Kiln Control Error Codes

November 20, 2024
KNOWLEDGEBASE KNOWLEDGEBASE Support> Knowledgebase Kiln Control Error Codes Error codes for the DynaTrol Note: Many of these error codes have an ‘Err’ prefix rather than an ‘E-‘ prefix on kilns made before Jan 2006. Here is a link to Bartlett's troubleshooting and video information. Here is a link to Bartlett's information on connectivity problems for Genesis WIFI controls. Errors are only detected when the error codes setting is turned ON: E- A (E-A, EA, ErA, Er A, or Error A) - is the result of having too high a number programmed into one or more of the segments of the Vary-Fire program you are trying to fire. E- d (E-d, ErrD, ED, ErD) – One of the thermocouples' temperatures is 50°F above the traveling set point. (Also see what it says under E- 9 below concerning the proper setting of thermocouple circuits) E- 1 (E-1, Err1, E1, Er1) - Kiln temperature increasing slower than 12°F per hour when ramping for 22.5 min. E- 2 (E-2, Err2, E2, Er2) - Kiln temperature 50°F above hold temperature (18 seconds). If this is a cooling segment, try using a cooling rate of 400°F or 500°F rather than one that is faster. Loose and overheated TC connections/ wires or old thermocouples can cause this too. Sometimes happens on an empty kiln during a first test firing. E- 3 (E-3, Err3, E3, Er3) - Kiln temperature 50°F below hold temperature (18 seconds). Pretty rare. Usually seen if heat treating metal and adding or removing parts at a higher temp (heat-treaters typically will turn the error codes off). Other causes: Extremely uneven loading or something touching a thermocouple could cause it. Make sure your shelves are not blocking heat transfer between the zones (stagger shelves if you can). Usually, E- 1 will appear first from a slow-firing kiln as the kiln will slow itself and not move into the hold until all the thermocouples are reasonably close to the hold temp. Loose or overheated thermocouple connections/ wires or old thermocouples can cause this too. Can also be caused by programming a ramp rate that is too fast for the capacity of the kiln. Check to make sure relays are connected to the proper outputs. Check that thermocouples are connected to the proper inputs. This can happen when a relay fails to turn back on during a hold and the temp drops. If you check the Last error status under the data menu in the menu of the controller you can see what zone caused the issue if they scroll through the info and get to the bottom of the scroll. Replace the relays or relay for the zone with the issue. E- 4 (E-4, Err4, E4, Er4) - Kiln temperature 50°F above the previous hold when ramping down (18 seconds). Try using a cooling rate of 400°F or 500°F rather than one that is faster. Loose and overheated thermocouple connections/ wires or old thermocouples can cause this too. E- 5 (E-5, Err5, E5, Er5) - Kiln temperature 50°F below traveling set point when ramping down (18 seconds). Pretty rare. Loose or overheated thermocouple connections/ wires or old thermocouples may cause this. E- 6 (E-6, Err6, E6, Er6): reversed thermocouple leads or a negative (very cold) temp reading. If all the thermocouples are hooked up right, AND you are still getting negative readings, AND the Board Temp is reading negative too, replace the board (From IDLE press OTHER again and again until it says “bdT”, press ENTER to see the board temp) ROR: ROR is not an error code, it means Rate of Rise and is often shown with an E-1. Error codes are possible even when the error codes setting is turned OFF: E- 20 (E-20, E20, Er20): did not receive a lock on Clock Generator Module- try again or replace the board. E- 21 (E-21, E21, Er21): on-chip a2d (analog to digital) not responding/problem- try again or replace the board. E- 22 (E-22, E22, Er22): off-chip a2d (analog to digital) not responding/problem- same as E- 6 on boards made after Jan 2006. With the display saying IDLE press 1,2,3 to see which thermocouple is reading oddly- really low or a negative number. Check thermocouple wires at their connection points to be sure that red is going to “-“ and yellow to “+”. If all seems well, the problem is probably that the thermocouple itself is flipped over/ reversed in the thermocouple connection block. Just pull the thermocouple out of the kiln wall and remove it from the thermocouple connection block, flip it over, reconnect it to the thermocouple connection block and re-install it in the kiln wall. See this link for thermocouple polarity. E- 23 (E-23, E23, Er23): SPI not responding/problem- try again or replace the board. E- 24 (E-24, E24, Er24): EE access while in the write cycle- try again or replace the board. E- 25 (E-25, Er25, E25): a2d (analog to digital conversion) not responding during power up try again or replace the board. E- 26 (E-26, Er26, E26): a2d (analog to digital conversion) not working properly/problem- try again or replace the board. E- E (E-E, EE): EE miscommunication or failure- try again or replace the board E-bd (Erbd): Bad board temperature. It usually will read very high- like 300°F at room temp (From IDLE press OTHER again and again until it says “bdT”, press ENTER to see the board temp). This may mean that there is too much heat in your kiln room on near the kiln. Try cooling off the panel with a small fan or getting more ventilation in the room. Try firing again. Sometimes this is an indication of a bad board that needs to be replaced (especially if it is obvious that the board temperature is not that hot.) Note that there is an "alarm" setting for this (factory set for 250°F). This can be changed as one of the settings in the "hidden menu". E- /: division by zero detected- try again or replace the board. E- - (Err-): power loss during EE write- try