Watlow Ramping Issues

[Fonzie1104]

Hey Everyone,

I am currently working with 3 different Watlow F4 Controllers attached on environmental chambers.  I have developed a full user interface in order to create a profile, save it and load it into the oven, and gather information off the oven such as current temperatures, humidity levels, step number, etc... We have 2 Single chamber ovens and a dual chamber oven.  My issue that I am encountering is that on the single channel ovens, when I set the Ramp Rate, the oven will randomly soak down to a temperature of -38C for a minute then execute the Ramp Rate at a much longer set time.  On the dual channels, the Ramp Time is suppose to take 1 hour to ramp from 80C to 30C but it is taking 9 hours.  Has anybody run into such an issue or know of a fix for it?  The ramp rate for the single channel will work most of the time but randomly will randomly throw a soak into the profile and  the ramp time for the dual channels will work on the rise but not on the temperature drop.  Any ideas??

[Ben]

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@Fonzie1104 wrote:

Hey Everyone,

I am currently working with 3 different Watlow F4 Controllers attached on environmental chambers. ...

.  Any ideas??

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Only one based on experience with a Cincinati Sub-Zero chamber with the same controller.

Make sure the PID is tuned correctly!

I spent four days on-site years ago watching out of control temperatures before I got the PID tuned correctly for the chamber.

Ben

[Coach_15]

What is the firmware version on this F4?  This can be viewed when the F4 is first powered up, and is displayed for a few seconds on the lower display.  If it is version 20.0, then I recommend that this firmware be upgraded on the F4.  To accomplish this you have a two options. 

1. You can upgrade it by sending it back to Watlow via an RMA.  If it is less than 3 years, then this will be covered under warranty.

2. You can upgrade to Rev 22.0, by using a zip, that we can send to you. Please read the file and follow the instructions per, F4 Flash Update Procedure.pdf; which is also included in this zip file.  

If you have further questions please call 507-494-5656, Watlow Tech Support line; and/or email wintechsupport.com

[RTSLVU]

Could you post your code?

We have a thermal chamber with that same controller here and I could run it and see what is goign on.

[Coach_15]

I tried to post it, but the size was 9 Meg, whereas the acceptable maximum size is 5 Meg. 

If you can give me your email address, I can email you the file.

[Fonzie1104]

The two that I tried my program on was a single channel (Rev. 2.06) and a dual channel (Rev. 2.09).  They both have the ramping issue that I posted above where the single channel ramps to -38C randomly and adds random soaks, and the dual channel does not ramp at the correct amount of time but soaks for the right time.

[Fonzie1104]

Email is posted in my profile

[Coach_15]

I could not see your email in your profile.  Therefore I am sending you the link to the F4 Flash Update.  Here it is:  http://www.watlow.com/downloads/en/software/f4%20flash%20update.zip .

Since you have 2.06 & 2.09; the latest upgrade for your F4 is Rev 11.00.  Again please read the F4 Flash Procedure pdf.

[Fonzie1104]

Thanks!  Will this work with a GPIB connection?

[Coach_15]

No, it needs to update via the RS-232 connection on the F4.