Quieting the S1

[chas]

Those of you that have perused my S1 web site have noticed the page devoted to S1 Quieting:

http://www.rimpo.org/s1/S1Quieting.html

The bottom of the page notes my final attempts to get as quiet as possible by inserting sections of loud speaker insulation into the side panels. When searching for insulating material on the web I found a site that appeared to have some more high tech stuff with a sticky back coating, but the site no longer seemed to carry it. I saw no specific name for the stuff so I hade no luck finding it with subsequent web searches. I finally punted and actually used some insulation I pulled from an old speaker cabinet.

Thanks to a post on alt.coffee yesterday I found a name for the sticky backed stuff which sounds like it is pretty high tech and works extremely well. It is called: Dynamat Extreme. If you google that you will find numerous sources. Here's where I ordered it:

http://www.directron.com/xtreme.html

It'll probably be 1 1/2 - 2 weeks before it arrives and I get around to installing it. I'll report back. I think I got enough to not only do the sides but to also insert in the back panel.

[barjohn]

I have used Dynamat before in automotive applications and it is great stuff. I thought about getting some myself. It seems like the local Pet Boys or other auto supply stores used to carry it, if memory serves me.

[chas]

The Dynamat Extreme kit arrived. I spend a fair amount of time cutting pieces to fit pretty much every nook and cranny of both sides. I also cut three strips and stuck those on the inside of the back.

WOW! It's almost as quiet as a Mazzer Mini running with no beans. Do it. Do it now!!!

I keep one espresso cup in its saucer on top of the warming tray. Usually the cup rattles in the saucer, but no more.

[barjohn]

Can you post some photos of what you did and where you placed?

[chas]

Unfortunately, I was in a hurry and didn't take pictures. I'll try to remember the next time I take it apart.

In spite of how quiet it was after the initial placement of the Duramat, I still noticed a hint of rattle from the drip tray if run without anything on top of the grate. So I also added a couple of remaining scrap pieces on the bottom side of the drip tray. Now the quiet is amazing.!

One other wierd note, the expansion valve has not dripped during idle periods once since. All I can think of in explanation it that the vibration which is no longer there was vibrating the spring assembly inside the expansion valve causing it to drip. It didn't necessarily drip only while the pump was running. Often it was after the boiler cycled. I suppose it's possible that the few drops stayed up inside the valve since air couldn't get above it to allow it to fall out. Then the heat cycle pushed the water out?

Let's see if I stay high and dry for another week or so before I give my theories much credence..

BTW: I had previously set the pressure back up to about 25-30psi since lowering it down to 15-20psi had no impact on the drip.

[barjohn]

When can we get some pictures?

[chas]

The machine is quiet now, the expansion valve no longer drips, so I am going to leave "well enough alone" until I have to pop the covers to fix something.

However, I did take this photo of the bottom side of my drip tray which also includes photos of each side of some small pieces of the Dynamat Extreme stuff. The one piece that is brown side up is the sticky side. You peel off the brown paper and stick it on whatever you want.

I had used up all the large pieces by the time I decided to also try some on the bottom of the drip tray. That why I put on two odd shaped pieces rather than one long strip.

For the back I just cut three strips the length and width of each of the three sections that are rivited together to form the back. For the two sides I placed each side on the surface of the Dynamat and drew a template. Once I had cut out the basic shape, I cut slits where all the vertical plastic pieces come out from each side plus additional area as needed so that virtually every square inch of each of the two side panels is completely covered.

Unlike normal fiberglass acoustic insulation that absorbs the sound, the Duramat actually damps the sound by adding soft, "gooey" rubber mass to the surfaces so they won't vibrate. Just adding the extra mass to the plastic and metal surfaces seems to make a big difference.

[Niko]

Chas,

Did you do this to your VII as well?

I've been trying to think of some ways to quiet the annoying slight rattling/vibration sounds on my machines for a while now. I remember reading this thread last year and I completely forgot about it until my VII has been starting to annoy me to no end sometimes. I tightened the side panels again but that doesn't stop the occasional buzzing here and there, it stops when I move the drip tray slightly and then starts again until I push on the left panel...and so on.
When everything finally goes silent, the damn cups rattle on top!
AAaarrr!

[chas]

I bought two boxes of this stuff and only needed one for the S1. My VII doesn't need it. If you want this box you can have it for the cost of shipping. It's just taking up space around here but I can't bring myself to throw it away.

[Niko]

Chas,
I sent you a PM about this.