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Date: 15 Jun 2006 11:36:43
From: Alan
Subject: Silvia: pressure gauge and adjustable relief valve
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I thought I would take a crack at adding a pressure gauge and
adjustable relief valve to my Silvia just for fun (and because I think
it looks cool).
I found an old a.c thread that included Greg Scace and Paul Sack where
Greg says that the copper line that goes from the boiler to the steam
valve is 6mm OD. I found a brass tee fitting at Swagelok similar to
the one referenced in the thread, part number B-6M0-3-4TTM which goes
from 6mm tube to 1/4" male NPT.
I figured I would buy two of those, then make two cuts about an inch
apart in the current 6mm copper tube that goes from the boiler to the
steam valve, and then install the two tees in those spots. The one
closest to the boiler can go to a pressure gauge
(http://www.gaugestore.com/38wiprga0psi57.html), and the next one can
go to a cheap adjustable relief valve that I found at www.mcmaster.com
for $19, part number 4612K16 (along with various copper tubing and
tube-NPT compression fittings). I would remove the spring and blank
off the currently installed relief valve, I guess.
Seem like a workable plan to those that know the guts of Silvia? I
don't know how much the Swagelok tees cost, but it seems like the
compression fittings on those will be a bit more idiot proof than
sweating in some copper fittings since I haven't ever attempted that
before.
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Date: 15 Jun 2006 21:40:04
From: Eric Svendson
Subject: Re: Silvia: pressure gauge and adjustable relief valve
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A good adjustable relief/regulating valve for Silvia is here:
http://www.espressoparts.com/product/V_873
This is the OPV used in most Expobar machines and perhaps others. The
problem comes in adapting this to Silvia. The inlet fitting is, IIRC, 12 mm
straight threads and finding an adaptor for that is difficult. However,
since EPNW sells the OPV, they may be able to help you to adapt this to the
Ulka pump.
A good source for other adaptors is: http://www.parker.com/fcg/indexv4.asp
Good Luck,
Eric S.
"Alan" <munter@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:1150396603.314229.51290@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>I thought I would take a crack at adding a pressure gauge and
> adjustable relief valve to my Silvia just for fun (and because I think
> it looks cool).
>
> I found an old a.c thread that included Greg Scace and Paul Sack where
> Greg says that the copper line that goes from the boiler to the steam
> valve is 6mm OD. I found a brass tee fitting at Swagelok similar to
> the one referenced in the thread, part number B-6M0-3-4TTM which goes
> from 6mm tube to 1/4" male NPT.
>
> I figured I would buy two of those, then make two cuts about an inch
> apart in the current 6mm copper tube that goes from the boiler to the
> steam valve, and then install the two tees in those spots. The one
> closest to the boiler can go to a pressure gauge
> (http://www.gaugestore.com/38wiprga0psi57.html), and the next one can
> go to a cheap adjustable relief valve that I found at www.mcmaster.com
> for $19, part number 4612K16 (along with various copper tubing and
> tube-NPT compression fittings). I would remove the spring and blank
> off the currently installed relief valve, I guess.
>
> Seem like a workable plan to those that know the guts of Silvia? I
> don't know how much the Swagelok tees cost, but it seems like the
> compression fittings on those will be a bit more idiot proof than
> sweating in some copper fittings since I haven't ever attempted that
> before.
>
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Date: 15 Jun 2006 14:30:31
From: gscace
Subject: Re: Silvia: pressure gauge and adjustable relief valve
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Best to have the pressure relief upstream of the boiler so that the
pressure is relieved by diverting unheted feedwater. Your position for
mounting the gauge is fine.
-Greg
Alan wrote:
> I thought I would take a crack at adding a pressure gauge and
> adjustable relief valve to my Silvia just for fun (and because I think
> it looks cool).
>
> I found an old a.c thread that included Greg Scace and Paul Sack where
> Greg says that the copper line that goes from the boiler to the steam
> valve is 6mm OD. I found a brass tee fitting at Swagelok similar to
> the one referenced in the thread, part number B-6M0-3-4TTM which goes
> from 6mm tube to 1/4" male NPT.
