Intermittent power failure message on Paragon Caldera?

[ejralph]

My paragon caldera has been a little work horse for several years. This morning it did something odd.

I turned it on as usual, cycled through the program and pressed start. The relay clicked once, then it all shut down and came up with a power failure error.

Tried turning it off and on again, cycled through the program and pressed start. Same thing happened.

I waited a bit, phoned Cherry Heaven and discussed how it could be a burned out element etc, then went back to it. Turned it on - heat getting to the element ok. Thermocouple seems ok, relay clicking away.

Just turned it on and it all seems to be working as normal.

So what could that be? Is the relay on the way out maybe? Or could there be something else I need to check?

Gonna see how it goes today and hope and pray my ceramic glazing doesn't go pete tong because of it  . Mr Man can look it all over tomorrow with his volt meter.

But apart from elements (which is isnt) and relay - is there anything else I am missing that could have caused it to spak out like that twice?

Any ideas on a postcard....

Emma

[Billie]

I've the same kiln, but fortunately it's still doing it's little work horse thing    I've no idea what it could be, but Robin would be the man to run through a checklist with.  Or else you could maybe PM Jim/BlueMoon if there are no other ideas thrown up...

[dinah46]

Never had the error message on my caldera but did have some problems with  it not working when I first got it and it was to do with the connection between the controller and the kiln sticking. Sorry I can't be of more help.

[ejralph]

I did speak to Robin (at least, I assume it was him).

I don't think he really understood the scenario that had occured though - no doubt my fault, I guess I didn't explain it well enough. As he thought it was just because the power had been interupted before completing the last firing cycle.

So I don't think I really got across that actually it wasnt that - it was failing immediately after starting this morning which was why the error then came up.

It seems to be behaving normally now, but I don't really know what the problem could have been. Only that it happened twice, each time I tried to turn it on. Then, when I tried again a few minutes later, everything seemed to be back to normal and behaving as it should.

Time will tell I guess if this firing works out ok.

Made me realise though, I do need to have spare parts on hand just in case.

Thanks for your ideas and thoughts guys, if nothing else makes me feel less alone. Is there anything more terrifying than kilns behaving oddly? Or is it just me that breaks into a cold sweat at that.

Emma

[Lee - Kilncare]

Well Emma, the thing that makes me wonder is that it happened twice, both on power up and both cleared after a few minutes.

Without further investigation, my initial money would be on the controller playing silly buggers.

Ofcourse it could be a connection or the relay etc, but I would have thought they would have been more intermittant and likely to happen at anytime.

Keep an eye on it pal. Make a note of when it happens and see if it only happens when you first start to fire it.

[ejralph]

Thanks Lee

Must admit, I am a bit concerned.

Have ordered up a spare relay, elements and thermocouple anyway since I figured its a good idea to have those on hand. Hope to god it isnt the controller as they are way more expensive. But its a good, practical little kiln so I want to keep it going ideally.

This week has been a disaster for me and my family, I really just don't need anymore stress!

Going to get Mr Man to take the controller apart tomorrow and just eyeball for anything odd and test anything pertinent with his volt meter.

Out of interest, if the controller did die on me, is it possible to fit one of your controllers to that kiln? Or do paragon kilns have to have the sentry controllers? I do like the idea of having a controller not actually on the kiln side getting heated up.

Emma

[sea-thistle]

Why don't you ring Paragon in the USA?, I found them very helpful. They are about 7 hours behind us time wise. If you search on the Internet you can ring the USA for less than a call here! I paid 1p a minute!. In all it cost me 15p to get the info.- Karin

[ejralph]

Good idea Karin - forgot about the cheap internet calls, that is certain a good idea.

Actually I have emailed Arnold at paragon several times and found him really helpful too.

I think I will see how this firing goes, let Mr Man open Toasty up tomorrow and look inside for anything obvious and then take it from there and ask paragon about it.

Keep everything crossed for Toasty everyone, please! I will be heartbroken and just plain broke if he gets sick!

Emma

[Lee - Kilncare]

Funnily enough, I have an SC2 with a poorly Sentry controller.
The cost of a new one is apparently £225,

Both the SC2 here and your Caldera could work with a KCR1. Mr Man would have to swap a couple of wires though.
The Sentry would be a quick, straight swap.

And yes, I prefer electronic controllers to be seperated from the heat of the kiln body too.

[ejralph]

Ah well swapping wires around etc is certainly Mr Man's domain and quite within his capabilities I think - so certainly an option if it all goes pear-shaped!

Thanks for your help Lee, and everyone else.

Emma

[ejralph]

well, I think we got to the problem.

We as in, Mr Man doing the diagnostics, me holding the torch and both of us saving just enough back to bicker throughout. You know, team effort and all that.

Seems there was a loose connection on the mains power lead to the relay, rather as Lee suggested as a possibility. He tightened all up and checked everything out and it seems a happier kiln now.

Still quite a scare and made me realise I have no spares in for it, so glad I ordered up all the bits anyway - the kiln is 6 years old now and still on its original relay (and it gets a lot of use). So I am thinking maybe I might swap in the new relay anyway when it arrives.

Just the thought of being without Toasty made me feel quite queer....

Emma

[♥♥Tan♥♥]

They do become little members of the family don't they