Frit-Happens !

I'm hoping someone can please help me.  My Studio 2 kiln keeps under-firing and locks out with a "PLOG 17" error which I can't figure out!  I've run it on a 2 minute element test and all 6 elements seem to be working (all paper was scorched) which indicates to me that the relays and elements are fine.  That said...I'm happy to be corrected ;-)

I really don't know what the "PLOG 17" error means and have had no response so far to the email that I have sent to Paragon :-(

Can anyone help with this please?  We use the kiln in a commercial capacity so unless I can get it sorted I may have a major problem.

Any help/advice really would be appreciated.

You can google the error

try
http://www.paragonweb.com/files/manuals/ACF13.pdf

Thanks.

I've checked out all the manuals and nothing actually tells me exactly what the error is.  All other information regarding PLOG errors (unless it's one of those listed) is very vague.

Thank you for taking the time to respond though.  I appreciate any and all help at the present time :-)

Have you tried calling Rob at Silver Clay (http://silverclay.co.uk/)? He is the UK importer for Paragon so should be able to help.

Sarah
xxx

I haven't Sarah....sounds like it might be worth a go though.

Thanks

x

You could also try emailing Arnold at Paragon, he is really helpful.

Emma

Emma,

I've emailed Paragon twice now regarding the problem and still haven't had any response. Does Arnold have a different email address from the one supplied on the Paragon website or do I need to call the States?

Thanks for your help.

Have PM'ed you the two email addies I have for Arnold

Emma

Thanks Emma,

I'll give those a go.

No response from Paragon and nothing from Arnold either ... :-((

Think I may have to just start replacing everything...relays....elements..TC...then processor I suppose..!

Bummer

Try asking on the US beadmaking forums maybe?

Possibly someone there will have some ideas or have experienced the same error code before?

Good luck

Emma

I've found this

PLOG 0017     a/d Communication error

it's on page 25 of
http://www.shimpoceramics.com/pdf/ortonautofire.pdf

Hope this helps.

Nina

Thanks Nina,

It's for a Sentry 2 controller though so I'm not sure that it helps me.  To be honest...even if it was for the Sentry controller....I'm still no clearer on how to resolve the issue....?

Thanks for looking though, I really appreciate it.  I have very little time to get this sorted now so if you (or anyone else for that matter) have any other ideas then I'd be more than happy to hear them ;-)

Thanks again.

Hi PPC,

did you try calling Rob? If not, try him. He's leaving for the day at 11am tomorrow, so call early.

If it is a Sentry 2 controller, here is what Paragon says about is:

http://www.paragonweb.com/files/manuals/ACF13.pdf (http://www.paragonweb.com/files/manuals/ACF13.pdf) see page 23.

Petra
www.silverclay.co.uk

Forgot to say, Arnold doesn't work on Fridays (most people are off at Paragon on Fridays) so he might only just have seen your email today. Just so you don't think they have ignored you.

:)

Thanks Petra.

Hopefully I might still hear from Arnold then.  Haven't called Rob back but may have to try that again.

I have the Paragon manual and have checked it online but there is no real information to help me identify the PLOG 17 error :-(

Thanks for your response I really appreciate it.

Quote from: PPC on August 03, 2009, 11:44:28 PM
Thanks Nina,

It's for a Sentry 2 controller though so I'm not sure that it helps me.  To be honest...even if it was for the Sentry controller....I'm still no clearer on how to resolve the issue....?

Thanks for looking though, I really appreciate it.  I have very little time to get this sorted now so if you (or anyone else for that matter) have any other ideas then I'd be more than happy to hear them ;-)

Thanks again.

I think that Sentry Xpress processor controllers are made by Orton,  (mine has The Sentry Xpress 2.0 micro processor is manufactured by the
Orton Ceramic Foundation and displays the CE mark. on the front of it)   if you go to http://www.ortonceramic.com/resources/  there are email addresses for help. Might be worth dropping them an email if nothing else turns up.

When I had trouble with my error message, I spoke with Rob, and he advised me that the controller couldn't understand what I wanted it to do. I was sure I hadn't changed anything, but he told me to start again and and re input my program.
I did this and everything has been fine since.

it's worth a try.

Thanks for that.

Kind of makes sense in that it has worked when I've reset it but only seems to work once.....before again showing the PLOG error.  Didn't realise that Orton makes the controller..?  I'll check out their website and see if they can help...thanks.

It's looking more and more like it may be a processor/controller problem though.  Wish someone could tell me it was something simple like the relay ;-))

Thanks for the continuing help everyone and more ideas always welcome :-)

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for your continuing support with this.  This is my current situation, I have still not heard anything from Arnold, I have again emailed Paragon and 'flagged' for attention this time.  I've also sent two 'flagged' emails to Orton (custormer services and unknown technician) in the hope that they may be able to help....thanks for highlighting them as the controller manufacturer by the way ;-)

If I don't hear back from anyone then I think I'll have to change some relays and hope that makes a difference...not very optimistic though.  If that doesn't work then I think I'm going to have to change the controller...??

Any other ideas/feedback always gratefully received.

Thanks again.

How frustrating for you!

If you want some advice before you change anything, it is still worth getting in touch with Robin. He can get in touch with John (the president of Paragon) who will definitely get back to you. Not sure why Arnold (or anyone?) hasn't responded, that is unusual.

Rob can get any replacement "things" you might need, if you don't want to import them yourself. He is out until Saturday, but if you email him he'll get in touch as soon as he is back from his camping trip!

P

Thanks P,

A very helpful man from Orton got straight back to me which was far better than Paragon!  Hopefully getting somewhere now....going to replace all 3 relays and if that doesn't work then I may have to consider a new controller board!! 

Paragon also got back to me today and indicated that they thought it was the controller.  I'm hoping the man at Orton is on the right track ;-)

I'll keep everyone informed how it goes....I may be pulling my hair out and looking for some more help in a week or so! ;-)

Thanks again.

Hope that you get it sorted, and it's always useful to post here as you never know if anyone else has the same issues later on!

So glad you are making some headway with your problem now, hope it is sorted out soon.

I have to agree with P about Arnold - he is usually so prompt with replies, very unusual. I have had times where I have had a query with a firing schedule and had several emails back before the kiln has even finished firing!

Lets hope the Orton people can help.

Emma

Hi Everyone,

I followed the Orton advise and replaced all 3 relays in the kiln.....it was a bit of a pain actually as the kiln is located in an area which made accessibility an issue!  Managed to do it though but I did snap a wire which I had to reconnect once the relays were fitted!

Anyway....my wife has just phoned me to tell me that the firing has completed with no issues so I'm hoping that it's all sorted.  Still holding my breath a little as it has fired okay before as a 'one off' situation before the PLOG error resurfaced.  Fingers crossed though the relays were the issue and I've seen the end of this one.

Thanks for again for all the help everyone....at least I still have some hair left ;-))

Ah good. Well, fingers crossed you fixed it then. Intermittent problems are the suckiest kind.

Emma

Second consecutive firing went okay....I'm feeling confident now ;-)