Watlow CLS 204

[Peter Bowles]

Hope someone can help here

I've just run a test firing on my new kiln and have a couple of problems with the set up parameters on my Watlow Anaphase CLS 204.

Firstly:

I have programmed the ramp soak profiles okay though when I run them they seem to run straight to the set point and then hold rather than go through the assigned time for the ramp.
I've set the time base correctly so I know its not that.

Secondly:

If I programme it to go to 800 (C) it monitors the increasing temp to 744(C) and then continues to increase though the reading stays at 744 (There is an independent override/overtemp controller and tc to verify this).
I've set it up for the correct K type inputs on all three loops (one per phase). I was searching for a max temp scale but cant find one in the set up parameters.


I've been through the manual a couple of times but cant find what my errors are. Anyone have any experience setting these up. Most of the default settings are okay for my purposes, I just need to resolve these two issues and I'll be very happy.

Any thoughts from anyone with any experience with these controllers would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Peter

[Holly Wallace]

I've had good experience with Watlow's tech support on the phone. Hope they can help you.

[Matt Bezark]

that controller can indeed be tricky.

it considers the first setpoint to be the starting point. so do something like:

step 1 - go to 5 degrees in 1 minute.

step 2 - go to whatever is your actual first step in the actual time you want it.

also, after the last step, mine always wants to go immediately back to the first setpoint, so i always add a 900 hour soak at whatever the final temp is, usually room temp again, knowing that's plenty of time to get back to the controller to set it to go from run mode to hold.

matt.

[Matt Bezark]

and if you want to you can PM or email me the steps you have programmed and i can have a look.

matt.

[Brian Wong Shui]

I program mine using Watview (free software download from watlow) in configurator mode on a laptop with a serial port. It is infinitely easier than doing it from the front panel.

Couple things to check...time base (check again)

As matt said, the first point in the program is the ready temp (the temp that you are going to start the program). After that, each segment has a time and temp.

If that is ok. Check to see if the profile isn't linked to a digital input. You can configure the profiles to wait for input to run.

The controller can support 8 profiles. I believe that if you edit the one that is loaded, I believe that you need to unload the profile and reload before the edits show up.

Also if the controller was purchased used, there might be scaling resistors installed. They need to be replaced with 0 Ohm resistors for thermocouple use. See Page 180 in the manual.

When all else fails....see if you can get a hold of Watlow Australia

WATLOW AUSTRALIA PTY LTD 4/57 SHARPS ROAD
TULLAMARINE VIC, EXPORT 3043
AUSTRALIA Phone: +61 3 9335 6449
Fax: 656 778 0323

[Peter Bowles]

Thanks for your input all.

It has all worked out that there is a glitch in their programming. The 744C that the controller display stops at equals 1371 Farenheight, and 1371 is the numeric upper limit for a k type tc in C.

So for the moment I'm firing in Farenheight till they send me a new eprom.

Thanks again


Peter