Full Power Test
The full power test will allow you to visually inspect your kiln's heating elements to determine if the system is working correctly. This test will allow you to check for:
- The top and bottom elements are hotter than the middle
- This is usually normal
- A section of a kiln that is not turning on
- This would indicate a defective relay
- An element is not glowing
- This would indicate a broken element
- There are dark or cool spots on the elements
- This would indicate worn elements
Here is the Ramp/Hold program that you will want to program into User 1. This is a one-segment program with:
- rA1 = 9999
- degrees F = 700
- HLd1 = 0000
- ALAr = 9999
Thermocouple (T/C) By-Pass Test
1. Unplug the kiln or turn off the circuit breaker. When the power to the kiln is disconnected the controller display will be dark.
2. Remove the 4 screws from the corners of the controller front panel and pull it out toward you. There will be several wires still connected to the circuit board on the back of the panel, leave these connected and proceed with the following steps.
3. Turn the panel over and look at the back. The thermocouple (t/c) wires (one red, one yellow) are connected to a black terminal block. The terminal block has two paint dots, one yellow and one red. Loosen the screws holding the RED and YELLOW wires and remove them.
NOTE: If you have a zone control with more than one thermocouple, there will be a red and yellow connection for each thermocouple. For multiple thermocouples the connections are on the side of the circuit board. Each of the t/c's must be connected as in step 4 below.
4. Connect a short piece of wire between the screws where the thermocouple was connected. Any wire will work. Since they are fairly common we use paper clips which have been cut off to form a "U' shape. This can be slid between the two thermocouple screws. Make sure this wire makes good contact on both screws. See Picture.
6. With this "HOOPER" in place, reconnect the controller to the kiln or control box.
7. Turn on the power to the kiln.
8. With the "hooper" in place, the displayed temperature should be the room temperature; this indicates the T/C circuit is defective. If the temperature is negative or "FAIL" is displayed, the circuit board is defective.