>
> I figured I would buy two of those, then make two cuts about an inch
> apart in the current 6mm copper tube that goes from the boiler to the
> steam valve, and then install the two tees in those spots. The one
> closest to the boiler can go to a pressure gauge
> (http://www.gaugestore.com/38wiprga0psi57.html), and the next one can
> go to a cheap adjustable relief valve that I found at www.mcmaster.com
> for $19, part number 4612K16 (along with various copper tubing and
> tube-NPT compression fittings). I would remove the spring and blank
> off the currently installed relief valve, I guess.
>
> Seem like a workable plan to those that know the guts of Silvia? I
> don't know how much the Swagelok tees cost, but it seems like the
> compression fittings on those will be a bit more idiot proof than
> sweating in some copper fittings since I haven't ever attempted that
> before.
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Date: 16 Jun 2006 19:22:06
From:
Subject: Re: Silvia: pressure gauge and adjustable relief valve
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Yes. Swagelok fittings are available with metric nuts and ferrules.
They may go directly to NPT on the tee if you so specify, but I don't
have a catalog in front of me. Swagelok is a very clean way of doing
it, and not too pricey in brass.
-Greg
RBeech wrote:
> On Thu, 15 Jun 2006 11:36:43 -0700, Alan <munter@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > I figured I would buy two of those, then make two cuts about an inch
> > apart in the current 6mm copper tube that goes from the boiler to the
> > steam valve, and then install the two tees in those spots.
>
> If I was going this route [although I think gsace's point was good about
> having the relief upstream of the boiler] I would use one of the Swagelok
> compression T fittings, and then use regular old NPT after that to branch
> off for the various fittings.
>
> R
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Date: 16 Jun 2006 23:52:49
From: RBeech
Subject: Re: Silvia: pressure gauge and adjustable relief valve
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On Thu, 15 Jun 2006 11:36:43 -0700, Alan <munter@gmail.com > wrote:
>
> I figured I would buy two of those, then make two cuts about an inch
> apart in the current 6mm copper tube that goes from the boiler to the
> steam valve, and then install the two tees in those spots.
If I was going this route [although I think gsace's point was good about
having the relief upstream of the boiler] I would use one of the Swagelok
compression T fittings, and then use regular old NPT after that to branch
off for the various fittings.
R
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Date: 16 Jun 2006 06:11:47
From: daveb
Subject: Re: Silvia: pressure gauge and adjustable relief valve
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Sounds like a good idea and does have a definite 'cool' factor. Could
help with tamping and shot production.
pls let us know how it progresses.
Dave
Alan wrote:
> I thought I would take a crack at adding a pressure gauge and
> adjustable relief valve to my Silvia just for fun (and because I think
> it looks cool).
>
> I found an old a.c thread that included Greg Scace and Paul Sack where
> Greg says that the copper line that goes from the boiler to the steam
> valve is 6mm OD. I found a brass tee fitting at Swagelok similar to
> the one referenced in the thread, part number B-6M0-3-4TTM which goes
> from 6mm tube to 1/4" male NPT.
>
> I figured I would buy two of those, then make two cuts about an inch
> apart in the current 6mm copper tube that goes from the boiler to the
> steam valve, and then install the two tees in those spots. The one
> closest to the boiler can go to a pressure gauge
> (http://www.gaugestore.com/38wiprga0psi57.html), and the next one can
> go to a cheap adjustable relief valve that I found at www.mcmaster.com
> for $19, part number 4612K16 (along with various copper tubing and
> tube-NPT compression fittings). I would remove the spring and blank
> off the currently installed relief valve, I guess.
>
> Seem like a workable plan to those that know the guts of Silvia? I
> don't know how much the Swagelok tees cost, but it seems like the
> compression fittings on those will be a bit more idiot proof than
> sweating in some copper fittings since I haven't ever attempted that
> before.
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Date: 20 Jun 2006 05:43:32
From: Alan
Subject: Re: Silvia: pressure gauge and adjustable relief valve
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Thanks for the advice, guys, I'll keep track of a parts list and post a
summary when I have finished. It will take a while to get the parts in
a pile before I tear into it (and I have some Decatur Street Blend
coming that I don't want the machine out of commision for).
