Operating instructions

Terminating Error
Messages
and error messages
turn off the kiln and flash the following:
I
Total firing time in hours and minutes
I
The kiln shutoff temperature
I
The current kiln temperature
----/NoThermocouple
After the controller was plugged in, it could not detect a
thermocouple.
BAdP / Bad Programming
Causes:
I
A program has been entered with 0 rate in the first seg
-
ment of a Ramp-Hold firing.
I
When you press , all programmed temperatures
are below the current kiln temperature of a Ramp-Hold
firing.
ETH / Electronics Too Hot
I
The circuit board temperature is above 176°F / 80°C.
To lower board temperature, use a fan to blow air across
the kiln switch box into the louvers. (But do not blow air
into the kiln’s peepholes.) If you have more than one kiln in
the room, place them farther apart. Never allow the firing
room temperature to exceed 110°F / 43°C. (Measure room
temperature 3 feet away from the kiln.)
FAIL / Thermocouple Failure
The controller is no longer receiving voltage from the
thermocouple. Causes:
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Defective thermocouple
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Disconnected thermocouple lead wires
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Defective board
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Electrical noise
FTL / Firing Too Long
I
The temperature change is less than 27°F / 15°C per
hour and thefiring timeis two hourslonger than thecur
-
rent segmentwas programmed to fire. This message can
appear during heating-up or cooling-down segments.
sometimes appears because the cooling segment
was programmed faster than the kiln could naturally
cool down.
I
will flash if you program a cooling segment tem
-
perature that is below room temperature. When
appears, press .
Check for wornor burned outelements, defectiverelays,
low voltage and defective thermocouple. Reprogram a
slower rate in heating-up and cooling-down segments.
Note: To avoid messages, try firing the kiln at a
slower rate.
Note: During a Ramp-Hold firing, Present Status
shows the actual firing rate of the current segment in
-
stead of the rate you programmed. If you think your
kiln is heating or cooling too slowly, compare the rate
shown in Present Status with the rate you programmed
for that segment. This is another reason you should al
-
ways keep a written record of your firing programs.
(Pre-18D software versions showthe programmed rate
in Present Status rather than the actual rate. See page
25, SOFT option, to look up the software version.)
HTdE / High Temperature Deviation
Causes:
I
During a heating-up ramp or a hold, the temperature is
100°F / 56°C above the programmed temperature.
I
During a cooling-down segment, the temperature is
100°F / 56°C abovethe segment’sstarting temperature.
I
A fast rate caused the controller to overshoot the target
temperature.
I
A relay is stuck in the closed position sending power to
the elements.
See “Power Failures,” next page.
Note: You can disable the HTdE alarm for a segment
by programming a FULL rate (9999°). HTdE will con-
tinue to operate during the hold and in all other seg-
ments that have slower rates.
LId / Missing Connector Pin
On the back of the Sentry circuit board, at the top right
side, is a small two-pin terminal. If the connector on that
terminal is missing, will appear in the display during
firing. The elements will not turn on. (If the two-pin con
-
nector is missing, you can buy another from a computer
supply store.)
PF1 / Power Failure
The power failed during a controlled cooling segment.
The kiln temperature was below the last active cooling seg
-
ment temperature when the power came back on. The kiln
will not resume firing. See “Power Failures,” next page.
PF 2 / Power Failure
The power failed. Thekiln temperature was below 212°F
/ 100°C when the power came back on. The kiln will not re
-
sume firing. See “Power Failures,” next page.
PF 3 / Power Failure
The power failed. The temperature dropped 72°F / 40°C
while the power was off. The kiln will not resume firing. See
“Power Failures,” next page.
TC 2 / Thermocouple Failure
The thermocouple of a single-zone kiln failed while the
controller was at .
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