Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions www.beta-eSTORE.com Beta LAYOUT Ltd. • Bay 98 • Shannon Free Zone, Co.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions Contents 1 General information ......................................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 2 Warranty und liability ........................................................................................................................... 4 Safety .............................................................................................................................
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions 8.4.5 Reflow ...................................................................................................................................................................1 9 8.4.6 Dwell ................................................................................................................................................................... 20 8.5 “Base values” menu ................................................................................
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions 1 General information Please read this guide carefully prior to using the reflow controller as it contains important information on the functions, operation and maintenance of the product. Note: This documentation is based on the product knowledge available at the time of manufacture. The accuracy and completeness of the work in question cannot be guaranteed. Technical changes for product advancement are excluded.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions 2.2 Safety instructions Any damage caused by failure to follow the operating instructions will render the guarantee/warranty null and void. We accept no liability for consequential damages. We also accept no liability for material or personal damages caused by inappropriate handling or failure to follow the safety instructions. In such cases, the warranty/guarantee is null and void.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions 3 Introduction The reflow controller controls your reflow oven kit. To get the best soldering result, specified times and temperatures must be maintained when soldering SMD components using solder paste. The reflow controller regulates your reflow oven in such a way that times and temperatures are maintained and the optimum soldering result is achieved.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions 4 Technical data Operating voltage: 230 V/AC 50 Hz (EU) 110 V/AC 60 Hz (USA) Fuse: 8A-T (EU) 15A-T (USA) Maximum power consumption: 1500 W PC connection: USB 5 Operating and display elements The reflow controller has a console with cables for connection to the mains and the reflow oven. The console has 7 control buttons, 2 LEDs for controlling data traffic via the USB port, a display and an acoustic alarm.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions Operating elements ON/OFF power switch The reflow controller can be switched on and off using the power switch. We recommend that you end the current soldering process before switching off the power, or alternatively, interrupt it using the STOP button START button Starts the soldering process. When the controller is first started, START initiates the learn function for the oven. STOP button Interrupts the current soldering process.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions 6 Self-test When the controller is switched on, it runs a system test. • Display test The version number of the software will appear on the screen for around one second. Please have this number ready in the event of any support queries. • Sensor test A temperature sensor check is done to determine whether a sensor is attached and if so, to ensure it is isolated from the mains.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions Please note that the oven must be able to build up to the temperature required for the soldering process. If the oven capacity is too low, it heats too slowly and this may expose the components to more thermal stress. Please note the maximum temperature resistance of the sensor.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions 7.3 Learning the oven characteristics Before the oven can be used for soldering, the controller has to learn its heat and temperature characteristics. This is necessary before first use and after every software update at least. The learned values are stored in the controller and used for all subsequent soldering processes. However, you can repeat the learn process as often as you wish.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions The oven is now heated to 100 °C. Once it reaches this temperature, the heat is switched off. The controller now measures how much more the oven will heat despite the heat being off. A beep signals the end of the learn process and the display indicates the “Cooling” phase. • The oven door can now be opened. The controller has now calculated and stored the oven’s characteristics. When the oven has cooled to below 50 °C, it is ready for reflow soldering.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions Information on each soldering phase is shown on the display, as follows: Operating mode Active phase Solder Preheat Soak Reflow Dwell Cooling Active parameter set Temperature in oven 0 ... 4 xxx C measurement unit: F measurement unit: Duration of phase C F Indicates that a soldering operation is in process. Heats the oven slowly and keeps the temperature constant for a period of time. Activates the solder paste.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions 8 Setting parameters via the display In general, there are two ways to set parameters in the controller: via the integrated keyboard or via a connected PC. This chapter explains how to set parameters via the integrated keyboard. 8.1 Switching the controller to parameterisation mode The controller is switched to parameterisation mode as follows: • Press OK and “Setup” will appear in the display Setup • Release OK and the display will remain the same.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions 8.2 Menu layout The controller has three different menus. Main menu When the controller is switched on, you are in the main menu. From the main menu, you can start a soldering process or a learn cycle. Settings You can go to the “Settings” menu by switching the controller to parameterisation mode (see previous chapter). In this menu, you can make all the parameter changes necessary for your soldering process.