Posted Tue Dec 11, 2012, 10:20pm Subject: KitchenAid Proline Dual Boiler Machine - How To Replace Switches?
I have a KitchenAid Proline espresso machine, basically a dual boiler Gaggia Classic, and I am having some trouble with the "Espresso" brew button. More often than not, it won't stay activated and I have to hold the button in for the whole duration of the shot or else it won't brew. I know these buttons are a weak point in this machine and I was wondering if anyone has done a button mod on this machine and, if so, what replacement button/switch do you recommend? Rocker switches?
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,678 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Wed Dec 12, 2012, 6:52am Subject: Re: KitchenAid Proline Dual Boiler Machine - How To Replace Switches?
If you are going to replace the switch, you have many choices and what you use is entirely up to you. I suppose you could try to order an OEM switch but if you just take a pic or two of the switch before removing it so you can later see what wire went where, and take the switch to a REAL electronics store (radio shack USED to be an electronics store, now they are mostly a electronic GADGET store) you will have likely over a dozen choices to fit your machine, well you might need to mod the hole the switch was in but the choices will be many and varied.
Replace with a switch of the same electronic rating and all will be well regardless of the configuration of the switch.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
Posted Wed Dec 12, 2012, 1:47pm Subject: Re: KitchenAid Proline Dual Boiler Machine - How To Replace Switches?
Thanks Mr. Blacksmith! I got the machine torn down (it still looks brand new and hardly ever used) and I don't know how to take the switch out. I attached a couple of pics. Do I press in on the top and bottom tabs or do I press them upward so that I can pull the switch out? Or is there some other way i am suppose to remove them?
Posted Wed Dec 12, 2012, 3:01pm Subject: Re: KitchenAid Proline Dual Boiler Machine - How To Replace Switches?
I got the switch out and cleaned the contacts (I am going to see if I can get it to work until I figure out what kind of switches I want to replace it with). Do you recommend opening the switch to clean the inside?
Posted Wed Dec 12, 2012, 3:13pm Subject: Re: KitchenAid Proline Dual Boiler Machine - How To Replace Switches?
Nevermind - I took the switch apart and cleaned it out with some Isopropyl Alcohol...gonna put it back together and see if the switch works better now.
billc Senior Member Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 81 Location: Seattle, Washington Expertise: Professional
Espresso: CC1 - GS - GS3 - GB5 Grinder: Baratza - Mazzer-Marzocco Drip: My own Creation
Posted Thu Dec 13, 2012, 7:06am Subject: Re: KitchenAid Proline Dual Boiler Machine - How To Replace Switches?
Be very careful with the switches. They are no longer available anywhere in the world. At least I have not been able to find them. There is a company back east that has some parts but no switches.
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,678 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Thu Dec 13, 2012, 7:59am Subject: Re: KitchenAid Proline Dual Boiler Machine - How To Replace Switches?
From your pics, it looks like a round hole that the switch is mounted in. These are the easiest switches to replace. Often the switch is rectangular with spring tabs (like yours) to mount with and you need to find another switch the same size. With yours, you should be able to get a screw mount (the shaft is threaded so with two nuts (one behind or inside the machine and one on the outside)) you can set the depth of the switch.
It looks like your switch was a push/click type, you might need to go to a toggle type but if the switch is the same electrical rating and it has clearance inside the machine and the working end of the switch is on the outside of the machine then it will work. From your pic, it looks like a simple on/off switch with only 2 contacts, am I correct?
EDIT, I just looked again, you have 4 wires on that switch and it is the brew switch, so, you would need to know what the contacts are, NO or NC or a combo of the two, it seems to me without looking at a schematic that all it does is turn the pump on but there may be another function too, possibly to activate the 3 way valve after brewing, which would be a combo NC / NO (Normally Closed or Normally Open) to get a flip flop, one closes the other opens on switch activation.
It may not look exactly like the stock switch but we will be able to get something to work, heck it is only a switch!
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
Posted Thu Dec 13, 2012, 9:53am Subject: Re: KitchenAid Proline Dual Boiler Machine - How To Replace Switches?
Since the insides of the machine look so clean we can rule out a spill or other contamination. Odds are that the "economy" looking switch has equally "economical" contacts inside. These often have plated contact surfaces and the plating, once "arced" through by the passage of current, expose the base metal which cannot handle the current. Because of that, cleaning the contacts alone may help in the short run, but will not last. All a guess, of course, but BTDT with other devices.
If the above post stating that the switches are NLA, you could steam-punk it. Since they are not vintage nor collectible, you have little to lose. But even toggle switches instead of push-button can be used. Once you establish the type of switch (as callblacksmith stated) it will be fairly easy to source replacements that will work.
Maybe a wood base, wall mounted panel with giant knife switches? The, during every extraction, you can call out in a maniacal voice, "IT'S ALIVE! ALIVE!!" ;-)
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