LUCCA A53 / A53 Mini: Machine Tripping the GFCI

If your La Spaziale LUCCA A53 or A53 Mini espresso machine is tripping your GFCI outlet, follow along with these steps to fix the issue.

To begin troubleshooting, remove the panels of your machine.

If the machine trips the GFCI a few moments after it's turned on:

It's likely somewhere along the coffee boiler heating circuit. By unplugging the following things one at a time and turning the machine on, you can determine which part is faulty. Once you find the part that makes the machine not trip the GFCI when turned on, you've found the culprit. 

To safely complete these tests, follow these steps each time:

1) Unplug the machine.
2) Unplug the component being tested.
3) Plug the machine back in.
4) Power the machine on.
- If the machine stays on, you've found the component responsible for the ground fault.
- If the machine still trips the GFCI, continue to the next steps.
5) Unplug the machine and reset the GFCI.
6) Plug the component that you just tested back in.
7) Unplug the next component.

*NOTE: If you have an older A53 machine with 20 amp mode, it's best to temporarily switch it to 15 amp mode for testing, as the machine will fire all things up at the same time in 20 amp mode.

Heating Element:

Unplug each of the wires on the heating element one at a time to test.

 Safety Switch:

Unplug each of the wires on the safety switch one at a time to test.

Temperature probe:

Unplug both temperature probe wires at the same time to test.

After coffee boiler heats up:

If your machine heats up to the proper coffee boiler temperature and then trips the GFCI, you will likely find the problem component within the heating circuit of the steam boiler. You will know the coffee boiler is fully heated when the numeric lights on the control panel stop flashing and remain solid. Follow along with these steps to find the issue by unplugging one piece at a time, turning the machine on to test if it trips the GFCI, and then plugging it back in to move onto the next part. Once you find the part that makes the machine not trip the GFCI when turned on, you've found the culprit. 

To safely complete these tests, follow these steps each time:

1) Unplug the machine.
2) Unplug the component being tested.
3) Plug the machine back in.
4) Power the machine on.
- If the machine stays on, you've found the component responsible for the ground fault.
- If the machine still trips the GFCI, continue to the next steps.
5) Unplug the machine and reset the GFCI.
6) Plug the component that you just tested back in.
7) Unplug the next component.

*NOTE: If you have an older A53 machine with 20 amp mode, it's best to temporarily switch it to 15 amp mode for testing, as the machine will fire all things up at the same time in 20 amp mode.

Steam Boiler Element:

Unplug each of the wires on the heating element one at a time to test.

Safety Switch:

Unplug each of the wires on the safety switch one at a time to test.

Temperature Sensor:

Unplug both temperature sensor wires at the same time to test.

If none of the above are causing the machine to trip, further troubleshooting will need to be accomplished. Contact us at tech@clivecoffee.com with any questions.