ACS minima - first use in many months, no steam and I’m brain dead…..I think!

Mr_H

I’m not sure if I’m not remembering to do something, but having not used my machine in many months I can’t seem to get steam working, unless i am forgetting something.

One of the ‘stoppers’ in the underside of the boiler that sits back right had to be replaced as it failed, but I took pictures before dismantling earlier in the year, and put together as per what i had pictured. Therefore this boiler (back right, remind me which this is?) was empty. The white water tank is full with both pipes inserted.

I have been through the first use instructions as per the minima pdf manual initially, including running the power button in the brew only position, which dispenses water fine and drops the white tank.

when I drop the switch to brew and steam, the display seems normal showing .93 for the 93 degrees, but the other number is 13.0 - is that 130 degrees, I can’t remember? It has been set T2 to 125.

As temp rose I didn’t get the bubbling/spitting of the valve on top like I remember and nothing happens when I open the steam wand.

as I say this might be down to me having a mental fail but I don’t want to continue until I know what may be happening.

Any advice/thoughts much appreciated.

Many thanks, mark

DavecUK

Mr_H when I drop the switch to brew and steam, the display seems normal showing .93 for the 93 degrees, but the other number is 13.0 - is that 130 degrees, I can’t remember? It has been set T2 to 125.

Does the other number change as it warms up, or always show 13
Does the water wand produce any hot water

Mr_H

DavecUK I stopped and switched off at 13.0 mainly through paranoia that I was overheating it, as I couldn’t remember if this was 130 degrees. It was originally 110 and set T2 to 125 and it did climb. Then I switched off at 13.0

haven’t tried the water wand

DavecUK

Mr_H Answer my other question, also remember the brew boiler will heat first (if your in the USA) and then the service boiler. The service boiler takes 7 or 8 minutes to get up to temperature..

How long did you leave it?

Mr_H

Mr_H see here, yes it went up. I stopped when I became uncertain what was happening. No im in the UK

I left it 10-12 minutes.

As per other questions before, which boiler is back right, and how does this get its water?

Mr_H

My main concerns are I can’t recall how the steam boiler (assuming this is the back right one) gets water and that I don’t hear the valve at the top ‘spitting’ before closing, therefore leaving me thinking I’m overheating or something is wrong….

DavecUK

Mr_H As per other questions before, which boiler is back right, and how does this get its water?

The boiler at the rear is the service (steam) boiler. It gets it's water from the main tank.

Mr_H

DavecUK Ok thank you. How would I know water is getting in correctly? It’s getting hot for sure.

Elcarajillo

Have you tried opening the steam / water valve -anything come through ?

Have either of the valves been left closed off tightly ??

Mr_H

Yes both have been tried. Nothing. Am I leaving it long enough? And is the 13.0 representing .130 degrees c and therefore getting too hot?

Not screwed tight no.

Mr_H

Mr_H yes as mentioned here, both wand and tap tried, nothing comes out. Only the group head dispenses water as per the startup process.

Mr_H

Just started it up again and as it got to 129/130 started to smell a little of burning and a little smoke out of the top that wasn’t steam so immediately switched it off. I’m convinced there’s no water getting into the steam boiler but no idea why that might be

it climbs rapidly too which would indicate no water to heat

DavecUK

Mr_H I’m convinced there’s no water getting into the steam boiler but no idea why that might be

it climbs rapidly too which would indicate no water to heat

With no water in the service boiler, the temperature would probably not rise rapidly. The steam heating elements are switched off by the Gicar box when the water level is below the tip of the autofill probe.

Have you as I asked tried to draw a little water from the hot water tap?

DavecUK

Take the top off and take a photo.

Mr_H

DavecUK

Any chance you could process the image using the tool specified to get below 100kb….this is a little small and I can't see any detail. Follow the instructions here https://coffeetime.freeflarum.com/d/3509-images-important/3

Mr_H

DavecUK

Thanks, much better. I can't see any obvious signs of problems, or leaks. The service boiler is filled via a single solenoid that opens the way to the service boiler when it needs filling. e,g, the pump always pumps to the brew group, but there is a T junction which leads to the service boiler that's usually closed. When the service boiler wants water that T junction is opened and water continues to the brew group and now also to the service boiler..

So a couple of tests you can do, with the machine OFF, remove the wire identified below, switch the machine on for 5-10 seconds…what happens? Switch the machine OFF then put the wire back.

Only if the pump ran in the previous test. is leave the top off, switch the machine on and make a video of what's happening (basically of the display). Just 2 or 3 minutes should be enough. Post that video on YT as unlisted and then paste the link here.

Mr_H

Thanks Dave. I was about to write and say there’s not enough flex in the wire to remove the probe.when I saw the bolt around it was loose. I tightened this back up and et voile as soon as I turn the machine on the pump kicks on and fills the steam boiler!!

I now have it running on a test again and all seems to be behaving as we speak. No smoke, no smells, pump kicking in and temps steadily rising. Hoping we are there!

thanks for the pointers on this. Fingers crossed we’re good

Elcarajillo

The small nut does not need to be super tight, little more than finger tight plus about half a turn with a spanner.

Pull off the red lucar connector, slacken the nut and withdraw the fill probe, check it for corrosion / scale on the lower end, clean it with a pot scourer or dip it in some de-scaler.

Reinsert and nip up the small nut, refix the connector.