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Main
Date: 19 Dec 2006 14:56:57
From: mattw
Subject: Converting Gas to Electric in an old machine...
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There is a pretty nice example of a Gaggia GX machine on ebay right now
that I am interested in (I have been looking for a commercial lever),
but it is gas. Has anyone converted a gas machine to electric? Anyone
have any idea what the cost and time would be? (In addition to the
normal restoring costs) If I am switching it over, would I be able to
convert it to 110 as well?
Thanks for any input, nuts and bolts I get, but I am much sketchier on
electronics, so please reply in layman's terms.
/mw
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Date: 20 Dec 2006 19:59:36
From: Robert Harmon
Subject: Re: Converting Gas to Electric in an old machine...
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Howdy Alan!
I PROBABLY (who really knows) meant cut the cards, either you win or I
win, 50/50 either way. Same with buying used espresso machines with no
warranty - win some, lose some. But if you never cut the deck you'll
never win.
Robert (Damn this 20 YO single malt, it's got me mixing metaphors.)
Harmon
Alan wrote:
> "Robert Harmon" wrote
> > Or, you can send it to Hi Tech Espresso to have a PID installed. Every
> > thing's better with a PID - Hell even my ex might benefit from a PID to
> > control her hormones?
> >
> > Robert (Life's a gamble, roll the dice! Win or lose, it's 50/50 either
> > way.) Harmon
>
> Howdy, Robert!
> If you think you've got a 50/50 chance of winning at dice, I'd like to
> invite you to a friendly little craps game down the street . . . . ;-)
> >
> > daveb wrote:
> >> Buying an OLD GAS (!)
> >> "branded" gaggia
> >> "that needs checking out"
> >> from a ZERO feedback ebay seller
> >> in Florida??
> >>
> >>
> >> why not just set your money on fire?
> >>
> >> ???
> >>
> >> Dave
> >
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Date: 20 Dec 2006 18:52:34
From: Robert Harmon
Subject: Re: Converting Gas to Electric in an old machine...
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Or, you can send it to Hi Tech Espresso to have a PID installed. Every
thing's better with a PID - Hell even my ex might benefit from a PID to
control her hormones?
Robert (Life's a gamble, roll the dice! Win or lose, it's 50/50 either
way.) Harmon
daveb wrote:
> Buying an OLD GAS (!)
> "branded" gaggia
> "that needs checking out"
> from a ZERO feedback ebay seller
> in Florida??
>
>
> why not just set your money on fire?
>
> ???
>
> Dave
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Date: 22 Dec 2006 05:35:52
From: Barry Jarrett
Subject: Re: Converting Gas to Electric in an old machine...
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On 20 Dec 2006 18:52:34 -0800, "Robert Harmon"
<r_h_harmon@hotmail.com > wrote:
>thing's better with a PID - Hell even my ex might benefit from a PID to
>control her hormones?
>
pelvic inflammatory disease??
eeeeewwwwwwwwwww.....
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Date: 21 Dec 2006 03:34:12
From: Alan
Subject: Re: Converting Gas to Electric in an old machine...
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"Robert Harmon" wrote
> Or, you can send it to Hi Tech Espresso to have a PID installed. Every
> thing's better with a PID - Hell even my ex might benefit from a PID to
> control her hormones?
>
> Robert (Life's a gamble, roll the dice! Win or lose, it's 50/50 either
> way.) Harmon
Howdy, Robert!
If you think you've got a 50/50 chance of winning at dice, I'd like to
invite you to a friendly little craps game down the street . . . . ;-)
>
> daveb wrote:
>> Buying an OLD GAS (!)
>> "branded" gaggia
>> "that needs checking out"
>> from a ZERO feedback ebay seller
>> in Florida??
>>
>>
>> why not just set your money on fire?
>>
>> ???
>>
>> Dave
>
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Date: 20 Dec 2006 17:50:33
From: daveb
Subject: Re: Converting Gas to Electric in an old machine...
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Buying an OLD GAS (!)
"branded" gaggia
"that needs checking out"
from a ZERO feedback ebay seller
in Florida??
why not just set your money on fire?
???
Dave
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Date: 21 Dec 2006 13:08:07
From: Danny
Subject: Re: Converting Gas to Electric in an old machine...
