D4F Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2012 Posts: 1,189 Location: USA Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID Grinder: Preciso
Posted Thu Jan 3, 2013, 8:47pm Subject: Re: Got a used Gaggia Classic, whats next?
Not so expensive good grinder is Baratza Preciso or Vario refurb. Most available at Baratza.com on Thursdays when they post the "new" refurbs.
Your questions are welcome, no apology needed.
I think I can find a picture of the thermometer as it is ready to use. It has a thermistor and needs to be dry. Here is one with a length of wire soldered in to lengthen.
I found that I got a decent result by removing the stainless sheath and then "attaching" as I will describe. I used a soldering iron to spot heat the stainless at the insertion into the plastic. Heat just enough to warn the steel to loosen it. You need it warm, and can feel it start to give. Remember that you have wires in the sheath with presumably good insulation based on how it is used.
Take a drop of hot melt glue and glue the wires in the plastic outlet as a strain relief, but do not shorten them much.
With the top off of the Gaggia, you can identify clip 15 and thermofuse 16. The clip is squarish and the fuse in round tubing and there is a small space that the thermistor can slide in.
It does not even wedge tight and can slide through. I nested mine there and it worked fine. No thermopaste. It is possible slightly slow and perhaps a degree off because of the lack of paste and lack of firm contact, but it worked fine. It responded very quickly and I left it for a while even with the PID. I brought the thermometer case to the top of the cover. Just enough length and barely enough room between case and lid for the wires.
brianl Senior Member Joined: 1 Dec 2012 Posts: 150 Location: Chicago IL Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic (w/PID) Grinder: Baratza Vario Drip: chemex
Posted Thu Jan 3, 2013, 9:18pm Subject: Re: Got a used Gaggia Classic, whats next?
D4F Said:
Not so expensive good grinder is Baratza Preciso or Vario refurb. Most available at Baratza.com on Thursdays when they post the "new" refurbs.
Your questions are welcome, no apology needed.
I think I can find a picture of the thermometer as it is ready to use. It has a thermistor and needs to be dry. Here is one with a length of wire soldered in to lengthen.
Okay, this one seems to be a portafilter temperature device. I thought originally andy was talking about setting it up on the boiler inside the case. Or are you just giving me an example photo?
EDIT: it looks like your second post beat me to the punch.
I found that I got a decent result by removing the stainless sheath and then "attaching" as I will describe. I used a soldering iron to spot heat the stainless at the insertion into the plastic. Heat just enough to warn the steel to loosen it. You need it warm, and can feel it start to give. Remember that you have wires in the sheath with presumably good insulation based on how it is used.
Take a drop of hot melt glue and glue the wires in the plastic outlet as a strain relief, but do not shorten them much.
With the top off of the Gaggia, you can identify clip 15 and thermofuse 16. The clip is squarish and the fuse in round tubing and there is a small space that the thermistor can slide in.
It does not even wedge tight and can slide through. I nested mine there and it worked fine. No thermopaste. It is possible slightly slow and perhaps a degree off because of the lack of paste and lack of firm contact, but it worked fine. It responded very quickly and I left it for a while even with the PID. I brought the thermometer case to the top of the cover. Just enough length and barely enough room between case and lid for the wires.
Thanks for the update. I guess all i can do now is pick one up. I looked online and only bed bath and beyond seems to have them. Will have to drive out to one soon. Then i'll report back!
brianl Senior Member Joined: 1 Dec 2012 Posts: 150 Location: Chicago IL Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic (w/PID) Grinder: Baratza Vario Drip: chemex
Posted Sat Jan 5, 2013, 10:53pm Subject: Re: Got a used Gaggia Classic, whats next?
brianl Said:
Thanks for the update. I guess all i can do now is pick one up. I looked online and only bed bath and beyond seems to have them. Will have to drive out to one soon. Then i'll report back!
I have it all modified for use. Is thermal paste the best option to hold in place to the boiler before I go get some? I don't think thermal paste allows electrical circuits but not sure if that matters since the thermistor (end of wire) only picks up the heat? Sorry for the basic questions.
D4F Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2012 Posts: 1,189 Location: USA Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID Grinder: Preciso
Posted Sun Jan 6, 2013, 2:36pm Subject: Re: Got a used Gaggia Classic, whats next?
D4F Said:
With the top off of the Gaggia, you can identify clip 15 and thermofuse 16. The clip is squarish and the fuse in round tubing and there is a small space that the thermistor can slide in.
It does not even wedge tight and can slide through. I nested mine there and it worked fine. No thermopaste. It is possible slightly slow and perhaps a degree off because of the lack of paste and lack of firm contact, but it worked fine. It responded very quickly and I left it for a while even with the PID. I brought the thermometer case to the top of the cover. Just enough length and barely enough room between case and lid for the wires.
No thermopaste. It slips in a space and is fairly well surrounded, so good heat transfer. When you slip it in the space you will see that it can just slide all of the way through, then the thermistor will have no contact and will be slow, and read low. I played with the position and got it to stay and it worked well.
You can find a Youtube by AndyPanda in here and see his tmeparatures. His thermocouple bead is held on the front, well away from the heaters and read about the same as on top. You are getting a kind of average temperature, not nearly reactive as the spot where a brew stat is.
brianl Senior Member Joined: 1 Dec 2012 Posts: 150 Location: Chicago IL Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic (w/PID) Grinder: Baratza Vario Drip: chemex
Posted Sun Jan 6, 2013, 6:49pm Subject: Re: Got a used Gaggia Classic, whats next?
I do like the location but i'm having a hard time wedging it in there. Whenever I try to close the lid it undoubtedly falls out so I was looking for another method to affix. It was either thermal paste or undoing that screw on the square clip and then sticking it under there.
D4F Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2012 Posts: 1,189 Location: USA Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic PID Grinder: Preciso
Posted Sun Jan 6, 2013, 9:44pm Subject: Re: Got a used Gaggia Classic, whats next?
I got mine to stay there without much difficulty. I had to replace it once or twice and then it stayed. The wiring takes a little set after heating and cooling inside the machine. You may find a wire that you can loop a nylon tie strap around to help tension it, but I did not do that. I got it to stay in the space between the squarsh clip and the round tubing, but it was a little loose. Thermal paste is very messy and does not wipe off well. Id also does not grip much. It is for heat transfer, not glue.
Roll a very little wedge or "toothpick" out of aluminum foil and slid in along side.
brianl Senior Member Joined: 1 Dec 2012 Posts: 150 Location: Chicago IL Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic (w/PID) Grinder: Baratza Vario Drip: chemex
Posted Mon Feb 18, 2013, 1:05am Subject: Re: Got a used Gaggia Classic, whats next?
Big Changes and updates. Added the polder thermometer and fixed the thermistor to the front on the boiler in the middle bottom with the thermal type paste that you rub together. The temperature will cycle between about 203 and 225, which is different from others who said it goes up to 240. However, it's consistent so probably not an issue. Does anyone have a recommendation for stream?
The next step is to get a plug in timer because I don't have time to heat it up otherwise in the morning . Maybe a mechanical one or could I just put it on before bed and leave it on?
I have also upgraded to a baratza Vario. I no longer have any after tastes. Just really clean and tasty.
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