Hi, Can anyone help with this issue: I have removed the reservoir, cleaned it along with the contacts on the underside, I also clean the contacts in the base unit too but the alarm continues. I removed the solenoid and back flushed the inlet side, but still no change… Can anyone advise what else I need to check – see photos. Al[URL=https://i.imgur.com/0joaAig.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/0joaAig.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=https://i.imgur.com/qmbVGmP.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/qmbVGmP.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=https://i.imgur.com/f61KfFO.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/f61KfFO.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Clean the metal parts with alcohol. Make the water tank at least half full. Insert into the machine, make sure it sits firmly. Turn on. What type of water you are using? RO? If yest, then try with tap water. If nothing helps just open the ticket on Londinium page.

I converted my Duetto to electronic low water detection about 14 years ago…one of the issues was the 5V DC created a coating on pins inside the tank, and they wouldn't conduct. Clean them thoroughly with something a little rough (white scourer). If that doesn't help bridge the contacts under the tank. It should use 5V DC, but just in case, use insulated wire. If the pump doesn't run, then it might be faulty wiring, or even a control box fault.

Thanks for the replies - I did clean all contacts with light sandpaper and then a switch cleaner solution. The pump is definitely working, or at least it kicks in as soon as the machine is switched on, it just can't find the water! I will re-clean everything again today and if that doesn't work, I'll try bridging contacts and see if anything changes. btw I'm in Scotland so the water is soft, I also have an in-line filter and have never had any issues with water quality and espresso machines in a decade or so….

Hellish frustrating, I've had the same, abrasive clean on its own didn't do it, had to do a little chemical clean too and its been ok since. Just can't wait to get kitchen sorted and have out plumbed in!

Ok, getting a bit bored with it now - took all the panels off and cleaned all contacts again. A bit of WD 40 and more switch cleaner…. put it all back together and the pump turns on then bleep bleep bleep…. and round we go again. As far as bridging the contacts goes, these are not going to be accessible from the side so presumably this means putting the machine on its side and going in from underneath?

Right - plan C: I fashioned a piece of brass to join the two connectors so the reservoir appears full… put it all back together etc. [URL=https://i.imgur.com/jsGnA86.jpg][IMG]https://i.imgur.com/jsGnA86.jpg[/IMG][/URL] So, whats next?

> @"AlJames"#p6645 So, whats next? Next is, you tell us if the water alarm has stopped, or is continuing to beep? Even if your water is soft, there is still a build up on the contacts in the tank, or at teals there was on my Duetto conversion.

Oh aye, its beeping away just the same.... I have cleaned the contacts really thoroughly a number of times.

Have you tried to reach out to londinium. He has all the parts to mend it, and is 'usually' forthcoming with info.

Am I the only one wondering this stupid question, but is the machine usable whilst beeping Al?

Water alarm constantly on... Londinium R

Cuprajake

Does anything else work? Does it get up to temp? Id be looking inside the boiler for scale etc. Boiler fill as above, pump may need a strip down.

As a machine there failry simple.

Is it new to you?

Id be tempted to strip it all down and descale

AlJames

Hmmm, well. I just timed it and the pump tries for 1′ 57″ before it stops and the beep starts…. As for stripping it down - the whole point of using a Bestmaxx V water filter chosen on the basis of the PH here along with soft water (I was told) is to avoid scale completely. You’re saying that just isn’t true? Oh dear…

I have had the machine since April 2020 and no, nothing works.

dfk41

DavecUK That’s not really fair David….come on, it’s only just been reported!

reported on Friday so quite fair. Am only judging the response by the own standards they set

NewBoyUK

Are they not allowed weekends off?

Trust me - try what I said.

Regarding Bestmax filters - how hard is your water there? And after how many litres do you change it?

AlJames

I don’t know how to rate the softness - it’s drinkable from the tap! I change the filter annually as thats what has been recommended by the manufacturer.

Cuprajake

The number one reason i didnt plumb my machine was i didnt trust water reports and filters. Why i use ro

Id say scale looking at that leak above

Well if he reported friday most finish work, plus the guy is in new Zealand, so time difference etc, dont let your love of londinium shine through @dfk41

Reiss will reply. Its just weekend

dfk41

Cuprajake Just wondering what the difference is between customer service and legendary customer service matey

Cuprajake

Tbf id of thought the other forum with its vast londinium user base would of helped more on the thread,

DavecUK

dfk41 Just wondering what the difference is between customer service and legendary customer service matey

Stop it….