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daveb wrote:
> Buying an OLD GAS (!)
> "branded" gaggia
> "that needs checking out"
> from a ZERO feedback ebay seller
> in Florida??
>
>
> why not just set your money on fire?
>
> ???
>
> Dave
>
All of my old lever machines cost less than £300 each, all run on
propane if desired, all needed checking out (all parts available, easy
to fit and nothing over $50) - seems a bargain to me, especially since
using just one of these machines day in, day out, for 5 years
continuously without any major failure has paid my mortgage...
--
Regards, Danny
http://www.gaggia-espresso.com (a purely hobby site)
http://www.malabargold.co.uk (UK/EU ordering for Malabar Gold blend)
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Date: 22 Dec 2006 05:36:47
From: Barry Jarrett
Subject: Re: Converting Gas to Electric in an old machine...
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On Thu, 21 Dec 2006 13:08:07 +0000, Danny
<danny@nospam.gaggia-espresso.com > wrote:
>continuously without any major failure has paid my mortgage...
but don't you live in an old railway shed?
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Date: 20 Dec 2006 17:17:57
From: mattw
Subject: Re: Converting Gas to Electric in an old machine...
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I wasn't trying to hide the e-bay auction or anything, it was pretty
easy to find.
Robert - I don't know about the gas exhaust situation, but don't expect
it would be a problem with the (relatively) limited use we would put it
through (AM and PM shots). I am waiting to get pics back from the
seller of the internals and I will proceed from there.
Matt (hope Robert isn't too interested in eBay item #170062763129) Wells
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Date: 20 Dec 2006 17:11:41
From: Robert Harmon
Subject: Re: Converting Gas to Electric in an old machine...
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Howdy Alan!
Lay off the hard stuff for a while buddy. If you search eBay for the
item number in my sig you'll get the same thing that you posted. Why is
everyone so ready to assume the worst?
Robert (I may still be interested in eBay item #170062763129.) Harmon
Alan wrote:
> "Robert Harmon" wrote
> > Howdy Danny!
> > I've been curious about lever machines & my baby girl still wants
> > someone to give her a nice old machine. How useful are these lever
> > models for daily use? What's the downside of using a spring-loaded
> > lever machine? Also, does this use a 58mm PF?
> >
> > Robert (I may be interested in item #170062763129.) Harmon
>
> Gee, Robert ---- why are you being so cagey? I thought you were the guy who
> felt that everyone on alt.coffee ought to be given notification of items of
> interest on ebay . . .
> Could this
> (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170062763129&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:US:12)
> be the item you're referring to?
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Date: 20 Dec 2006 18:45:08
From: Alan
Subject: Re: Converting Gas to Electric in an old machine...
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"Robert Harmon" wrote
> Howdy Alan!
> Lay off the hard stuff for a while buddy. If you search eBay for the
> item number in my sig you'll get the same thing that you posted. Why is
> everyone so ready to assume the worst?
Howdy Robert!
I guess because it seemed such a departure from your usual style --- don't
you usually give everyone a nice easy link in the body of your message
instead of cryptically referring to an item number (with no ebay reference)
in your signature? (although it was kind of you to include the ebay
reference in your reply . . . ) Anyway, as you say, "someone's going to get
a bargain!"
> Alan wrote:
>> "Robert Harmon" wrote
>> > Howdy Danny!
>> > I've been curious about lever machines & my baby girl still wants
>> > someone to give her a nice old machine. How useful are these lever
>> > models for daily use? What's the downside of using a spring-loaded
>> > lever machine? Also, does this use a 58mm PF?
>> >
>> > Robert (I may be interested in item #170062763129.) Harmon
>>
>> Gee, Robert ---- why are you being so cagey? I thought you were the guy
>> who
>> felt that everyone on alt.coffee ought to be given notification of items
>> of
>> interest on ebay . . .
>> Could this
>> (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170062763129&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:US:12)
>> be the item you're referring to?
>
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Date: 20 Dec 2006 20:41:28
From: Craig Andrews
Subject: Re: Converting Gas to Electric in an old machine...
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"Robert Harmon" <r_h_harmon@hotmail.com > wrote in message
news:1166663501.947810.131720@a3g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
> Howdy Alan!
