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Installing an OPV in a Nuova Simonelli Oscar

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john_
Senior Member

Joined: 12 Jan 2007
Posts: 239
Location: USA
Expertise: I like coffee

Espresso: La Spaziale, Cremina
Grinder: Mazzer Major, Pavoni PGC

Posted Sun Mar 29, 2009, 7:01am
Subject: Re: Installing an OPV in a Nuova Simonelli Oscar

tpowells Said:

I wanted to add an OPV to the Oscar and, after doing some reading, decided to do it a bit differently than the other descriptions on CG and HB.

Posted March 22, 2009 link

Looks very nice. Can you remind us of where the other mods from CG and HB are, and elaborate on how yours is different, and what made you decide to change? Might be helpful for anyone thinking of giving this a try (like me!). Thanks.

tpowells
Senior Member

Joined: 13 May 2008
Posts: 46
Location: Northern California
Expertise: I love coffee

Posted Sun Mar 29, 2009, 1:47pm
Subject: Re: Installing an OPV in a Nuova Simonelli Oscar

john_ Said:

Looks very nice. Can you remind us of where the other mods from CG and HB are, and elaborate on how yours is different, and what made you decide to change?

Posted March 29, 2009 link

Rooting around to find the existing pressure relief valve.

Pictures of an installation of a similar OPV, but at a different place in the water path than mine.

A different take on putting the OPV in the same place in the path as above, but possibly simpler to install.

So, the two obvious places to put the OPV on the cold side of the HX are 1) between the pump and the Gicar controlled solenoid and 2) between the solenoid and the HX input to the boiler. I did it the first way, and the other posters did it the second way. I did it the way I did because it seemed easier to accomplish, and because it put the OPV in a position that is a bit easier to adjust. I don't think there is a a functional difference.

john_
Senior Member

Joined: 12 Jan 2007
Posts: 239
Location: USA
Expertise: I like coffee

Espresso: La Spaziale, Cremina
Grinder: Mazzer Major, Pavoni PGC

Posted Sun Mar 29, 2009, 7:43pm Subject: Re: Installing an OPV in a Nuova Simonelli Oscar

Aha, I get it now -- thanks!

lax4ever
Senior Member

Joined: 8 Dec 2007
Posts: 35
Expertise: Just starting

Posted Tue Mar 31, 2009, 9:25pm Subject: Re: Installing an OPV in a Nuova Simonelli Oscar

Not to sound like an idiot, but I noticed you had the steam line disconnected, does it stay that way and hook back up via a different line now or did you just have to disconnect it to get the front panel off the machine? Just FYI I just won an oscar off of ebay ($475, heck yeah) and it should be arriving any day now so I want to get my hands dirty ASAP. Most likely this will be a down the line project but I just want to learn everything I can about the machine and what's working for everyone else. Seems like they are great machines that just get passed over for their pretty cousins that are twice the price.

tpowells
Senior Member

Joined: 13 May 2008
Posts: 46
Location: Northern California
Expertise: I love coffee

Posted Wed Apr 1, 2009, 10:41am
Subject: Re: Installing an OPV in a Nuova Simonelli Oscar

lax4ever Said:

... I noticed you had the steam line disconnected, does it stay that way and hook back up via a different line now or did you just have to disconnect it to get the front panel off the machine?...

Posted March 31, 2009 link

Disconnected to get the front panel off - be sure to reconnect. Congratulations on the new Oscar acquisition!

lax4ever
Senior Member

Joined: 8 Dec 2007
Posts: 35
Expertise: Just starting

Posted Fri Apr 3, 2009, 4:38am Subject: Re: Installing an OPV in a Nuova Simonelli Oscar