again or replace the board. E- R (E-R, ErrR, ER): ram and EE do not match- try again or replace the board. E- A (E-A, ErrA, EA): invalid program variable- try again or replace the board. E- 0 (E-0, Err0, E0): software error- try again or replace the board. E- 8 (E-8, Err8, E8): if cone fire temperature decreases in the last segment- a relay or an element has just failed. Loose or overheated power wires or connections and/or thermocouple connections or wires or old thermocouples can cause this too. Basically, something has happened that stopped the power from getting to one or more of the sections at the end of the firing. E- 9 (E-9, Err9, E9): wrong thermocouple hardware/software setting- rarely the board, only on ones made after Jan- ’06. Means the thermocouple circuit type (S or K), the S or K jumper setting on the back of the board, and/or the internal menu S or K setting do not all match. Start with the thermocouple circuit; wires and thermocouples must match, so determine whether they are S or K. Then check the S or K jumper setting on the back of the board. (Located approx center of the board under the marking “R97”. The tiny black plastic-coated jumper only touches one of the prongs it is set to K. If it's touching both prongs it is set to S). Be sure the jumper setting matches the type of thermocouples they have. Then check the setting in the menu (from IDLE press OTHER/ 4/ 4/ 3/ then OTHER again and again until it reads TYPE. Press ENTER and any number key will toggle it from K to S to K, set it to the Type of thermocouple they have, and press ENTER. Try running it again- still, E- 9, replace the board (this is rare to have to do). See this link for a photo and more. E- U (E-U): invalid user number - try again or replace the board FAIL alternating with TC1, TC2 or TC3: Generally, this is a failed thermocouple. The TC+ number indicates which position (TC1=top, TC2=middle, and TC3= bottom zone). (Pre-Jan ’06 boards often read this when they are turned on, press ENTER to get them to IDLE.) If the code is a solid E- P, ErrP, or PF it means a longer power outage, that the program is off and the kiln is cooling- restarting is usually OK except in complex multiple ramp programs. If it is a flashing E- P, ErrP, or PF it means the program is still running and that the power was just off for a few seconds. If the power interruption is brief, the kiln will continue to fire when power is restored; in this case, there will be no indication of a power failure. Press ENTER to clear the error code. PF, E- P (E-P), ErrP: error in the power supply. tC-- : The red and yellow thermocouple extension wires are reversed. L7KH (or something that looks like that): This is not an error code. It is the software version in the control. It will flash briefly on the screen when you first turn the control on. STUC (stuck) indicates a key is not releasing. The outputs are turned off and stop firing if in progress. It can be caused by moisture or stretched plastic from age or possible air bubbles under the overlay. Sometimes heating gently with a hair dryer will remove the problem temporarily. ROR - Not an error code. This just stands for the Rate of Rise. You might see this in conjunction with a E-1 error code. NOTES Can you restart the kiln after an error code? What is the worse that can happen after starting up from an error code? How and Why to Turn Off Error Codes Error Codes for the One-Touch Control Genesis Controller Error Codes NOTE: THE ERROR CODE SETTING DOES NOT AFFECT THESE ERRORS: ERROR 0: Software error Check the selected program and reprogram it, if necessary. If the error persists or the program does not hold in memory, the controller may need to be returned to the factory for service. ERROR 6: Problem with thermocouple leads This generally indicates the thermocouple is connected incorrectly, possibly reversed. Ensure the thermocouple extension wires are connected correctly to the controller and at all connection blocks back to the thermocouple. ERROR 8: In cone fire mode, temperature decreases in the last segment Possible causes are broken elements or relay failure. ERROR 9: Software thermocouple selection does not match the hardware thermocouple jumper selection The jumper on the circuit board and the setting for thermocouple TYPE in the software do not match. E--: Power loss during EE prom write Turn the controller off and back on. Recheck the selected program and reprogram it, if necessary. ERROR 1: Kiln temperature increasing slower than 120F per hour when ramping up This is a kiln heating problem, not a controller problem. Do the Full Power Test to check elements and relays. Low or dropping voltage to the kiln could also be the cause. A thermocouple reading incorrectly or improperly placed may also be the cause. ERROR 2: Kiln temperature 50F above hold temperature A relay latched in the “on” position may cause this error. Another possible cause is if the kiln lid is opened for rapid cooling, then closed, such as for glass firings. ERROR 3: Kiln temperature 50F below hold temperature Relay failure. ERROR 4: Kiln temperature 50F above the previous hold when ramping down Same causes as for E-2. ERROR 5: Kiln temperature 50F below traveling set point when ramping down. Relay failure. ERROR D: Kiln temperature 50F above traveling set point Stuck relay or stuck output. If using zone control, then the outputs or t/c’s may be in the wrong zones. Soft Watch Dog message: this means the WiFi module has an issue and the controller needs to be replaced or repaired. You can continue to fire with the controller but will be unable to use the Kiln Aid App or update the controller's firmware until it is repaired or replaced. You can disable WiFi in the meantime if necessary.

