Delonghi ECAM 23.120 Blinking Steam Button Issue

Written By: Eve Redero
  • Comments: 0
Delonghi ECAM 23.120 Blinking Steam Button Issue

Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

13

Time Required

6 hours

Introduction

Delonghi 23.120 coffee machine shows the following symptoms:

  • Not making any water pumping at boot
  • Blinking steam button LED
  • Impossible to perform any action, steam or coffee

This guide shows how to check all the elements from the coffee machine to isolate the firmware issue, and how to fix the firmware issue itself.

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    • Put steam tap on 0

    • Plug the machine

    • Press and hold buttons "1 short coffee" and "steam" simultaneously

    • Switch the On/Off button on the back to 1

    • Release "1 coffee" and "steam" once the motor starts moving

    • See the ECAM23420 service manual ECAM23.420 service manual for details. This model is very similar to the 23.120.

  2. OGtxNpGRWxwd4bnx

    • Add water in the tank

    • Empty the water collection tray

    • Open the side panel to be able to see the infuser and its endless screw

    • See Step 1 from brewing group tutorial

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    • Press the "1 long coffee" button

    • It should move the infuser part up to the max, then down

    • Press the "water drop" button

    • It should turn the grinder on

    • Press the "steam" button

    • It should turn on the water pump

    • Press the "P" button

    • It should heat up some water

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    • Every element separately works, the issue is probably due to corrupt software

    • In order to reflash the software, first unmount the PCB from the machine

    • Follow step 1 to 6 from here: DeLonghi ECAM Series power board repair

    • If you need it, you can buy spare boards from the Internet, but then you will need to reflash the right firmware for your model

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    • The main microcontroller is a PIC18LF2520

    • It can be programmed via the pads at the side of the board

    • Numbered from 1 to 7

    • (1) nMCLR, (2) PGC, (3) PGD, (4) VDD 5V, (7) VSS GND

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    • You need a programmer for Microchip PIC-8 series

    • Several models are available: PICKit, ICE, ICD, Snap

    • This tutorial will feature a borrowed ICD, but if you need to buy one the Snap is a cheaper option

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    • Solder a 7-pin 2.54mm header to the pads

    • Use jumper wires to connect to the programmer

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    • If the programmer does not support it, connect an external 5V power supply to the microcontroller

    • Theoretically, you could plug the mains connector, but you would have unprotected live high voltage, so please don’t do that

    • An easy hack consists in using a USB connector: the red cable is 5V and the black is GND

    • Solder USB power lines to the pads (7) GND and (4) VDD

    • Plug in the USB connector to a main power adapter or a computer

    • Download and install the MPLab X software from Microchip website

    • Find a program hex file

    • Program for ECAM 23.120 SW2 can be downloaded from here

    • Other models can be found on this forum

    • It is also possible to copy the firmware from another coffee machine from the same model

    • It seems like several models use the same physical board, but the firmware flashed on it is different

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    • Create a new project with "New project -> Prebuilt Project"

    • Select the firmware hex file

    • Select the PIC18LF2520 in the 8-bit PIC section

    • Go to "Window -> Target Memory View -> Program Memory" and click the "Read Device Memory" button. Verify it reads some bytes.

    • In the top menu, find the "Read Device Memory" button, click its drop-down arrow and select "Read Device Memory To File"

  11. cdwCsDifuHXEYGtE

    • Click "Program Device for Production main Project" to flash the new program

  12. DLyXFfi6KjLvFHun

    • Test the board before starting re-assembling

    • Replug all connectors

    • Try turning it on and brewing a coffee

    • The header connector pins can be left soldered, there is enough space to fit them

    • Re-assemble the machine

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    • This machine had a screetching noise coming from the worm screw

    • Open the cache, remove the coffee infuser

    • Carefully drop some lubricant on the worm screw, at its top and bottom

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Author

Eve Redero

Member since: 28/02/22

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