A while ago (OK, I started this project about 12 months ago) I decided that there were probably folk in the UK who owned Gaggia Classics and wanted to PID them but were probably a bit daunted by the task. Whilst you CAN purchase all of the parts on eBay, and buy cable and connectors and all of the tools required to make everything - I know (from doing it myself) that it all soon adds up and it's not simple.
Many people don't really know what to buy, where to source it and don't already have the tools needed to make the wires up etc. - and are therefore swayed towards the only "complete kit" for doing this easily, that being the Auber one. However, it's hellishly expensive as you can only purchase them from the US, with expensive shipping and then duty/VAT on top.
So - I decided to make a similar (perhaps better) kit myself, largely from off-the-shelf parts but combined with the popular PID components that I also sell separately (the Pt100 sensors and the aluminium boxes).
I put the outline kit together last Christmas, and started producing the manual - which I think is pretty much a complete Dummy's Guide to Install and Use - and now runs to some 59 pages of A4 (downloaded as a PDF), with lots and lots of photos, instructions, tips, etc. all the way through. The manual is finished off with a reference section for the PID.
Throughout 2015 I've had a few people contact me, who have heard via the grapevine about my kit - and a few members on here have purchased the kit, installed it (sometimes with some PM/email assistance/support from me) and they've provided some great feedback on the manual, and hence it's gradually improved over the year to the point that I've not changed it for a while (currently on V4) and am now very happy with it.
So - my original intention a year ago was to make a similar kit to the Auber one, but make it available in the UK at a reasonable price and with a better manual, and (I think) a better Pt100 sensor and a better aluminium box. Personally, I think I've done it.... ;-)
Hence I can now launch the "MrShades Gaggia Classic PID Kit".
It contains:
- Rex C100 PID - with SSR output and all pins connected (including the important 6 and 7 for alarm/steam)
- MrShades Pt100 sensor
- MrShades aluminium enclosure with mounting tape (this used to be optional, but I've decided to make it part of the main kit)
- Brew kit:
---- All wires, premade to required length and preterminated with connectors
---- SSR 40A DA with mounting screws
- Steam kit:
---- All wires, premade to required length and preterminated with connectors
---- SSR 40A AA with mounting screws
- Ancillary bits:
---- Cable ties
---- Thermal paste (for SSRs and Pt100 if desired)
---- earthing wire for enclosure
---- Spiral wire wrap
You can see a photo of the main contents, ready to go, here:
...and all boxed up ready to go out to the next lucky owner (this one is yours @condor87 ):
(The piece of paper isn't there just for the heck of it and to promote the kit, it contains the download instructions for the manual)
As I mentioned, I've spent a great deal of time and effort producing the manual - and I'm not making in publicly available as I believe that a significant part of the value in this kit is the knowledge and information within the manual. Hence I'm not posting the full manual here, but am posting a preview of the first few pages so that you can see the contents and the quality (hopefully). This sample is a LOW RES PDF and has low-res photos, the final version is 59 pages and has higher quality photos throughout.
Take a look at the manual sample here. (Note that this is truly AWFUL quality, the fonts are everywhere and the quality is awful - the proper version is very much nicer!)
I've priced this marginally above my production costs (especially when taking into account the time and effort that goes into making it up) and want to sell it mainly to help Gaggia Classic owners who perhaps feel daunted by the DIY route, not being sure what to buy or what to do with it, or just want an easy-to-fit PID kit.
Obviously anyone who buys it gets my PM/email support if required (and for what it's worth!).
Price : £89 inc UK shipping.
Drop me a PM if you're interested or have any further questions.
MrShades
*** UPDATE: *** This "1/16DIN, dual display" version of the kit will remain available, as above - though I've now launched an additional version of the kit that uses a 1/32DIN single-display controller. Full details of it are available here: http://coffeeforums.co.uk/showthread.php?31342-MrShades-Gaggia-Classic-PID-Kit-%281-32DIN%29-Complete-PID-kit-with-full-guide-%A394&p=417906#post417906
*** UPDATE ***. I've now changed the case for this kit - to a smooth finish silver case, and whilst I think it looks better and remains a "clam shell" design (so it splits apart) the new case has JUST enough room inside it to mount the PID controller in either orientation- so that case can be horizontally or vertically mounted on the Classic. I've put some other pics later on this thread but here's a couple to show the new case:
Many people don't really know what to buy, where to source it and don't already have the tools needed to make the wires up etc. - and are therefore swayed towards the only "complete kit" for doing this easily, that being the Auber one. However, it's hellishly expensive as you can only purchase them from the US, with expensive shipping and then duty/VAT on top.
