When a relay chatters or buzzes instead of clicks, the
problem may be a weak transformer. A chattering relay
can cause erratic temperature readings.
How to Test a Relay: You willneedanohmmeter,12volt
battery and 2 clip wires. (Or you could test the relays by per
-
forming the Element Glow Test, page 15.)
WARNING: You must disconnect the controller
board-to-relay wires to test the relay(s) with a battery.
Leavingthewiresconnectedcoulddamagethecontroller
board.
1 UNPLUG kiln and remove switch box. Find the two
wires going from the controller board to the relay you
are testing. Disconnect these wires from the relay.
Thenconnecta12voltlanternbatterytothesamerelay
terminals (#5 and #6 on diagrams below) using clip
wires.Youshouldhearaclickingnoisewhenyoumake
theconnection.Ifthereisnoclick,therelaymaybede
-
fective. Make sure your battery is good before assum
-
ing the relay is bad.
2 Touch ohmmeterlead wiresto relayterminals marked
#1 and #2 in the diagram. With the battery still con
-
nected, you should get a continuity reading (0 ohms)
on the ohmmeter. If you get a no-needle movement
when the battery is connected,replace therelay. Place
theohmmeterwiresonrelayterminalsmarked3and4
on the diagram and test the same way.
Problem: Firing Interrupted by PF or ErrP
Probable Causes:
■
Temporary Power Failure
■
Low Voltage at Wall Receptacle
■
Corroded Cord Plug or Wall Receptacle
■
Defective Transformer
■
Disconnected or Loose Wire
■
Electrical Noise
PF alternates with the temperature display during
firing:thismeansthepowerwentoffforamomentduringfir
-
ing.Thenfiringresumed.Togobacktoanormaltemperature
display, press ENTER.
Steady ErrP ,notemperaturedisplay:thismeansafir
-
ing has been interrupted by a longer power failure.
For a more detailed explanation of power failure mes-
sages, see page 13.
Low voltage can also cause the kiln to shut off and display
either PF or a blank display. If this happens and you did not
haveapowerfailure,havethepowercompanyoranelectrician
check the wallreceptacle, whilethe kilnfires, for lowvoltage.
Sometimesthere isjust enoughvoltageto programthe board.
Butwhentherelaysturnon,thevoltage from the transformer
drops below the minimum operating level, and the display
goes blank.
ErrP displays even though power did not fail: If the
voltage at the wall receptacle is okay, UNPLUG kiln, remove
switch box, andlook for awire that has become disconnected
from a relay. If a wire comes loose from a relay and touches
anything grounded in the switch box, the board will read
ErrP when you start the program. Electrical noise can also
cause an ErrP display.
Acorrodedkilncordplugorwallreceptaclecancausea PF
orblank display.Pullthe plugfromthe wall.Cleanthe prongs
on the plug with fine emery paper or a pencil eraser until the
prongs are bright. If the plug or wall receptacle is blackened,
replace. A loose wall receptaclescrew or loose circuit breaker
screw can also cause a power failure display.
Checktransformerifthewallreceptaclevoltageandswitch
boxwiringareokay.(See“Controller DisplayDoes NotLight
Up,” page 16, and “Kiln Switch BoxFuse BlowsRepeatedly,”
page 20.)
17
2
3
4
5
6
2
4
3
5
6
1
Wiring for Omron & Arowmat Relays
1
Wiring forP&BRelay
Sometimesareplacementrelaywillbeofadifferentbrandthantherelayin
yourkiln.Ifso,transferthewiresfromtheoldrelaytothenewonebythenum
-
bers on this chart. Ignore the terminal numbers printed on the relay bodies
when using this chart.
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