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

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  #1  
Old 2012-08-19, 6:59pm
jconsidine11 jconsidine11 is offline
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Location: Western NY
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Default digital controller.... dead?

My old arrow springs kiln controller has bit the dust...
at least I think it has
the error2 light will not go off on the controller box.
all the reading I have done on it says to get it back to the manufacturer to be serviced or replaced. the maker of the controller has been impossible to find. Canadian instrumentation..they may not exist anymore..........
I have had this kiln since 1996. I really like it a lot.

I am trying to use an analog kiln (jen-ken) that a friend of mine gave me.
I can't get that thing to hold a temperature and it takes forever to heat up.
Help! please, on my 2 part question.
Joan
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  #2  
Old 2012-08-19, 7:30pm
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Toni Lutman Toni Lutman is offline
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Call Arrow Springs and talk to Craig. He'll likely know if it can be repaired or not.
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  #3  
Old 2012-08-19, 8:45pm
jconsidine11 jconsidine11 is offline
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Thanks Toni,
I just dropped an email to arrow springs.
Joan
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  #4  
Old 2012-08-19, 10:27pm
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Melinda Melinda is offline
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have you tried unplugging it for several minutes and then plugging back in?
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  #5  
Old 2012-08-20, 4:06am
jconsidine11 jconsidine11 is offline
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I tried unplugging and plugging back in for a few days before I finally gave up.

Joan
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  #6  
Old 2012-08-23, 7:15pm
jlust jlust is offline
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Arrow Springs used Canadian Instrumentation circuit boards in the ASC/3 model controller which is now obsolete since 2008 because Canadian Instrumentation is no longer in business. The faceplate is grey and has 6 buttons. A lot of people like the controller but it can be temperamental and sensitive to Electrostatic Discharge (ESD). If you have an error2 then I recommend trying an error 2 reset. Error2 can be caused by many things. The most common reason for error 2 is memory corruption from ESD. It can also be caused by a failing relay in the controller, bad element, ICS switch is not set to HIGH, or failing ICS switch. Full instructions are detailed in the owner's manual which can still be downloaded from the kiln section on the Arrow Springs website. I will summarize the instructions here for OEM settings on a Fahrenheit controller. After the error is cleared then you can explore what caused the error.

Steps for Error2 reset for ASC/3 controller:
1. Press and hold 'Select' while switching the controller toggle switch to ON.
2. Release the 'Select' button.
3. The 1st and 4th orange LED lights will blink slowly.
4. Use the arrow button to change the number to 11.
5. Press 'Enter'.
6. Press 'Select'.
7. The 2nd and 4th orange LED lights will blink slowly.
8. Use the arrow button to change the number to 257.
9. Press 'Enter'.
10. Press 'Seg/Ps' twice.
11. The temperature display should be in Celsius.
12. Press and hold 'Enter' for 4 seconds.
13. The 1st orange LED will blink fast.
14. Use the arrow button to change the number to 61.
15. Press 'Enter'.
16. Press 'Select'.
17. The 2nd orange LED will blink fast.
18. Use the arrow button to change the number to 181.
19. Press 'Enter'.
20. Press 'Select'.
21. The 3rd orange LED will blink fast.
22. Use the arrow button to change the number to 51.
23. Press 'Enter'.
24. Press 'Seg/Ps' twice.
25. Switch the toggle switch to OFF.
26. Wait a couple seconds then switch the toggle switch to ON.
27. After the controller reads a Celsius temperature then switch the toggle switch to OFF.
28. Press and hold 'Select' while switching the controller toggle switch to ON.
29. Release the 'Select' button.
30. The 1st and 4th orange LED lights will blink slowly.
31. Use the arrow button to change the number to 10.
32. Press 'Enter'.
33. Press 'Select'.
34. The 2nd and 4th orange LED lights will blink slowly.
35. Use the arrow button to change the number to 256.
36. Press 'Enter'.
37. Press 'Seg/Ps' twice.
38. Press and hold 'Enter' for 4 seconds.
39. The 1st orange LED will blink fast.
40. Use the arrow button to change the number to 60.
41. Press 'Enter'.
42. Press 'Select'.
43. The 2nd orange LED will blink fast.
44. Use the arrow button to change the number to 180.
45. Press 'Enter'.
46. Press 'Select'.
47. The 3rd orange LED will blink fast.
48. Use the arrow button to change the number to 50.
49. Press 'Enter'.
50. Press 'Seg/Ps' twice.
51. Switch the toggle switch to OFF.
52. Wait a couple seconds then switch the toggle switch to ON.
53. The controller should now read a Fahrenheit temperature.
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  #7  
Old 2012-08-23, 7:17pm
jlust jlust is offline
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Next we need to check for anomalies in the programs. An anomaly will show up as mumbo jumbo when we expect a number or text. This indicates the memory was corrupt. We will review program 1 together. If you find an anomaly or an error in the program then use the arrow buttons to change it to what it should be then press enter save it to memory.

