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Main
Date: 17 Jul 2007 10:25:44
From: ScratchMonkey
Subject: My Presto Scandinavian is dying
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I bought the Presto Scandinavian a couple years ago on the recommendation
of this group and CoffeeGeek.com, and was so happy with it I bought another
for the office, and later one as a birthday present for my mom.
This week my unit is resisting starting up. The green light comes on for a
moment and then shuts off. It's happened two days in a row now. After
repeated presses it finally starts up, but I fear it's not long for this
world.
Now what? I see they've been discontinued. Are there any stores that still
carry them? Is there another drip maker I should be looking at to take its
place?
And any idea what might be wrong with this one? Is there any hope of
repairing it? (I'm reasonably competent with electronics.) If the problem
isn't a dying custom microprocessor that's not replacable, then there's
probably hope.
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Date: 13 Sep 2007 11:57:14
From: LF
Subject: Re: My Presto Scandinavian is not dying
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On Aug 7, 7:55 pm, Natarajan Krishnaswami <n...@cwru.edu > wrote:
> On 2007-08-07, LF <fie...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I use Randy Glass guidelines:
>
> >http://www.espressomyespresso.com/
>
> Ah, cool; 1% solution. Before I saw your reply, I tried running a 5%
> solution through it (and large amounts of clean water after that), and
> that fixed it good. Works like a champ (again!).
>
> N., really glad he had ordered a couple of spare carafes for it
In the past, I was able to revive my Presto by descaling (with citric
acid). IIRC, this fix worked when the lights came on briefly, but then
went off.
Recently, the lights failed to come on at all -- no matter how hard I
pressed the buttons on the front panel. I figured the Presto was
toast, and almost purchased a Technivorm. No need, the Presto is now
working perfectly.
The malfunction was mechanical: the buttons on the front panel failed
to make contact with the circuit board. Most likely, I caused this by
repeatedly pushing the buttons too hard, in an attempt to get the
Presto working (during some of the "light came on briefly, but then
went off" episodes).
The fix took about 5 minutes.
I turned the Presto upside down, removed the little gray feet that
cover some of the screws, and unscrewed the phillips head screws that
hold the Presto together. In hindsight, I think I probably only
needed to remove two screws -- the one closest to the front, and the
one closest to the rear. Then I was able to push the circuit board
back into proper position -- close enough to the front panel to make
contact with the buttons. Plugged it in briefly for a quick test, and
reassembled.
Got to go now. My wife's coffee finished brewing in the Presto.
Best,
Larry
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Date: 10 Aug 2007 03:17:47
From: LF
Subject: Re: My Presto Scandinavian is not dying
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On Aug 7, 7:55 pm, Natarajan Krishnaswami <n...@cwru.edu > wrote:
> On 2007-08-07, LF <fie...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I use Randy Glass guidelines:
>
> >http://www.espressomyespresso.com/
>
> Ah, cool; 1% solution. Before I saw your reply, I tried running a 5%
> solution through it (and large amounts of clean water after that), and
> that fixed it good. Works like a champ (again!).
>
Glad it worked for you.
L
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Date: 07 Aug 2007 23:55:48
From: Natarajan Krishnaswami
Subject: Re: My Presto Scandinavian is not dying
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On 2007-08-07, LF <fieman@gmail.com > wrote:
> I use Randy Glass guidelines:
>
> http://www.espressomyespresso.com/
Ah, cool; 1% solution. Before I saw your reply, I tried running a 5%
solution through it (and large amounts of clean water after that), and
that fixed it good. Works like a champ (again!).
N., really glad he had ordered a couple of spare carafes for it
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Date: 07 Aug 2007 07:19:06
From: farmroast
Subject: Re: My Presto Scandinavian is dying
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On Jul 19, 10:31 pm, ear...@comcast.net wrote:
> On Jul 19, 9:04 pm, ScratchMonkey
>
>
>
> <ScratchMonkey.blackl...@sewingwitch.com> wrote:
> > ear...@comcast.net wrote in news:1184893930.773762.129590@
> > 22g2000hsm.googlegroups.com:
>
> > > I dont think descaling is going to help..I have gone through several
> > > of them in the last two years or so.These coffee makers do a great
> > > job ,but they are cheeply made and the circuit boards seem to fail. I
> > > have a back up in the attic and my current one has been going since
> > > Decmber 2..I believe they have been discontinued.I bought my last to
> > > at Sear for $15.00 each....
