L&L Kiln Mfg, Inc. Fuego Instruction Manual Download Page 39

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TROUBLESHOOTING AND REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS FOR L&L KILNS

troubleshoot-general.pdf

REV: 4/15/2017

Page 1



2017

L&L Kiln Mfg, Inc. 505 Sharptown Rd, Swedesboro NJ 08085 856.294.0077 F:856.294.0070 [email protected] hotkilns.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE ...................................................... 2

VIDEOS .......................................................................................... 2

TROUBLESHOOTING WEB TOOLS ............................................ 2

RELATED L&L GUIDES ................................................................ 2

CAUTION INSTRUCTIONS ..........................................................................2

REGULAR KILN MAINTENANCE .................................................................2

BASIC ELECTRICITY FOR TROUBLESHOOTING .....................................2

TROUBLESHOOTING BRICK PROBLEMS .................................................2

TROUBLESHOOTING ELEMENT PROBLEMS ...........................................3

TROUBLESHOOTING FIRING PROBLEMS WITH CONE PACKS .............3

THE CERAMIC PROCESS ...........................................................................3

REPLACEMENT PARTS ..............................................................................3

SERVICE .......................................................................................................3

GENERAL TROUBLESHOOTING TOOLS AND METHODS ....... 3

BASIC TOOLS REQUIRED ..........................................................................3

KEYS TO GOOD TROUBLESHOOTING ...................................... 3

SAFETY FIRST .............................................................................................3

DEFINE THE VARIABLES ............................................................................3

ELIMINATE VARIABLES ONE AT A TIME ...................................................3

Err1 (ERROR 1) - THE MOST COMMON ERROR ....................... 3

CONTROL DISPLAY DOESN’T SHOW ANYTHING

.................... 3

On/Off Switch ................................................................................................3

Fuse...............................................................................................................3

Fuse Holder ...................................................................................................3

On/Off Switch ................................................................................................4

Plug & Cord (if you have one) .......................................................................4

Circuit Breaker / Power Source .....................................................................4

Control Transformer ......................................................................................4

Control Board ................................................................................................5

Internal Wiring ...............................................................................................5

Short Circuits .................................................................................................5

EASY-FIRE DISPLAY READS FAIL ............................................. 5

EASY-FIRE DISPLAY READS 2400 or CPLt WHEN IT STARTS

UP................................................................................................... 6

ONE-TOUCH CONTROL DISPLAY

READS FAIL .................................................................................. 6

DISPLAY IS NORMAL BUT KILN WON’T HEAT UP

.................. 7

Programming .................................................................................................7

Wiring ............................................................................................................7

EASY-FIRE Control Board Outputs ..............................................................7

ONE-TOUCH Control Board Outputs ............................................................7

Bad Power Relays .........................................................................................7

Bad Elements ................................................................................................7

Run a Simple Paper Test ..............................................................................7

KILN FIRES UNEVENLY ............................................................... 7

Peepholes......................................................................................................7

Lid Seal .........................................................................................................7

Elements........................................................................................................8

Loading ..........................................................................................................8

Firing with Cones...........................................................................................8

EASY-FIRE Thermocouple Offsets ...............................................................8

ONE-TOUCH Thermocouple Offsets ............................................................8

Vent System ..................................................................................................9

KILN FIRES TOO HOT OR COLD ................................................ 9

Firing with Cones...........................................................................................9

Easy-Fire vs Vary-Fire (on DynaTrol) ...........................................................9

Be Careful with Hold Times...........................................................................9

Control Settings .............................................................................................9

Thermocouple Drift ........................................................................................9

KILN STALLS ................................................................................ 9

KILN FIRES SLOWLY - BOTH SERIES ..................................... 10

Run a Simple Paper Test ............................................................................10

Bad or Wrong Voltage .................................................................................10

Element Aging .............................................................................................10

Power Relays ..............................................................................................11

Bad Wiring ...................................................................................................11

Wiring in the Kiln .........................................................................................11

Element Connections ..................................................................................12

Heat Leakage & Vents ................................................................................12

Adding More Insulation................................................................................12

KILN FIRES SLOWLY - EASY-FIRE .......................................... 12

Single vs Three Zone Control .....................................................................12

ShtO (SHUT-OFF) SETTING ......................................................................13

PId SETTING ..............................................................................................13

Change elements to graded elements. .......................................................13

