I've had my Elizabeth for around 2 months and about a week ago, the pressure on my machine started to spike up to 11-12 bars before slowly dropping back to 10 (factory default) during the first shot of the day. I've tried it with the blind and the results are the same. So if i were to try to backflush using the blind on the first shot, the pressure spikes to 11-12bars and very slowly decreases. After 5 seconds i turn off and on the pump again, it goes to 11 and slowly decreases yet again. The subsequent shots however, go to the default 10 bars. Any ideas? Is it an OPV problem or something that i could rectify myself?
try just adjusting the expansion valve to about 9.5 bar. I don't know why the pressure is higher for the first shot. it shouldn't make any difference because the expansion valve is just a rubber pad and a mechanical spring under tension.
Hi Dave, I have tried adjusting it to about 9.5bars like you said. Left it for a while and when i came back, same issue. Goes to 11-12bars on the first shot. Subsequent shots are 9-9.5bars. Could it be i have a faulty expansion valve?
Oh that hissing in the background is someone else using the sink. Hmm i've never tried it in eco mode. Let me get back to you on that. On a sidenote, the steam that came out of my machine this morning is less powerful than before. Dont know why but it took twice as long to heat milk, and haven't changed anything from last night. Checked the wand for any clogs but its clean. Temperature shows 140degs while steaming constantly with the valve full open, but the steam pressure is definitely less than what it was.
@strafe - Interesting. Is your water really hard? What water are you feeding your machine with? Let's take a step at the time. Let me know about the machine operating in Eco mode and we go from there.
No the water i use is not that hard at all, about 64ppm. I use filtered tap water. In eco mode, no difference, pressure still goes up to 11 bars even with the steam boiler off. Side note, the steam tap valve was found to be faulty and replaced, steam is great now. Pressure problem remains):
Could thermal expansion play a part? I set my OPV cold the other day to what I thought was 7.5 bar - the machine has been on today since 6.30am so figured I'd see what's going on. It has hit 9bar when purging against a blanking disc 4 times in succession.
@Kjk Well only if that valve was somehow "defective", there is quite a gap between the moving pad and the walls....and these valves are quite standard used in many prosumer machines.
Thermal expansion plays no part in the pressure readings of an expansion valve regulated machine in the specific situation you mentioned....
I was able to recreate the reported problem with my Lelit Elizabeth (I got in March 2021). I had the machine on for about an hour preheating, I used the blind basket and it hit 10.5 bars. Normally I would press button 1&2 to let some water out before starting my routine, today I forgot to do that. I've seen this happen a couple times, but 90% of the time when I test the OPV it shows 9bars. Weird.
I'm having a similar issue. Pressure spiking to 11-12 bar at times before slowly dropping . Sometimes perfectly set at 9 bar. Happens with coffee or blind basket. Tried reducing opv to 9 bar while running a blank basket. At the time was fine but then about an hour later when pulling a shot spiking up to 11 bar. Really don't understand what's happening
I contacted my retailer. They asked me to descale the machine, specifically with a blind basket. I descaled the elizabeth. I've made 2 cups now with the pressure behaving correctly. I'll keep an eye on it. (I've only got about ~280 on the odometer).
I think I had this problem right out of the box. I'm also using the supplied water softener filter. I'm going to have to test it out a few more days to see if problem comes back.
To the guys with this issue, is it when steam preinfusion is on and what's your initial pump time in sec to fill the headspace, prior to it turning off?
Although from memory, I can't see it having any effect.
It happens everytime after no shot has been pulled for a short while (let's say more than 15 min or so).
So same after starting from cold in the morning (machine completely shut off) or after idling (still heating on or having gone to standby after 30 min) - it really seems just dependent on whether the valve has been recently active (kind of „broken in", as others described). As if the valve were lazy …
Hmmm…. I know how they work, but I never dissected one. My understanding is, as a very gross overview, a barbell with a lid which is kept shut due to spring pressure. When the pressure of the water exceeds the pressure of the spring, the lid opens and the excess water/pressure is diverted to the cross fitting and then to the tank.
All I can think of is that there's some debris on the OPV or he spring gets more flexible he hotter it gets. But this is speculation - There's better people here who can advice you on a solution or cause. Very strange.
question @treotheo : does this also happen in eco mode?
Hmmm…. I know how they work, but I never dissected one. My understanding is, as a very gross overview, a barbell with a lid which is kept shut due to spring pressure. When the pressure of the water exceeds the pressure of the spring, the lid opens and the excess water/pressure is diverted to the cross fitting and then to the tank.
All I can think of is that there's some debris on the OPV or he spring gets more flexible he hotter it gets. But this is speculation - There's better people here who can advice you on a solution or cause. Very strange.
Hi, all. Sorry to revive a somewhat old thread, but I am having this exact same issue. Just started recently after around 2 months of ownership. Always used very soft water as well. I see that @colamj53x seems to have resolved the issue by adjusting the OPV, but I've already done that (adjusted down to 9 from default 10 when brand new). Did this fix continue to work, @colamj53x? Anyone else get this fixed? If so, may I ask how?
I had a similar issue. With blind filter the pressure would be stable at 10 bars, but when brewing it would go to 10.5 and then decrease to 10/9, etc. Very odd.
Anyway, I have adjusted the OPV to 9 bars few weeks ago and it seems to be working so far.
Just found this thread, and chiming in your say I have this issue as well. I've had my Elizabeth adjusted down to about 8 bar for a while now. First shot after idling for a while will spike about 1-1.5 bar higher, then settle down to where I set it. Subsequent back-to-back shots do not spike.
Shots taste fine, but they are inconsistent back-to-back. I have my grind tuned for that first "spiking" shot, and the second shot suffers because of it
I will note that the fix presented there has not really worked for me, but seems to be working for some. I am now in the process of getting a new OPV from my retailer, and I will try that to see if it works.
I will note that the fix presented there has not really worked for me, but seems to be working for some. I am now in the process of getting a new OPV from my retailer, and I will try that to see if it works.
Thanks so much for the update - I followed the cleaning and lube instructions on the other forum and seems to have resolved my issue upon initial testing. I posted a lengthier response with pics there.
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