The cone bent too far: Use a
negative Cone Offset for a cooler
firing, such as -10 (°F).
Note:
Do not be overly con-
cerned with achieving an ex-
act 6 o’clock bend. The differ-
ence between a 3 o’clock and a 6 o’clock bend is
only a few degrees of temperature.
When Cone Temperature
Is Off More Than 20°F/11°C
The maximum amount that Cone Offset can change the
temperature is 20°F/11°C. When the temperature is off
more than that amount, correct with Thermocouple Offset.
COOL / Slow Cooling for Glazes
Add Slow Cooling to Cone-Fire Programming
Slowing down the cooling rate in Cone-Fire mode can
totally change the appearance of many glazes. Copper red
glaze, for instance, is enhanced by cooling slowly at around
1750°F / 954°C.
For the full benefit of slow cooling, you can bring the
temperature back up several times as the glaze cools using
Ramp-Hold mode.
You can also slow the cooling in Cone-Fire mode by
turning on the Slow Cooling feature. It will appear as the
[COOL]
prompt during Cone-Fire programming.
1
From
[IDLE]
, press
OPTIONS
until
[COOL]
ap-
pears.
2
Press
ENTER
. Using the
1
key, select
[YES]
or
[NO]]
. Then press
ENTER
.
[COOL]
will appear.
3
To return to
[IDLE]
, press
STOP
.
FAN / Kiln Vent Control
Control the Optional AOP Receptacle in Cone-Fire
The AOP (auxiliary output) is a special-order kiln switch
box receptacle. The Sentry controls the power to the AOP
receptacle. The AOP is usually used to power a kiln vent. In
the Fan option, select when an AOP-powered kiln vent will
turn on during Cone-Fire.
Before the Fan option will appear on the Options list, (1)
you must enter a Cone-Fire program in active memory and
(2) you must select
[VFAN]
in the AOP1 or AOP2 option.
(See next page for instructions on selecting
[VFAN]
.)
1
From
[IDLE]
, press
OPTIONS
repeatedly until
[FAN]
appears.
2
Press
ENTER
. Use the
1
and
2
keys to select one of
these settings:
I
[ON]
The vent is on during Pre-Heat, the cone firing,
and Slow Cooling. It turns off at 212°F/100°C.
I
[OPT]
The vent is on during Pre-Heat and the cone fir-
ing. Then it shuts off. (It is off during Slow Cooling.)
I
[OFF]
The vent is off all the time.
3
After selecting one of the three settings, press
ENTER
. Press
STOP
to return to
[IDLE]
.
General Options
General options are available on all Sentry controllers.
DIAG / Amperage Test
Check Your Kiln’s Amperage
If you are wondering why your kiln is taking so long to
reach temperature, you can check the amperage that the
kiln is pulling. The DIAG option turns the kiln on for 10
seconds.
Compare the amperage reading with the amps listed on
the kiln’s electrical data plate. (For most models, the data
plate, or label, is on the side of the kiln’s switch box.)
Note:
Low voltage can cause a low amperage read-
ing. Before deciding that the elements are worn
out, also check the voltage.
Note:
To use the Diagnostics option, your kiln
must be equipped with an amperage sensor.
Check the Amperage During IDLE or While Firing
During the amperage test, the three display dots on the
right side of the display window will light up. When the test
is finished, the dots will turn off and the reading will appear.
1
From
[IDLE]
, press
OPTIONS
until
[DIAG]
ap-
pears.
2
Press
ENTER
.
[AMPS]
will appear, alternating
with the amperage that the kiln is pulling.
If your kiln has more than one relay, the display will show
the amperage for the elements connected to each relay,
with these codes:
[AMP1] [AMP2] [AMP3]
.
TC / Choose Thermocouple Type
Select Type-K, -N, -S or -R Thermocouple
The Sentry can use Type-K, -N, -S or -R thermocouples.
If you specialize in firings above 2200°F / 1204°C, you might
consider obtaining the Type-S or -R. Type-K is best suited
for temperatures below 2200°F / 1204°C.
The controller cannot detect the type of thermocouple
installed in your kiln. So if you change the thermocouple to
a different type, be sure to select the new thermocouple
type in the TC option.
Note:
Ask your kiln supplier if you are not sure
about the type of thermocouple in your kiln.
CAUTION:
Be careful about changing the ther-
mocouple type! If you select Type-S or -R, but your
kiln is wired with a Type-K, your kiln will underfire.
If you select Type-K and your kiln is wired with a
Type-S or -R, your kiln will OVERFIRE. After us-
ing the Reset (RST) option (page 26), use the TC
option to select the correct thermocouple. Reset-
Keep the kiln lid or door closed when the kiln is not in use.
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