KILN HEATS TOO FAST ............................................................ 13

Relays..........................................................................................................13

Voltage ........................................................................................................13

Elements......................................................................................................13

EASY-FIRE ERROR MESSAGES ............................................... 14

Errd ..............................................................................................................14

Err1 ..............................................................................................................14

Err2 ..............................................................................................................15

Err3 ..............................................................................................................15

Err4 ..............................................................................................................15

Err5 ..............................................................................................................15

Err6 ..............................................................................................................15

Err7 ..............................................................................................................15

Err8 ..............................................................................................................15

ErrP + PF ....................................................................................................15

Err- ...............................................................................................................15

FAIL .............................................................................................................15

Turning Error Codes On or Off ....................................................................16

Can you restart the kiln after it stops because of Error Codes? .................16

Worst Case Scenario for Restarting After an Error Code ...........................16

ONE-TOUCH ERROR MESSAGES ............................................ 17

Errd ..............................................................................................................17

Err1 ..............................................................................................................17

ErrP .............................................................................................................18

ErrF ..............................................................................................................18

tC- ...............................................................................................................18

FAIL .............................................................................................................18

Can you restart the kiln after it stops because of Error Codes? .................18

Worst Case Scenario for Restarting After an Error Code ...........................18

SERVICE FOR YOUR KILN ........................................................ 19

WHERE TO GET SERVICE ........................................................................19

WHERE TO BUY PARTS ...........................................................................19

REPLACEMENT ELEMENTS .....................................................................19

REMOVING PANEL FOR SERVICE .......................................... 19

REPLACING DYNATROL ........................................................... 20

REPLACING ONE-TOUCH™ ...................................................... 20

REPLACING TRANSFORMER ................................................... 21

REPLACING POWER RELAYS .................................................. 21

REPLACING FUSE HOLDER ..................................................... 21

REPLACING THERMOCOUPLES ............................................. 22

CHECKING ELEMENT OHMS .................................................... 22

Element Ohm Charts .................................................................. 22

Easy-Fire Element Ohm Chart ....................................................................22

School-Master Top Element Ohm Chart .....................................................23

School-Master Bottom Element Ohm Chart ................................................23

CHANGING ELEMENTS ............................................................. 23

SEE THESE VIDEOS FIRST ......................................................................23

REPLACING ELEMENT HOLDERS ........................................... 23

CRACKS IN THE LID & BOTTOM .............................................. 23

TIGHTENING STAINLESS BANDS ............................................ 23

REPLACING FIREBRICK IN SIDES ........................................... 23

DRILLING OUT HOLES FOR PEEPHOLES ............................... 24

DRILLING OUT FOR ELEMENT CONNECTIONS ..................... 24

REPLACING BOTTOMS ............................................................. 24

REPLACING LIDS ....................................................................... 24

MORE ABOUT TROUBLESHOOTING CERAMIC PROBLEMS 24

Photo of a 1-phase control panel for a three section Easy-Fire

kiln ............................................................................................... 25

Summary of Contents for Fuego

Page 1: ...Kilns Built To Last L L Kiln Mfg Inc 505 Sharptown Road Swedesboro NJ 08085 Ph 856 294 0077 Fx 856 294 0070 E service hotkilns com FUEGO INSTRUCTION MANUAL USA ...

Page 2: ...3 LEVELING THE KILN 3 ADJUSTING THE HINGE PROPERLY 3 THERMOCOUPLES 4 USE THE SUPPLIED KILN STAND 4 DON T USE AN EXTENSION CORD 4 POWER CORD MUST BE PROPERLY RATED 4 USE COPPER WIRE FOR HOOK UP 4 PROTECT POWER CORD FROM KILN CASE 4 KEEP KILN DRY IN PROTECTED SPACE 5 KEEP A FIRE EXTINGUISHER NEAR KILN 5 SPRINKLER CAUTIONS 5 GENERAL ENVIRONMENT CAUTIONS 5 VENTILATION IS ESSENTIAL 5 AMBIENT TEMPERATUR...

Page 3: ...s if not approached carefully There are three basic hazards that cause injury or death shock arc flash and arc blast It is important to remember that even a small amount of current passing through the chest can cause death Most deaths occurring for circuits of less than 600 volts happen when people are working on hot energized equipment PLEASE DISCONNECT AND LOCK OUT ALL ELECTRICAL POWER BEFORE AT...

