Auber Instruments RDK-300B

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AUBER INSTRUMENTS WWW.AUBERINS.COM

2020.04 P1/2

RDK-300B Controller for Hot Runner Coil Heater

Version 1.0 (April, 2020)

Caution

 Check pin assignment before connecting a coil to the controller (see section

3.4). The pin assignment on RDK-300 is different from RDK-100.

 The default set temperature on RDK-300B is 300°F. The controller will start

to heat the coil immediately after it is power up if coil is connected. Please

make sure the coil is placed in a secure place before power up.

 The coil heater should NOT be heated above 1000°F. By default, the auto-

shutoff temperature and time are set to 900°F and 60 minutes.

 When controller is turned off, the coil will stay at very high temperature for at

least 20 minutes. DO NOT TOUCH the coil until controller stops flashing

“Hot”. The heated coil is very dangerous. It will cause severe burn if touched.

 One (1) year warranty for the controller; six (6) months for the coil heater*

Note: * Our warranty for coil heater only covers manufacturing defects; it does NOT cover

damages caused by high temperature (≥ 1000°F) use.

1. Specification

Controller

Operating voltage 120 V / 240 V AC

Maximum current 5 Amp

Input power connection IEC 320 C14

Coil connection XLR 5 Pin

Dimension 3.5 x 1.7 x 4.7 inch, (90 x 47 x 120 mm)

Temperature control range 200°F to 1000 °F

2. Front Panel

①

②

③

④

⑤

Figure 1. Front Panel.

① Current temperature

② Output status indicator

③ Set temperature

④ Power button with stand-by status indicator

⑤ Control knob. Access menu and change parameters

3. Getting Started

3.1 Confirm the Pin Assignment on the Heater Coil

Before you plugging any coil to this controller, please confirm that the coil has

the same pin assignment (see Table 1) as the RDK-300B.

Table 1. Pin Assignment of the XLR connector on RDK-300B.

AC Power to Heater

TC +

TC -

Ground

3.2 Connecting the Coil Heater

To connect the coil heater, align the slot on the XLR connector on the coil

cable with the tab on the female XLR connector on the controller, and then

push it in. To disconnect it, press the “PUSH” tab on the female connector and

pull the connector out.

Warning: With a coil connected, the controller will start to heat

the coil immediately after it is power up. Please make sure that the

coil is placed in a secure place before power up. When controller is

turned off, the coil will stay at a very high temperature for at least 20

min. Controller will flash “hot” and coil temperature at top display,

and it will show “off” at bottom display. DO NOT TOUCH the coil until

the controller stop flashing “hot”. The heated coil is very dangerous.

It will cause severe burn if touched. It is strongly recommended

that the power cord should be unplugged after use.

3.3 Power On/Off the Controller

Connecting the power cord to the controller and to the wall outlet, then the

power button should light up in red, which means the controller is in standby

status. The displays should still be dark and there should be no power output to

the coil heater. Press down the power button briefly, the display should turn on

and the power button will lit in white. The bottom of the display window will

show the set temperature value, and the top display window will show the

current coil temperature. Controller will start heating up the coil to the set

temperature. If no coil is plugged in, the top display will show “-H-“.

To power off the controller, press down the power button briefly. Controller will

cut off power to the coil, keep displaying the coil temperature till it is cooled

below a safe cool temperature.

3.4 Basic Operations

This controller has two operating mode, standard mode and boost mode

(which is newly added to RKD-300B). By default, the controller will first power

up in standard mode.

Instruction Manual

Need help?

Do you have a question about the Auber Instruments RDK-300B and is the answer not in the manual?

Summary

Getting Started

Confirm Pin Assignment

Verify the pin assignment on the heater coil matches the controller before connecting.

Connecting the Coil Heater

Instructions on how to connect the coil heater cable to the controller.

Powering Controller On;Off

Steps for turning the controller on, its standby status, and powering it off.

Basic Operations Introduction

Introduction to the controller's operating modes: standard and boost.

Standard Mode Operation

Explains how to operate the controller in standard mode and change set temperature.

Boost Mode Operation

Details on using boost mode for quick temperature changes and setting boost temp.

Switching Between Modes

Instructions on how to switch between standard and boost modes using the control knob.

Advanced Parameter Settings

Information on accessing advanced parameter settings via the RDK-300B Supplementary Manual.