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions Preheat “Preheat” phase settings for the active parameter set Soak “Soak” phase settings for the active parameter set Reflow “Reflow” phase settings for the active parameter set Dwell “Dwell” phase settings for the active parameter set Base values Entry point to the “Base values” menu. Press OK to access the “Base values” menu. You can use UP or DOWN to navigate to the last or next menu item, respectively.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions 8.4.2 Using the parameters Entry Parameter Select next parameter Set parameter Select next parameter Exit When you have set all the parameters as required, press OK to confirm the settings. Please note that pressing OK always ends parameter input, even if not all parameters have yet been changed. You are now back in the “Settings” menu. 8.4.3 Preheat This menu item allows you to change the parameters for the “Preheat” phase.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions Preheat temp: 4 0125C • Set parameters. • Then select the next parameter using the LEFT or RIGHT button and make the change. • When you have set all the “Preheat” parameters, you can end parameter input by pressing OK. Please note that pressing OK always ends parameter input, even if not all parameters have yet been changed. You are now back in the “Settings” menu. 8.4.4 Soak This menu item allows you to change the parameters for the “Soak” phase.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions • Then select the next parameter using the LEFT or RIGHT button and make the change. • When you have set all the “Soak” parameters, you can end parameter input by pressing OK. Please note that pressing OK always ends parameter input, even if not all parameters have yet been changed. You are now back in the “Settings” menu. 8.4.5 Reflow This menu item allows you to change the parameters for the “Reflow” phase.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions 8.4.6 Dwell This menu item allows you to change the parameters for the “Dwell” phase. The parameters are as follows: • Duration of the phase in seconds • Required end temperature of the phase in the specified temperature unit • Oven performance during the phase in % Please note that the settings always affect the currently active parameter set. Information on switching the active parameter set can be found in the chapter “Profiles”.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions the menu item “Base values” in the “Settings” menu (see chapter “Settings”). You are in the “Base values” menu when you can see the status “Base values” in the first line of the display and the current menu item in the second line. Base Values Ready The “Base values” menu contains the following menu items: Ready Menu exit point. Press OK to return to the main menu.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions Base Values Autoextend OFF • Pressing OK will activate the menu item and the text showing the current setting will start to flash. • The UP and DOWN buttons can be used to change the value as required. • Press OK to confirm. 8.5.2 Temperature calibration The temperature sensor for the reflow controller is preset and generally does not need to be calibrated. However, if required, the reflow controller can be synchronised with the sensor.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions 8.5.3 Setting the measurement unit “Temperature” You can set the measurement unit for the temperature in your reflow controller by selecting one of the following: C: Temperature unit °C (Celsius) F: Temperature unit °F (Fahrenheit) Please note that when you switch temperature units, the change only happens in the display. Internally, the controller always calculates in °C.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions • Pressing OK will activate the menu item and the current brightness value will start to flash. • You can change the value as required using the UP and DOWN buttons. The change to the brightness level takes effect immediately and the display will change to the new setting. • Press OK to confirm. 8.5.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions 9.2 Installing the USB driver Depending on the operating system, it may be necessary to install driver software. The reflow controller uses a standard FTDI USB serial converter chip. An up-to-date LINUX system does not require a driver as it will recognise the USB chip and allocate a port /dev/ttyUSB0. If you already have another USB serial converter in your system, the multiplexer will connect to port /dev/ttyUSB1 or port /dev/ttyUSB2.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions Please note the following: To make software updates easier, the USB chip uses voltage from the connected computer. This means that the device is attached to your computer as soon as you connect the USB cable, regardless of whether or not the reflow controller is connected to the mains.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions 9.5 Communication test Connect the controller to the computer as described above, start your terminal program and then switch on the controller. When the controller has been successfully connected to your PC, you will see the startup message below. You can now manage the controller via the serial interface. You can also do this at any time using the integrated keyboard, even if your PC is still connected.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions 9.6 General commands You can use the following commands via the PC interface: Command Parameter help tempshow Definition Lists all commands [0..254] The measured temperature is displayed continually at second intervals specified by the parameter: tempshow 5 displays the current temperature every 5 seconds. tempshow 0 switches off temperature display. tempshow displays the current temperature once.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions Command Parameter Definition trace [0..1] Display internal status messages trace 1 Switch on status message display trace 0 Switch off status message display The form and content of status messages may change in the case of program updates.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions 9.7 Commands for parameter setting and calibration The reflow controller can be set for different solder pastes, different temperature sensors and different oven types. The parameters necessary to make those settings are input via the computer interface. Please ensure that all settings relate to the parameter set currently in use. You can store up to 5 different settings (parameter sets) in the controller.
