ETH / Electronics Too Hot
I
The circuit board temperature is above 176°F / 80°C.
To lower board temperature, use a fan to blow air across
the kiln switch box into the louvers. (But do not blow air
into the kiln’s peepholes.) If you have more than one kiln in
the room, place them farther apart. Never allow the firing
room temperature to exceed 110°F / 43°C. (Measure room
temperature 3 feet away from the kiln.)
FAIL / Thermocouple Failure
The controller is no longer receiving voltage from the
thermocouple. Causes:
I
Defective thermocouple
I
Disconnected thermocouple lead wires
I
Defective circuit board
FE 1 / Failed to Read/Write To Memory
1
Press any key to clear the
[FE 1]
message.
2
Turn off the power to the controller for 10 seconds.
Then restart.
If the
[FE 1]
error persists, return the controller to the
factory for evaluation.
FE 4 / Unstable Analog-to-Digital
Conversion; Errors Detecting
Thermocouple Signal
The Sentry controller checks the temperature every sec-
ond. If the temperature changes by more than 80°F / 26°C
during a 10-second period,
[FE 4]
will appear in the display.
Reasons:
I
A failed component on the circuit board
I
You have checked the thermocouple with a propane
torch or match, raising the temperature very fast.
1
Press any key to clear the
[FE 4]
message.
2
Turn off the power to the controller for 10 seconds.
Then restart.
If the
[FE 4]
error persists, return the controller to the
factory for evaluation.
FTL / Firing Too Long
I
The temperature change is less than 27°F / 15°C per
hour and the firing time is two hours longer than the cur-
rent segment was programmed to fire. This message can
appear during heating-up segments.
I
[FTL]
has been disabled for cooling segments.
I
A FULL rate doesn’t shut off the
[FTL]
code.
Check for worn or burned out elements, defective relays,
low voltage and defective thermocouple. Reprogram a
slower rate in heating-up and cooling-down segments.
Note:
To avoid
[FTL]
messages, fire the kiln at a
slower rate.
Pointer:
During a Ramp-Hold firing, Present Sta-
tus shows the actual firing rate of the current seg-
ment instead of the rate you programmed. If you
think your kiln is heating or cooling too slowly,
compare the rate shown in Present Status with the
rate you programmed for that segment. This is an-
other reason you should always keep a written re-
cord of your firing programs.
HTDE / High Temperature Deviation
[HTDE]
appears along with a continuous beeping alarm.
Causes:
I
During a heating-up ramp or a hold, the temperature is
100°F / 56°C above the programmed temperature.
I
During a cooling-down segment, the temperature is
100°F / 56°C above the segment’s starting temperature.
I
A fast rate caused the controller to overshoot the target
temperature.
I
A relay is stuck in the closed position, sending power to
the elements.
See “Power Failures,” next page.
Note:
You can disable the HTdE alarm for a seg-
ment by programming a FULL rate (9999°). HTdE
will continue to operate during the hold and in all
other segments that have slower rates.
LAG / Thermocouple Lag
The heating rate is slower than 9°F / 5°C per hour and the
kiln temperature is more than 100°F / 56°C away from the
programmed temperature. The LAG error is inactive
above 500°F/260°C.
Causes:
I
On kilns that use a portable controller, the thermocou-
ple fell out of the firing chamber.
I
A bare spot on the thermocouple lead wires has touched
a grounded object inside the kiln switch box causing the
thermocouple to short out.
Note:
Check for worn or burned out elements, de-
fective relays, low voltage and defective
thermocouple.
LID / Safety Switch
Reasons
[LID]
appears in the display:
I
The kiln is equipped with a safety switch, which turns off
power to the elements when the lid or door is open.
[LID]
appears while the lid is open during firing.
I
The safety lid switch is out of adjustment and has shut
off the elements even though the lid is closed.
I
On the back of the Sentry circuit board, at the top right
side, is a small two-pin terminal. If the connector plug on
that terminal is missing,
[LID]
will appear in the display
during firing. The elements will not turn on. (If the
two-pin connector plug is missing, you can buy another
from a computer supply store. See photo, next page.)
28
Cone-Fire / Ramp-Hold
Do not leave your kiln unattended during operation.