Error codes for the DynaTrol

Note: Many of these error codes have an ‘Err’ prefix rather than an ‘E-‘ prefix on kilns made before Jan 2006.

Here is a link to Bartlett's troubleshooting and video information.

Here is a link to Bartlett's information on connectivity problems for Genesis WIFI controls.

Errors are only detected when the error codes setting is turned ON:

E- A (E-A, EA, ErA, Er A, or Error A) - is the result of having too high a number programmed into one or more of the segments of the Vary-Fire program you are trying to fire.
E- d (E-d, ErrD, ED, ErD) – One of the thermocouples' temperatures is 50°F above the traveling set point. (Also see what it says under E- 9 below concerning the proper setting of thermocouple circuits)
E- 1 (E-1, Err1, E1, Er1) - Kiln temperature increasing slower than 12°F per hour when ramping for 22.5 min.
E- 2 (E-2, Err2, E2, Er2) - Kiln temperature 50°F above hold temperature (18 seconds). If this is a cooling segment, try using a cooling rate of 400°F or 500°F rather than one that is faster. Loose and overheated TC connections/ wires or old thermocouples can cause this too. Sometimes happens on an empty kiln during a first test firing.
E- 3 (E-3, Err3, E3, Er3) - Kiln temperature 50°F below hold temperature (18 seconds). Pretty rare. Usually seen if heat treating metal and adding or removing parts at a higher temp (heat-treaters typically will turn the error codes off). Other causes:
1. Extremely uneven loading or something touching a thermocouple could cause it.
2. Make sure your shelves are not blocking heat transfer between the zones (stagger shelves if you can). Usually, E- 1 will appear first from a slow-firing kiln as the kiln will slow itself and not move into the hold until all the thermocouples are reasonably close to the hold temp.
3. Loose or overheated thermocouple connections/ wires or old thermocouples can cause this too.
4. Can also be caused by programming a ramp rate that is too fast for the capacity of the kiln.
5. Check to make sure relays are connected to the proper outputs.
6. Check that thermocouples are connected to the proper inputs.
7. This can happen when a relay fails to turn back on during a hold and the temp drops. If you check the Last error status under the data menu in the menu of the controller you can see what zone caused the issue if they scroll through the info and get to the bottom of the scroll. Replace the relays or relay for the zone with the issue.
E- 4 (E-4, Err4, E4, Er4) - Kiln temperature 50°F above the previous hold when ramping down (18 seconds). Try using a cooling rate of 400°F or 500°F rather than one that is faster. Loose and overheated thermocouple connections/ wires or old thermocouples can cause this too.
E- 5 (E-5, Err5, E5, Er5) - Kiln temperature 50°F below traveling set point when ramping down (18 seconds). Pretty rare. Loose or overheated thermocouple connections/ wires or old thermocouples may cause this.
E- 6 (E-6, Err6, E6, Er6): reversed thermocouple leads or a negative (very cold) temp reading. If all the thermocouples are hooked up right, AND you are still getting negative readings, AND the Board Temp is reading negative too, replace the board (From IDLE press OTHER again and again until it says “bdT”, press ENTER to see the board temp)
ROR: ROR is not an error code, it means Rate of Rise and is often shown with an E-1.

