MacDonald Steel Limited
BREWERY SYSTEMS DIVISION
26
REV 00
TROUBLESHOOTING - Messages
The following is a list of the messages that may appear on the main screen indicating a fault or
failure to complete a fill cycle.
Head Bridged
A bridge occurs when liquid or foam is between the fill tube and vent tube in the filling head while
the head is in the up position. The PLC is unable to detect a level when this occurs as it relies on
the gap between these two tubes to determine when the bottle is filled to the proper level. When
a bridge is sensed while the head is up, the Co2 valve is opened to try and blow the bridge clear.
If the bridge is cleared that head will then lower and the fill cycle continues. The maximum time
the Co2 valve tries to clear the bridge is determined by the setting of the "
Purge Time
" as set on
the "
EZ Setup Menu
" screen. If bridging occurs and will not clear automatically, use the "
Purge
"
button on the main screen to try and clear the bridge. Be sure to purge all fill heads after any
rinsing or washing cycle. Sometimes drying the head with a hair dryer or heat gun will help. Be
careful not to get the head too hot. If the bridge cannot be cleared, turn off the "
Auto Level
" on
the "
EZ Setup Menu
" screen and use the "
Stop
" button for that particular head to stop the beer
valve at the proper level. The fill head may have to be replaced, contact MacDonald Steel.
Failed Co2 set point
Co2 counter pressures the bottle to reach the set point on the pressure switch. The set point
value is displayed on the bottom of the pressure screen when the Co2 valve is opened. This
message appears if the set point is not reached within this time(max time as set in "
Purge Time"
).
Possible causes are Co2 regulator set too low, broken or missing bottle, defective Co2 valve,
poor seal at fill head, leaks in fill lines or defective pressure transducer. Check the gauges and
the supply to the machine.
Failed Vacuum Set point
Vacuum is drawn immediately after the Co2 purge and has to reach the set point as entered in
the pressure switch setup. This message appears if the set point is not reached within this time
(max time as set in "
Purge Time"
), Possible causes are main air regulator set too low, broken or
missing bottle, defective vacuum valve or vacuum venturi, poor seal at fill head, leaks in fill lines
or defective pressure transducer. Check the gauges and the supply to the machine.
Pressure Loss in Bottle
This message appears if the pressure in the bottle drops to the "
Head Lift
" setting as per the
Pressure Switch set up before a proper level has been reached. The head raises and bottle
shuttles forward without crowning. Possible causes are the flow control valve is set too high and
the supply of product to the machine cannot be maintained, leaks in the fill lines insufficient size
of product line to the machine or loss of pressure in the supply line. Try reducing the flow control
valve by turning clockwise, increase the size of the product line to the machine and check the
pressure in the tank.
Head Shorted Before Fill
If this message appears the fill head was bridged just before the beer valve opened but after the
purge and counter pressure cycles. Try purging the head with Co2.
Door Prox Fault
The proximity switch on the door cylinder is not being detected. If the heads do not lower the
switch must be checked and adjusted or replaced. If the machine cycles then the timing of the
shuttles or door is too slow and the flow control on the cylinders must be adjusted.