> Lay off the hard stuff for a while buddy.
Why?? It's that time of the year fer cryin' out loud!, LOL!! Hear come
Santa Claus, hear comes Santa Claus., "Right Down Santa Claus Lane",
think Elvis.
Craig.
If you search eBay for the
> item number in my sig you'll get the same thing that you posted. Why
> is
> everyone so ready to assume the worst?
>
> Robert (I may still be interested in eBay item #170062763129.) Harmon
> Alan wrote:
>> "Robert Harmon" wrote
>> > Howdy Danny!
>> > I've been curious about lever machines & my baby girl still wants
>> > someone to give her a nice old machine. How useful are these lever
>> > models for daily use? What's the downside of using a spring-loaded
>> > lever machine? Also, does this use a 58mm PF?
>> >
>> > Robert (I may be interested in item #170062763129.) Harmon
>>
>> Gee, Robert ---- why are you being so cagey? I thought you were the
>> guy who
>> felt that everyone on alt.coffee ought to be given notification of
>> items of
>> interest on ebay . . .
>> Could this
>> (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170062763129&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:US:12)
>> be the item you're referring to?
>
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Date: 20 Dec 2006 13:34:00
From: Robert Harmon
Subject: Re: Converting Gas to Electric in an old machine...
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Howdy Danny!
I've been curious about lever machines & my baby girl still wants
someone to give her a nice old machine. How useful are these lever
models for daily use? What's the downside of using a spring-loaded
lever machine? Also, does this use a 58mm PF?
Robert (I may be interested in item #170062763129.) Harmon
Danny wrote:
> mattw wrote:
> > There is a pretty nice example of a Gaggia GX machine on ebay right now
> > that I am interested in (I have been looking for a commercial lever),
> > but it is gas. Has anyone converted a gas machine to electric? Anyone
> > have any idea what the cost and time would be? (In addition to the
> > normal restoring costs) If I am switching it over, would I be able to
> > convert it to 110 as well?
> >
> > Thanks for any input, nuts and bolts I get, but I am much sketchier on
> > electronics, so please reply in layman's terms.
> >
> > /mw
> >
>
> As Paul noted, gas machines are gas and electric usually - they all
> start out as electric machines, and have a gas burner installed. Even
> if this is not the case, a new boiler endplate can be sourced with the
> elements installed. A pic of the right hand end of the machine (as
> per the images on my site) will show two triangular elements, usually
> 1500w/230v each element, but can be sourced in different
> wattage/voltage. Converting from 220v is a slight pain - new
> elements. new pressurestat (possibly - it's just a switch?) and new
> autofill box and solenoid is about all the electrics in a GX lever.
> Autofill is a Gicar (sp?) unit (cheap) and a parker solenoid). You
> need to provide mains pressure cold water inlet - either real mains or
> a pump fed mains from a water container.
>
> --
> Regards, Danny
>
> http://www.gaggia-espresso.com (a purely hobby site)
> http://www.malabargold.co.uk (UK/EU ordering for Malabar Gold blend)
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Date: 21 Dec 2006 13:00:42
From: Danny
Subject: Re: Converting Gas to Electric in an old machine...
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Robert Harmon wrote:
> Howdy Danny!
> I've been curious about lever machines & my baby girl still wants
> someone to give her a nice old machine. How useful are these lever
> models for daily use? What's the downside of using a spring-loaded
> lever machine? Also, does this use a 58mm PF?
>
Perfectly usuable for daily use. I have 4 lever machines, all
commercial 2/3 group. 2 group in trailer produces several hundred
shots a week (or a day if I'm lucky!). Very low maintenance - feed it
decent water and you'll need the occasional set of piston seals each
year and group seals. Standard available parts. Machine in kitchen
not switched off for 4 years apart from to change the pressurestat
membrane.
Boiler sits at 1.1 bar, grouphead is a heatsink, so coffee in cup is
88-92 degrees. Not scientific or pid-able, but maintains this
temperature accurately unless extremely busy due to large boiler and
7kg grouphead. Boiler probably too big for a one-cup user, since it
will stale (16 litre boiler on 2 group).
Standard Gaggia 58mm pf. Copious steaming. Lever not too hard (it is
a "lever", after all). Girls in trailer pull over a hundred shots a
day easily.