Page 4: ...r 5 The essential issue with kiln clearance is to keep excessive heat from flammable surfaces Remember even when you follow clearance and ventilation recommendations the kiln is giving off heat Try not to place the kiln near things that can be affected by elevated temperatures An example would be an electrical fuse panel which you do not want to overheat CHECK TEMPERATURES AROUND KILN 1 Check temp...

Page 5: ...ur kiln The extra length of the wire could cause the cord to overheat and catch on fire 2 Extension cords with their multiple connections and potentially mismatched wire gauge for the load could cause a fire when used with a continuous resistive load like a kiln 3 Locate the outlet close enough to the kiln to plug directly into it with the kiln s supplied power cord 4 Kilns that pull over 48 amps ...

Page 6: ... if there are any specific requirements concerning sprinkler systems automatic foam extinguishers etc 3 Use a fire extinguisher that is rated for electrical fires ABC rating is recommended SPRINKLER CAUTIONS 1 If you have a sprinkler system be careful to check the temperature rating and location of the heads so that you do not inadvertently cause them to actuate under normal firing conditions 2 Be...

Page 7: ...able to understand these cautions that may be near the kiln 2 Aside from fumes that must be ventilated and flammability concerns they must be protected from the heat of the kiln and the electrical dangers 3 Ideally the kiln should be secured in a space away from any children especially in a schoolroom situation where children might not always follow safety precautions KEEP FLAMMABLES AWAY FROM KIL...

Page 8: ...FIRE MOIST GREENWARE 1 Never load moist greenware or pots in your kiln 2 The expanding water vapor in the ware could cause the ware to explode damaging your kiln interior 3 We recommend using a dry out segment in your bisque program at 66 C 150 F Note that because of the thermocouple offset programmed into our DynaTrol when we use the ceramic protection tubes the display temperature will read 93 C...

Page 9: ...e protective oxide coating on the elements Also note that carbonaceous materials will produce poisonous carbon monoxide and highly flammable hydrogen as they decompose at high temperatures Also note that the auto ignition temperature of flammable gasses is generally above 1400 F LOADING UNLOADING CAUTIONS TURN OFF POWER WHILE LOADING 1 Turn off power to the kiln when loading or servicing 2 If powe...

Page 10: ...ile grinding or knocking of stilt marks 4 Check the shelves for broken bits of glaze which may have attached to the shelves These can be like shards of glass that can cause a serious cut SECURE LID WHILE LOADING OR UNLOADING IF YOU HAVE A SPRING LOADED EASY LIFT HINGE 1 Be sure to LOCK THE LID IN PLACE with the spring loaded plunger pin located on the side of the hinge IF YOU HAVE A DAVINCI COUNTE...

Page 11: ...ln be sure it is properly adjusted 2 See the Kiln Sitter instructions 3 Overfiring could result 4 Note that the kiln sitter could have gone out of adjustment during shipment Do NOT assume that it is adjusted when first firing the kiln 5 The tube assembly should be replaced if gets overly corroded or contaminated with condensed glaze or other materials Dawson recommended checking the pivot point fo...

Page 12: ...rcuit breaker or fused disconnect switch after turning off the kiln itself DO NOT FIRE KILN ABOVE 2350 F 1290 C Cone 10 1 Most L L kilns are rated for use to 2350 F 1290 C Cone 10 2 The rating of the kiln is listed on its data nameplate normally affixed to the control panel 3 DO NOT FIRE ANY HIGHER THAN THIS or hold for extended periods of time at those temperatures 4 The elements element holders ...

Page 13: ...se terminal connections get loose heat can be generated because the electrical resistance gets greater and this can cause a fire 6 Check thermocouple connections for corrosion tightness and oxidation as well A bad thermocouple connection can change the accuracy of the temperature reading which could cause an overfiring CHECK TEMPERATURE OF CORD 1 Occasionally check temperatures of the main power c...

Page 14: ...brick that improves firebrick life and reduces dusting OTHER MODIFICATIONS 1 All customer modification is made solely at the risk of the customer 2 Modifications will void the warranty 3 L L takes no responsibility for hazardous conditions created by unauthorized modifications 4 Any authorization for an engineering change must be in writing from the factory DO NOT OVERINSULATE KILN 1 You may add i...

