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[neohk]

The changes which have been made to the Rancilio Silvia (that I am aware of) since September 1999 production are:

a. added thermal overload protection for vibration pump(????温???????pump?)

The thermal overload for the 41 watt Ulka is shown on the electrical schematic in my owners manual but my machine was never equipped with one (about three weeks ago that was unfortunate).

b. one piece heating element/upper boiler unit(???????? combine???)

The 800 watt heating element has been "welded" to the upper boiler half for several years now and additional back-up sealing is provided by what appears to be a red colored compound.

c. easily adjustable overpressure valve (OPV)(sid???)

The easily adjustable OPV was reported Alan who purchased his Silvia from 1stLine in November 2005. See http://www.home-barista.com/fo...ght=#20388

d. slotted hex hd screw for group screen(group screen(what's that@@)?????)
e. thermowell (0.245 x 1.2 inches) in boiler and additional drilling/tapping for alternate style brew/steam thermostats. The "thermowell" next to the steam outlet is apparently not used by Rancilio thus far but . . .(Boiler?温??,?????d?温?)


Dimensions from Page 2 of this post:

http://www.coffeegeek.com/forums/espresso/machines/223831

Picture of the top half of Silvia's boiler from this post about halfway down: http://www.coffeegeek.com/forums/espresso/machines/190190
Note that alternate style thermostats, (screw-in vice clamp down) similar to the original 165 C "safety" thermostat. MAY have been fitted to some Silvia's but I have never seen or heard of this configuration. Alan Frew also posted some excellent pictures of the new Silvia on his website:

http://www.coffeeco.com.au/newsletter/november2006.html

The most interesting picture here is that of the steam pipe take-off from the boiler and the adaptor(?) fitting which extends the new style OPV out from the boiler a little more. It's entirely possible that these particular changes are for non-US Silvia's as I don't recall them being reported here.

Alan Frew also reported on his website pictures of another "new" Silvia that apparently did not make it to production:

http://www.coffeeco.com.au/articles/host2003.html

f. wiring insulated with "plastic" vice woven cloth with thinner "plastic".(????????????)

If you tinker enough with Silvia, the woven cloth insulation tends to frizzle;the newer insulation scheme is much better, IMO.

g. new style group (apparently to account for "podability"), new style chromed group cover, and drip tray cover design.(group(what's that-.-)????, ??chromium-plating, drip tray??design)

-from Eric S. of HB
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