30 | GENERAL INFORMATION |
Troubleshooting
If you find yourself in this section of the manual please remember that Skutt and your Hot Start Kiln Dealer are here to help you as long as you own your kiln. If you are unable to determine the problem, or just need to order parts, please let us know.
KILN WILL NOT START
If there is no display, check to see if the kiln is plugged in and the breaker has not tripped. If there is a display, double check your programming instructions. The kiln must be in Idle Mode to start.
KILN WILL NOT REACH TEMPERATURE
Make sure the kiln is connected to the proper voltage. After extended use, the elements in the kiln wear out and eventu- ally need to be replaced. Look for possible breaks in an element. Elements can break if they are contaminated by bits of glass. If an element is out it will not glow. Fire the kiln to at least 500 °F and look in the kiln to see if an element is out.
KILN OVERFIRES OR UNDERFIRES
The thermocouple, which looks like a metal wire protruding into the kiln chamber, measures the temperature in the kiln chamber. As thermocouples began to wear out they slowly drift in the direction of an overfire. If you have noticed that your projects have become increasingly overfired it may be time to change your thermocouple. If you are comparing your results to how they fire in other kilns it is important to remember that every kiln fires slightly different and it may be necessary to adjust your firing programs.
Another possible cause would be that the factory programs have been changed. Look at the programs on page 25 and make sure they match the process temperature and process hold time that is entered in the program you are running. The last program run can easily be checked by pressing the Review key. To check other programs enter them while Modify GlassFire Mode is on. Remember, Process Hold times need to entered with Hours to the left of the decimal and Minutes to the right of the decimal.
G E N E R A L
ERROR MESSAGES
The following errors messages may appear in the display of your controller.
Err 1
Error 1 occurs during a firing segment programmed to increase the temperature. When the kiln is maintaining the programmed set point this error is not checked. If the kiln is unable to maintain the programmed set point the controller then requires that the kiln maintain a minimum rise of 12°F (4.8°C) per hour.
This usually indicates that the elements or the relay have failed. The kiln will shut off.
Err F
Error F occurs during a firing segment programmed to decrease the temperature. When the kiln is maintaining the programmed set point this error is not checked. If the kiln is unable to maintain the programmed set point the controller then requires that the kiln maintain a minimum fall of 12°F (4.8°C) per hour.
This usually indicates that a relay has failed and needs to be replaced. The kiln will shut off.
Err D
Error D occurs during a firing segment programmed to increase the temperature. If the kiln temperature is 100°F (38°C) or greater above the set point for 15 seconds then the controller registers an error d situation.
This usually indicates that a relay has failed and needs to be replaced. The kiln will shut off.
FAIL
This indicates that the thermocouple has failed and needs to be replaced. The kiln will shut off.
This indicates that the thermocouple has been installed backwards. The thermocouple needs to be removed and rein- stalled into the thermocouple block with the red wire inserted in the hole stamped
