tcr error message...Help Please

Mandy · January 16, 2012, 10:23:22 AM

My kiln has come up with this message for the last two day when I am ramping it up to 500 ( first program)...I have turned it off and tried again and all is well.. Why is this happening, the only thing I can think of is that its very cold and damp when I start...Help Please...Is the kiln faulty?

Lee - Kilncare · January 16, 2012, 10:31:47 AM

What kiln is it Mandy

Mandy · January 16, 2012, 10:33:07 AM

It a paragon sc2 with bead door, first two times i used it no problem then the last two times.. Error flashed up and stopped ramping.. Thanks lee

Lee - Kilncare · January 16, 2012, 10:42:56 AM

Hi Mandy, you say the error is TRC, are you sure it isn't TCR???

If it is then the controller believes the thermocouple is wired the wrong way around.
This would tell the controller that the kiln was getting colder when in fact the kiln was getting hotter.
This error however cannot suddenly appear. It is either wired right or wrong and if it was wrong it would never have worked in the first place.

So, either the kiln is that cold that the controller thinks it must be reading downbank....which would be a new one to me, or, the controller is playing silly buggers. Unlikely this is a hardware issue such as the thermocouple.

Damp is never good for kilns, the cold shouldn't be too much of a problem unless what I wrote above is happening.

Dry it, warm it and try it. If it is still happening you need to go back to your supplier.

Mandy · January 16, 2012, 12:27:56 PM

Thanks for you advice lee you are a star

.... Put the kiln on again and all well.. It was minus 3 when I put it on so I think it was just really cold...Obviously the kiln is playing silly buggers but I will keep an eye on it....

Lee - Kilncare · January 16, 2012, 12:58:10 PM

Must be that the controller doesn't like being below zero maybe. Not heard of that one before but hey ho....all's well that ends well.

Hobby Ceramicraft · January 17, 2012, 06:06:15 PM

As Lee suggests, the damp may be the cause. Possibly condensation shorting across the metal ends of the thermocouple as they go into the board.

Matt

Mandy · January 18, 2012, 08:00:15 AM

Just a little update, Paragon are trying to sort it out but being different time lines it looks like its going to be a long process...Ive done as they suggested of firing it up to higher temperatures with no problems.. Basically the kiln works fine unless it fires from a temperature that is minus,Then it switches itself off and reads error tcr. I wouldnt say my barn is damp, not that I would know... Hopefully It get sorted soon as Its making me a little sad...

Trudi · January 18, 2012, 08:02:40 AM

Did you not buy it from somewhere in the UK Mandy - just wondering why you're having to go via the US.

What I'd be tempted to do is when it's really cold is wrap it up in a blanket (Obviously not if it's just been used and still warm).

Mandy · January 18, 2012, 08:23:31 AM

I think that ill try that next, Its a better Idea than carrying it in every night..Lol. I brought it from warmglass in the newyear.. They have passed me to paragon but said that to come back to them if it is not resolved.( Hello Trudi x)

Hamilton Taylor · January 18, 2012, 08:39:05 AM

I have an oldish sc2, and have also had this error when the ambient is very low. Solution - fire a fan heater into the kiln for a few minutes, then start program. Result - everything fine. It's only happened a couple of times, as I don't function well in the cold, and my kiln rarely gets that low!
Other solutions are available.

Sean

Warm Glass UK · January 18, 2012, 09:14:14 AM

Hi

I'm guessing from your post about half an hour ago that Laura, one of the Technicians at Paragon hasn't called you yet - please let Veronica know if she hasn't during the course of today. Veronica will also call you today to check on progress...

Thanks

Lee - Kilncare · January 18, 2012, 09:23:38 AM

Gah Sean, you stole my thunder lol.
Just a quick note on pre-warming the kiln. Just warm it enough to pass zero, if it gets too warm, when the kiln starts it will actually not increase as the controller wants and that may xause another fault condition lol.
They must be made in a warm part of America

LampyLou · January 18, 2012, 09:33:55 AM

I just wanted to say that my SC2 has been doing exactly the same the last couple days and I'm obviously a bad parent cos I just restarted it and didn't report it. It does only seem to happen when it's below zero, I remember it happened last year too. Mine gets into plus numbers before it stops. So I know that it will be OK on the next start.

Julia x

Trudi · January 18, 2012, 10:32:51 AM

I think they're made in Texas

But to be fair, I've had mine nearly 5 years and I've not had that problem even in the old very draughty shed.