Getting Started; Room Temperature; And Humidity; Thunder Storms And Power Surges - Orton Sentry 2.0 Operating Instructions Manual

Chapter 1

Getting Started

Room Temperature

and Humidity

It is okay to store the Sentry at sub-zero tem-
peratures. But before operating, raise the room
temperature to at least 32°F/0°C.
Note: The Sentry will register sub-zero °F/°C
temperatures. However, 32°F/0°C is the lowest
recommended operating temperature.
The circuit board is rated for 158°F/70°C
maximum operating temperature. However,
the maximum recommended temperature is
125°F/52°C. Open windows and exhaust hot air
from the room to lower temperature. (See page
16 to check circuit board temperature.)
High humidity will not adversely affect the Sentry unless
water condenses on the circuit board. In this case, do not
fire the kiln until the moisture has evaporated from the
board.
Thunder Storms and
Power Surges
Unplug the kiln when not in use, especially during thun-
der storms and in areas with frequent power surges. If the
kiln is part way through a firing when a storm begins, it may
be okay to continue the firing. When the kiln shuts off, dis-
connect the power.
CAUTION: When firing the kiln during a storm, do
not leave the kiln unattended!
Time and Temperature
Display
Center Dot: Time
A center dot appears during
time display. It separates hours
from minutes (i.e. 1 hour, 30
minutes displays as 01.30).
During temperature display, the dot disappears.
Three Dot Display
The Sentry turns on the
heating elements intermit-
tently through relays. Power
output lights appear in the
right side of the display when
the Sentry sends a signal to turn on the relay(s).
When the Sentry sends a signal to
the relays, all three dots appear.
The top dot indicates a signal to turn
on the relay for the top section of the kiln. The bottom
dot indicates a signal to power the bottom section. Ig-
nore the center dot.
The top dot indicates a signal to turn
on the top section relay, the middle dot to the middle
section, and the bottom dot to the bottom section.
Single Right-Hand Dot: °C
When temperature is dis-
played in °C, a dot appears in
the lower right. In °F display, it
disappears. You can choose
b etw een F a h r en h ei t a n d
Celsius display. See page 14.
Operations Begin from the
IdLE Display
The controller displays
when you first apply
power to the kiln. Operations
begin from . You can't
fire the kiln until
If you press during a firing,
get back to , press
If the display shows an error message such as
stead of , see pages 17 - 18.
(firing completed) appears at the end of a firing.
To make appear, press any key.

Thermocouple Inspection

The small rod protruding into the firing chamber is the
temperature sensor, or thermocouple.
CAUTION: Bumping the thermocouple can push it
out of the firing chamber. This could cause an overfire!
The controller does not contain an alarm to detect this
type of failure. Bumping the thermocouple could also
cause it to give inaccurate
readings.
Thermocouples come in
different widths. The wider
the thermocouple, the far-
ther it should extend into the
firing chamber. A ½" - ¼"
diameter thermocouple
should extend into the firing
chamber about 1". A
thermocouple should ex-
tend into the chamber ½" -
". (Do not be concerned if
5
8
your thermocouple extends
into the firing chamber even further.)
Keep shelves, posts and ware 1" - 1 ½" away from the
thermocouple. Keep an extra thermocouple on hand, espe-
cially if you fire hotter than 2000°F/1093°C.
appears.
will appear. To
.
The controller is
packed with fea-
tures. Do not let
this intimidate
you. Become fa-
miliar with only
the features you
"
1
need; ignore the
8
rest.
in-
5