>
> > If it's *just* a circuit board and not a chip, I can probably fix that.
> > Unless it's under a BGA. And only the hassle of that would keep me from
> > hunting down a repair station.
>
> > So if it's terminal, what's the next best drip maker?
>
> Well I cant say that is definatly the circuit board ,I just know that
> they all seem to fail the same way [stuck in standby mode]..
> Other than the Technivorm ,I dont have any certain recamendations.When
> my last one dies ill do a bit of research on drip coffee makers...
>
> Don
My first Presto died after about 3months.(about a year ago) I took it
apart ( more difficult than most to do so) and found a fried circuit
board. I then contacted presto and they said I could return it so I
put back together(again a little tricky to do) and shipped. I never
did get a chance to closely examine what component it was on the board
that fried. I do remember thinking that the heating element was rather
close to part of the board but not sure if this could have been a
factor or just a bad or undersized component.
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Date: 07 Aug 2007 04:17:48
From: LF
Subject: Re: My Presto Scandinavian is dying
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>
> What ratio of citric acid to water do you use?
>
> N
I use Randy Glass guidelines:
http://www.espressomyespresso.com/
L
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Date: 06 Aug 2007 05:17:39
From: Natarajan Krishnaswami
Subject: Re: My Presto Scandinavian is dying
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On 2007-08-05, LF <fieman@gmail.com > wrote:
> I suspect that buildup
> of lime and scale is often the culprit in the demise of these fine
> coffee brewers.
I have rather calcium-hard water. When I tried descaling the first
time, I started seeing these symptoms (heating element/pumpy thing
cuts out after a few seconds). Perhaps this is because I freed up
some of the scale to gum up the works, and further descaling would
help.
What ratio of citric acid to water do you use?
N.
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Date: 05 Aug 2007 21:33:56
From: LF
Subject: Re: My Presto Scandinavian is dying
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On Jul 17, 11:25 am, ScratchMonkey
<ScratchMonkey.blackl...@sewingwitch.com > wrote:
> I bought the Presto Scandinavian a couple years ago on the recommendation
> of this group and CoffeeGeek.com, and was so happy with it I bought another
> for the office, and later one as a birthday present for my mom.
>
> This week my unit is resisting starting up. The green light comes on for a
> moment and then shuts off. It's happened two days in a row now. After
> repeated presses it finally starts up, but I fear it's not long for this
> world.
>
> Now what?<snip>
I've had a PS (Presto Scandinavian) for 3 years. I have RO (reverse/
osmosis) water filter system for drinking water, so use that for
making coffee. About once a year, the PS developed the above
symptoms. I descaled it with CleanCaf (available rebranded at *$, if
you need it in a hurry) and it worked again. Now, I descale from time
to time -- whenever I think of it -- with Citric Acid (from an Indian
Grocery Store; aka *sour salt* in a kosher food store). We use the PS
on a daily basis. It keeps on working for me. I suspect that buildup
of lime and scale is often the culprit in the demise of these fine
coffee brewers.
Regards,
Larry
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Date: 02 Aug 2007 20:51:37
From:
Subject: Re: My Presto Scandinavian is dying
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On Jul 17, 11:25 am, ScratchMonkey
<ScratchMonkey.blackl...@sewingwitch.com > wrote:
> I bought the Presto Scandinavian a couple years ago on the recommendation
> of this group and CoffeeGeek.com, and was so happy with it I bought another
> for the office, and later one as a birthday present for my mom.
>
> This week my unit is resisting starting up. The green light comes on for a
> moment and then shuts off. It's happened two days in a row now. After
> repeated presses it finally starts up, but I fear it's not long for this
> world.
>
> Now what? I see they've been discontinued. Are there any stores that still
> carry them? Is there another drip maker I should be looking at to take its
> place?
>
> And any idea what might be wrong with this one? Is there any hope of
> repairing it? (I'm reasonably competent with electronics.) If the problem
> isn't a dying custom microprocessor that's not replacable, then there's
> probably hope.
Weird...mine is doing the exact same thing...I read somewhere that
there may be an internal fuse....but I havnt got around to opening it
up
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Date: 05 Aug 2007 13:50:28
From: ScratchMonkey
Subject: Re: My Presto Scandinavian is dying
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nickwild@comcast.net wrote in news:1186113097.988134.139360
@k79g2000hse.googlegroups.com:
> Weird...mine is doing the exact same thing...I read somewhere that
> there may be an internal fuse....but I havnt got around to opening it
> up
If someone cracks it apart, post pictures so we know the disassembly
procedure.
