kiln controller problems

jen prentiss · Post by **jen prentiss** » Thu Jun 19, 2003 11:27 am

I have the large used Jen-Ken "bathtub" oval, and recently bought a Paragon UDC 2000 controller, a real work horse, used. We installed it and tried it out. The controller temperature and the kiln temperature readings were very different, and got more different the higher the temperature went, until the controller said 2400 degrees and turned itself off, and the kiln said 450. I talked with the guy who sold me the controller and he said there might be a problem with the setting for the thermocouple. We checked that, that wasn't it. Then we replaced the thermocouple.
I tried it again tonight, and it's not as bad, but the controller temperature is still about 100 degrees higher than the reading on the kiln.
Do you have any idea what's happening? Or what we can do?
Any help you could give would be appreciated.
Thanks.

Phil Hoppes · Post by **Phil Hoppes** » Thu Jun 19, 2003 11:50 am

What type of thermocouple did you buy? I'm guessing that the Paragon wants a type K thermocouple. If you did not buy a type K but instead got a type J or something else, the thermocouple and controller will act like they are working together but you will get incorrect temperature readings. This sounds like the problem you are having.

Phil

jen prentiss · Post by **jen prentiss** » Thu Jun 19, 2003 11:53 am

I'm not sure exactly what type of thermocouple we got. We got it at a ceramics place and they make them themselves and couldn't tell me. The controller is set for K type. Do you know how you can tell?

Phil Hoppes · Post by **Phil Hoppes** » Thu Jun 19, 2003 2:14 pm

You can't tell by looking, either on the thermocouple or the controller. For the controller, I'm assuming you got some manuals or documentation with them. I would look through the doc's and at least confirm the thermocouple type required by the controller. Then I would call the place you got your thermocouple from and ask them what they sold you. They should be able to tell you as there is a difference. Not all thermocouple are the same. If you don't get any satisfaction from your thermocouple supplier I would check out Omega at the following link.

http://www.omega.com/ppt/pptsc.asp?ref=ICIN&Nav=tema04

If you need some help in selecting the type of thermocouple you might need send me an email and I'll help you out.

Phil