Christena Schafale on wed 22 aug 01
Hi folks,
Just want to share a recent experience with others who may have the
ubiquitous Skutt 1027 with controller. After reading about the wonders of
long soaks, I decided to try this with my kiln. I wanted the temp to drop
at maximum rate down to 1800F then hold. The manual describes doing this
by programming the rate of temperature drop for that segment as 9999, so
that's what I did. The firing went normally, but when it got to the 9999
temp drop, the controller showed an error (Err2) and the kiln shut itself
off. I tried another test fire after this, and the "9999" was definitely
what caused the error.
I talked to Perry in the service department at Skutt yesterday, and he
advised that they had had reports of this problem with a few of their
controllers, and that it was "a chip problem" that prevented the controller
from interpreting the 9999 entry correctly. You can work around it by
programming a more realistic, but still fast, rate of drop, like 300 or 400
degrees per hour from top temp.
So if you are thinking about trying such a program, I would suggest that
you do a test fire with the 9999 entry. If it doesn't work, you can either
use the work-around described above, or call the Skutt service
department. I understand that they are willing to replace the chip if it
is faulty. The only catch is that you have to mail them your old one
before they will send out a new one.
Happy holding!
Chris
Charles Moore on wed 22 aug 01
Chris,
Thanks for the helpful information on the Skutt controller. I have had a
problem like the one you describe.
Let me recommend another technician at Skutt: Cheryl (last name unknown).
She has walked me through more than one controller problem.
Charles Moore
Sacramento, CA
----- Original Message -----
From: "Christena Schafale"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2001 10:26 AM
Subject: Skutt controller issue
> Hi folks,
>
> Just want to share a recent experience with others who may have the
> ubiquitous Skutt 1027 with controller. After reading about the wonders of
> long soaks, I decided to try this with my kiln. I wanted the temp to drop
> at maximum rate down to 1800F then hold. The manual describes doing this
> by programming the rate of temperature drop for that segment as 9999, so
> that's what I did. The firing went normally, but when it got to the 9999
> temp drop, the controller showed an error (Err2) and the kiln shut itself
> off. I tried another test fire after this, and the "9999" was definitely
> what caused the error.
>
> I talked to Perry in the service department at Skutt yesterday, and he
> advised that they had had reports of this problem with a few of their
> controllers, and that it was "a chip problem" that prevented the
controller
> from interpreting the 9999 entry correctly. You can work around it by
> programming a more realistic, but still fast, rate of drop, like 300 or
400
> degrees per hour from top temp.
>
> So if you are thinking about trying such a program, I would suggest that
> you do a test fire with the 9999 entry. If it doesn't work, you can
either
> use the work-around described above, or call the Skutt service
> department. I understand that they are willing to replace the chip if it
> is faulty. The only catch is that you have to mail them your old one
> before they will send out a new one.
>
> Happy holding!
>
> Chris
>
>
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Arnold Howard on thu 23 aug 01
Chris describes a problem with a 9999 rate on the Skutt controller.
Paragon, for many years, used the same controller. The 9999 rate
suggestion was originally for glass artists.
After the glass has fused, the artist typically lifts the lid a few
inches to bring the glass quickly through the devitrification
range. (This is a cooling range where some types of glass develop a
matte surface.) Someone complained that after lowering the
temperature rapidly, the controller raised the temperature again.
The controller manufacturer told me to use a 9999 rate. A slower
rate would merely raise temperature again.
Potters, of course, could use a much slower rate. That way you
wouldn't need to have your chip replaced.
With best wishes,
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, Inc.
--- Christena Schafale wrote:
> Hi folks,
>
> Just want to share a recent experience with others who may have
> the
> ubiquitous Skutt 1027 with controller. After reading about the
> wonders of
> long soaks, I decided to try this with my kiln. I wanted the
> temp to drop
> at maximum rate down to 1800F then hold. The manual describes
> doing this
> by programming the rate of temperature drop for that segment as
> 9999, so
> that's what I did. The firing went normally, but when it got to
> the 9999
> temp drop, the controller showed an error (Err2) and the kiln
> shut itself
> off. I tried another test fire after this, and the "9999" was
> definitely
> what caused the error.
>
> I talked to Perry in the service department at Skutt yesterday,
> and he
> advised that they had had reports of this problem with a few of
> their
> controllers, and that it was "a chip problem" that prevented the
> controller
> from interpreting the 9999 entry correctly. You can work around
> it by
> programming a more realistic, but still fast, rate of drop, like
> 300 or 400
> degrees per hour from top temp.
>
> So if you are thinking about trying such a program, I would
> suggest that
> you do a test fire with the 9999 entry. If it doesn't work, you
> can either
> use the work-around described above, or call the Skutt service
> department. I understand that they are willing to replace the
> chip if it
> is faulty. The only catch is that you have to mail them your old
> one
> before they will send out a new one.
>
> Happy holding!
>
> Chris
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