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Date: 19 Jul 2007 19:31:38
From:
Subject: Re: My Presto Scandinavian is dying
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On Jul 19, 9:04 pm, ScratchMonkey
<ScratchMonkey.blackl...@sewingwitch.com > wrote:
> ear...@comcast.net wrote in news:1184893930.773762.129590@
> 22g2000hsm.googlegroups.com:
>
> > I dont think descaling is going to help..I have gone through several
> > of them in the last two years or so.These coffee makers do a great
> > job ,but they are cheeply made and the circuit boards seem to fail. I
> > have a back up in the attic and my current one has been going since
> > Decmber 2..I believe they have been discontinued.I bought my last to
> > at Sear for $15.00 each....
>
> If it's *just* a circuit board and not a chip, I can probably fix that.
> Unless it's under a BGA. And only the hassle of that would keep me from
> hunting down a repair station.
>
> So if it's terminal, what's the next best drip maker?
Well I cant say that is definatly the circuit board ,I just know that
they all seem to fail the same way [stuck in standby mode]..
Other than the Technivorm ,I dont have any certain recamendations.When
my last one dies ill do a bit of research on drip coffee makers...
Don
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Date: 20 Jul 2007 15:41:00
From: Jack Denver
Subject: Re: My Presto Scandinavian is dying
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I wonder if the electronics could be bypassed by hardwiring current to the
element (assuming there is a backup mechanical thermostat in the system
somewhere)? You'd lose the standby function but it would at least brew.
I've never taken one of these apart so I don't know if it's feasible but the
worst that would happen is probably you'd melt the one time overheat fuse if
there was no backup thermostat other than the electrical system. Obviously
you would want to babysit the machine the first time you did this and maybe
do it outside so if it caught fire or melted your kitchen wouldn't go up
with it. Proceed at your own risk, YMMV, etc.
<earlds@comcast.net > wrote in message
news:1184898698.598733.12380@o61g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
> On Jul 19, 9:04 pm, ScratchMonkey
> <ScratchMonkey.blackl...@sewingwitch.com> wrote:
>> ear...@comcast.net wrote in news:1184893930.773762.129590@
>> 22g2000hsm.googlegroups.com:
>>
>> > I dont think descaling is going to help..I have gone through several
>> > of them in the last two years or so.These coffee makers do a great
>> > job ,but they are cheeply made and the circuit boards seem to fail. I
>> > have a back up in the attic and my current one has been going since
>> > Decmber 2..I believe they have been discontinued.I bought my last to
>> > at Sear for $15.00 each....
>>
>> If it's *just* a circuit board and not a chip, I can probably fix that.
>> Unless it's under a BGA. And only the hassle of that would keep me from
>> hunting down a repair station.
>>
>> So if it's terminal, what's the next best drip maker?
>
> Well I cant say that is definatly the circuit board ,I just know that
> they all seem to fail the same way [stuck in standby mode]..
> Other than the Technivorm ,I dont have any certain recamendations.When
> my last one dies ill do a bit of research on drip coffee makers...
>
> Don
>
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Date: 19 Jul 2007 18:12:10
From:
Subject: Re: My Presto Scandinavian is dying
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On Jul 17, 10:25 am, ScratchMonkey
<ScratchMonkey.blackl...@sewingwitch.com > wrote:
> I bought the Presto Scandinavian a couple years ago on the recommendation
> of this group and CoffeeGeek.com, and was so happy with it I bought another
> for the office, and later one as a birthday present for my mom.
>
> This week my unit is resisting starting up. The green light comes on for a
> moment and then shuts off. It's happened two days in a row now. After
> repeated presses it finally starts up, but I fear it's not long for this
> world.
>
> Now what? I see they've been discontinued. Are there any stores that still
> carry them? Is there another drip maker I should be looking at to take its
> place?
>
> And any idea what might be wrong with this one? Is there any hope of
> repairing it? (I'm reasonably competent with electronics.) If the problem
> isn't a dying custom microprocessor that's not replacable, then there's
> probably hope.
I dont think descaling is going to help..I have gone through several
of them in the last two years or so.These coffee makers do a great
job ,but they are cheeply made and the circuit boards seem to fail. I
have a back up in the attic and my current one has been going since
Decmber 2..I believe they have been discontinued.I bought my last to
at Sear for $15.00 each....