The Auber Instruments RDK-300B is a temperature controller specifically designed for hot runner coil heaters. It operates on either 120 V or 240 V AC power, with a maximum current of 5 Amps. The controller uses an IEC 320 C14 input power connection and an XLR 5-pin connection for the coil heater. Its compact dimensions are 3.5 x 1.7 x 4.7 inches (90 x 47 x 120 mm). The temperature control range is from 200°F to 1000°F.

Function Description:

The RDK-300B controller manages the temperature of a hot runner coil heater. It features a dual display: the top display shows the current coil temperature, and the bottom display shows the set temperature. An output status indicator illuminates when the heater is active. The device includes a power button with a stand-by status indicator and a control knob for accessing menus and changing parameters.

The controller has two primary operating modes: Standard Mode and Boost Mode. In Standard Mode, the controller powers up with a default set temperature of 300°F. Users can adjust this set temperature by briefly pressing the control knob, which causes the decimal point on the bottom display to flash. Turning the knob clockwise increases the temperature, while counter-clockwise decreases it. Fast rotation allows for large adjustments, and slow rotation for single-digit adjustments. Pressing the knob again confirms the new setting. The controller automatically exits editing mode if the knob is untouched for 10 seconds.

The Boost Mode allows users to quickly cycle between a lower standby temperature and a higher boost temperature with a simple press of the control knob. There are three distinct boost modes (b-1, b-2, and b-3), each allowing for customized standby and boost temperatures. By default, all three boost modes have a standby temperature of 300°F and a boost temperature of 550°F. When in Boost Mode, the top display briefly shows the mode name before displaying the coil temperature, and the bottom display shows the standby temperature.

Users can switch between Standard Mode and Boost Mode by turning the control knob at least half a turn (180°) to access the mode-selecting menu. The top window will display "Mod" and the bottom window will show the name of the current mode. Turning the knob slowly allows browsing through options, and pressing the knob confirms the selection. A flashing dot in the lower right corner indicates an item is being edited but not yet saved.

Important Technical Specifications:

Operating Voltage: 120 V / 240 V AC
Maximum Current: 5 Amps
Input Power Connection: IEC 320 C14
Coil Connection: XLR 5 Pin
Dimensions: 3.5 x 1.7 x 4.7 inches (90 x 47 x 120 mm)
Temperature Control Range: 200°F to 1000°F
Default Set Temperature: 300°F
Default Auto-Shutoff Temperature: 900°F
Default Auto-Shutoff Time: 60 minutes
XLR Connector Pin Assignment:
- Pin 1: AC Power to Heater
- Pin 2: AC Power to Heater
- Pin 3: TC +
- Pin 4: TC -
- Pin 5: Ground

Usage Features:

Easy Coil Connection: The XLR connector on the coil cable aligns with a tab on the controller's female XLR connector for a secure push-in connection. Disconnection is achieved by pressing the "PUSH" tab and pulling the connector out.
Power On/Off: The power button lights up red in standby mode (no power output). A brief press turns on the display and lights the button white, initiating heating. Another brief press powers off the controller, cutting power to the coil while continuing to display the coil temperature until it cools to a safe level.
Temperature Adjustment: Intuitive control knob for precise temperature setting in Standard Mode.
Quick Temperature Cycling: Boost Mode allows for rapid switching between two predefined temperatures, ideal for applications requiring quick temperature changes.
Customizable Boost Modes: Three distinct boost modes (b-1, b-2, b-3) with adjustable standby and boost temperatures.
Mode Selection Menu: Simple knob-based navigation to switch between Standard and Boost operating modes.
Advanced Parameter Settings: The RDK-300B Supplementary Manual provides detailed information for advanced parameter configurations.

Maintenance Features:

Safety Warnings: Critical warnings are provided regarding pin assignment, initial power-up procedures, maximum heating temperature (do not exceed 1000°F), and post-shutdown safety. The controller will flash "hot" and display "off" until the coil cools to a safe temperature, emphasizing the danger of touching a hot coil.
Warranty: The controller comes with a one-year warranty. The coil heater has a six-month warranty, covering manufacturing defects but not damages caused by high-temperature (≥ 1000°F) use.
Coil Heater Protection: Default auto-shutoff at 900°F after 60 minutes helps prevent overheating and extends the life of the coil heater.

The RDK-300B is a robust and user-friendly controller designed to provide reliable temperature management for hot runner coil heaters, with a strong emphasis on operational safety and flexibility through its dual operating modes.