What Are Skutt Kiln Error Codes?

All Skutt kilns with KilnMaster Controllers are programmed to generate Error Codes when something goes wrong during a firing. These not only give you an indication of what the problem may be, they also often will shutdown the firing to protect your ware or the kiln itself. When an Error Code is generated it will appear in the display and, depending on your controllers age and the code, trigger the alarm. On older units it is important to make note of the code before you press any key to stop the alarm and clear the code. On newer boards you can go to the Diagnostic Menu and access the ERTF feature to see the last Error Code to occur along with the temperature it occurred at, the amount of time into the firing at which it occurred, and in addition it will run a full Diagnostic test.

Error Codes will display when the controller senses something is wrong with the kiln. If the error detected has the potential to damage the ware, the kiln, or or the safety and property of the owner, the controller will stop the firing. On certain occasions an artist may want to turn off some of the error codes to avoid triggering an error when performing a certain technique (such as raking fused glass). Below is a list of the possible errors that may be displayed.

These Errors Will Only be Detected If Error Codes Are On:

E-1  --  Kiln temperature increasing slower than 12° F per hour when ramping up. The slow rate must persist for 22.5 minutes. Firing will be stopped. For some reason the kiln does not have the power it needs to reach temperature.

Possible Causes

• ·         Element is broken
• ·         Relay is burned out
  
• ·         Voltage is low
  
• ·         Firing to a temperature beyond the kilns maximum rating
  

E-2  --  Kiln temperature 50° F above hold temperature. Condition must persist for at least 18 seconds. The kiln is unable to turn off one or more of the elements. Possible Causes Stuck relay

E-3  --  Kiln temperature 50° F below hold temperature. Condition must persist for at least 18 seconds. For some reason the kiln lacks the power to maintain a hold temperature.
Possible Causes :

• Elements are wearing out
•  Element is broken
• Relay is burned out
• Voltage is low.
• Firing to a temperature beyond the kiln’s maximum rating

E-4   --  Kiln temperature 50° F above previous hold temperature when ramping down. Condition must persist for at least 18 seconds. The kiln is unable to turn off one or more of the elements.

Possible Causes  Stuck relay

E-5 --  Kiln temperature 50° F below traveling set point when ramping down. Condition must persist for at least 18 seconds. The kiln lacks the power to maintain a slower rate of cooling.

Possible Causes:

• Element is broken
• Relay is burned out
• Voltage is low

unable to turn off one or more of the elements.

 Possible Causes:

• Stuck relay
• Loose connection in the thermocouple circuit

Possible Causes: Temporary power outage while the kiln was firing

ErrP  -- Indicates a short term power outage to the controller while the kiln was firing. The temperature to the kiln did not drop 250° F or more from the traveling set point from the time of the outage. The program continues when the power is restored. Press ENTER to clear the message.

Possible Causes: Temporary power outage while the kiln was firing

The Error Code On/Off Setting Does not Affect These Errors:

E-0 -- Indicates a software error

Possible Causes:

• Failed hardware from electrical surge
• Electrical noise in power supply or from arcing relay

Possible Causes:

• Replacement thermocouple put in backwards
• Thermocouple lead wires reversed on thermocouple block, terminal strip, or controller.

Error 6 (E-6) is usually triggered when a thermocouple is installed backwards. A thermocouple has a positive and negative side just like a battery. Unlike a battery, the negative side is indicated by the color red and the positive side is indicated by the color yellow. At Skutt we mark the negative side of the thermocouple with red dye. When you are replacing your thermocouple make sure it is installed in the thermocouple block so the red leg is on the same side as the red thermocouple wire.

There are 3 places in the thermocouple circuit where a reversal can take place:

Thermocouple to block

Thermocouple wire to block

Thermocouple wire to kiln side of the terminal strip

E-8 -- Indicates that the temperature is dropping during the last segment of a Cone Fire Mode Program

Possible Causes:

• Element is broken
• Relay is burned out

Possible Causes: Changed thermocouple setting without changing pin placement on circuit board.

E-20  -- Did not receive lock on Clock Generator Module

Possible Causes: Contact Skutt Technical Support

E-21 -- On-chip a2d not responding.

Possible Causes: Contact Skutt Technical Support

E-22  -- On-chip a2d not responding.

Possible Causes: This error code sometimes is triggered by loose connection in the thermocouple wiring or a crack in the thermocouple. If everything in this circuit seems okay contact Skutt Technical Support.

E-23  -- SPl not reponding or is having problems.

Possible Causes: Contact Skutt Technical Support

E-24 -- EE access while in write cycle.

Possible Causes: Contact Skutt Technical Support

E-25  -- a2d not responding during power up.

Possible Causes: Contact Skutt Technical Support

E-E  -- EE miscommunication or failure.

Possible Causes: Contact Skutt Technical Support

E-t -- A hardware error has been detected by the controller software.

Possible Causes: Contact Skutt Technical Support

E-A  -- Invalid program variable. The controller has conflicting instructions.

Possible Causes:  One possible cause of this is if you set a Max Temp in the Configuration Menu that is lower than a value that has already been entered in a Ramp/Hold Program. When you go to run that particular Ramp/Hold Program the controller will generate this error. In order to run the program you will need to reset the Max Temp to a value higher than the highest temperature in your program. If this does not appear to be the cause of this error contact Skutt Technical Support.