Don
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Date: 19 Jul 2007 21:04:01
From: ScratchMonkey
Subject: Re: My Presto Scandinavian is dying
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earlds@comcast.net wrote in news:1184893930.773762.129590@
22g2000hsm.googlegroups.com:
> I dont think descaling is going to help..I have gone through several
> of them in the last two years or so.These coffee makers do a great
> job ,but they are cheeply made and the circuit boards seem to fail. I
> have a back up in the attic and my current one has been going since
> Decmber 2..I believe they have been discontinued.I bought my last to
> at Sear for $15.00 each....
If it's *just* a circuit board and not a chip, I can probably fix that.
Unless it's under a BGA. And only the hassle of that would keep me from
hunting down a repair station.
So if it's terminal, what's the next best drip maker?
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Date: 18 Jul 2007 13:58:45
From: JC Dill
Subject: Re: My Presto Scandinavian is dying
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On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 10:25:44 -0500, ScratchMonkey
<ScratchMonkey.blacklist@sewingwitch.com > wrote:
>This week my unit is resisting starting up. The green light comes on for a
>moment and then shuts off. It's happened two days in a row now. After
>repeated presses it finally starts up, but I fear it's not long for this
>world.
Interesting. This just happened to our unit on Sunday morning. Ours
was bought in December 06 - just 8 months old.
Email the address on the back page of the instruction manual has not
been responded to.
jc
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Date: 17 Jul 2007 12:07:26
From: Craig Andrews
Subject: Re: My Presto Scandinavian is dying
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"ScratchMonkey" <ScratchMonkey.blacklist@sewingwitch.com > wrote in message
news:Xns997055B9B7FB5scratchmonkey@216.196.97.136...
>I bought the Presto Scandinavian a couple years ago on the recommendation
> of this group and CoffeeGeek.com, and was so happy with it I bought
> another
> for the office, and later one as a birthday present for my mom.
>
> This week my unit is resisting starting up. The green light comes on for a
> moment and then shuts off. It's happened two days in a row now. After
> repeated presses it finally starts up, but I fear it's not long for this
> world.
>
> Now what? I see they've been discontinued. Are there any stores that still
> carry them? Is there another drip maker I should be looking at to take its
> place?
>
> And any idea what might be wrong with this one? Is there any hope of
> repairing it? (I'm reasonably competent with electronics.) If the problem
> isn't a dying custom microprocessor that's not replacable, then there's
> probably hope.
Have you delimed/descaled the machine at all?
Carig.
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Date: 18 Jul 2007 13:59:29
From: JC Dill
Subject: Re: My Presto Scandinavian is dying
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On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 12:07:26 -0400, "Craig Andrews"
<alt.coffee@deletethis.rogers.com > wrote:
>Have you delimed/descaled the machine at all?
How do you do that on a machine that won't start the brew cycle at
all?
jc
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Date: 19 Jul 2007 11:36:00
From: ScratchMonkey
Subject: Re: My Presto Scandinavian is dying
|
JC Dill <jcdill@gmail.com > wrote in
news:sovs93l6qh98icatbhk83ms77nfp45f5fa@4ax.com:
>>Have you delimed/descaled the machine at all?
>
> How do you do that on a machine that won't start the brew cycle at
> all?
I can get it to start, but it takes many button presses. I'm wondering if a
temperature sensor somewhere needs to be "primed" due to scale buildup.
I ran a vinegar solution through a couple days ago and thought I'd fixed
it, but then had the same problem once the machine was cold again. So today
it took maybe 100 cycles of the button before the green light would stay
on.
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Date: 17 Jul 2007 11:09:31
From: ScratchMonkey
Subject: Re: My Presto Scandinavian is dying
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"Craig Andrews" <alt.coffee@deletethis.rogers.com > wrote in
news:5g47ptF3e1732U1@mid.individual.net:
> Have you delimed/descaled the machine at all?
Good idea, no. Now to go find a howto....
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Date: 17 Jul 2007 14:15:13
From: daveb
Subject: Re: My Presto Scandinavian is dying
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Go to www.urnex.com
dave
"ScratchMonkey" <ScratchMonkey.blacklist@sewingwitch.com > wrote in message
news:Xns99705D26A1A5Escratchmonkey@216.196.97.136...
> "Craig Andrews" <alt.coffee@deletethis.rogers.com> wrote in
> news:5g47ptF3e1732U1@mid.individual.net:
>
>> Have you delimed/descaled the machine at all?
>
> Good idea, no. Now to go find a howto....
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