Where did/do you get all the rest of the connectors? I am a total neophyte to plumbing, so can this stuff be had at the local big box store or am I looking at ordering it online? I've got a screw in portafilter pressure valve gauge coming in as well so I will go from there to see if I even need this. Oh, last question, would you install this over a new Sirai Pstat or do the pstat first? I guess my oscar has a bit of old age in him so he wasn't brought up to the new standards with the commercial sirai unit and I know they are notorious for failing (don't know which one I am getting either yet). P.S. - Anyone who happens to be following this, you guys should check ebay lately, I saw a Pasquini Livia 90 (minus portafilter but in otherwise perfect condition) get snatched out from under me (damn ebay for allowing sniping) for $425, I got my oscar for $475 which could have been less but I didn't want to chance the auction going higher than the buy it now prie; and just saw another one go for a mere $148 today (although it looks pretty rough and will need some parts). Deals-a-plenty right now. Also saw a Cunill grinder just sell for $146. I'm loving this sad economy, and please don't flame for that comment, but it is a buyer's market again and it's nice.

IrvingC
Senior Member

Joined: 16 Aug 2008
Posts: 1
Location: Malaysia
Expertise: I live coffee

Espresso: VBM Domobar Jr. DB
Grinder: Compak K3 Touch

Posted Sun Jun 7, 2009, 11:49pm
Subject: Re: Installing an OPV in a Nuova Simonelli Oscar

tpowells Said:

.......... It does have a pressure relief valve in the brewhead, which is not really meant to be adjustable, and even if you do adjust it for proper pressure, it's on the wrong side of the heat exchanger (the hot side). ......... The OPV is from Chris Coffee, and is a very nice unit. .............

Posted March 22, 2009 link

Has anyone considered relocating the pressure relief valve to the cold water side and use it as an OPV? Of course, you'll need to plug the hole on the brewhead.

medulla34
Senior Member

Joined: 5 Apr 2009
Posts: 29
Location: atlanta
Expertise: Just starting

Espresso: NS Oscar
Grinder: Macap MX

Posted Wed Jun 10, 2009, 8:29pm Subject: Re: Installing an OPV in a Nuova Simonelli Oscar

Hmm...this is an enticing idea. I am VERY new at home brewing and not at all mechanically inclined however I think I may need to try to do this. I cannot seem to get a shot anywhere close to 25 seconds and I've been quite suspicious that the brew pressure is just too high. Would you mind sending me a list of all the tools/supplies needed for this? Im kind of embarassed to ask....I'm seriously lacking in mechanical know how. I would assume that the "t-fitting", tubing and teflon tape can all be aquired at a local hardware store? thanks so much BTW, Im working with an older Oscar that has the MATER T-stat. Don't know if that would matter?

olph4rt
Senior Member

Joined: 16 Jul 2007
Posts: 350
Location: Milton, Ontario
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Modded Nemox Caffe Fenice
Grinder: Compak K6 / Nemox Lux /...
Roaster: Behmor 1600

Posted Thu Jun 11, 2009, 3:35am Subject: Re: Installing an OPV in a Nuova Simonelli Oscar

IrvingC Said: Has anyone considered relocating the pressure relief valve to the cold water side and use it as an OPV? Of course, you'll need to plug the hole on the brewhead. Posted June 7, 2009 link I don't have an Oscar, or an HX for that matter, but I would guess that the relief valve's pressure setting would be much higher than that at which you'd want to brew. In my single boiler system, I installed the same OPV that this thread is considering, on the cold side just after the anti siphon valve. The pressure relief is a safety item, and items in this category shouldn't be tinkered with.

\|\| http://thoughtcompile.blogspot.com/ \| + \| It takes an average of 42 beans to make a shot. Douglas Adams wrote in the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, that 42 is the meaning of life...coincidence?

amish_hooligan
Senior Member

Joined: 12 Jun 2010
Posts: 7
Location: Colorado
Expertise: I love coffee

Posted Sat Jun 19, 2010, 10:02am Subject: Re: Installing an OPV in a Nuova Simonelli Oscar

Hi, I'm trying to do this mod myself. Anyone out there know why tpowells separated the valve from the T fitting? Why not keep the valve connected to the T, place the whole assembly at the base of the machine and run the reservoir tubing from there? I emailed tpowells but he hasn't posted out here for awhile so I don't know if he'll get my question. Thanks

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