I should actually send them the video I made for the forum, maybe that will help.
Lelit MaraX stuck in HX mode
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Hi guys, so after speaking with lelit care and my reseller, they both seem to think that this is normal for the V2 of the MaraX. I am going to send them this video that I just made regarding the temperature on setting 0. Lelit said that for V2 a new software was installed and that may explain the high temperature but I did not buy this machine to only get temperature from 93 to 96 degrees. Also, the machine was much much more stable in the first 2-3 weeks that I got it. The temperature on setting 0 was around 91.5 (93-93.5 on the thermometer). Any thoughts?
Ps: this was one of the good days for the machine:) most of the time the variance in temperature is greater than this
RobertRo101 You need to always show the pressure gauges, not keep wobbling about….try landscape mode. You also need to state whether this was just after it was warmed up..and hoe long, or how long since the last shot, or was t simply standing for 20 minutes?
In this way you put the video in proper context.
Also keep the camera low, so they can see the flow rate and mention how many gs of espresso you extracted in what time.
Everything I have mentioned is information that is unclear and may well not elicit an accurate response.
You are right. The pressure is at 9 bars, the machine was 1 hour and maybe 10-15 minutes warm, no shot before. The flow is around 47g/10s without the portafilter in place, the Mara V2 also has a green pump.
But none of this above explains anything for me because the same routines I have now are the ones I had before this whole strange temperature thing happened. I had around 91.5 on setting 0 and it was constant.
RobertRo101 - so… is the machine stuck in HX mode or not?
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I have no idea. They said that that video does not apply to V2 but they did not say how to check for that in the V2. My guess is that it is indeed in HX, and that would explain the fluctuations in temperature I see on the thermometer, the variance in extraction, and the hotter than normal starting point. I am still waiting to see if they can tell me how to check for HX mode in V2.
Also, if it helps, when I put the lever in the middle position, there are no droplets of water coming out, if that is a sign of anything:), I saw that there should be a few droplets coming out, some people on other forums use this as a kind of preinfusion, idk.
RobertRo101 - I believe that, in order for he machine to be “brew stable”, the pressure has to oscillate quite a bit in order to not overheat. If the top half of the manometer remains at, e.g. 1bar pressure constantly when idling, then it’s in HX mode. If it keeps fluctuating to lower pressures, dumps water now and again (in order to keep the HX cooler), then it’s in brew priority mode.
In both modes mine remains around 0.5bars (0.4-0.6). I will monitor in both modes for pressure changes and for the dumps of water, thanks.
If you’re in HX mode, each temperature setting for the PID should show different a different steam pressure in the manometer. I believe 0 should be about 1 bar, 1 should be 1.25 bar, and 2 should be 1.5 bar - according to some technical manual I found in a review.
And these should sit pretty stable in HX mode.
Well, in that case, I am never in HX mode:))
RobertRo101 flow is around 47g/10s without the portafilter in place, the Mara V2 also has a green pump.
But you were extracting through coffee I think? Obviously with an empty group the temperatures shown on the group head thermometer will be higher when you run the pump.
The flow rate is without the portafilter in place. But the video I made to show the temperature was during a normal extraction.
RobertRo101 I thought so, it’s important to be crystal clear when dealing with people/companies who’s native language is not English.
Yeah, sorry for the misunderstanding. Btw in position 2 for the temperature setting, the pressure gauge is at 0.6 bar
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So..
What are the top manometer readings for:
Side switch, position HX mode:
Temp. Switch Position left, position centre and position right?
Expected: needle to move to set positions and stay there.
Side switch, position Brew mode:
Temp switch Position left, position centre and position right?
Expected: needle to fluctuate around set positions.
Watch for 10 minutes each and report back.
The reason I ask is that, if there are differences in behaviour, then at least something is happening (rather than being stuck). Currently I’m more confused than certain.
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If you switched to PID level 2 and had it sit there for 15+ minutes and it’s now showing 0.6 bars I’d assume your machine is in brew priority mode.
I agree with @MediumRoastSteam to take readings of each of those settings and let us know. That way it’ll be clearer.
Ok guys, thank you so much for the help, it certainly is a lot more thank Lelit’s:)
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Hi guys, I think I have found the problem or at least the fix but I can’t explain why and how is this possible.
First, let me clear up some things, the machine has been on for around 2 hours and the last extraction was about 40 minutes ago. Coffee priority mode active (at least the switch is in 1 position), temperature setting on 0. I go and look on the thermometer and I see, as usual for the past days, 93-93.5 degrees BUT I don’t know what got in my head and I inserted the portafilter in the group, not tight, just enough so it wouldn’t fall, and I start to see the reading on the thermometer drop to 91.5 (+- a few tenths), which was the normal temperature reading I had in the first weeks of use (but I did not let the portafilter locked in in the first weeks, or at least not always) and I was curious what would happen if I make a coffee. And so I did, and to my surprise, the readings were the same as when I first got the machine, from 91.5 an increase to around 94 and then a decrease to 93-93.5, and the most important thing, it was very stable, completely opposite to what has happened in recent days, I couldn’t believe it:)
I could also taste the difference, less bitterness, and harshness, but it may have just been placebo.
What would the reason for all of this be? Does it have anything to do with the fact that with the lever in the middle position or even higher (before touching the button that starts the pump) there isn’t any water coming out as I saw at other people?
I can make a video of what I am trying to say here, speed it up and post if it helps.
RobertRo101 What would the reason for all of this be? Does it have anything to do with the fact that with the lever in the middle position or even higher (before touching the button that starts the pump) there isn’t any water coming out as I saw at other people?
I honestly would like to beat the person who started this whole middle position thing with a stick. It certainly would upset things if a valve was open….in an HX system depending on the temperature it can cause small voids, or allow water to dribble out, all of which affect the HX loop.
On many machines it can cause problems, such as thermpsyphon stalls on certain types of brew boilers, Crem One 2B LFPP problems with pump noise…etc..
When making a coffee with any E61 machine I move smoothly from fully down to the fully up/horizontal position and don’t wait in the twilight zone..
MaraX really is a walk up and shoot machine, make all your coffees and then leave it for 15 or 20 minutes to re stabilise before making more. Will the software always get it perfect…possibly not, but it’s much closer than most HX machines. If steaming, it’s very important to try and catch it as it begins boosting and almost reaches its peak. I believe on even current software versions…the boost can be continued, by very briefly running the pump. It is a machine you need to adapt to using…or just stick it in HX mode if you want a normal HX.
Yeah, I don’t use the middle position, just straight up and down, not too slow and not sudden and fast, I just thought that seeing everybody’s machine able to do that, my Mara had some kind of problem regarding this.
Still, how could it be possible that leveling the portafilter locked in for 2-3 minutes change the reading on the thermometer to normal and also provide much more consistency in temperature when brewing, and in the right temperature range? Not like these last days where the extraction started from 93.5 and got up to 95.5 and then down to 92, or other crazy temp curves.