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Main
Date: 14 Apr 2007 18:04:31
From: justin.c.tang@gmail.com
Subject: Rancilio Silvia: Can it be left on all day?
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I have been using my Rancilio Silvia for several months now and just
love pulling shots anytime I'm home, multiple times a day. I have
been, therefore, leaving my machine on all day. Does anyone know if
there is any negative impacts on doing so? Does it cause the machine
undue wear and tear?
Let me know what you guys think. And no, I do not have a PID.
Thanks!
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Date: 18 Apr 2007 00:59:33
From: Dave b
Subject: Re: Rancilio Silvia: Can it be left on all day?
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>
> Either people worry too much, or I have an unusually sturdy machine.
>
> Sig
As is often the case with machines, and constant "improvements"
The NEW silvia boilers are LESS reliable than the old.
-- I sell and service them.
dave
www.hitechespresso.com
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Date: 12 Jun 2007 07:17:19
From: Sullo's
Subject: Re: Rancilio Silvia: Can it be left on all day?
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My Silvia which wouldve had her one month birthday today died witha faulty
boiler, 2 days to have it replaced. Faulty reset switch also....She was a
new model as well
Sullos
"Dave b" <davebobblane@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:1176883173.810951.265500@p77g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
>
>>
>> Either people worry too much, or I have an unusually sturdy machine.
>>
>> Sig
>
> As is often the case with machines, and constant "improvements"
>
> The NEW silvia boilers are LESS reliable than the old.
>
>
> -- I sell and service them.
>
> dave
> www.hitechespresso.com
>
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Date: 16 Apr 2007 21:29:52
From: sig
Subject: Re: Rancilio Silvia: Can it be left on all day?
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[This followup was posted to alt.coffee and a copy was sent to the cited
author.]
On 14 Apr 2007 18:04:31 -0700 justin.c.tang@gmail.com said
> I have been using my Rancilio Silvia for several months now and just
> love pulling shots anytime I'm home, multiple times a day. I have
> been, therefore, leaving my machine on all day. Does anyone know if
> there is any negative impacts on doing so? Does it cause the machine
> undue wear and tear?
>
> Let me know what you guys think. And no, I do not have a PID.
>
> Thanks!
I've had a Silvia for about seven years. Most days I make one double, and
leave it on most of the day. I've changed the gasket once (maybe twice).
Once I forgot to tighten the steam valve enough, and lost about 100cc of
water, but had no apparent damage.
After pulling a shot, I loosen the portafilter a bit to let the gasket
expand. Once a day I do the portafilter wiggle, and backflush with water.
Once a month (usually) I backflush with Urnex and soak various parts,
including the dispersion screen, in Urnex.
Either people worry too much, or I have an unusually sturdy machine.
Sig
--
http://koiclubsandiego.org/comment/?r=8
8b2f72a7d4636a6c62866cbfcebc3934
32d013a3f982df51b7f5e0dae40b5273
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Date: 16 Apr 2007 18:14:46
From: Craig Andrews
Subject: Re: Rancilio Silvia: Can it be left on all day?
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"sig" <pwuldovebs@kriocoudek.mailexpire.com > wrote in message
news:MPG.208d8a89b4dc9d6e989688@felix...
> [This followup was posted to alt.coffee and a copy was sent to the
> cited
> author.]
>
> On 14 Apr 2007 18:04:31 -0700 justin.c.tang@gmail.com said
>> I have been using my Rancilio Silvia for several months now and just
>> love pulling shots anytime I'm home, multiple times a day. I have
>> been, therefore, leaving my machine on all day. Does anyone know if
>> there is any negative impacts on doing so? Does it cause the machine
>> undue wear and tear?
>>
>> Let me know what you guys think. And no, I do not have a PID.
>>
>> Thanks!
>
> I've had a Silvia for about seven years. Most days I make one double,
> and
> leave it on most of the day. I've changed the gasket once (maybe
> twice).
> Once I forgot to tighten the steam valve enough, and lost about 100cc
> of
> water, but had no apparent damage.
>
> After pulling a shot, I loosen the portafilter a bit to let the gasket
> expand. Once a day I do the portafilter wiggle, and backflush with
> water.
> Once a month (usually) I backflush with Urnex and soak various parts,
> including the dispersion screen, in Urnex.
>
> Either people worry too much, or I have an unusually sturdy machine.
>
> Sig
>
Hey Sig, I hear ya! I've had my Rancilio Miss Silvia since mid May
2001., that's 6 years 11 months. Haven't even had to change out my
grouphead gasket as it's still pliable! Not one lick of a problem other
than a slightly squeeky steam valve.
I dissembled the valve approx 2 months ago & didn't have to replace the
2 steam shaft o rings, or the cock gasket either. All that was needed
was some food grade white grease. The Silvia really IS a tank & dam near
bulletproof, or in my & your case is BULLETPROOF! {;-) {:-D
Cheers!
Craig.
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Date: 15 Apr 2007 07:47:06
From: daveb
Subject: Re: Rancilio Silvia: Can it be left on all day?
