Lelit Mara X V1 and V2 – the differences

DavecUK

logjames The only change to steaming logic that could be made is to delay the autofill by n sec, but the heating element must turn off when the probe tip is exposed. However, it would have consequences.

Or a little fill followed by a larger overfill, if inactive probe exposure for n sec. E.g if the probe tip is not exposed again for 15 sec it does a standard overfill, if it is, it does a little fill.

I could speak to Lelit about the second strategy. Or perhaps give it to ECM

Bicky

logjames

Yip, this sounds pretty much like what happens with mine.

zellleonhart

Hi all, I have ordered and received the new V2 Gicar to replace on my V1 Mara X, since I am having lots of steam issues such as boiler refill during steaming.

I ordered from lamacchinadelcaffe.com and they have included a steam probe (code number 9600092) which I did not order. Did they pack it by mistake or I should replace mine? My current steam probe doesn’t seem to have any issue (the digital read out reports correct temperature and there’s no overheating) and it’s the exact code number.

MediumRoastSteam

zellleonhart - see if it works without first. If it does, let them know, if it doesn’t, replace and see if it improve things.

cirus

zellleonhart

Hi, also received a new probe with the new gicar V2, do you finally install it?

Your new gicar stabilize temperatures in coffee priority mode (switch position 0)? Mine don’t, after a shot temperature increase and decrease very slowly..

zellleonhart

MediumRoastSteam Thanks, I have just installed it and made a flat white. It works as expected, steady steam boost to 1.6 bar after pulling a shot and there was no autofill during frothing.

However after I backflushed a bit (2nd engagement of the lever) the steam boosted further to 134°C / around 2.3 bar, not sure it’s normal but it shouldn’t bother me since I usually don’t pull consecutive shots. From the first shot experience it’s already an improvement!

woodbar

zellleonhart However after I backflushed a bit (2nd engagement of the lever) the steam boosted further to 134°C / around 2.3 bar

Silly question but I assume you had it in Coffee priority mode? If so, then I might think twice about ordering a V2 - I am waiting for stock at the dealer - as I want to do maybe 3 coffees back to back with no milk/steaming required at all and at the moment it is a PIA with the rapid rise of temp! (I am not that quick at preparing shots)

I did see somewhere that a temp sensor was included with the Gicar and it does seem a bit odd as I doubt it is a special non standard thermistor. It might be just a “belt & braces” approach to solve a possible problem when the customer says “fitted the new Gicar but machine is still overheating”? After all they did have a dodgy batch of sensors last year and I have now fitted 3 to my machine - both originals (suspect batch) went faulty as well as one of the replacements! Only thing is if they only provide one with the Gicar WHICH sensor are you supposed to change? Mine has always been the lower one on the HX fitting.

zellleonhart

woodbar Yes I had it in coffee priority mode. I had the exact issue you described (overheating) when I first received the Mara X 1.5 years ago due to a faulty steam boiler probe, my vendor fixed it with a new probe and it never happened again. My vendor only had ECM probe in stock and that probably avoided any bad batches from Lelit.

I doubt today’s 2.3 bar steam pressure was ‘overheating’, because that’s the max it stayed at and it dropped afterwards. However I think I need to observe further if it rise up in temp faster than V1 Gicar, because it seems like it does.

FYI I changed the sensor on top of the boiler, not bottom. That fixed the overheating back then, so I don’t plan to fix what is not broken (for now).

woodbar

zellleonhart FYI I changed the sensor on top of the boiler, not bottom. That fixed the overheating back then, so I don’t plan to fix what is not broken (for now).

Very wise - if it ain’t broke……. as the saying goes.

Well the problem I had was that after the first coffee of the day it did the normal steam boost up to about 1.5bar BUT would then maintain that forever or until you turned the machine off for 10 minutes then back on and it would revert to normal operation. That turned out to be the bottom HX sensor every time although in the first instance I changed the top sensor on the advice of the dealer! I still have a nagging suspicion that the Gicar may be involved in all this.

Had that fault 3 times now on my machine which is about 10 months old plus a leak from the water level sensor fitting (only just over finger tight) plus I had to change the portafilter gasket as it was rock hard rubber and was very difficult to use - the silicon replacement is perfect - I went for the 8mm blue one - according to Lelit it should be 8.5mm but the slightly thinner one makes everything line up nicely.

MediumRoastSteam

woodbar I went for the 8mm blue one - according to Lelit it should be 8.5mm

If you went for Cafelat silicone group gaskets, the blue one is 8.5mm. The red one is 8mm.

woodbar

Yes, I have fitted the red one, so 8mm.

Don’t know why I typed “blue” - maybe gremlins, fairies, senior moment or the heat caused the error!

zellleonhart

cirus I did not install it because my current probe seems to be working fine. But yes the newngicar stabilize slower. I have not tried waiting for it to restabilize so I don’t know how long it takes, but say after a shot, the steam boosts kick in and I frothed my milk nicely. Then I did a quick flush for cleaning - the steam boost kicks in the second time and further increase the shot temperature.

I think the window of time that the second shot is within good temperature is very short, probably within just 3 minutes after the first shot.

cirus

zellleonhart

My reseller of the gicar send me a mail and say that Lelit advise to install the gicar and the probe together.

Maybe improving the temperature stability? I’ll try this weekend..

cirus

Hi, in the V2 software, xcoffee mode (position 0) the steam pressure is 0,5bar (92°C), after a shot increase to 1,5bar and temperature up to 95°C. I have to wait 15min to reach again 0,5bar and temperature stability. The new software must improve temperature stability right? In my experience i can’t see the difference with the old software.

cirus

zellleonhart

cirus Please update us how it goes. By the way, this probe is supposed to be install on top or below the steam boiler?

cirus

It seems to be the probe on top (ref 9600092)

woodbar

Well, BB finally got some stock yesterday and mine arrived today in the post - excellent. Did not bother to ask them if it was a V2 version as I was told a month or more ago that all the new stock would only be V2.

There was no info included advising the uninitiated of the changes to the modes and of course no temp sensor included?

I note this is now V1.10 08/06/22 so I wonder what has changed? Might get it fitted tomorrow if I don’t melt in the heat beforehand!

zellleonhart

woodbar from the comment section in the video below, lelit insider said the software is the same. I read another comment asking the same question (but I can’t remember which video), in which he said there is just some small changes in the pilot light (I suppose LED).

woodbar

In case you are wondering - no, I have not fitted it yet - to blinking hot!
Planned for tomorrow whilst it is raining outside and a bit cooler🙏🏼

« Previous Page Next Page »