Category Archives: Electronics

Or Espresso maschine had technical problems, part 2 – trouble shooting

Investigation begins

After the incident yesterday our Rancilio Silvia need some service.
Before starting: make sure that the machine is plugged out of the socket to avoid electrocution. 

Ranchilio silvia
Rancilio silvia with power cord removed from socket.

First step

Remove the top plate

Top plate removed
Top plate removed

Second step

Measure heater resistans. Result 48Ω’s this would give a resulting power of 1,1kW (P=U2 / R). Sound resonable.

Heater resistens is aprox 50
Heater resistens is approx 48Ω’s

Third step

Check the automatic overheat protection located on the side of the boiler. This one was tripped in our machine. This was good news.

Thermostat which automatic overheat breaker 165C
Thermostat which automatic overheat breaker 165°C

However testing the machine tripped the residual-current circuit breaker. Must be some damage to the heater after all.

Step four

Measuring the resistens to ground.

Resistens between power and ground on the heater turns out to be 7.6M
Resistens between power and ground on the heater turns out to be 7.6MΩ’s.

This is possibly caused by crack in the heater element. 🙁

Conclusion

A new boiler and o-ring is needed.

boiler assembly for Ranchilio Silvia
Boiler assembly for Rancilio Silvia