Error Messages; Pf Or Errp During Firing; Fail; Err 0 - Paragon DTC 1000 series Troubleshooting Manual

Error Messages

PF or ErrP during firing.

Have you had a power failure?
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 PF or ErrP due to power failure.
alternates with the temperature display during firing: this means the power went off for a moment dur-
PF
ing firing. Then firing resumed. To go back to a normal temperature display, press
Steady
ErrP
 PF or ErrP, no power failure.
Low voltage can also cause the kiln to shut off and display either
you did not have a power failure, check the wall receptacle, while the kiln fires, for low voltage. (See "Receptacle
Under Load Test," page 6.) Sometimes there is just enough voltage to program the board. But when the relays turn
on, the voltage from the transformer drops below the minimum operating level, and the display goes blank.
A corroded kiln cord plug or wall receptacle can cause a
prongs on the plug with fine emery paper or a pencil eraser until the prongs are bright. If the plug or wall receptacle
is blackened, replace. A loose wall receptacle screw or loose circuit breaker screw can also cause a power failure dis-
play.
Check transformer if the wall receptacle voltage is okay. See "Controller Power Input Test," page 4.
Does your kiln have a door or lid switch?
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If appears when you open or close the lid, replace the lid/door switch.
ErrP

FAIL

Are thermocouple wires connected to the board correctly?
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UNPLUG kiln. Remove the 4 screws holding the controller board faceplate to the switch box. Lift faceplate out of
box. Look at the back of the board. You should see a yellow wire and a red wire connected to thermocouple screw
connections on the back of the board. (See diagrams, page 1.) If one of these wires is disconnected or loose, recon-
nect or tighten. (Grasp connector block to prevent block from twisting.) The controller should work now.
 Test the controller with a paperclip.
If the wires were attached securely to their connectors, perform this test:
Disconnect
Power before
removing
controller.
3 Place the faceplate back into the switchbox with a couple of screws.
4 Plug in the kiln/connect the power. If the board reads room temperature, replace the
thermocouple. If it reads
If you still get a
temperature display. The problem may be due to electrical noise. See "The display
shows erratic temperature readings," page 11.
Multiple Zone kilns
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will alternate with the thermocoule that failed.
FaIL
the DTC 1000 board;

Err 0

Reset the controller.
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Electrical spikes or noise can cause the processor to jump a step or malfunction. When
kiln or furnace for 10 seconds. This will reset the system. The display should go back to
, no temperature display: the firing has been interrupted by a longer power failure.
Controller Paperclip Test
1 Remove thermocouple wires from their screw connections.
2 Cut a paperclip in half. Insert a U-shaped paperclip piece, or other
piece of wire, between the thermocouple connectors. Tighten screws.
, replace the board.
FaIL
message after replacing the thermocouple, watch for an erratic
FaIL
is connected to #10 and #11;
TC 2
or a blank display. If this happens and
PF ErrP
or blank display. Pull the plug from the wall. Clean the
PF
is connected to #12 and #13 terminals on the back of
TC 1
is connected to #8 and #9. See page 1.
TC 3
.
ENTER
Half a paper clip being used to test
the thermocouple circuit on the
controller.
appears, unplug the
Err 0
. Check your program
ErrP
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