AlJames

Is the the ‘manifold’ mentioned above by NewBoyUK the same thing as the solenoid? If not can anyone tell me where that is please?

AlJames

Update:
I was contacted by Reiss via email and told that my ticket on the London site had been closed, then I received a message saying that in fact it had not been closed. Then I was contacted again, and given a link to the forum where apparently this issue has been discussed however the link did not allow me to access the form for some reason and when I explained this to Reiss, he then replied this morning saying that I need to re-register and file a new ticket which I have done.

To summarise where I am at in the process, I have posted this:

When I switch the machine on the pump attempts to move water for nearly 2 minutes, then the alarm kicks in, there is no pressure and no water coming through the group, the water tap or the steam wand. I have removed and back flushed the inlet side of the solenoid, I have cleaned the contacts on the underside of the reservoir and the spring-loaded contacts in the base unit, I have bridged the contacts on the base unit and I have traced the wires back from the spring-loaded contacts to the earthing point on the frame and the Cigar Box – all connections appear secure.

What else can I try?

thanks
Al

We will see what happens next - I am going to remove and backflush the inlet side of the solenoid again today just incase it works…

DavecUK

AlJames What else can I try?

Your problem, as I think I may have said, is not caused by the l;ow water detection system, but the failure of the pump to fill the tank and you are getting a pump timeout alarm. This is common on most programming of espresso machines.

Depending on the specific design to fill the tank…solenoids, one way valves…there is either:

A blockage
A piece of debris, causing some failure of any solenoid or valve
A solenoid failure if the solenoid has to be pulled in when the pump runs to open a valve, so the boiler can fill. If the machine can be plumbed or tanked, it makes sense to have the solenoid not be permanently energised when plumbed.

If there is a solenoid that needs to “pull in” when the pump runs, then that would be one area that’s favourite for the problem.

Your picture is so close, it’s hard to make out how it’s designed to work….I will try and see if there are suitable shots of the internals on the web…..

DavecUK

AlJames

So few internal photos of the machine, hardly any in fact. These were snatched from a Video

I couldn’t see clearly where the water inputs are from the pump/mains, but if I was a betting man, this is the solenoid valve I would be checking. Below some educated guesses because I can’t see exactly where the pump hoses go. There will be a 1 way valve which could be at the bottom of the manifold, where there is a nut etc.., or earlier in the machine.

pjw

So, if the pumps tries to pull the water, it is probably not the sensor in the water tank.
The water tank alaram turns on, to prevent the pump runs dry.

In your case looks like, for watever reason the pump is not able to pump the water.

AlJames

Ok well I cannot upload any more photos…. don’t know why but have removed the pipe you suggest and no blockage there. I also used a hose to force water through bottom of the reservoir to try and free the pump - a little came through the group but same beep when switched on.

DavecUK

AlJames I am not suggesting you remove the pipe, this was images snatched from a LR video on the web….It’s probably the solenoid…which is what you need to check…

For clarity, if you are saying you removed the pipe with the spanner on it, or the pipe immediately below it from the water distributor, then ran the pump and water came pissing out…then of course the solenoid below them is fine…. if you ran the pump and nothing came out, then the solenoid could be faulty. Or the tube from the solenoid blocked if you undid the top one.

If you are saying you just undid the pipe and couldn’t see a blockage…it doesn’t mean a lot.

Check the solenoid!

AlJames

Right - pump is supplying water to the IN side of the solenoid but its not getting through so presumably I need to order up a new solenoid unit and the actual valve too… (?)

DavecUK

AlJames Right - pump is supplying water to the IN side of the solenoid but its not getting through so presumably I need to order up a new solenoid unit and the actual valve too… (?)

They come as a single unit and it would be good to verify this first…

get multimeter, set to AC volts 250+ volts range if not auto ranging, place on solenoid and let pump run,. you should register a voltage…if you don’t could be wiring fault to solenoid, or failure of Gicar RL30 box. If you do get voltage move to step 2
If multimeter shows power coil may be fooked. Unplug machine power off and take a resistance reading of the coil (tell us what it is). If coil is OK, move to step 3
Solenoid may be blocked, disassemble and see what’s what.

I hope that’s clear enough, if not, get an espresso machine engineer to take a look, they will have it fixed within 30 minutes if they have the standard parts required.

Cuprajake

have you tried the fill sensor?

pjw

Here is the video how to clean the solenoid valve:

« Previous Page Next Page »