Barbara Francis on wed 10 aug 11
From: Barbara Francis
To: Arnold Howard
=3D0A=3D0A=3D0AFrom: Barbara Francis =3D0ATo: Arnold H=
oward howard@paragonweb.com>=3D0ASent: Tuesday, August 9, 2011 9:40 PM=3D0ASubjec=
t: c=3D
ontinued kiln problems=3D0A=3D0A=3D0AHi Fellow Clayarters,=3D0A=3D0AI am st=
arting to =3D
think I just need a new kiln.=3DA0 In December I had all of the elements re=
pl=3D
aced, the thermocouple replaced and the relays.=3DA0 It was over-firing.=3D=
A0 I=3D
t over-fired again.=3DA0 Then it started to slow down and I got an E-1 read=
in=3D
g.=3DA0 After checking the elements for Ohms ( the elements checked out), a=
nd=3D
then checking the voltage and amps under load, I figured out that the bott=
=3D
om 2 elements weren't getting any amps.=3DA0 I figured the relay those 2 el=
em=3D
ents were attached to had gone out.=3DA0 Before I replaced the relay, the k=
il=3D
n was stalling out around 1800 degrees.=3DA0 I replaced the relay and I fir=
ed=3D
2 bisque loads, and they did fine, although the second one took longer tha=
=3D
n the first.=3DA0 Today I am firing my first glaze firing since I had repla=
ce=3D
d it.=3DA0 It stalled about 2000 degrees and got the error reading 3 hours =
la=3D
ter at 2101 degrees.=3DA0 Where do I go from here?=3DA0 I have a paragon TN=
F24-=3D
3, model #2261114, 240 volts, 51 amps, RTC1000 controller.=3DA0 =3D0A=3D0AA=
ny sug=3D
gestions you could give me would be greatly appreciated.=3DA0 =3D0A=3D0ABar=
b Fran=3D
cis
Barro Cocido on thu 11 aug 11
On Thu, 11 Aug 2011 07:47:37 -0500, Arnold Howard =3D
>
wrote:
>A quick way to test the elements is to place a small piece of paper in
>each element groove. Fire the kiln for a few minutes, just long enough
>to make the paper smoulder. That will indicate whether the elements are
>all firing.
>
>Please let us know if the elements are all firing.
>
>Your Bartlett controller is probably okay.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Arnold Howard
>Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
>ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com
I wish all manufacturers kept an eye on User's lists and be helpful like
Paragon does!
I was going to suggest something similar as above but a bit more technica=
=3D
l.
I found the RTC1000 Technical Manual here:=3D20
http://www.bartinst.com/KILN/RTC%201000/rtcsections/rtctechman.pdf=3D20=3D2=
0=3D20=3D
According to it, you could access the HIDDEN MENU , select DIAGNOSTICS
(diAG) which will individually turn on the 3 outputs to the relays, one a=
=3D
t a
time and each one being turned on for 1 minute and 20 secs, the display w=
=3D
ill
show you which one is on. With that you can do the paper test suggested
above (place the paper when kiln is cold and disconnected from power) or=
=3D
with the lid open you may be able to also see the element being RED hot. =
=3D
If
there is an element that doesn't burn the paper or gets red hot, you woul=
=3D
d
need to measure the OUTPUT from the CENTER-TAP to the output correspondin=
=3D
g
to the Zone that is not getting red hot (or burning the paper), see diagr=
=3D
am
in page 5 of the tech.manual. You are looking for 12 Volts DC. If the 1=
=3D
2
Volts DC are not present, your issue is very likely the Controller. If t=
=3D
he
12 Volts DC are present, since you have already tested the elements for
continuity, or ohms as you mention, then your problem is the relay for th=
=3D
at
zone. As Mr.Paragon Rep said, check the connections. If you find that t=
=3D
he
problem is with, lets say OUTPUT-3 not providing voltage to the bottom
relay, I believe you could, if you wanted, set your kiln for 2 Zones and
connect relay-3 to output-2 also, that would be a work around to the issu=
=3D
e.
Depending your knowledge of electricity and/or level of confidence with i=
=3D
t,
you may or need to enlist the help of someone else.
Disclaimer, I do not own a Paragon Kiln or any other type of kiln. All t=
=3D
he
above is based on your controller Technical Manual (link to it above),
corrections to the above by Arnold from Paragon or any other list member =
=3D
are
welcomed.
Arnold Howard on thu 11 aug 11
On 8/10/2011 12:18 PM, Barbara Francis wrote:
> I am starting to think I just need a new kiln. In December I had all of =
the elements replaced, the thermocouple replaced and the relays. It was ov=
er-firing. It over-fired again. Then it started to slow down and I got an=
E-1 reading. After checking the elements for Ohms ( the elements checked =
out), and then checking the voltage and amps under load, I figured out that=
the bottom 2 elements weren't getting any amps. I figured the relay those=
2 elements were attached to had gone out. Before I replaced the relay, th=
e kiln was stalling out around 1800 degrees. I replaced the relay and I fi=
red 2 bisque loads, and they did fine, although the second one took longer =
than the first. Today I am firing my first glaze firing since I had replac=
ed it. It stalled about 2000 degrees and got the error reading 3 hours lat=
er at 2101 degrees. Where do I go from here? I have a paragon TNF24-3, mo=
del #2261114, 240 volts, 51 amps, RTC1000 controller.
Barb, the first thing I would do is determine if all the elements are
firing. Even though parts have been replaced, something may have burned
out again. A loose push-on terminal can ruin a new relay, for instance,
because the loose connection gets very hot.
A quick way to test the elements is to place a small piece of paper in
each element groove. Fire the kiln for a few minutes, just long enough
to make the paper smoulder. That will indicate whether the elements are
all firing.
Please let us know if the elements are all firing.
Your Bartlett controller is probably okay.
Sincerely,
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com
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