No downside.
--
Regards, Danny
http://www.gaggia-espresso.com (a purely hobby site)
http://www.malabargold.co.uk (UK/EU ordering for Malabar Gold blend)
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Date: 20 Dec 2006 23:54:22
From: Alan
Subject: Re: Converting Gas to Electric in an old machine...
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"Robert Harmon" wrote
> Howdy Danny!
> I've been curious about lever machines & my baby girl still wants
> someone to give her a nice old machine. How useful are these lever
> models for daily use? What's the downside of using a spring-loaded
> lever machine? Also, does this use a 58mm PF?
>
> Robert (I may be interested in item #170062763129.) Harmon
Gee, Robert ---- why are you being so cagey? I thought you were the guy who
felt that everyone on alt.coffee ought to be given notification of items of
interest on ebay . . .
Could this
(http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170062763129&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:US:12)
be the item you're referring to?
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Date: 20 Dec 2006 19:08:42
From: Craig Andrews
Subject: Re: Converting Gas to Electric in an old machine...
|
"Alan" <in_flagrante@hotmail.com > wrote in message
news:O2kih.26832$Ga1.18426@newssvr12.news.prodigy.net...
>
> "Robert Harmon" wrote
>> Howdy Danny!
>> I've been curious about lever machines & my baby girl still wants
>> someone to give her a nice old machine. How useful are these lever
>> models for daily use? What's the downside of using a spring-loaded
>> lever machine? Also, does this use a 58mm PF?
>>
>> Robert (I may be interested in item #170062763129.) Harmon
>
> Gee, Robert ---- why are you being so cagey? I thought you were the
> guy who felt that everyone on alt.coffee ought to be given
> notification of items of interest on ebay . . .
> Could this
> (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170062763129&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:US:12)
> be the item you're referring to?
>
Does the sun come up every day?? lol {;-)
Craig.
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Date: 20 Dec 2006 20:55:27
From: Danny
Subject: Re: Converting Gas to Electric in an old machine...
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mattw wrote:
> There is a pretty nice example of a Gaggia GX machine on ebay right now
> that I am interested in (I have been looking for a commercial lever),
> but it is gas. Has anyone converted a gas machine to electric? Anyone
> have any idea what the cost and time would be? (In addition to the
> normal restoring costs) If I am switching it over, would I be able to
> convert it to 110 as well?
>
> Thanks for any input, nuts and bolts I get, but I am much sketchier on
> electronics, so please reply in layman's terms.
>
> /mw
>
Item number? By email if preferable (I'm not going to bid - just want
to see it)...
--
Regards, Danny
http://www.gaggia-espresso.com (a purely hobby site)
http://www.malabargold.co.uk (UK/EU ordering for Malabar Gold blend)
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Date: 20 Dec 2006 20:51:44
From: Danny
Subject: Re: Converting Gas to Electric in an old machine...
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mattw wrote:
> There is a pretty nice example of a Gaggia GX machine on ebay right now
> that I am interested in (I have been looking for a commercial lever),
> but it is gas. Has anyone converted a gas machine to electric? Anyone
> have any idea what the cost and time would be? (In addition to the
> normal restoring costs) If I am switching it over, would I be able to
> convert it to 110 as well?
>
> Thanks for any input, nuts and bolts I get, but I am much sketchier on
> electronics, so please reply in layman's terms.
>
> /mw
>
As Paul noted, gas machines are gas and electric usually - they all
start out as electric machines, and have a gas burner installed. Even
if this is not the case, a new boiler endplate can be sourced with the
elements installed. A pic of the right hand end of the machine (as
per the images on my site) will show two triangular elements, usually
1500w/230v each element, but can be sourced in different
wattage/voltage. Converting from 220v is a slight pain - new
elements. new pressurestat (possibly - it's just a switch?) and new
autofill box and solenoid is about all the electrics in a GX lever.
Autofill is a Gicar (sp?) unit (cheap) and a parker solenoid). You
need to provide mains pressure cold water inlet - either real mains or
a pump fed mains from a water container.