So - I decided to make a similar (perhaps better) kit myself, largely from off-the-shelf parts but combined with the popular PID components that I also sell separately (the Pt100 sensors and the aluminium boxes).
I put the outline kit together last Christmas, and started producing the manual - which I think is pretty much a complete Dummy's Guide to Install and Use - and now runs to some 59 pages of A4 (downloaded as a PDF), with lots and lots of photos, instructions, tips, etc. all the way through. The manual is finished off with a reference section for the PID.
Throughout 2015 I've had a few people contact me, who have heard via the grapevine about my kit - and a few members on here have purchased the kit, installed it (sometimes with some PM/email assistance/support from me) and they've provided some great feedback on the manual, and hence it's gradually improved over the year to the point that I've not changed it for a while (currently on V4) and am now very happy with it.
So - my original intention a year ago was to make a similar kit to the Auber one, but make it available in the UK at a reasonable price and with a better manual, and (I think) a better Pt100 sensor and a better aluminium box. Personally, I think I've done it.... ;-)
Hence I can now launch the "MrShades Gaggia Classic PID Kit".
It contains:
- Rex C100 PID - with SSR output and all pins connected (including the important 6 and 7 for alarm/steam)
- MrShades Pt100 sensor
- MrShades aluminium enclosure with mounting tape (this used to be optional, but I've decided to make it part of the main kit)
- Brew kit:
---- All wires, premade to required length and preterminated with connectors
---- SSR 40A DA with mounting screws
- Steam kit:
---- All wires, premade to required length and preterminated with connectors
---- SSR 40A AA with mounting screws
- Ancillary bits:
---- Cable ties
---- Thermal paste (for SSRs and Pt100 if desired)
---- earthing wire for enclosure
---- Spiral wire wrap
You can see a photo of the main contents, ready to go, here:
...and all boxed up ready to go out to the next lucky owner (this one is yours @condor87 ):
(The piece of paper isn't there just for the heck of it and to promote the kit, it contains the download instructions for the manual)
As I mentioned, I've spent a great deal of time and effort producing the manual - and I'm not making in publicly available as I believe that a significant part of the value in this kit is the knowledge and information within the manual. Hence I'm not posting the full manual here, but am posting a preview of the first few pages so that you can see the contents and the quality (hopefully). This sample is a LOW RES PDF and has low-res photos, the final version is 59 pages and has higher quality photos throughout.
Take a look at the manual sample here. (Note that this is truly AWFUL quality, the fonts are everywhere and the quality is awful - the proper version is very much nicer!)
I've priced this marginally above my production costs (especially when taking into account the time and effort that goes into making it up) and want to sell it mainly to help Gaggia Classic owners who perhaps feel daunted by the DIY route, not being sure what to buy or what to do with it, or just want an easy-to-fit PID kit.
Obviously anyone who buys it gets my PM/email support if required (and for what it's worth!).
Price : £89 inc UK shipping.
Drop me a PM if you're interested or have any further questions.
MrShades
*** UPDATE: *** This "1/16DIN, dual display" version of the kit will remain available, as above - though I've now launched an additional version of the kit that uses a 1/32DIN single-display controller. Full details of it are available here: http://coffeeforums.co.uk/showthread.php?31342-MrShades-Gaggia-Classic-PID-Kit-%281-32DIN%29-Complete-PID-kit-with-full-guide-%A394&p=417906#post417906
*** UPDATE ***. I've now changed the case for this kit - to a smooth finish silver case, and whilst I think it looks better and remains a "clam shell" design (so it splits apart) the new case has JUST enough room inside it to mount the PID controller in either orientation- so that case can be horizontally or vertically mounted on the Classic. I've put some other pics later on this thread but here's a couple to show the new case: