How to fix E-1 or Err1

November 20, 2024
KNOWLEDGEBASE KNOWLEDGEBASE Support> Knowledgebase How to fix E-1 or Err1 Although the steps below are comprehensive, in most cases, the reason for an Err1 or E-1 is aged elements. You can almost be sure of this if the kiln has been slowing down gradually. At some point in the process of aging the elements just don't have enough power to do their job. The second most common reason is a worn-out relay. This is easy to diagnose with the paper test linked below. First Easy Step Run a Paper Test. Anyone can do this. Possible Reasons for E-1 (or Err1) NOTE: E- 1 errors read as "Err1" on controls manufactured before 2006 Loading Adjust Kiln Load Elements If you see an E-1 or Err1, then for some reason the kiln could not generate enough heat to counter the heat loss. If one of the elements or one of the circuits in the control fails while the kiln is at a high enough temperature, then it will probably display an Err8 code (which means the temperature is falling when it should be rising) Err1 or Err8 can mean either you need new elements or a new component in one of the circuits. A Paper Test, an Ohms Test and a Voltage test can tell you which it is. Non-standard elements from an unauthorized supplier have too much resistance, or you did not hook them up properly (leaving the jumper wire out of a J230 section will double the resistance in that circuit and only one of the two elements will be used. Always use a ohms meter to check the element and circuit ohms.) Some or all of the elements may be worn out. You may notice slower and slower firing over time, with bisques still ok, no clicking at the top temperatures, and uneven results. E- d codes are possible too. Element(s) out-broken inside the kiln, look for damage or perform a paper test. Element(s) out- a wire bringing power is burned off. Element(s) out- the center relay is out. The kiln section's temp may noticeably lag behind at med/ high temperatures. Top or bottom relay failure usually gives an E- d NOTE: ROR is not an error code, it means Rate of Rise and is often shown with an E-1. Check if Elements Have Differentially Changed in the Resistance Relays Check Power Relay Voltage or Wiring Problems Check Your Voltage If you recently changed locations, power supplies, or elements, or did any repairs, then closely examine what changed between your last successful firing and this one. There may be some other issue besides bad elements or a bad component. A new location can mean a 208-volt power supply rather than a 240-volt supply (about 25% less power). Wrong voltage power- These cases are usually a school that has a 240-volt kiln. 99 out of 100 schools run on 208 volts not 240 volts. In re-wiring the power supply you may not have used thick enough copper wire (line, conduit, and connection points will be very hot). If you rewire anything improperly or incorrectly the potential for anything from a blown breaker to just no power at all is possible. (Using wire with a temperature rating of less than 150°F can seriously limit the life of the circuitry and can be dangerous as well, especially when the wires are close to the kiln. Use a wiring diagram and trace every wire to check yourself). You can buy high-temperature wire from L&L. The power cord is overheating in the outlet/ up against the side of the kiln or some other connection point is overheating, this can always be seen- will look overheated and will be hot when the kiln has been on for a while. Voltage test near the elements will show this too. Summertime voltage, or just poor voltage in general, can be from wrong-sized wire or too long a run. This problem is compounded by longer and longer firings as elements prematurely age. The gauge of the hookup wire is not large enough which creates a voltage drop and reduces power to the kiln. See this link for more information. Check Wires and Wire Connections Thermocouple Problems Check out the thermocouples. When they wear out they often don't read accurately at high temperatures, which can produce an Error 1 code. Thermocouples reading unevenly (from age or loading unevenly or too close to the thermocouple). Different style thermocouples used in the same kiln Check Thermocouple Tip Loading Issues Loading may be uneven- try putting two elements between the bottom two shelves and add more mass to the upper areas in the kiln. Loading may be too close to the thermocouples. Other Possible Problems DaVinci/ Handheld only- Check the Handheld 14-pin connector for poor connection. Wiggle the connection point carefully while running the kiln and listen for relays to correspondingly go off and on as you wiggle it. Lid/ Hinge out of adjustment- lid opens a bit in the front when hot. Heat Leakage Stop Heat Leakage Plug Peepholes Error 1 at Low Temperatures Sometimes you will get an E-1 at a low temperature due to the confluence of several variables. The first possibility is that the kiln's load is uneven relative to the element heating zones and their thermocouples. This is especially true if the bottom is loaded heavily compared to the top. Be sure the bottom shelf of the kiln is under the bottom element and upon at least 1/2" tall posts. Then use 8" posts to place the next shelf high enough to allow two elements (or bottom 3 elements if your kiln has 3 elements in the bottom section) to shine into the bottom area of the kiln. The second possibility is that there is something too close to a thermocouple in one kiln section, but not in another. Try to keep everything at least 1" from a thermocouple. The third possibility is perhaps a result of the way the kiln acts normally at low temperatures. Because of the thermocouple protection tubes, a change in temperature does not affect the thermocouple in the tube for a few seconds. During that few seconds, until the change of temperature is felt by the thermocouple in the tube, the kiln continues to heat. Normally this matters very little. All it does is make the firing little jerky at first. It will rise a few degrees, wait for the set point, rise a few more degrees, wait, rise, wait etc. The hotter it gets the more it rises and the less it waits. It is rare for any one of these variables to cause E-1 by itself, but when these variables get together it is possible for the kiln to climb slower than 12 degrees per hour for 22 minutes while waiting for the set point to catch up at low temperatures- and that is where you can get E-1. E-1 at a low temperature will sometimes be proceeded by one of the thermocouple readings lagging behind the others. Try to be sure about the loading and perhaps- if it is OK for the clay- try a Fast Bisque instead. Usually, E-1 at low temperatures will not happen on faster programs because the kiln is spending more time heating and the set point is rising faster.