Error codes are possible even when the error codes setting is turned OFF:

E- 20 (E-20, E20, Er20): did not receive a lock on Clock Generator Module- try again or replace the board.
E- 21 (E-21, E21, Er21): on-chip a2d (analog to digital) not responding/problem- try again or replace the board.
E- 22 (E-22, E22, Er22): off-chip a2d (analog to digital) not responding/problem- same as E- 6 on boards made after Jan 2006. With the display saying IDLE press 1,2,3 to see which thermocouple is reading oddly- really low or a negative number. Check thermocouple wires at their connection points to be sure that red is going to “-“ and yellow to “+”. If all seems well, the problem is probably that the thermocouple itself is flipped over/ reversed in the thermocouple connection block. Just pull the thermocouple out of the kiln wall and remove it from the thermocouple connection block, flip it over, reconnect it to the thermocouple connection block and re-install it in the kiln wall. See this link for thermocouple polarity.
E- 23 (E-23, E23, Er23): SPI not responding/problem- try again or replace the board.
E- 24 (E-24, E24, Er24): EE access while in the write cycle- try again or replace the board.
E- 25 (E-25, Er25, E25): a2d (analog to digital conversion) not responding during power up try again or replace the board.
E- 26 (E-26, Er26, E26): a2d (analog to digital conversion) not working properly/problem- try again or replace the board.
E- E (E-E, EE): EE miscommunication or failure- try again or replace the board
E-bd (Erbd): Bad board temperature. It usually will read very high- like 300°F at room temp (From IDLE press OTHER again and again until it says “bdT”, press ENTER to see the board temp). This may mean that there is too much heat in your kiln room on near the kiln. Try cooling off the panel with a small fan or getting more ventilation in the room. Try firing again. Sometimes this is an indication of a bad board that needs to be replaced (especially if it is obvious that the board temperature is not that hot.) Note that there is an "alarm" setting for this (factory set for 250°F). This can be changed as one of the settings in the "hidden menu".
E- /: division by zero detected- try again or replace the board.
E- - (Err-): power loss during EE write- try again or replace the board.
E- R (E-R, ErrR, ER): ram and EE do not match- try again or replace the board.
E- A (E-A, ErrA, EA): invalid program variable- try again or replace the board.
E- 0 (E-0, Err0, E0): software error- try again or replace the board.
E- 8 (E-8, Err8, E8): if cone fire temperature decreases in the last segment- a relay or an element has just failed. Loose or overheated power wires or connections and/or thermocouple connections or wires or old thermocouples can cause this too. Basically, something has happened that stopped the power from getting to one or more of the sections at the end of the firing.
E- 9 (E-9, Err9, E9): wrong thermocouple hardware/software setting- rarely the board, only on ones made after Jan- ’06. Means the thermocouple circuit type (S or K), the S or K jumper setting on the back of the board, and/or the internal menu S or K setting do not all match. Start with the thermocouple circuit; wires and thermocouples must match, so determine whether they are S or K. Then check the S or K jumper setting on the back of the board. (Located approx center of the board under the marking “R97”. The tiny black plastic-coated jumper only touches one of the prongs it is set to K. If it's touching both prongs it is set to S). Be sure the jumper setting matches the type of thermocouples they have. Then check the setting in the menu (from IDLE press OTHER/ 4/ 4/ 3/ then OTHER again and again until it reads TYPE. Press ENTER and any number key will toggle it from K to S to K, set it to the Type of thermocouple they have, and press ENTER. Try running it again- still, E- 9, replace the board (this is rare to have to do). See this link for a photo and more.
E- U (E-U): invalid user number - try again or replace the board
FAIL alternating with TC1, TC2 or TC3: Generally, this is a failed thermocouple. The TC+ number indicates which position (TC1=top, TC2=middle, and TC3= bottom zone).
1. (Pre-Jan ’06 boards often read this when they are turned on, press ENTER to get them to IDLE.)
2. If the code is a solid E- P, ErrP, or PF it means a longer power outage, that the program is off and the kiln is cooling- restarting is usually OK except in complex multiple ramp programs.
3. If it is a flashing E- P, ErrP, or PF it means the program is still running and that the power was just off for a few seconds. If the power interruption is brief, the kiln will continue to fire when power is restored; in this case, there will be no indication of a power failure.
4. Press ENTER to clear the error code.
PF, E- P (E-P), ErrP: error in the power supply.
tC-- : The red and yellow thermocouple extension wires are reversed.
L7KH (or something that looks like that): This is not an error code. It is the software version in the control. It will flash briefly on the screen when you first turn the control on.
STUC (stuck) indicates a key is not releasing. The outputs are turned off and stop firing if in progress. It can be caused by moisture or stretched plastic from age or possible air bubbles under the overlay. Sometimes heating gently with a hair dryer will remove the problem temporarily.
ROR - Not an error code. This just stands for the Rate of Rise. You might see this in conjunction with a E-1 error code.

