glazenerd Posted October 19, 2016 Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 I have a small Paragon test kiln (0.25cf) that has over 1200 firings on it. Last fall, I completely replaced all the side brick, and rebuilt the lid: I only salvaged the base. I replaced both elements several months ago (less than 10 firings currently), I replaced the wiring harness, and the relay. Two days ago I ran a new 10/2 with ground over for a service. I put a voltage meter on it 120.4 volts: and still I am getting an FTL code at 2090 F +/-. I pulled the Orton 4.0 controller and ran a cycle on my 1.75: worked just fine. So I am absolutely stumped. Nerd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted October 19, 2016 Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 contact howard arnold at paragon in texas. he can help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick White Posted October 19, 2016 Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 Yes, Arnold is the Paragon guru. Let us know what you find out. My little guy, onlyl fired about a dozen times, has also thrown the Ftl code the last two firings but I haven't had time to take it apart. dw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted October 19, 2016 Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 Grounding Issue?just a wild guess as I have zero computer kiln experience Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterH Posted October 19, 2016 Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 Purely googling rather than knowledge, but this page from Arnold Howard may be relevant. The Sentry Controller FTL Error Message. http://www.paragonweb.com/Kiln_Pointer.cfm?PID=58 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glazenerd Posted October 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 Mark: checked the circuit: very well grounded, but good thought none the less. Peter FTL will appear when the temperature change is slower than 27°F/60°C per hour and the firing time is four hours longer than the current segment was programmed to fire. If FTL appears during a heating segment, it is usually due to a worn or burned out element, defective relay, low voltage, or a defective thermocouple. Thermocouple is the only thing I have not checked, but it has less than 100 firings. But, that does not mean something is wrong. It runs just fine to 2000F +/-: then it begins to stall up to 2070F or so.. then FTL> Sent an email to Ron Howard.... Nerd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted October 19, 2016 Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 Assuming all your elements are still good- sometimes thermocouples go bad prematurely. Could also be a sticky relay, but they usually stick 'on' rather than 'off'. Check your elements just in case something happened there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Sweet Posted October 19, 2016 Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 Nerd- hope you didn't send that email to Ron Howard, since he's the former child actor and currently working as a director in Hollywood. It's Arnold who works at Paragon kilns!😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glazenerd Posted October 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 Neil: relay is brand new.... sorta off the list (for the moment). Elements are newer, but I have been told if they have a defect, when they get red hot they will start to short-- so that is now on my list. Fred.... my letter to Ron Howard: Dear Opie: How is Andy, Barnie, Goober, and Aunt Bea? oooppsss. Nerd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted October 19, 2016 Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 How about just calling Arnold? I know if you are young this idea is revolting but hey we are older now and talking used to be our main way to communicate .That way you have the answer when you hang up the phone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Bridge Pottery Posted October 19, 2016 Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 So it spits this code out when it is 4 hours over the segment time? I had a relay that would overheat and stop working because it had fancy safety features. Could be that along with some lost insulation in the repair job getting your electrics extra hot. Only some thoughts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterH Posted October 19, 2016 Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 Just a question. Does anybody use one of the cheapo hand-held IR thermometers to check for hot-spots? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glazenerd Posted October 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 Might as well respond while Arnold Howard has me on hold (phone call). He thinks it is the limiter switch used to set a type K or Type S thermocouple- he is on the phone to Orton, I am on hold. Yes Peter, I use it to help calibrate the TC offset when I get a new kiln. I use it periodically thereafter to check temp readouts. Nerd Edit: Just hung up, now we are looking at a defective element. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted October 20, 2016 Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 the eternity you spent on hold is a lot shorter than the wait for a return email which asks "what do you want?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glazenerd Posted October 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 Lady: Ended up being on the phone with Arnold for over an hour. Interesting phone call: he answered the question in the first five minutes. Nerd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted October 21, 2016 Report Share Posted October 21, 2016 Lady: Ended up being on the phone with Arnold for over an hour. Interesting phone call: he answered the question in the first five minutes. Nerd Chatterbox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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