>From experience cutting a hole in the front and mounting the 1/32 PID
inside, the hardest part might be making a clean 2" hole in the front
of the stainless steel. I have a plan for that, though. I am going to
carefully take off the rivets holding on the front panel, remove the
connections, and put it on a bench press rather than trying to do it
with a hand-held saw or dremel or something.
gscace@earthlink.net wrote:
> Yes. Swagelok fittings are available with metric nuts and ferrules.
> They may go directly to NPT on the tee if you so specify, but I don't
> have a catalog in front of me. Swagelok is a very clean way of doing
> it, and not too pricey in brass.
>
> -Greg
>
>
>
>
> RBeech wrote:
> > On Thu, 15 Jun 2006 11:36:43 -0700, Alan <munter@gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > I figured I would buy two of those, then make two cuts about an inch
> > > apart in the current 6mm copper tube that goes from the boiler to the
> > > steam valve, and then install the two tees in those spots.
> >
> > If I was going this route [although I think gsace's point was good about
> > having the relief upstream of the boiler] I would use one of the Swagelok
> > compression T fittings, and then use regular old NPT after that to branch
> > off for the various fittings.
> >
> > R
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Date: 28 Jun 2006 12:01:33
From: Alan
Subject: Re: Silvia: pressure gauge and adjustable relief valve
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Quick update on this...
I have all of the parts that I need. Eric Svendson was a huge help in
emails making me understand what the different fittings were and
helping me find where to buy and install the OPV, and Greg Scace has
been letting me peek under the hood of his Bride of Frankensilvia to
see how he did his install and to get suggestions.
Greg's install is out of my league, but he has lots of good advice. He
branched off the 6mm copper steam line of the silvia by getting a block
of brass, machining a fitting from scratch to go from 6mm copper tube
to steel capillary tubing and soldered the whole thing together. Then
he got a super-nice, extremely precise relief valve from Swagelok which
he vents into his drip tray and can adjust from a knob mounted on the
right of the machine exterior.
At Eric's suggestion I got an OPV from Whole Latte Love (who has
surprisingly knowledgeable people answering their sales line) that is
the one that is used in the Brewtus. It screws directly into the Ulka
pump on the Silvia and has a female 1/8" British Standard Parallel pipe
output. The Silvia water supply line that comes from the pump has kind
of cheap fittings which probably wouldn't last through my removal
process, so I am replacing that line with more substantial copper
compression fittings. I may try to mount the OPV horizontally and drill
a little hole in the back of Silvia for a screwdriver to adjust it so I
won't have to lift out the reservoir.
I will install a tee off the new teflon line between the Brewtus OPV
and the boiler to head to my pressure gauge. Pascal says that it
doesn't matter where you measure the pressure on a static system, and
this one is close enough to static for it to only make a difference of
less than 1PSI.
Once I get it all successfully installed (next couple of weeks, fingers
crossed) I will post the list of fittings and tubing that I ended up
buying from McMaster-Carr to get it all together. If it goes smoothly
I should send the parts list and instructions to the folks at EPNW, and
they could release it as a kit. 8)
Alan wrote:
> I thought I would take a crack at adding a pressure gauge and
> adjustable relief valve to my Silvia just for fun (and because I think
> it looks cool).
>
> I found an old a.c thread that included Greg Scace and Paul Sack where
> Greg says that the copper line that goes from the boiler to the steam
> valve is 6mm OD. I found a brass tee fitting at Swagelok similar to
> the one referenced in the thread, part number B-6M0-3-4TTM which goes
> from 6mm tube to 1/4" male NPT.
>
> I figured I would buy two of those, then make two cuts about an inch
> apart in the current 6mm copper tube that goes from the boiler to the
> steam valve, and then install the two tees in those spots. The one
> closest to the boiler can go to a pressure gauge
> (http://www.gaugestore.com/38wiprga0psi57.html), and the next one can
> go to a cheap adjustable relief valve that I found at www.mcmaster.com
> for $19, part number 4612K16 (along with various copper tubing and
> tube-NPT compression fittings). I would remove the spring and blank
> off the currently installed relief valve, I guess.
>
> Seem like a workable plan to those that know the guts of Silvia? I
> don't know how much the Swagelok tees cost, but it seems like the
> compression fittings on those will be a bit more idiot proof than
> sweating in some copper fittings since I haven't ever attempted that
> before.
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