Hart Scientific

9150 Portable
Furnace
User’s Guide

Rev. 872501
Fluke Corporation, Hart Scientific Division
799 E. Utah Valley Drive • American Fork, UT 84003-9775 • USA
Phone: +1.801.763.1600 • Telefax: +1.801.763.1010
E-mail: [email protected]

www.hartscientific.com
Subject to change without notice. • Copyright © 2005 • Printed in USA

Rev. 872501
Table of Contents

1 Before You Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

1.1 Symbols Used . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.2.1 WARNINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.2.2 CAUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.3 Authorized Service Centers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

3 Specifications and Environmental Conditions . . . . . . . . . . 9

3.1 Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.2 Environmental Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.3 Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

4 Safety Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

5 Quick Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5.1 Unpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5.2 Set-Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5.3 Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5.4 Setting the Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

6 Parts and Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

6.1 Back Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
6.2 Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
6.3 Constant Temperature Block Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
6.3.1 Constant Temperature Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
6.3.2 Probe Sleeves and Tongs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

7 General Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
7.1 Changing Display Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
7.2 Switching to 230V Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

8 Controller Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
8.1 Well Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
8.2 Temperature Set-point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

i
8.2.1 Programmable Set-points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
8.2.2 Set-point Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
8.2.3 Temperature Scale Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
8.3 Scan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
8.3.1 Scan Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
8.3.2 Scan Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
8.4 Ramp and Soak Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
8.4.1 Program Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
8.4.2 Number of Program Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
8.4.3 Program Set-Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
8.4.4 Program Function Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
8.4.5 Program Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
8.5 Secondary Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
8.6 Heater Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
8.7 Set-point Voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
8.8 Proportional Band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
8.9 Controller Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
8.10 Operating Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
8.10.1 High Limit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
8.10.2 Soft Cutout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
8.10.3 Cutout Reset Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
8.11 Serial Interface Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
8.11.1 BAUD Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
8.11.2 Sample Period. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
8.11.3 Duplex Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
8.11.4 Linefeed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
8.12 Calibration Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
8.12.1 Hard Cutout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
8.12.2 CT1, CT2, and CT3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
8.12.3 CE1, CE2, and CE3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

9 Digital Communication Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

9.1 Serial Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
9.1.1 Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
9.1.2 Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
9.1.2.1 BAUD Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
9.1.2.2 Sample Period. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
9.1.2.3 Duplex Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
9.1.2.4 Linefeed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
9.1.3 Serial Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
9.2 Interface Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

10 Test Probe Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

10.1 Calibrating a Single Probe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
10.2 Furnace Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

ii
10.2.1 Stabilization and Accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

11 Calibration Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
11.1 Calibration Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
11.2 Calibration Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

12 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

13 Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
13.1 Troubleshooting Problems, Possible Causes, and Solutions . . . . 49
13.2 Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
13.2.1 EMC Directive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
13.2.2 Low Voltage Directive (Safety) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

iii
1 Before You Start
Symbols Used

1 Before You Start

1.1 Symbols Used

Table 1 lists the International Electrical Symbols. Some or all of these symbols
may be used on the instrument or in this manual.
Table 1 International Electrical Symbols

Symbol Description

AC (Alternating Current)

AC-DC

Battery

CE Complies with European Union Directives

DC

Double Insulated

Electric Shock

Fuse

PE Ground

Hot Surface (Burn Hazard)

Read the User’s Manual (Important Information)

Off

On

1
9150 Portable Furnace
User’s Guide

Symbol Description
Canadian Standards Association

OVERVOLTAGE (Installation) CATEGORY II, Pollution Degree 2 per IEC1010-1 re-

fers to the level of Impulse Withstand Voltage protection provided. Equipment of
OVERVOLTAGE CATEGORY II is energy-consuming equipment to be supplied from
the fixed installation. Examples include household, office, and laboratory appliances.
C-TIC Australian EMC Mark

The European Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive

(2002/96/EC) mark.

1.2 Safety Information

Use this instrument only as specified in this manual. Otherwise, the protection
provided by the instrument may be impaired.
The following definitions apply to the terms “Warning” and “Caution”.
• “Warning” identifies conditions and actions that may pose hazards to the
user.
• “Caution” identifies conditions and actions that may damage the instru-
ment being used.

1.2.1 WARNINGS
To avoid personal injury, follow these guidelines.
BURN HAZARD - DO NOT touch the well access surface of the unit.
The temperature of the well access is the same as the actual temperature shown
on the display. If the unit is set at 600°C and the display reads 600°C, the well
is at 600°C.
The top sheet metal of the furnace may exhibit extreme temperatures for areas
close to the well access.
The air over the well can reach temperatures greater than 200°C. Probes should
only be inserted and removed from the unit when the unit is set at temperatures
less than 200°C.
DO NOT turn off the unit at temperatures higher than 100°C. This could create
a hazardous situation. Select a set-point less than 100°C and allow the unit to
cool before turning it off.
DO NOT remove inserts and insulators at high temperatures. Inserts and insu-
lators are the same temperature as the display temperature.