Page 15: ...ause this has both its benefits and detractants we recommend that it only be done based on the kiln user s individual preferences Do not coat the undersides or the sides of the shelves because you do not want the kiln wash to fall off into the kiln 4 Keep a kiln log of firings Tracking the performance of your kiln over time may turn out to be an extremely valuable tool if you ever need to diagnose...

Page 16: ...r fallen off 2 Check terminals for oxidation discoloration If you are near salt air or if you notice corrosion on the stainless exterior of the kiln for whatever reason then do this far more frequently 3 Check power connection terminals in the kiln and control box for tightness Be sure to do this with the power disconnected unplugged for the kiln If these terminal connections get loose heat can be...

Page 17: ...r Glaze 4 9 2 1 TO CHANGE A SIMPLE OPTION 9 2 2 EXAMPLE CHANGE CONE OF BISQUE FIRE 9 2 3 EXAMPLE CHANGE SPEED OF BISQUE FIRE 9 3 CUSTOM Ramps and Holds 5 10 RESETTING FACTORY DEFAULTS 5 11 HOW TO CANCEL A FIRING 5 12 STANDARD SIMPLE PROGRAMS 5 12 1 STANDARD BISQUE PROGRAMS 6 12 1 1 Slow Bisque Default Bisque Program 12 1 2 Medium Speed Bisque 12 1 3 Fast Speed Bisque 12 2 STANDARD GLAZE PROGRAMS 6...

Page 18: ...ace font CUSTOM indicates a Button on the control 2 Typeface font CUS1 indicates what you see in the display 3 Typeface font URL indicates a web link 4 NOTE ABOUT CONES Cones measure heat work rather than just final set point temperature It is like baking a turkey You can bake it slow at a low temperature or bake it fast at a high temperature The One Touch control adjusts the final set point tempe...

Page 19: ...splay CUS1 CUS2 CUS3 CUS4 or while firing when you see the kiln temperature 3 The display will scroll though the name of the program i e CUS4 then the number of segments then all the ramps temperatures and holds in sequence 4 The display changes rapidly so you may have review more than once to see everything 7 1 6 COMPLETE 1 When the program is complete you will see CPLt 2 If the Beep option has b...

Page 20: ... these are right before you fire your program 14 Press ENTER anytime to stop the program 15 When the program is complete you will see CPLt 16 If the Beep option has been turned to On then the control will beep about 15 times If it was set for OFF then there will be no beeping If it was set for FULL then it will beep until a button is pressed See Options later in the manual for how to set this 9 2 ...

Page 21: ... option 6 See SLO alternating with HtUP 7 Press the DOWN button until you see FASt 8 Press ENTER 9 See either IdLE or StOP alternating with a display of the current kiln temperature Note the temperatures ramps and soak times that for the various preset bisque and glaze programs are shown later on These charts are for your reference only when you are using the Simple mode of operation you can not c...

Page 22: ...h calculator Times are calculated assuming a room temperature of 70ºF 12 1 1 Slow Bisque Default Bisque Program 04 Standard Slow Bisque SEGS 6 6 segments Seg 1 10 2 Hrs RA1 25ºF Hr º F1 150ºF HOLD 7 0 Seg 2 3 35 Hrs RA2 100ºF º F2 185ºF HOLD 3 0 Seg 3 4 08 Hrs RA3 200ºF º F3 1000ºF HOLD 00 00 Seg 4 1 00 Hrs RA4 100ºF º F4 1100ºF HOLD 00 00 Seg 5 2 95 Hrs RA5 200ºF º F5 1689ºF HOLD 00 00 Seg 6 2 37...

Page 23: ...er increasing or decreasing in temperature For example a ramp rate of 27 means that the program will move from the temperature at the beginning of the segment to the temperature at the end of the segment at 27 degrees centigrade per hour 4 Hold time is a time that the program holds the temperature reached at the end of the segment It can be set for 00 00 and in fact in most cases is 5 The temperat...

Page 24: ...s 8 Fast rates range from 250 1000 degrees per hour and are used for glazes thin ceramics and small glass projects 9 A rate of 9999 sets the kiln to ramp as fast as possible 10 Also see the various ramps in the standard programs for an idea of what works 13 2 6 ENTER HOLD TEMPERATURE 1 You will see oF1 followed by a value like 0300 2 The oF1 stands for Temperature One 3 For a single segment progra...