NOTES

Genesis Controller Error Codes

NOTE: THE ERROR CODE SETTING DOES NOT AFFECT THESE ERRORS:

ERROR 0: Software error
Check the selected program and reprogram it, if necessary. If the error persists or the program does not hold in memory, the controller may need to be returned to the factory for service.

ERROR 6: Problem with thermocouple leads
This generally indicates the thermocouple is connected incorrectly, possibly reversed. Ensure the thermocouple extension wires are connected correctly to the controller and at all connection blocks back to the thermocouple.

ERROR 8: In cone fire mode, temperature decreases in the last segment
Possible causes are broken elements or relay failure.

ERROR 9: Software thermocouple selection does not match the hardware thermocouple jumper selection
The jumper on the circuit board and the setting for thermocouple TYPE in the software do not match.

E--: Power loss during EE prom write
Turn the controller off and back on. Recheck the selected program and reprogram it, if necessary.

ERROR 1: Kiln temperature increasing slower than 120F per hour when ramping up
This is a kiln heating problem, not a controller problem. Do the Full Power Test to check elements and relays. Low or dropping voltage to the kiln could also be the cause. A thermocouple reading incorrectly or improperly placed may also be the cause.

ERROR 2: Kiln temperature 50F above hold temperature
A relay latched in the “on” position may cause this error. Another possible cause is if the kiln lid is opened for rapid cooling, then closed, such as for glass firings.

ERROR 3: Kiln temperature 50F below hold temperature
Relay failure.

ERROR 4: Kiln temperature 50F above the previous hold when ramping down
Same causes as for E-2.

ERROR 5: Kiln temperature 50F below traveling set point when ramping down.
Relay failure.

ERROR D: Kiln temperature 50F above traveling set point
Stuck relay or stuck output. If using zone control, then the outputs or t/c’s may be in the wrong zones.

Soft Watch Dog message: this means the WiFi module has an issue and the controller needs to be replaced or repaired. You can continue to fire with the controller but will be unable to use the Kiln Aid App or update the controller's firmware until it is repaired or replaced. You can disable WiFi in the meantime if necessary.

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