2
1 Before You Start
Safety Information

DO NOT operate this unit without a properly grounded, properly polarized

power cord.
DO NOT connect this unit to a non-grounded, non-polarized outlet.
HIGH VOLTAGE is used in the operation of this equipment. SEVERE IN-
JURY OR DEATH may result if personnel fail to observe safety precautions.
Before working inside the equipment, turn the power off and disconnect the
power cord.
Always replace the fuse with one of the same rating, voltage, and type.
Overhead clearance is required. DO NOT place this instrument under a cabinet
or other structure.
DO NOT use this unit for any application other than calibration work.
DO NOT use this unit in environments other than those listed in the user’s
guide.
DO NOT turn the unit upside down with the inserts in place; the inserts will
fall out of the unit.
DO NOT operate near flammable materials.
Use of this instrument at HIGH TEMPERATURES for extended periods of
time requires caution.
Completely unattended high temperature operation is not recommended for
safety reasons.
Before initial use, after transport, and anytime the furnace has not been ener-
gized for more than 10 days, the calibrator must be energized for a dry-out pe-
riod of 1 to 2 hours before it can be assumed to meet all of the safety
requirements of the IEC1010-1.
Materials used in this furnace may be irritating to skin, eyes, and respiratory
tract. Consult the material manufacturer’s MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet).
Proper ventilation and safety precautions must be observed.
Follow all safety guidelines listed in the user’s guide.
Calibration Equipment should only be used by Trained Personnel.

1.2.2 CAUTIONS
To avoid possible damage to the instrument, follow these guidelines.
DO NOT plug the unit into 230 V if the heater switches and fuse holder read
115 V. This action will cause the fuses to blow and may damage the instrument.
Components and heater lifetime can be shortened by continuous high tempera-
ture operation.
Most probes have handle temperature limits. Be sure that the probe hand tem-
perature limit is not exceeded in the air above the unit.

3
9150 Portable Furnace
User’s Guide

Allow for test probe expansion inside the well as the furnace heats.
DO NOT use fluids to clean out the well.
Never introduce foreign material into the probe hole of the insert. Fluids, etc.
can leak into the calibrator causing damage.
DO NOT change the values of the calibration constants from the factory set
values. The correct setting of these parameters is important to the safety and
proper operation of the calibrator.
DO NOT drop or force the probe stems into the well. This type of action can
cause a shock to the sensor and affect the calibration.
DO use a ground fault interrupt device.

1.3 Authorized Service Centers

Please contact one of the following authorized Service Centers to coordinate
service on your Hart product:

Fluke Corporation, Hart Scientific Division

799 E. Utah Valley Drive
American Fork, UT 84003-9775
USA

Phone: +1.801.763.1600
Telefax: +1.801.763.1010
E-mail: [email protected]

Fluke Nederland B.V.

Customer Support Services
Science Park Eindhoven 5108
5692 EC Son
NETHERLANDS

Phone: +31-402-675300
Telefax: +31-402-675321
E-mail: [email protected]

Fluke Int'l Corporation

Service Center - Instrimpex
Room 2301 Sciteck Tower
22 Jianguomenwai Dajie

4
1 Before You Start
Authorized Service Centers

Chao Yang District

Beijing 100004, PRC
CHINA

Phone: +86-10-6-512-3436
Telefax: +86-10-6-512-3437
E-mail: [email protected]

Fluke South East Asia Pte Ltd.

Fluke ASEAN Regional Office
Service Center
60 Alexandra Terrace #03-16
The Comtech (Lobby D)
118502
SINGAPORE

Phone: +65 6799-5588

Telefax: +65 6799-5588
E-mail: [email protected]
When contacting these Service Centers for support, please have the following
information available:
• Model Number
• Serial Number
• Voltage
• Complete description of the problem

5
2 Introduction

2 Introduction
The Hart Scientific 9150 thermocouple furnace can be used for calibrating ther-
mocouple and RTD temperature probes. Calibrations may be done over a range
of 150°C to 1200°C (302°F to 2192°F). Temperature display of the 9150 is 0.1
degrees below 1000°and 1 degrees above 1000°.
The furnace features:
• Rapid heating and cooling
• Interchangeable multiple hole probe sleeves
• Convenient handle
• RS-232 interface
Built in programmable features include:
• Temperature scan rate control
• Eight set-point memory
• Adjustable readout in °C or °F
The temperature is accurately controlled by Hart’s hybrid analog/digital con-
troller. The controller uses a Type S thermocouple as a sensor and controls the
well temperature with a solid state relay (triac) driven heater. The furnace
should be calibrated yearly by trained personnel at Hart Scientific.
The LED front panel continuously shows the current well temperature. The
temperature may be easily set with the control buttons to any desired tempera-
ture within the specified range. The calibrator’s multiple fault protection de-
vices insure user and instrument safety and protection.
The 9150 calibrator furnace was designed for portability, low cost, and ease of
operation. Through proper use, the instrument will provide continued accurate
calibration of temperature sensors and devices. The user should be familiar
with the safety guidelines and operating procedures of the furnace as described
in this manual.

