Min Posted May 9, 2015 Report Share Posted May 9, 2015 I just picked up a spare kiln. It's from Pottery Supply House (Euclids) and has never been used. It came with an Orton Autofire controller. Very basic touchpad, the manual that came with it is dated 1993. Anybody use one of these controllers? I'm thinking of switching the touchpad to a Skutt or Bartlett one. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Woodin Posted May 11, 2015 Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 I would be inclined to change out the controller for a Barlett. The kiln itself will be fine but electronics have changed a lot in 22 years and you may be fighting problems due to drying out of compenents, parts no longer made etc. Euclids can help with getting you up to speed with a new Barlett and possibilily zone control. David Min 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted May 11, 2015 Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 As long as that controller has the functionality you need, then just use it till there's a problem. If it does not have the functions you need, then I recommend the Bartlett V6-CF. The Bartlett might not fit into the same hole, though, so you'll have to cut the box or add a piece of sheet metal to make it fit. Min and Bill Kielb 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted May 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2015 Thanks guys! I'll look into the Bartlett V6-CF one, haven't used that one yet. Will probably make a second box for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpykidstudio Posted November 27, 2020 Report Share Posted November 27, 2020 Hey @Min! I am wondering what did you end up doing with the controller? I just got my hands on a very old Orto Controller on a Cone Art kiln and would LOVE some guidance!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted November 27, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2020 (edited) 12 hours ago, grumpykidstudio said: Hey @Min! I am wondering what did you end up doing with the controller? I just got my hands on a very old Orto Controller on a Cone Art kiln and would LOVE some guidance!! Hi @grumpykidstudio , I swapped it out for a Bartlett V6 controller from Pottery Supply House / Euclids. They had a used one that I got a bit of a discount on. I use it as a bisque only kiln since the elements are such a pain to replace in this kiln (non segmented) and use 2 thermocouples. The board fit without having to alter the box. The original controller had very limited options and I was using it for glaze firing originally but after a little while a lot of the readout was illegible as parts of the numbers and letters blanked out and it had some stuck pads. I'ld contact Tuckers, send them some pictures of what you have and ask if they have a used board you can swap over. (or other vendors who might have a used board if you want to save a few bucks) Have to say I love the Genesis Controller on my ConeArt kiln. Edited November 27, 2020 by Min added a thought grumpykidstudio 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpykidstudio Posted November 29, 2020 Report Share Posted November 29, 2020 On 11/27/2020 at 7:03 AM, Min said: Hi @grumpykidstudio , I swapped it out for a Bartlett V6 controller from Pottery Supply House / Euclids. They had a used one that I got a bit of a discount on. I use it as a bisque only kiln since the elements are such a pain to replace in this kiln (non segmented) and use 2 thermocouples. The board fit without having to alter the box. The original controller had very limited options and I was using it for glaze firing originally but after a little while a lot of the readout was illegible as parts of the numbers and letters blanked out and it had some stuck pads. I'ld contact Tuckers, send them some pictures of what you have and ask if they have a used board you can swap over. (or other vendors who might have a used board if you want to save a few bucks) Have to say I love the Genesis Controller on my ConeArt kiln. Thank you so much for the detailed response! The kiln I have is in excellent condition still, since the previous owner just left it in the garage for 15 years! I think I might just try to use it with it’s existing controller for now and if it breaks down on me, I will definitely talk to Tuckers. Why does it need 2 thermocouple? I only see one in the kiln... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted November 29, 2020 Report Share Posted November 29, 2020 grumpy, if the kiln has been stored where flying insects can get to it, check for tubes of clay in the tiny spaces you might find. check the slits in the metal box. grumpykidstudio 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted November 29, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2020 It came with just the one thermocouple but when I replaced the controller I decided on using 2. The boards now have the option of 1,2 or 3 thermocouples being wired up. grumpykidstudio 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpykidstudio Posted November 29, 2020 Report Share Posted November 29, 2020 19 minutes ago, oldlady said: grumpy, if the kiln has been stored where flying insects can get to it, check for tubes of clay in the tiny spaces you might find. check the slits in the metal box. Thank u for the top! What do u mean the metal box, as in behind the control panel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpykidstudio Posted November 29, 2020 Report Share Posted November 29, 2020 15 minutes ago, Min said: It came with just the one thermocouple but when I replaced the controller I decided on using 2. The boards now have the option of 1,2 or 3 thermocouples being wired up. Ohh I see! My fingers are crossed hoping that my old kiln can still handle firing up to cone 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piedmont Pottery Posted December 4, 2020 Report Share Posted December 4, 2020 I used one of these for years. Perfectly adequate for non-esoteric firing schedules. The 2 or 3 thermocouple options are only useful if you have 2 or 3 zones that you are controlling separately. I saved my old AF3000 when I got new kilns with Genesis controllers and rewired the power transformer to 115V and changed the output socket to run an ancient Cress kiln that had only a kiln sitter and runs off 115V. Still working great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvija Posted April 27, 2021 Report Share Posted April 27, 2021 I have an orton controller from 1995 and it seems not to be holding in memory the numbers that I want to program for the ramps. Does anyone know what is going on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted April 27, 2021 Report Share Posted April 27, 2021 5 minutes ago, Silvija said: I have an orton controller from 1995 and it seems not to be holding in memory the numbers that I want to program for the ramps. Does anyone know what is going on? Controllers die. When a controller starts having problems it's best to just replace it, especially when it's that old. Often one programming system will die, either the Ramp/Hold or the Cone Fire. Or buttons stop working, etc. One thing to check before you give up on it- is it in a very humid environment? Humidity can cause the circuit board to malfunction. If so, try drying the back of the board with a hair dryer and see if it starts working. Don't overheat it, be gentle. I Silvija, Piedmont Pottery and Hulk 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hulk Posted April 28, 2021 Report Share Posted April 28, 2021 At the mill (the California Pittsburg, w/o the h), we stocked replacement boards for the antiquated fire control system. We lost a operator station in the entry pulpit early one morning; the mouse family that had moved in on the station's main board - right over the "history unit" (an early hard drive) - had added enough "moisture" and salts to rot that board. There was over a half gallon of sunflower seed shells and other detritus in there. Good ol' days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brennan Posted November 26, 2022 Report Share Posted November 26, 2022 Hi, My great aunt has the controller shown in this thread's photos on her ConeArt kiln. I'm trying to find a copy of the manual for it. Does anyone have a scanned pdf copy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruth W Posted February 4, 2023 Report Share Posted February 4, 2023 Brennan, Have you found a manual yet? There might be one available on line or from the Orton Company. If not, I can scan in mine. Min 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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