Although the steps below are comprehensive, in most cases, the reason for an Err1 or E-1 is aged elements. You can almost be sure of this if the kiln has been slowing down gradually. At some point in the process of aging the elements just don't have enough power to do their job. The second most common reason is a worn-out relay. This is easy to diagnose with the paper test linked below.

First Easy Step

Run a Paper Test. Anyone can do this.

Possible Reasons for E-1 (or Err1)

NOTE: E- 1 errors read as "Err1" on controls manufactured before 2006

Loading

Adjust Kiln Load

Elements

If you see an E-1 or Err1, then for some reason the kiln could not generate enough heat to counter the heat loss. If one of the elements or one of the circuits in the control fails while the kiln is at a high enough temperature, then it will probably display an Err8 code (which means the temperature is falling when it should be rising)
Err1 or Err8 can mean either you need new elements or a new component in one of the circuits. A Paper Test, an Ohms Test and a Voltage test can tell you which it is.
Non-standard elements from an unauthorized supplier have too much resistance, or you did not hook them up properly (leaving the jumper wire out of a J230 section will double the resistance in that circuit and only one of the two elements will be used. Always use a ohms meter to check the element and circuit ohms.)
Some or all of the elements may be worn out. You may notice slower and slower firing over time, with bisques still ok, no clicking at the top temperatures, and uneven results. E- d codes are possible too.
Element(s) out-broken inside the kiln, look for damage or perform a paper test.
Element(s) out- a wire bringing power is burned off.
Element(s) out- the center relay is out. The kiln section's temp may noticeably lag behind at med/ high temperatures. Top or bottom relay failure usually gives an E- d
NOTE: ROR is not an error code, it means Rate of Rise and is often shown with an E-1.
Check if Elements Have Differentially Changed in the Resistance

Relays

Check Power Relay

Voltage or Wiring Problems

Check Your Voltage
If you recently changed locations, power supplies, or elements, or did any repairs, then closely examine what changed between your last successful firing and this one. There may be some other issue besides bad elements or a bad component.
A new location can mean a 208-volt power supply rather than a 240-volt supply (about 25% less power).
Wrong voltage power- These cases are usually a school that has a 240-volt kiln. 99 out of 100 schools run on 208 volts not 240 volts.
In re-wiring the power supply you may not have used thick enough copper wire (line, conduit, and connection points will be very hot).
If you rewire anything improperly or incorrectly the potential for anything from a blown breaker to just no power at all is possible. (Using wire with a temperature rating of less than 150°F can seriously limit the life of the circuitry and can be dangerous as well, especially when the wires are close to the kiln. Use a wiring diagram and trace every wire to check yourself). You can buy high-temperature wire from L&L.
The power cord is overheating in the outlet/ up against the side of the kiln or some other connection point is overheating, this can always be seen- will look overheated and will be hot when the kiln has been on for a while. Voltage test near the elements will show this too.
Summertime voltage, or just poor voltage in general, can be from wrong-sized wire or too long a run. This problem is compounded by longer and longer firings as elements prematurely age.
The gauge of the hookup wire is not large enough which creates a voltage drop and reduces power to the kiln. See this link for more information.
Check Wires and Wire Connections

Thermocouple Problems

Check out the thermocouples. When they wear out they often don't read accurately at high temperatures, which can produce an Error 1 code.
Thermocouples reading unevenly (from age or loading unevenly or too close to the thermocouple).
Different style thermocouples used in the same kiln
Check Thermocouple Tip

Loading Issues

Loading may be uneven- try putting two elements between the bottom two shelves and add more mass to the upper areas in the kiln.
Loading may be too close to the thermocouples.

Heat Leakage

Error 1 at Low Temperatures

Sometimes you will get an E-1 at a low temperature due to the confluence of several variables.

The first possibility is that the kiln's load is uneven relative to the element heating zones and their thermocouples. This is especially true if the bottom is loaded heavily compared to the top. Be sure the bottom shelf of the kiln is under the bottom element and upon at least 1/2" tall posts. Then use 8" posts to place the next shelf high enough to allow two elements (or bottom 3 elements if your kiln has 3 elements in the bottom section) to shine into the bottom area of the kiln.
The second possibility is that there is something too close to a thermocouple in one kiln section, but not in another. Try to keep everything at least 1" from a thermocouple.
The third possibility is perhaps a result of the way the kiln acts normally at low temperatures. Because of the thermocouple protection tubes, a change in temperature does not affect the thermocouple in the tube for a few seconds. During that few seconds, until the change of temperature is felt by the thermocouple in the tube, the kiln continues to heat. Normally this matters very little. All it does is make the firing little jerky at first. It will rise a few degrees, wait for the set point, rise a few more degrees, wait, rise, wait etc. The hotter it gets the more it rises and the less it waits.

It is rare for any one of these variables to cause E-1 by itself, but when these variables get together it is possible for the kiln to climb slower than 12 degrees per hour for 22 minutes while waiting for the set point to catch up at low temperatures- and that is where you can get E-1. E-1 at a low temperature will sometimes be proceeded by one of the thermocouple readings lagging behind the others. Try to be sure about the loading and perhaps- if it is OK for the clay- try a Fast Bisque instead. Usually, E-1 at low temperatures will not happen on faster programs because the kiln is spending more time heating and the set point is rising faster.

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