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The loss of water is caused by the wide temperature swings from the
stock thermostat, causing a slight amount of hot water and vapor to
escape back through the line that returns excess pressure to the water
reservoir.
Thus, slowly the heater becomes uncovered and is heating AIR, rather
than water. It was not designed to do this, and its life can be
shortened.
This all occurs at a temperature MUCH lower than the (resettable) high
limit switch, and will continue as long as power is on.
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Date: 05 May 2007 09:34:18
From: RobvL
Subject: Re: Rancilio Silvia: Can it be left on all day?
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The overflow valve takes at least 10 to 12 bar of pressure to activate, once
the boiler has peaked in temperature very little if any water or steam
should escape thru the the return line.
The only real areas of concern are worn seals or if the steam wand valve is
not tight enough. If you ask anyone that has a Sylvia that failed did they
refill the boiler after steaming last and did they properly shut the steam
valve their automatic answer will be of course i did. Trying putting the
return line in a (covered) glass and leave the machine on during the day,
how much water ends up in the glass?
Rob vL
NZ
"daveb" <davebobblane@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:1176648426.907589.144450@p77g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
>
>
> The loss of water is caused by the wide temperature swings from the
> stock thermostat, causing a slight amount of hot water and vapor to
> escape back through the line that returns excess pressure to the water
> reservoir.
>
> Thus, slowly the heater becomes uncovered and is heating AIR, rather
> than water. It was not designed to do this, and its life can be
> shortened.
>
> This all occurs at a temperature MUCH lower than the (resettable) high
> limit switch, and will continue as long as power is on.
>
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Date: 14 Apr 2007 21:29:28
From: Randy G.
Subject: Re: Rancilio Silvia: Can it be left on all day?
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On Apr 14, 6:04 pm, "justin.c.t...@gmail.com"
<justin.c.t...@gmail.com > wrote:
> I have been using my Rancilio Silvia for several months now and just
> love pulling shots anytime I'm home, multiple times a day. I have
> been, therefore, leaving my machine on all day. Does anyone know if
> there is any negative impacts on doing so? Does it cause the machine
> undue wear and tear?
>
The only immediate danger of leaving Silvia on for extended periods is
that the boiler may become low on water, overheat, and cause the
thermal protection thermostat to trip. The thermostat is resettable,
but it is a situation you should avoid. This overheating can damage
seals and gaskets. To be sure that the water level does not get
dangerously low, you must do two things:
1) make sure that water does not leave the boiler when the machine is
idling. That means making sure that the 3-way valve does not leak, the
steam valve seals properly, that the over-pressure relief valve seals
properly, and that all gaskets seal so that there is no way for water
or water vapor leaving the boiler. If no water or water vapor leaves
the boiler, it can't boil dry.
2) once every one to two hours, turn on the hot water switch and pump
a bit of water through the steam wand until a full, solid stream of
water emerges. This guarantees that the boiler stays full.
If those two things can be accomplished, it can be argued that leaving
it on all day is better than turning it on and off because metal parts
are not subject to so many heat and cool cycles which can cause
stress.
Now, if you want to join the advanced class, you could wire a small
timer of some sort to the pump so that when the machine is on, once
per hour the pump runs for five to ten seconds. That will push steam
out the pressure relief valve and refill the boiler automatically.
Randy "never had to reset" G.
www.EspressoMyEspresso.com
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Date: 14 Apr 2007 19:20:03
From: daveb
Subject: Re: Rancilio Silvia: Can it be left on all day?
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On Apr 14, 9:04 pm, "justin.c.t...@gmail.com"
<justin.c.t...@gmail.com > wrote:
> I have been using my Rancilio Silvia for several months now and just
> love pulling shots anytime I'm home, multiple times a day. I have
> been, therefore, leaving my machine on all day. Does anyone know if
> there is any negative impacts on doing so? Does it cause the machine
> undue wear and tear?
>
> Let me know what you guys think. And no, I do not have a PID.
>
> Thanks!
A stock Silvia should NOT be left on for hours unattended.
If you are willing to blip the pump on for a few seconds every hour or
so, then OK.
but do not forget.
I can put you in touch with a guy who forgot, and the boiler element
failed.
Dave
Saeco / Rancilio service SE
235 pid silvias
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Date: 15 Apr 2007 02:45:44
From: Barry Jarrett
Subject: Re: Rancilio Silvia: Can it be left on all day?
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On 14 Apr 2007 19:20:03 -0700, "daveb" <davebobblane@gmail.com > wrote:
>I can put you in touch with a guy who forgot, and the boiler element
>failed.
where was the leak?
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Date: 15 Apr 2007 01:54:55
From: Coffee for Connoisseurs
Subject: Re: Rancilio Silvia: Can it be left on all day?
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You'll need to replace the group gasket, steam valve o-rings and washer more
often. Other than that, as long as the boiler is kept filled, no problem.
--
Alan
alanfrew@coffeeco.com.au
www.coffeeco.com.au
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