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Gaggia Baby -Thermostat & "Mastic" - 2006/04/06 19:27I think I have a thermostat problem; just installed a used one because the beast was running cool - barely reached 180 F.
NowIf the machine sits for a good 20 minutes I can get maybe two - two ounce shots at around 190 F. Temp then drops to 180 F, even though the heating light goes off.
I can get another thermostat from Jim at the Java Blend here in Halifax, but what should I bed it in? One of the articles on the'Net referred to a mastic. Is this like a silicon grease that's used for heat sinks on computers?
Any idea where I would find something similar?
Regards - Miles Thompson
PS All measurements were taken using Glenn's "Gagggia Classic - Step-by-Step" article.
PPS Has anyone every tried insulating the boiler and steam tube? /mtMiles in Enfield
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The thermostats are bedded on a thermal mastic. Give your local electronics stores or possibly an appliance/heating/cooling service center a call to see if they carry it.
WholeLatteLove has a short article about replacing thermostats here:http://www.wholelattelove.com/articles/brew_thermostat_replacement.cfm They should be able to give you more specific advice about which mastic products are suitable. It would have to suit the temperature range of the boiler.
Many folks have taken a hand at insultating their boilers. Offhand, I'm not sure how much benefit this would provide on a Gaggia other than stability while idle, but I don't know. The small boiler has a considerable portion of its water mass replaced with cool water from the reservoir when you pull a shot. One tack taken by a few Gaggia owners has been to preheat the incoming water to the boiler by extending the inlet hose and wrapping it around the boiler.
DaveDave is an Ottawa resident and Coffee Expert
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I got some thermal conductive paste today - and will try that after the first experiment.
I've cut an insulating washer from ordinary bond paper and placed it between the thermostat body and the boiler. I want to see if that will hold the thermostat on that little bit longer.
The machine is fully primed with room temp water, and is on a 10 min preheating cycle now, with the group head in place.
Will post results shortly.
MilesMiles in Enfield
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MilesInEnfield
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Re:Gaggia Baby -Thermostat & "Mastic" - 2006/04/07 16:25Well, that wasn't entirely satisfactory - first draw was bang on at 190 F; second draw, about 20 sec later, was only 180.
I then let the machine cycle twice through the heating cycle; still 180.
Went away for 10 min, and got two consecutive 190 F draws, 2 oz each. Without coffee in the portafilter that new pump sure pushes the water through.
So, here's my conclusion.
When I'm making a latte / cappucinon, the milk is steamed first. That gets the boiler good and hot. The group can sit loosely in the holder while doing this.
After the milk is steamed, trigger a quick blast with the pump, which depressurizes the boiler and blows steam through the portafilter.
While I'm loading portafilter with coffee, machine can cycle, if it has to, but has there is still the benefit of residual heat from the steaming.
Draw my shot, and see what kind of results I get. It should not be as cool as it was before.
In brief, stop obsessing, I'm close enough ... time to concentrate on getting good shots.
Cheers - MilesMiles in Enfield
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colin
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Re:Gaggia Baby -Thermostat & "Mastic" - 2006/04/07 19:16What are you using to make these readings --
and where, exactly, are you measuring the 190 degrees?Colin is the Senior editor and creator of the CoffeeCrew.Com Website
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I'm using Glenn's (from Ottawa) foam measuring cup method. I mark 2 oz & 3 oz levels in foam coffee cup and insert the instant read thermometer horizontally, just below 2 oz mark. With the cup in the drip tray the thermometer is angled just enough to position its tip at the bottom of the cup. It's fully submerged over the sensitive area.
While the machine is heating I keep the portafilter in place so that heat can transfer from the boiler to the portafilter and it is nice and hot.
After the preheating period I draw the water and measure temp; allowing 10-12 sec for thermomoeter to respond.
Regards - MilesMiles in Enfield
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colin
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Re:Gaggia Baby -Thermostat & "Mastic" - 2006/04/10 15:31Methinks that your actual temperature is about 5 to 10 degrees higher than the temeprature you are viewing on your thermometer.Colin is the Senior editor and creator of the CoffeeCrew.Com Website
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