Mara X V1 help - Weird behaviour - long heat up.

PC202

My 4 year old V1 has an ongoing issue and I am hoping someone might be able to help.

It is taking ages to warm up - 40 mins+ and the pressure doesn’t not go over 1 bar during heat up. If I turn in on and off again after around 15-20 minutes it will heat up properly, although it never does the proper heat up sequence where the pressure goes to 2.5-3bar.

During operation, steam pressure it a bit lacklustre - it hovers between 0.5 and 1 bar

I have tried descaling it and replacing the SSR and cleaning the bottom pressure probe. This has made no difference. It might even be a bit worse after I cleaned the bottom probe. I also replaced the safety valve while I had the machine open, although this was more of a precautionary move.

Thanks in advance for any help! I am keen not to spend loads more money on parts I don’t need.

Elcarajillo

PC202 I think the probe in the bottom is a temperature probe.

Were the connections good and clean (wiring). These probes can play up / fail.

I do not think there is a way to test with a T/meter

Check any visible earth connections

John_Yossarian

PC202 If you had a look at the thermal probe, was it brass/copper looking like or was it stainless steel one? I am asking as the brass ones often fail, mine failed on the steam/service boiler on Vesuvius and bought two brand new ones from ACS, they have moved onto the stainless steel ones. If this plays around on and off this might likely be the reason for the erratic behaviour. Expobar stainless steel thermal probes are a good fit I believe, someone should correct my if I were wrong.
You mention 2.5-3 bar boiler pressure. I have never run a heat-exchanger higher than 1.5 bars, the steam was dry enough and I have always had plenty of it. 2.5 seems a lot to me.

InfamousTuba

I don’t have a huge amount of experience with these machines but have you checked the level probe and temperature sensor for signs of scale? As the machine is heating up is there any steam buildup form the top of the machine or the drip tray?

PC202

InfamousTuba steam in the drip tray is normal for a Mara in coffee mode. But I don’t see many signs of scale or an overfilled boiler. Thanks for the suggestion!

PC202

Elcarajillo good shout- I just ordered one. I just tried steam mode and it works perfectly- that doesn’t use the bottom probe as much. I’ll update after I have swapped it out. I’m hoping it’s not the gicar or this will have been quite an expensive repair

Tal

John_Yossarian

Id be looking at the safety valve as well, if he’s achieving pressure that high in either boiler I’d be expecting the safety valve to be blowing way before, approx. 1.7 to 2bar.

PC202

John_Yossarian mara’s typically go to 2-3bar during heat up. They arent a classic HX, they have a controller which varies the pressure and heat to make the temp stable. I swapped out the safety valve as it is typical for them to go within the 5 year mark- I don’t think it was really needed.

InfamousTuba

PC202
An overfilled boiler would lead to reduced pressure in the machine like you have experienced. Steam can build scale on the level probe in the boiler quite easily and it is easily checked by removing and cleaning it with some steel wool

The temperature probes at both ends of the boiler can fail also as other people have said. Then it would be the gicar unfortunately

Tal

PC202 wasn’t aware of that. Thanks