Page 25: ...rrent temperature in the kiln 2 The moving set point is where the controller wants the kiln temperature to be 3 The controller will then move the moving set point up at the programmed rate and cycle power to the elements to make the temperature of the kiln follow the moving set point 4 You will hear the relays clicking to regulate the kiln temperature 5 The elements will receive power when the tem...

Page 26: ...anyway you like 15 1 CUSTOM PROGRAM 1 Standard First Firing Program 5 Standard Slow Bisque SEGS 5 5 segments Seg 1 2 15 Hrs RA1 80ºF º F1 250ºF HOLD 00 00 Seg 2 3 75 Hrs RA2 200ºF º F2 1000ºF HOLD 00 00 Seg 3 1 00 Hrs RA3 100 ºF º F3 1100ºF HOLD 00 00 Seg 4 4 58 Hrs RA4 180 ºF º F4 1915ºF HOLD 00 00 Seg 5 3 12 Hrs RA5 80 ºF º F5 2165ºF HOLD 00 00 TOTAL FIRING TIME 15 6 HRS 15 2 CUSTOM PROGRAM 2 Sp...

Page 27: ...t For instance if your kiln if firing cool according to a witness cone placed in the kiln then you can add positive Offset If it is firing hot then you can reduce the offset or put in a negative offset Try doing this in 5 degree increments 17 MESSAGES DISPLAYS CndL Candle Time this is a low temperature firing used to dry moisture from the clay COnE Cone to fire to COOL Cool down rate OFF natural c...

Page 28: ...desired temperature in the kiln The traveling set point will increase or decrease according to the programmed rate Err1 Displayed whenever the kiln temperature is rising during an up ramp slower than 15 F hr 9 C hr If this rate continues for 8 minutes the firing will be stopped Err1 may be an indication that the elements are worn or that a relay has stopped working ErrP Displayed whenever there is...

Page 29: ...AY GREEN BROWN BLACK BLACK GREEN WHITE BLACK GRAY BROWN ORANGE W G L G F14X EJ HARNESS L G F14X CT CONTROL WIRE SECONDARY POWER WIRES L G F14X P2 ELEMENT N G EPTR 00 TERMINAL POWER POWER TERMINAL BLOCK GREEN YELLOW WHITE WHITE BLACK PRIMARY POWER WIRES L G F14X P1 WIRES CONNECTION ELEMENT L G F14X ET CERAMIC TERMINAL BLOCK L J BK23 CE 2 REQ D 8 GA TYPE K THERMOCOUPLE T G E800 00 L G SWCF 00 C NC H...

Page 30: ...lding the bottom box tray to the box sleave 2 Next remove the cardboard inset from the carton and remove the carton sleeve from the skid ASSEMBLING THE STAND The stand consists of four legs the stand base and eight 1 4 20 bolts Using the enclosed stand hardware assemble the kiln stand 1 Assemble the stand legs Make sure all the stand legs are tight Use a nut driver or an adjustable wrench to do th...

Page 31: ...ORTANT If the stand and the bottom are not level your kiln shelves will not be level and loading will be difficult Kiln shelves loaded with ceramic ware are like a house of cards to begin with don t make it any harder Also an uneven floor will quickly become a cracked floor There should be equal support under each leg of the stand so the floor does not rock back and forth Be patient about doing th...

Page 32: ...about 70Kg 150 pounds Be careful not to strain yourself The Fuego weighs less and a strong person can probably lift this by themselves 1 Pick up the kiln using the handles on the bottom section and place it on the bottom slab Adjust it until the bottom section matches the bottom slab Manuvering the kiln using the handles on the bottom section 2 Your kiln is now fully assembled and ready to operate...

Page 33: ...hat hold the control panel to the two kiln rings Unscrewing the mounting screws 5 Lift the Control Panel up slightly so that the screws on its right side can pass through the keyhole slots Lifting up the control panel 6 Swing the Panel out and to the left so that it is still attached to the kiln yet the right side is open Swinging the control panel to the left 7 Unscrew the Thermocouple Wires Unsc...

Page 34: ...uts on the bottom Element Terminal Block so that the element wires that run between the two kiln sections can be removed Set the hardware aside Removing the jumper wires from the bottom section 2 Remove the top kiln section with the lid still attached from the bottom section Temporarily place it in a stable location Removing the top section along with the lid NOTE Usually the top section with the ...

