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Tips, Techniques, and Questions -- Technical questions or tips

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  #1  
Old 2013-10-30, 1:24pm
Anne Londez's Avatar
Anne Londez Anne Londez is offline
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Default Double kiln failure

I haven't had much time to investigate yet but I suspect there was a power surge at the studio and 2 of my controllers started acting up.
The first is a 10 yo kiln from Mike Aurelius, don't remember the make of the controller but it doesn't run through the program anymore, it just ramps down. The other has a Sentry Xpress 4.0 and displays an error message that looks like E-1 and refuses to remember any new program. I looked through the user's manual and there's no such error message but since some of the display doesn't work properly, it could be EF-1, which means electrical failure.
Now my question is double :
- Is there any way to repair controllers after what looks like a power surge ?
- If not, is there a source for second hand controllers that I can try ? I don't have the funds to buy 2 new controllers...
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  #2  
Old 2013-10-30, 5:02pm
losthelm losthelm is offline
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The original manufacture may provide support in the controllers.

Depending on your eletrical experience and comfort some things are easy for you to replace on your own.
Relays, fuses and such are easy to change. The manual may be available online or from the manufacturer/distributer. Relays usually need to be purchased from a supply shop.

If your comfortable with it open the case and look for bown capacitors they are usually bubbled up or have an oily brown or clear substance around them.

It's important to work safely if you open the case grounding your self and the capacitors before poking around will help avoid eletrical shock and further damage to the board.
A ham radio operator, eletrical engineer or service tech can help if your not comfortable pokeing around the circuit board.
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Last edited by losthelm; 2013-10-30 at 5:04pm.
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  #3  
Old 2013-10-30, 5:38pm
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GLASSFREEK GLASSFREEK is offline
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If it was an ek miller with the partlow 1166 sorry is a goner, they dont like power surges, fries the board. the other, the 4.0 might just work again if you re install all the parameters.

Mike
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Old 2013-10-31, 4:19am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GLASSFREEK View Post
If it was an ek miller with the partlow 1166 sorry is a goner, they dont like power surges, fries the board. the other, the 4.0 might just work again if you re install all the parameters.

Mike
It's a West 6400.
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Old 2013-10-31, 4:49am
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Just for the record, I contacted Mike Aurelius, who had sold me the kiln with the West 6400 10 years ago and he said it might just be a problem of scrambling so I tried re-programming the controller and it seems to be working fine now although I'm not through with the testing.
Now to figure out if the Sentry is fine too...
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  #6  
Old 2013-10-31, 9:59am
Arnold Howard Arnold Howard is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Anne Londez View Post
The other has a Sentry Xpress 4.0 and displays an error message that looks like E-1 and refuses to remember any new program. I looked through the user's manual and there's no such error message but since some of the display doesn't work properly, it could be EF-1, which means electrical failure.
Anne, here is an article on the Sentry Xpress 4.0 that might help you:

http://www.paragonweb.com/Kiln_Pointer.cfm?PID=398

Should your controller need to be repaired, you can send it to the Orton Ceramic Foundation. They made the controller for Paragon. They can often refurbish a damaged one.

http://www.ortonceramic.com

Sincerely,

Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com
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  #7  
Old 2013-10-31, 2:01pm
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Anne Londez Anne Londez is offline
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Thanks Arnold. I'm in Switzerland and the kiln comes from Creative Glass so I contacted them and I'm waiting for their analysis.
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Old 2013-11-03, 4:22am
Dreamsincolor Dreamsincolor is offline
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Perhaps if it is an option available to you my DH suggests investing in a surge protector and a lightening arrestor for peace of mind. We lived in Florida and it was the only way to feel safe for your electronics.

Andrea
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