StUc  -- This error indicates that the touchpad has a key that is stuck.

Possible Causes: Sometimes when a touchpad gets overheated or exposed to extreme cold, the membrane over the circuit board can become distorted and cause keys to stick. Sometimes you can get them to unstick by blowing it with a hair dryer (no closer than 8”). If this does not work the whole control board will need to be replaced.

E-bd  -- The board temperature has exceeded the temperature limit setting. This setting is designed to protect the circuit board from overheating when the kiln room gets too hot. The kiln will shut down and display this message.

Possible Causes: The kiln room got too hot. This could be caused by a number of factors. The most common is inadequate ventilation in the room. Ideally the kiln room ventilation system should be designed to keep the room under 100 ° F when the kiln is at it’s maximum rated temperature. An HVAC professional can calculate the amount of the ventilation needed based on the size of the room and the BTU rating of the kiln. You can try using a box fan pointed at the controller if updating the room ventilation is not a realistic option. Another possible cause is that the kiln does not have adequate clearances from the walls or other kilns and the heat is radiating back on the controller. There should be a minimum of 18” of clearance from walls and 36” from

other kilns. If there is more than one kiln in the room, try rotating them so the controllers are not facing other kilns.

If these suggestions do not work you can call our Technical Support Team and they can raise the temperature limit that causes the error.

E-H  -- Analog to Digital Converter do not pass the self check diagnostic test on reset.

Possible Causes  Contact Skutt Technical Support

FAIL  -- This error is triggered by a break in the thermocouple circuit. If the display is flashing it means that one of the thermocouple circuits on a Zone Control kiln has failed.

Possible Causes:

As thermocouples age they oxidize and the metal gets thinner and thinner. Eventually the thermocouple will develop a crack between the 2 dissimilar metals that make up the thermocouple and break the circuit. If changing the thermocouple does not solve the problem, look at all of the connections in the thermocouple circuit and make sure they are secure. Pay special attention to the screws that hold the thermocouple in place on the thermocouple block. These can loosen over time with thermal cycling or when the kiln is moved.

E-/  -- Division by 0 detected.

Possible Causes: Contact Skutt Technical Support

E- -- -- Power loss during EE write. Possible Causes: Contact Skutt Technical Support

E-R  -- Ram and EE do not match Possible Causes: Contact Skutt Technical Support

E-U -- RInvalid user number, Possible Causes: Contact Skutt Technical Support

Elements are wearing out - As elements age they increase in resistance, lessening the potential power to the kiln. If you have noticed that your firing times are getting longer and longer or you are firing to a higher cone than usual when the error occurs, this is most likely the cause of the error. Use an Ohm meter to check the resistance of the elements and compare them to the readings listed for your Model, Voltage and Phase. Replace the elements if they are more than 5% above the recommended resistance.

Element is broken - Occasionally an element can break. On a newer element this can be caused by a poor electrical connection or contamination from bits of clay or glaze on the element. Check the resistance of the element in question. If the resistance reading is 0, there is a break somewhere in the element and it needs to be replaced. If you do not have access to a meter you can program the kiln to fire hot enough for the elements to glow (between 600° F and 1000° F degrees depending on the light in the room). Look into the kiln through the peep holes using #3 green or gray welders glasses to protect your eyes. If one element is not glowing, it is likely a broken element. If the element is broken because it is old and brittle, it may be time to replace all of the elements.

Relay is burned out - Relays have a useful life and will eventually burn out. If a relay is burned out it will usually cause a whole section two fail to heat up.

Failed Relay

The power to your elements is regulated by your relays turning on or off to achieve the desired heating rate. Like the brake pads on your car, these relays have a limited life and will eventually need to be replaced as part of regular maintenance. Your kilns controller reads the temperature from the thermocouple and, based on the program you are running, tells the relays to cycle on or off to achieve the proper heating rate. Most KilnMaster Kilns use mechanical relays which are rated for hundreds of thousands of cycles.This seem like a lot but depending the programs you run and how often you fire you could easily hit this range in several years of firing. Excessive heat, loose connections and dust build up can severely reduce the potential life for relays.For most Skutt Kilns each relay controls 2 elements or one section of the kiln. When a relay has failed in the open position (off) that section it is controlling will not glow when the kiln his heated to 800F. A section will also fail to glow if an element is broken in kiln designs where 2 elements are wired in series. This makes it difficult to diagnose whether the Error one was caused by a bad relay or a broken element just by a visual test. One thing you can do is to switch the relay controlling the section that is not glowing with a relay controlling a section that is glowing. If the problem follows the relay, than it is a bad relay and needs to be replaced.Since relays normally have similar cycle lifespans, most people will elect to just go ahead and change out all the relays at once. When you are changing the relays check for tight connections and damaged connectors and/or wires. It is possible to replace a relay and have it burn out prematurely from a poor connection. This brings up another good point. If you feel your relays are not getting the lifespan they should, look for the root of the problem. it is usually associated with excessive heat caused by poor circulation or bad connections. Long hold times will also cause more cycling and therefore fewer firings between relay changes.