Page 35: ...with the lid still attached on top of the bottom section Adjust it until the top section matches the bottom section Positioning the top section and lid on the bottom section 3 Reattach the element jumper wires to the bottom Element Terminal Block a If it was taken off replace the washer that goes between the second nut and the jumper cords b Next the element jumper wires go on with blue on the top...

Page 36: ...t The control panel rehung on kiln body 5 Reconnect the element connection wires to the Element Power Terminal Reattaching the element connection wires 6 Reconnect the thermocouple wire to the Thermocouple For most Fuegos Be sure to get Black matched to the Plus sign and the Red matched to the Minus sign For UK European Fuegos Be sure to get Green matched to the Plus sign and the White matched to ...

Page 37: ... the mounting screws through the keyhole slots Reattaching the right side of the control panel 8 Ensure that the top of the panel is flush with the top of the firebrick Tighten all of the mounting screws Ensuring that the control panel is flush 9 Reinsert the Hinge Bar through the control panel flanges and the lid mounting bracket Reinserting the hinge bar 10 Reinsert the Cotter Pin into the hinge...

Page 38: ...r Wires L G RL25 12 Power Relay L G TR24 00 Control Transformer L G P301 00 One Touch Board L G SWTG 00 On Off switch L G FSPB 00 Control Fuse Holder S E F14X 00 Control Box L G F14X CT Control Wire Harness Photo of inside a Fuego or Robin control panel L G PB2P EF Power Terminal Block L G F14X P2 Secondary Power Wires T G F14X HT Thermocouple Lead Wire L G SWCF 00 Element Shutoff Switch S E LBPL ...

Page 39: ...th Hold Times 9 Control Settings 9 Thermocouple Drift 9 KILN STALLS 9 KILN FIRES SLOWLY BOTH SERIES 10 Run a Simple Paper Test 10 Bad or Wrong Voltage 10 Element Aging 10 Power Relays 11 Bad Wiring 11 Wiring in the Kiln 11 Element Connections 12 Heat Leakage Vents 12 Adding More Insulation 12 KILN FIRES SLOWLY EASY FIRE 12 Single vs Three Zone Control 12 ShtO SHUT OFF SETTING 13 PId SETTING 13 Cha...

Page 40: ...he tests described in here just require testing for resistance which is done with the kiln unplugged AS LONG AS THE KILN IS UNPLUGGED YOU ARE SAFE You can buy an inexpensive digital multimeters for around 40 50 The meter you buy should be digital simply because the analog type is not very accurate You must be able to see ohm resistance readings to the first decimal place TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE This...

Page 41: ...or maintenance on L L kilns KEYS TO GOOD TROUBLESHOOTING SAFETY FIRST Pay attention to electrical safety Don t get electrocuted and don t guess DEFINE THE VARIABLES Define all variables of the situation and how they could potentially interact with and affect each other in each unique case you come across ELIMINATE VARIABLES ONE AT A TIME Eliminate variables one by one to expose the problem variabl...

Page 42: ...enced person familiar with electricity and its dangers A fused disconnect switch 2 Check circuit breaker or fused disconnect switch to make sure they are turned on Sometimes circuit breakers need to be turned on and off to reset them 3 If you have a fused disconnect check the fuses with your voltmeter for continuity CAUTION This test should only be done by an experienced person familiar with elect...

Page 43: ...ically grounded 3 Look for dirt Some dirt such as carbon compounds are electrically conductive This is generally not the case with ceramic materials but some can be Vacuum out if you see dirt NOTE Usually a short circuit will trip either the circuit breaker for the kiln or the fuses in the fused disconnect switch if you have one You will then not see any display on the DynaTrol Turn your circuit b...

Page 44: ...ance of about 9 or 1 0 If you see an OL in your meter then you have an open circuit somewhere which is probably a bad thermocouple 4 If you have a bad thermocouple replace it with a new one Although you may be able to make it work by twisting the ends of the wire together this could easily fail during an important load and could also be extremely inaccurate ONE TOUCH CONTROL DISPLAY READS FAIL Usu...

