Different vacuum breaker on LONDINIUM I

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Peter van der Weerd had an alternative for my original vacuum breaker. The (tiny bit of) water and steam that comes out at the start of the day is now released into the drip tray. The way it was originally done was no problem since the little amount of water coming out evaporates quickly, but my machine has glass side panels and they would get steamy opaque at the start of the day. Now they stay dry.

Unscrewing the original anti-vac:
 The original is out:
The new one ready to install:
Almost in:
Tight enough:
The little silicon hose that I have used before when I briefly had a Non-Return Valve is now used and it connects the anti-vac with the nipple I have on the front of the machine:
The nipple. When the machine starts up, this is where the "prrrr....shshshsh.... flop" sound and moisture comes out.

Reacties

Wachuko zei…
Frans, I know this is an old post... but do you remember the source for that valve?
29 mei 2020 om 09:11
Frans zei…
Hi Wachuko, yes I remember. It was Peter, as linked in the first line of the blog, of www.kafko.nl. -- He also did that mod on my Rocket E61, http://kostverlorenvaart.blogspot.com/2013/12/rocket-espresso-service-upgrade.html
29 mei 2020 om 10:32
Wachuko zei…
Excellent. Thank you!

Follow up question... Seeing the thread in HB, I see that you also installed an NRV as well, but in that photo you shared (back in 2013), I see that you used the drain you show here.

https://www.home-barista.com/levers/owner-experience-with-londinium-i-t23770-1140.html

So did you revert the change to the air pressure valve after installing the NRV

The reason I ask is that I recently got my LR and the only noise that I have, besides the normal relay noise every so often turning on the heating element, is a slight hiss coming from this valve when the machine goes slightly above set pressure. So when I saw your modification here, I thought, brilliant! I can get rid of that noise and route any condensation to the tray...

Or were you addressing different issues with this mod?

Thank you again for your response!! I probably watch all of your videos many many times before I bought the LR :)
29 mei 2020 om 11:18
Frans zei…
Another example of the valve installed:

https://www.home-barista.com/levers/super-strega-modifying-preinfusion-pressures-and-other-functional-improvements-t29470.html

Keyser, a friend on the Dutch forum suggests it might be this part:

https://www.drtradingshop.nl/a-47778200/boiler-onderdelen/vacuumventiel-boiler-1-4-met-slangaansluiting/#description

https://www.koffiepraat.nl/forum/viewtopic.php?p=112245#p112246
29 mei 2020 om 11:19
Wachuko zei…
Outstanding! Thank you! Dank u!
29 mei 2020 om 11:23
Frans zei…
Hi, you call it a Non Return Valve but it's an anti-vac that I though we were talking about here. The valve that is open when the machine is cold and that sputters and closes when the boiler is heating up.

If your anti-vac sputters after heating up, it needs cleaning. There might be some scale on the part thatr slides up/down and it might not close completely.

Taking a tweezer and move the bit that pops up a bit, preferably without burning yourself, might clear it upo already. Otherwise taking it out and cleaning. Or replacing it and cleaning the one you took out.

Enjoy!!
29 mei 2020 om 11:27
Wachuko zei…
Sorry... did not meant to confuse things.

My initial question is the anti-vac valve. Correct. Got your answer on what part you used. Perfect! All that is clear. That is the small valve on top of the boiler that is open while the boiler heats up... splutters a bit and then closes. Having this modified to use the anti-vac valve that you can route a silicone hose to the tray, is a great modification.

I made the mistake of mixing two questions into my comments... apologies for that.

The second question is with regards to the post you made in HB:

https://www.home-barista.com/levers/owner-experience-with-londinium-i-t23770-1140.html#p308215

Where you made this comment: "From the T, it's actually a silicon tube coming out, going towards the chrome button on the bottom right, where it may release a small quantity of water in the case of high pressure, like at the warmup of the system at the start of the day. The silicon tube is half hidden by a copper tube slipped over it so anyone looking through the side window will still see all those nice copper and brass elements and no plastic."

The second question I had was, did you make that change after or before you replaced the anti-vac valve?

Again, apologies for the confusion.

Cheers,
Jaime
29 mei 2020 om 11:37
Wachuko zei…
Found the anti-vac valve and silicone hose here in the USA, in Stefanos website. Will see if he can also provide the nice adapter that you have do drain into the drip tray.

https://www.espressocare.com/products/item/new-anti-vacuum-valve-with-barbed-fitting
29 mei 2020 om 11:57
Frans zei…
Hi Jaime, ah yes. That machine in the HB thread was my very first Londinium, a very early production Londinium Luxe. Its Heat Exchanger was fed from the low part of the boiler, up through a little 'trombone' pipe and back down, then inserted in the HX and ending deep inside it.

I did not make that change / mod, it was done in the factory that I visited. I'm not sure about the details since I don't have that specific Londinium machine anymore. A coffee pal in Utrecht has it now. I've had some since, one is now in a friend's house (Tije) and another is at my girl friend's home so we can enjoy great espresso when we're there as well as at my home where I also have an LR (plus the big old L1 that usewd to be called L1-P).

So I think whatever issue you have in your machine is very likely unrelated to the inner architecture of the version in that HB thread.
29 mei 2020 om 12:01
Wachuko zei…
Understood. Thank you.

And to be clear, no issues with my machine :) Just wanted a different solution for the anti-vac valve instead of it venting inside

I will do the install of the anti-vac valve with that silicone hose.

I love this machine. Finally making great espresso without the frustration that I experienced with my previous machines... very happy with it.

Have a great weekend!
29 mei 2020 om 12:19
Frans zei…
Oh great! I had understood that the anti-vac was making noise every time the heating element had come on to keep up the boiler pressure/temp. Happy all is good! Have a great weekend.
29 mei 2020 om 12:27
Wachuko zei…
Done!! Thank you Frans!!

https://www.home-barista.com/levers/londinium-r-my-ownership-thread-t65067-60.html#p721435
1 juni 2020 om 19:14
Frans zei…
Wonderful! I'll go check out the HB link ;-)
1 juni 2020 om 23:22
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