| FAQ
Which microcontroller
modules are compatible?
ATMega1284-based modules from
Software & Circuits and
Pollin
(AVR-NET-IO modules, if the MCU is upgraded). Some run caffè!, some
run
leva!, some run ristretto! - check the
download page for details.
Can I install this in
machine <insert name>?
That's for you, the owner, to find out. No technical
consulting services are available here. All requirements are
explained in the documentaion in the downloads.
The firmwares have been used successfully in: Rancilio Silvia,
Gaggia Classic, Quickmill Silvano, Lelit PL60, ECM Casa, Bezzera
BZ09, Vibiemme Domobar, La Spaziala Mini Vivaldi* and other
machines.
Is the new Gaggia Classic manufactured
by Philips compatible?
Gaggia Classic models with die-cast aluminium boiler and
3-way-valve should be compatible, including the latest
886948011010 from Philips. Philips also produces a stripped-down
RI9403 model without electrical grouphead valve. That's
not compatible. Neither is the "Gaggia Classic Coffee", which is
another machine without electrical grouphead valve.
Can the firmwares be used with
thermoblocks?
Theoretically yes. Thermoblocks are just very small boilers.
Potential issues are described in the manual. For example, the
original circuit must handle the steam mode, i.e. the "tock tock
tock" interval pumping that thermoblocks
perform in steam mode.
Can I get pressure profiling from an E61
grouphead?
Some profiling might be possible but it would be
limited.
The gicleur in the E61 makes it impossible to
measure the brew pressure in the filter correctly and the preinfusion chamber
of the E61 collides with pressure profiling. Last bit not least,
the lack of an electrified valve
(the classic E61 has a manual lever-operated valve) prohibits features such as
dosing or pressure profiles with a programmatically defined end.
However, the
electrified E61, a modern look-alike with solenoid valve, e.g. in BFC machines, can
dose.
Can
this firmware
be used with HX machines?
HX machines do not profit from precise PID temperature
control. The temperature at the exit of their short
heat exchangers depends not only on the PID-controlled boiler
temperature but significantly on the flow rate. Also, they tend to have E61 groupheads, which conflict
with pressure profiling. HX machines with E61
are the worst possible match for leva!.
* In the Mini Vivaldi, leva! was only used for pressure profiling
since that machine has its own controller for dosing and temperature. |
|
Can pressure profiling be used with
rotary pumps?
leva!'s pressure profiling only works with vibratory pumps. Rotary vane pumps
with asynchronous capacitor motors are not compatible and may not be
connected. The speed of
such motors can not easily be controlled. The high inrush current of such motors
could
damage microcontroller modules with 1A solid state relays.
Is it possible to flash firmware with Mac OS X?
Yes. However, for Mac OS X, we have only found a commercial program that can do
that, ZOC from
EmTec. A working trial version is available. You need a terminal
program that supports the XModem CRC protocol over raw TCP/IP. Under
Windows and Linux, use the free
TeraTerm.
Can leva! connect
to Acaia scales or Timemore scales?
No. The "Skale 2" from Atomax, the "Felicita Arc"
and the "Eureka Precisa" are the only supported
wireless scales.
Other scales will not work. Bluetooth
LE espresso scales use proprietary protocols.
Can I integrate leva! into my home automation
system? leva! does not
directly support home automation systems such as MQTT but it has a
telnet interface at port 23. If your home automation system can send
text commands to a TCP/IP port, you could wake up leva!
from standby (MCa command), put it into standby (MCE) or read values
(MCR command). MCR returns a status telegram. That's a line of
text that starts with "{" and ends with "}". In between would be temperature, pressure, flow rate, weight and so on. To
understand that line, have a look at the <values>
section in the XML configuration file that comes with leva!.
It describes which values are at what position, how many letters
they are comprised of and of which type they are (integer, floating
point, text). If your home automation system supports regular
expressions, you could break that line into values with a regex. Can I have the firmware
source code?
While the firmware is free to use, it is not open source. Is there a forum for this firmware?
There isn't a dedicated forum but you can find interesting threads in
various coffee forums,
e.g. at
home-barrista.com
(1,
2), kaffee-netz.de and
Coffeetime.
If you understand German, please check out
Christian Schwabe's podcast at podcaster.de:
Heureka, I have an idea!
Feel free to submit your ideas, feature suggestions and other feedback
here. |
