. Check the Earth and Neutral Pins on the plug for a short, use a 100 or 200 ohm scale.
Inspect the machine inside for any signs of a direct short, especially the limit stats or anywhere near a leak.
If you disconnected the heating elements it can’t be those. Check whether the SSRs are 0-32V DC or AC Switched (I can’t remember)
Disconnect the mains input to the transformer, does it still trip
Disconnect the mains power to the main board, does it still trip?

Eddie57

Update!! seems I hadn’t checked boilers properly. so disconnected large boiler, which I assume is steam and it didn’t trip.

does this mean its the element?

DavecUK

Eddie57 Update!! seems I hadn’t checked boilers properly. so disconnected large boiler, which I assume is steam and it didn’t trip.

does this mean its the element?

Most likely the heating element. I think the SSRs are 0-32V optically couples switching, so I don’t believe an SSR fault can cause tripping of an RCCBO, just a permanently on heating element.

Contact ACS for a new heating element (make sure you give them the year of the machine)….…but double check there wasn’t something happening which cause the heating element to become exposed. Again this shouldn’t be possible as when the probe tip is above the water level, the machine won’t switch the heating element on…but:

SSR failing closed could do this
or probe shorted to earth can also do this

Try and remember if the machine didn’t call for water when using the steam boiler, or whether you had an over pressure steam even indicating a fail closed SSR. When you install the new boiler, watch out for this.

Or simply ask ACS what would be a compatible screw in heating element you can buy locally.

Eddie57

The machine quite often called for water while I was steaming milk.