Page 45: ...st that by checking to see if you find voltage 12 volts DC between the output contacts AC1 AC2 marked on the control board to ground any green wire CAUTION This test should only be done by an experienced person familiar with electricity and its dangers Bad Power Relays See this video hotkilns com checking relay and hotkilns com change relay 1 You should be able to hear contactors going on and off ...

Page 46: ... turn off when you open the lid Be careful not to put your hand inside the kiln while it is on Dangerous electric shock could result This will tell you if the kiln sections are in the wrong order or if the wires are somehow crossed in the control panel If this is the case the zones will not turn on in the proper 1 2 3 order Loading The Dynamic Zone Control of the EASY FIRE kilns can compensate for...

Page 47: ...ate for underfired work Just test this in small increments Control Settings 1 The ceramic thermocouple protection tubes introduce a known error into the system This is covered in the Operational Instructions but bears repeating here The temperature that is measured by the tip of the thermocouple is approximately 18 Deg F cooler than the actual kiln temperature We have found through extensive testi...

Page 48: ...d to be higher e g 8 instead of 10 wire Element Aging 1 Elements both age and increase in resistance when fired When they increase in resistance the amount of power they develop decreases See the section on CHECKING ELEMENT RESISTANCE at the end of this guide 2 Replacing only one element per section or zone may cause an unbalance in firing In Easy Fire kilns the multi zone control will compensate ...

Page 49: ...ring 1 Have an electrician check your wiring We have seen aluminum wire cause intermittent problems with allowing enough voltage through We do not recommend aluminum wiring although some electricians will swear by it The problem with it is that aluminum oxide which is formed from heat is a resistor while copper oxide is not a resistor With kilns you will often develop some heat in the electrical l...

Page 50: ...s and speeding the firing time You can also put a 2 layer of calcium silicate on top of the stand beneath the bottom of the kiln 2 Also try raising the height of the kiln from the floor or putting a reflective stainless steel or aluminum sheet under the kiln All these things keep the floor from absorbing the radiant energy from the kiln and will improve heat up times as well as bottom of the kiln ...

Page 51: ...percent you can greatly speed up your firings you will have to experiment try the factory setting 65 then try maybe 100 and compare your results Basically the higher the PId setting the faster the firing at the potential price of uneveness 3 As your elements age firing by firing this setting will activate earlier and earlier in the firing because the bottom will be working at 100 earlier and earli...

Page 52: ...ln and shut off those elements This can quickly cause an uneven temperature in the kiln which will usually result in Errd possibly an Err2 in a smaller kiln Err2 is when the entire kiln temperature is more than 50 F over the hold time s temperature for longer than 18 seconds 4 There was a lot of air being exhausted from your kiln when Errd appeared If a vent system pulls too much air from just one...

Page 53: ...erature is more than 50 degrees above the local setpoint temperature during a ramp segment where the temperature is programmed to increase The temperature must stay 50 degrees above this set temperature for 18 seconds before the error is displayed Err8 When using the Easy Fire Mode the temperature is decreasing during the last ramp segment This could indicate that the lid was up or the peepholes o...

Page 54: ...ou restart the kiln after it stops because of Error Codes You can try to restart the kiln after getting an error code Some messages like flashing ErrP and FAIL will not necessarily turn off the kiln Depending on the problem though re starting it may or may not let it finish the firing or even start up again An Errd will usually not re start easily because the temperature top to bottom is drastical...

Page 55: ...te enough The further away the temperature that the kiln is holding at is from the cone that the firing was trying to get to the less accurate an estimated amount of time will be to achieve the amount of heat work necessary If you can wait and re fire from room temperature you should If you depend in any way on your kiln you should keep spare parts around for it You could replace the elements easi...

Page 56: ...res are reversed Make sure they are right all the way through the circuit FAIL See the section in these Troubleshooting Instructions called DISPLAY READS FAIL and tC Can you restart the kiln after it stops because of Error Codes You can try to restart the kiln after getting an error code Some messages like flashing ErrP and FAIL will not necessarily turn off the kiln Depending on the problem thoug...

Page 57: ...iln cools and then re load it and re fire it to the proper cone without losing much time at all Or consider that most glazes have an entire cone s temperature range that they can mature within Weigh your options and decide In general though Error Codes mostly appear after the kiln has been disassembled and set back up improperly has had its power supply altered like moving to a new studio with dif...

