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My Starbucks Barista Expresso machine is blowing the GFI??? Just started - can I repair or scrap it??? Thanks!!! Vic
Hi Vik, It depends. If the problem started when you were descaling the machine, that can cause the GFCI to trip. Too much descaling chemical can cause a Ground Fault by conducting electricity through the water in the boiler to the chassis, which then trips the GFCI. The solution in this case is to replace all the water in the reservoir with clean filtered water, then plug the machine into an outlet that is NOT GFCI protected, and run the water through to clean out the descaling chemical. Be sure to use a properly grounded 3-prong outlet to do this. If there is an actual problem with current leaking to ground, it would be dangerous to run the machine without it being properly grounded. If this procedure doesn’t resolve the problem, you may need to replace the heating element. It’s not the only thing that could be shorted to ground, but it’s the most likely. You can check out this repair guide for troubleshooting electrical problems: Schematic and Troubleshooting Starbucks Barista SIN 006