Steps to review program #1:
1. Press 'Seg/Ps'. The display should read 'S-0'.
2. Press 'Select'. The orange LED should be lit next to 'Event'. The display should read 'END'.
3. Press 'Enter'.
4. Press 'Select' three times.
5. Press and hold 'Select'. The display should read 'S-1'. Release the 'Select' button.
6. The orange LED should be lit next to 'Event'. The display should read 'Cont'.
7. Press 'Enter'.
8. Press 'Select'.
9. The orange LED should be lit next to 'Ramp'. The display should read 'Full'.
10. Press 'Enter'.
11. Press 'Select'.
12. The orange LED should be lit next to 'Soak'. The display should read '1200'. (12 hours)
13. Press 'Enter'.
14. Press 'Select'.
15. The orange LED should be lit next to 'Temp'. The display should read '960'.
16. Press 'Enter'.
17. Press and hold 'Select'. The display should read 'S-2'. Release the 'Select' button.
18. The orange LED should be lit next to 'Event'. The display should read 'Cont'.
19. Press 'Enter'.
20. Press 'Select'.
21. The orange LED should be lit next to 'Ramp'. The display should read 'Full'.
22. Press 'Enter'.
23. Press 'Select'.
24. The orange LED should be lit next to 'Soak'. The display should read '30'. (30 minutes)
25. Press 'Enter'.
26. Press 'Select'.
27. The orange LED should be lit next to 'Temp'. The display should read '960'.
28. Press 'Enter'.
29. Press and hold 'Select'. The display should read 'S-3'. Release the 'Select' button.
30. The orange LED should be lit next to 'Event'. The display should read 'Conr'.
31. Press 'Enter'.
32. Press 'Select'.
33. The orange LED should be lit next to 'Ramp'. The display should read '600'.
34. Press 'Enter'.
35. Press 'Select'.
36. The orange LED should be lit next to 'Soak'. The display should read '0'.
37. Press 'Enter'.
38. Press 'Select'.
39. The orange LED should be lit next to 'Temp'. The display should read '400'.
40. Press 'Enter'.
41. Press and hold 'Select'. The display should read 'S-4'. Release the 'Select' button.
42. The orange LED should be lit next to 'Event'. The display should read 'END'.
43. Press 'Seg/Ps' twice to exit programming. If you use any other programs then you should review them for anomalies as well.

Program 1 looks like this:
S-1: Event=Cont, Ramp=Full, Soak=1200, Temp=960
S-2: Event=Cont, Ramp=Full, Soak=30, Temp=960
S-3: Event=Conr, Ramp=600, Soak=0, Temp=400
S-4: Event=End

In laymen terms: the kiln will ramp up at full speed and hold 960 degrees for 12 hours. 12 hours is a random amount of time that will be longer than you will work while on a torch. When you are done working at the torch and have put the last item into the kiln then you will manually advance the controller to segment 2 (S-2). To advance the controller you will press 'Seg/Ps' then 'Arrow up' to S-2 then 'Enter' then 'Seg/Ps'. Now at S-2, the kiln will continue to soak at 960 degrees for 30 minutes to anneal the last item put into the kiln. Then it will automatically advance to S-3 and will ramp down at 600 degrees per hour until the kiln reaches 400 degree then shut off.
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  #8  
Old 2012-08-23, 7:17pm
jlust jlust is offline
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If you did not find any anomalies while checking the programs then error2 could still have been caused by ESD and the problem was fixed when we did the error2 reset. Check the Infinite Control Switch (ICS) on the kiln is set to 'HIGH' (not all models have an ICS) and the thermocouple is inserted into the kiln so it is reading the temperature inside the chamber. I recommend test firing the kiln on program 1 to see if you get any errors again. While the red LED heat light is bright on the controller faceplate, the kiln should be getting power. When the heat light is off the kiln should not be getting power. If power leaves the controller when the relay should be switched off then the relay is stuck on and needs to be replaced. Sometimes the relay make a chattering noise which also indicates the relay needs to be replaced. The relay is a mechanical part that can fail over time. The contacts open and close to regulate the temperature of the kiln. Over time the plating on the contacts become pitted and corroded and impede the flow of electricity and sometimes the contacts can weld themselves together causing temperature spikes. The relay should be replaced as preventative maintenance where the total use is equal to about 4 or 5 days of use per week for 3 years.

You can replace the relay yourself if you feel handy or send it back to Arrow Springs. After the controller is unplugged, it involves removing the 4 screws in the front and the 4 screw in back (8 screws total). Remove the back cover. The relay may be different but typically a black potter&brumsfield relay is used. This relay can be ordered from Arrow Springs to insure the correct part is used. Make yourself a wiring diagram so you know what wires go to which post on the new relay. Use needle nose pliers to pull the spade connectors off the old relay and push them onto the new relay. Pull the wire to make sure it does not pull off the post. If the connection is loose then disconnect the wire and use needle nose pliers to lightly squeeze the spade connector so it grips the post better.
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  #9  
Old 2012-08-23, 9:38pm
jconsidine11 jconsidine11 is offline
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Thank you!
What a wealth of info!
Will try this first thing tomorrow.
Joan
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  #10  
Old 2012-08-24, 5:34am
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hngntuf hngntuf is offline
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I don't have a dog in this race, but gotta say . . . nice, helpful, concise, generous post jlust.

Stephen
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