--
Regards, Danny
http://www.gaggia-espresso.com (a purely hobby site)
http://www.malabargold.co.uk (UK/EU ordering for Malabar Gold blend)
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Date: 20 Dec 2006 04:22:25
From: mattw
Subject: Re: Converting Gas to Electric in an old machine...
|
Robert Harmon wrote:
> Robert (I wonder how this would look in my dining room?) Harmon
Don't mention that to my wife. She says, as long as it fits in the
espresso corner, I can have it. The grinder will have to move to the
cabinets below (and when I get a new espresso grinder, both it and the
coffee grinder will move down), but I think it will fit.
Thanks for the link.
Waiting for pics of the inside of the machine. Someone on HB mentioned
keeping it gas, and I may just do that, at least temporarily, and have
a propane tank in cabinets underneath until I get it all fixed up
(possibly changing it over to electric later).
Thanks for the input,
/mw
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Date: 20 Dec 2006 15:36:51
From: Robert Harmon
Subject: Re: Converting Gas to Electric in an old machine...
|
"mattw" <matthewgwells@gmail.com > wrote in news:1166617345.669205.167080
@n67g2000cwd.googlegroups.com:
> Robert Harmon wrote:
>> Robert (I wonder how this would look in my dining room?) Harmon
>
> Don't mention that to my wife. She says, as long as it fits in the
> espresso corner, I can have it. The grinder will have to move to the
> cabinets below (and when I get a new espresso grinder, both it and the
> coffee grinder will move down), but I think it will fit.
>
> Thanks for the link.
>
> Waiting for pics of the inside of the machine. Someone on HB mentioned
> keeping it gas, and I may just do that, at least temporarily, and have
> a propane tank in cabinets underneath until I get it all fixed up
> (possibly changing it over to electric later).
>
> Thanks for the input,
> /mw
>
>
A friend has his professional 1-group espreesso machine & grinder installed
in his motor home. It sits on a spring-loaded shelf that is normally kept
retracted & out of the way. When he wants it it's easily pulled out &
locked in place (wouldn't want it retracting in the middle of a pull). For
once an expensive education paid off in something useful, instead of his
day job, crashing spaceships on s.
About gas; how are the exhaust fumes vented on these machines? One can
leave electric heaters powered up 24/7. Would you do that with gas?
Robert (NASA engineers make the damnest toys for themselves.) Harmon
--
http://tinyurl.com/pou2y
http://tinyurl.com/fkd6r
Remove "Z" to reply via email.
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Date: 19 Dec 2006 23:05:56
From: Paul Pratt
Subject: Re: Converting Gas to Electric in an old machine...
|
Ask the seller for pics of the inside. It should be both electric and
gas or at least the elements should be in there somewhere. Maybe
someone just removed the wiring so it now looks like gas only.
Paul
mattw wrote:
> There is a pretty nice example of a Gaggia GX machine on ebay right now
> that I am interested in (I have been looking for a commercial lever),
> but it is gas. Has anyone converted a gas machine to electric? Anyone
> have any idea what the cost and time would be? (In addition to the
> normal restoring costs) If I am switching it over, would I be able to
> convert it to 110 as well?
>
> Thanks for any input, nuts and bolts I get, but I am much sketchier on
> electronics, so please reply in layman's terms.
>
> /mw
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Date: 21 Dec 2006 07:10:40
From: Donn Cave
Subject: Re: Converting Gas to Electric in an old machine...
|
Quoth "Paul Pratt" <paul@just-java.com >:
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Date: 19 Dec 2006 18:11:04
From: Robert Harmon
Subject: Re: Converting Gas to Electric in an old machine...
|
At first I thought this was Danny's machine but then I remember his was
a 3-group. Just in case he's on vacation or otherwise not responding:
http://www.danny.mcnulty.btinternet.co.uk/espresso.html
Robert (I wonder how this would look in my dining room?) Harmon
mattw wrote:
> There is a pretty nice example of a Gaggia GX machine on ebay right now
> that I am interested in (I have been looking for a commercial lever),
> but it is gas. Has anyone converted a gas machine to electric? Anyone
> have any idea what the cost and time would be? (In addition to the
> normal restoring costs) If I am switching it over, would I be able to
> convert it to 110 as well?
>
> Thanks for any input, nuts and bolts I get, but I am much sketchier on
> electronics, so please reply in layman's terms.
>
> /mw
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