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isomac electric failure

PostPosted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 12:29 pm
by rule
Hi,

does anyone know how to trouble-shoot an Isomca Tea that causes the electric system to shut down after I put it on?

This problem turned up after I had backflushed the machine yesterday. Could it be a water leak, any broken valves, burned electrical wiring? By the way, some sticky stuff comes out of the operational core of the machine,

any tips are welcome, thanks!

roelvandenbrand@wanadoo.nl

PostPosted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 1:15 pm
by HughF
I'm not an espresso engineer but... all I can think is that you are bridging live to neutral (or to ground if you have an earth leakage circuit breaker or residual current circuit breaker not just an over-current circuit breaker). That to me means water leak or fused wiring. I would be very surprised if you can get away without at least removing it from power, taking the case off, cleaning out the sticky stuff and looking for the source of the damage. "Sticky stuff" doesn't sound good, **just** a water leak wouldn't be sticky itself, it sounds like some damage has occurred.

To assist the more knowledgeable ones who will reply later :
(possibly ater the England game finishes!)

1. Which machine is it? (OOPS, you said it's an Isomac Tea - I'm now able to edit my mistakes thanks to Phil!)

2. How long did you backflush it for (each time) ?
Was it just a single water backflush or repeated backflushes (how many) to flush out espresso cleaner after a more intensive clean?
(I've sometimes seen a little water on the base of the machine when removing the drip tray after multiple backflushes.)

3. Were there any noises or smells at the time? Flashes of light?

Best of luck,

Hugh

PostPosted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 1:24 pm
by HughF
Used to be mutterings here about not being able to edit out my mistake in the previous post, now fixed, thanks.

Cheers,

Hugh

PostPosted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 1:36 pm
by zapty
As far as I know you can't edit in the open house section of the forum...

PostPosted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 1:50 pm
by testuser1
posting an editing test ....

(Phil)

PostPosted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 1:51 pm
by testuser1
Hokay .....

PostPosted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 1:54 pm
by testuser1
Forum permissions issue (specific to Open House). Now resolved.

Phil

PostPosted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 4:39 pm
by HughF
testuser1 wrote:Forum permissions issue (specific to Open House). Now resolved.

Phil

Thanks very much Phil,

Hugh

PostPosted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 4:45 pm
by phil2spill
Hi Guest,

I have heard of the seal where the heater element is sealed into the boiler going soft and allowing a water leak on a Tea. This would be consistent with the fact that it occurred after a back-flush too. Assuming you know where to look, that might be a good starting point (with electric disconnected at the wall, natch)

PostPosted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 7:59 pm
by AlanP
For a while my Zaffiro kept causing the household fuse/consumer unit to trip.
I don't know whether the Tea is built the same way but the large nut which secured the heating element into the bottom of the boiler had worked loose.
When the water heated up it would seep onto the electrical connectors causing a short,potentially quite dangerous.
Alan

PostPosted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 12:08 pm
by Guest
get it to an engineer who is well known and trustworthy, as asid above sounds like it could be dangerous if you start playing with it yourself.

(scottwhite here not logged on)

PostPosted: Mon Jun 19, 2006 7:35 am
by Jo2
Hi Roel,
I agree with Scott... If you can get it to one of our shops, i'm sure our engineers can help...
Wanna know where we're at... PM me
Best, Jo