Page 58: ...ful to get the Red or Yellow of the thermocouple wires to match the colors painted on the DynaTrol board Picture showing thermocouple wires installed on DynaTrol There is no need to wrap the thermocouple wire around the screw head although it is OK to do so However do make sure the wire is tight and secure UNDER the screw head 7 Double check that the proper color coded wire goes to the proper term...

Page 59: ...e kiln at the fused disconnect switch 2 Open up the control box and hinge down for access as shown on page 2 3 Pull off the wires to the relay s that you are replacing Everything is color coded and marked so you can refer to the wiring diagram when replacing if you forget where the wires go The wire lengths also don t give you much choice and will help keep you from making a mistake 4 Unscrew the ...

Page 60: ...atched to the Plus sign Picture showing end of thermocouple CHECKING ELEMENT OHMS See this video hotkilns com test resistance ez See the instructions in the TROUBLESHOOTING Section of your instruction Manual ELEMENT TROUBLESHOOTING INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS or here hotkilns com element troubleshooting Element Ohm Charts Check your wiring diagram for resistence values for your kiln Note only some p...

Page 61: ...ual ELEMENT TROUBLESHOOTING INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS or here hotkilns com element troubleshooting REPLACING ELEMENT HOLDERS See this video hotkilns com change element holder 1 When ordering a new holder provide model number of kiln and length of the element holder See the Parts List for this information 2 Note that if the holder has melted badly you may need to either replace the brick that holds...

Page 62: ...We provide many firing tip brochures from Orton in the pdf library on our website For a more in depth explanation Orton has a great booklet called Successful Firing Practices They also have a number of other booklets available such as Cones and Firing 20 pages Using Orton Cones Temperature Charts Kiln Safety Booklet Kiln Sitter Maintenance Repair and Porcelain Firing Guide Contact Orton at 614 895...

Page 63: ...actory for inspection and or repair Call the factory for details on your kiln CUSTOMIZED TECHNICAL SUPPORT To get technical support from L L Kilns please send an email to service hotkilns com Include in your email the following important information 1 Your name 2 Your organization name 3 The Serial Number Model Number and Voltage information from your Data Nameplate 4 Your phone number and possibl...

Page 64: ...lns need to be rebuilt occasionally Changing JUST the part that is causing the immediate problem is just asking for more trouble in short order WHERE TO BUY PARTS You can order parts through your local distributor or directly from the factory L L stocks almost all parts we sell including elements We normally ship within one to three days although some parts do take longer Most parts are listed at ...

Page 65: ... Brick Repair Brick Bottoms Brick Tops Brick Powered Bottoms Insulation Gaskets Ceramics Element Holders Ceramics Peephole Plugs Ceramics Posts Shelves Controls Digital Controls Thermocouples Controls Thermocouple Wire Controls Kiln Sitters Controls Manual Switches Controls Wired Panels Elements Elements Terminals Instruction Manuals Kiln Sections Powered Kiln Sections Unpowered Labels Metal Bell ...

Page 66: ...s would cause Also depending on the concentration of the harmful gasses kiln source ventilation such as our Vent Sure may limit the damage to the kiln It is the customer s sole responsibility to ensure that the materials and the processes used are not harmful This is of particular importance for industrial uses where processes may be unusual 3 Over firing damage for any reason and regardless of ca...

Page 67: ...over which L L has no control including but not limited to climactic conditions improper use inadequate maintenance and Purchaser as a condition of purchase or use assumes responsibility for and releases L L from liability arising out of the use of the kilns attributable to such causes 16 L L SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL SECONDARY OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO BOD...

Page 68: ...om time of shipment from factory Price of thermocouples and elements 0 6 Months No Charge 6 12 Months 25 of full list price 12 24 Months 50 of full list price 3 YEAR LIMITED VENT WARRANTY L L VS 1 Vent Sure is warranted to be free of defects in workmanship for a period of 3 years starting from date of original purchase from L L Kiln Mfg Inc or from an authorized L L distributor or dealer A sales r...

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Page 72: ... L L Kiln Mfg 505 Sharptown Road Swedesboro NJ 08085 Phone 856 294 0077 Fax 856 294 0070 Email service hotkilns com Made in USA MODEL NUMBER F1418 240 SERIAL NUMBER ____________________ VOLTAGE 240 PHASE 1 AMPS 16 WATTS 3840 ...

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L&L Kiln Mfg, Inc. Fuego, Instruction Manual

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