Bedienungsanleitung Reflow-Controller Command Parameter Definition reflowtemp [0 .. 254] °C [32 .. 490] F End temperature of the reflow phase reflowtemp 232 sets the temperature to 232 °C. reflowtime [0 .. 65534] Sek. Duration of the reflow phase If the parameter is set to 0, the controller itself will define the duration of the reflow phase. The oven will be operated at the set capacity until the preset temperature has been reached.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions Command Parameter Definition autoextend [0 .. 1] Controlling automatic soldering phase extension autoextend 1 Switch on automatic soldering phase extension. If the preselected end temperature for this phase has not been reached in the set time, the phase will be extended until the set temperature has been reached. autoextend 0 Switch off automatic soldering phase extension.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions The “Pulse” phase will appear in the last line of the display. In “Manual” mode, it is not possible to use the keyboard or carry out normal soldering functions.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions Command Parameter Manual Definition Switch controller to manual mode Manual 0 End manual mode, controller is switched to normal mode. Manual 1 Switch controller to manual mode. shot Single pulse with heat capacity X 0 .. 100] % shot X Release single heat pulse X%. WARNING! This command will only work if the controller has already been switched to manual mode.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions • Close the terminal program and switch the reflow controller off. • Start the program “Megaload.exe” and the following window will open: • Set the parameters as shown in the diagram. Please ensure that you only use the source files provided by us. Please ensure that the checkbox “Eeprom programming” is always ticked. Check again that you have made a note of your own parameter settings. Check again that you have selected the correct files for programming.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions • When the programming operation is finished, the controller will carry out a self-test. The software update is then complete. • End the program “Megaload”. NOTE: It is important to ensure that you selected appropriate source files for the controller. For example, the boot loader program can recognise that no file was selected but only after the software has been deleted in the controller • Re-enter your selected settings.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions 11 Error messages The following error messages were generated by the controller and displayed on the screen: Error message Cause Solution “Sensor” error The attached sensor was was not recognised or is faulty.. - Connect sensor - Replace sensor “Too Hot” error The temperature sensor has detected that the temperature is too high to start a new soldering process.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions 13 Guarantee We give a one-year guarantee on this device. The guarantee covers free correction of defects that do not result from using faulty materials or from manufacturing defects (proof required). Further claims are excluded. We offer no guarantee and accept no liability for damages or consequential damages in connection with this product. We reserve the right to repair, improve, part-deliver, or refund the purchase price.
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Operating Instructions 14 Connecting the reflow controller to the reflow oven and PC The reflow controller (A) is connected via a sensor (C) to the reflow oven (B) and optionally via a USB cable (D) to a PC (E). Mains power is supplied via a power cable (F). The oven is connected using an adapter cable (G).
Reflow Controller V3 PRO Safety instructions Intended Use This product can only be used to control a reflow soldering oven. Using it for any purpose other than the above will lead to product damage, and inappropriate use is also associated with hazards such as short circuits, fire, electric shock etc. The product must not be changed or modified in any way. All company names and product designs are trademarks of the respective owners. All rights reserved.
