Heat press not heating up

[wayupnorth]

Just out of interest are all these components packaged in a control box ?

[decca591]

Yes, Both controllers are exactly same model, input output voltage etc !!!

just as an aside, if I put a low voltage thru the SSR then it operates and the press will indeed heat up, albeit with no temp control - but it does work.

As you said in an earlier post, the problem is that the controller is not sending anything to the SSR !


hope to be in early today - to resume my investigations

Decca

[willd]

Yes, Both controllers are exactly same model, input output voltage etc !!!

just as an aside, if I put a low voltage thru the SSR then it operates and the press will indeed heat up, albeit with no temp control - but it does work.

As you said in an earlier post, the problem is that the controller is not sending anything to the SSR !


hope to be in early today - to resume my investigations

Decca

Did you mean both SSRs are the same? Do they both have the input noted as 3 to 32V dc?

Do the two wires from the SSR input go to terminals 9 & 10 on the controller? ie. one in each?

[decca591]

Sorry, thought I'd replied to this one, mustn't have posted for some reason !!!

Both SSR's are exactly the same, same input (3 - 32)
2 wires going to 9 & 10 on the controller -

when I get in I'll have a look at the controller again !

DEcca.

[willd]

One other question is is this a press that you've had working, that then failed, or is it one that you've acquired in a non-functional state?

Everything I've seen about XMTE controllers indicates that they have voltage free contacts between terminals 8, 9 & 10, which means with an SSR which needs an external voltage input trigger the system can't work as it stands.

Since the SSRs that you have need a dc trigger, there would need to be some circuitry somewhere to supply it...

[decca591]

This press came non working, been in workshop about 18 mths waiting for me to look at it !

Had very little use, if any - all looks brand new even now, always considered it was worth keeping if only for spares, but thought it was a worthwhile project rather than scrap it !!!

it is certainly the trigger that is missing, there is a transformer in the controller so I assume the circuitry is also there, I am certainly missing something very obvious here, received a copy of the manual for the old controller, going to look thru that tonight for some clues.

Note: I hooked the old controller up earlier, although the controller display stayed off, the heater did start to warm up - never did before !


Decca

[willd]

The circuitry in the controller is largely (I would have said exclusively before your last post) to run the controller's internals.

I suspect that prior to your aquisition of the press someone else had attemped a repair, and had replaced the SSR with a different type, thus ensuring that it could never work until someone fitted the correct part again.

The fact that you note that the old controller caused the press to heat therefore is something of a paradox. Would you please disconnect the output of the controller and measure for any voltage between terminals 9 & 10?

Then check for any voltage between the input terminals of the SSR whilst the input is otherwise disconnected.

Then fit the new controller and check for voltage between terminals 9 & 10 on that one.

Report back your findings and I'll offer my definitive diagnosis .

[decca591]

Hi again !

Tied both controllers and the results are the same for both :

that is - there is no output on the connections between controller 9&10
there is also none on corresponding connections on the old controller !!

[willd]

Hi again !

Tied both controllers and the results are the same for both :

that is - there is no output on the connections between controller 9&10
there is also none on corresponding connections on the old controller !!

On that basis the press can't work as it stands - you have two options: either replace the SSR with a self powered input type (input voltage/current generated by the load) - (they are manufactured, but on a quick search I couldn't find one), or else fit a small mains to dc 5V or similar power supply to power the SSR input circuit.

[decca591]

Okay
Thanks for your time and your input on this, I can use DC direct to power up the SSR but I will lose the temp control as I am effectively taking it out of the loop - I had wondered about replacing this controller with a simpler Temp control unit - looks like the way forward is clear

Many thanks again to all of the help on here this week guys

Will post final result as and when !

Regards

Decca.