7
3 Specifications and Environmental Conditions
Specifications

3 Specifications and Environmental

Conditions

3.1 Specifications
Temperature Range 150–1200°C (302–2192°F)

Display Resolution 0.1° to 999.9°, 1° above 1000°

Stability ±0.5°C

Display Accuracy ±5.0°C

Well Diameter 1.25" (32 mm)

Well Depth 4" (102 mm)

Heating Time 35 minutes to 1200°C

Cooling Time 140 minutes with block

Well to Well Uniformity ±2.5°C (insert “C” at 1200°C)

Stabilization 20 minutes

Power 115 VAC (±10%), 10.5 amps [230 VAC (±10%), 5.2 amps] switchable,
50/60 Hz, 1200 W

Size 12.4" H x 8.2" W x 12.4"D (315 x 208 x 315 mm)

Weight 28 lb. (13 kg)

Fault Protection Sensor burnout and short protection, over temperature thermal cutout

3.2 Environmental Conditions

Although the instrument has been designed for optimum durability and trou-
ble-free operation, it must be handled with care. The instrument should not be
operated in an excessively dusty or dirty environment. Maintenance and clean-
ing recommendations can be found in the Maintenance Section of this manual.
The instrument operates safely under the following conditions:
• temperature range: 5 - 50°C (41 - 122°F)
• ambient relative humidity: 15 - 50%
• pressure: 75kPa - 106kPa
• mains voltage within ± 10% of nominal
• vibrations in the calibration environment should be minimized
• altitude less than 2000 meters

9
9150 Portable Furnace
User’s Guide

3.3 Warranty
Fluke Corporation, Hart Scientific Division (Hart) warrants this product to be
free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service
for a period as stated in our current product catalog from the date of shipment.
This warranty extends only to the original purchaser and shall not apply to any
product which, in Hart's sole opinion, has been subject to misuse, alteration,
abuse or abnormal conditions of operation or handling.
Software is warranted to operate in accordance with its programmed instruc-
tions on appropriate Hart products. It is not warranted to be error free.
Hart's obligation under this warranty is limited to repair or replacement of a
product which is returned to Hart within the warranty period and is determined,
upon examination by Hart, to be defective. If Hart determines that the defect or
malfunction has been caused by misuse, alteration, abuse or abnormal condi-
tions or operation or handling, Hart will repair the product and bill the pur-
chaser for the reasonable cost of repair.
To exercise this warranty, the purchaser must forward the product after calling
or writing an Authorized Service Center (see Section 1.3). The service centers
assume NO risk for in-transit damage.
THE FOREGOING WARRANTY IS PURCHASER'S SOLE AND EXCLU-
SIVE REMEDY AND IS IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EX-
PRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY
IMPLIED WARRANTY OR MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR ANY
PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE. HART SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR
ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAM-
AGES OR LOSS WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE.

10
4 Safety Guidelines

4 Safety Guidelines
• Operate the instrument in room temperatures between 5-50°C (41-122°F).
Allow sufficient air circulation by leaving at least 6 inches of space be-
tween the instrument and nearby objects. Overhead clearance needs to al-
low for safe and easy insertion and removal of probes for calibration.
• The furnace is a precision instrument. Although it has been designed for
optimum durability and trouble free operation, it must be handled with
care. Always carry the unit in an upright position to prevent the probe
sleeves from dropping out. The convenient fold-up handle allows one
hand carrying. The instrument should not be operated in excessively wet,
oily, dusty, or dirty environments. It is important to keep the well of the
instrument clean and clear of any foreign matter. Do not operate near
flammable materials.
• DO NOT use fluids to clean out the well.
• The instrument can generate extreme temperatures. Precautions must be
taken to prevent personal injury or damage to objects. Probes may be ex-
tremely hot or cold when removed from the instrument. Cautiously handle
probes to prevent personal injury. Always use the special sleeve tongs that
are supplied with the calibrator to remove the sleeve. Carefully place
probes on a heat/cold resistant surface or rack until they are at room tem-
perature. Never place any objects other than the special probe sleeves sup-
plied with the calibrator into the well.
• Use only a grounded AC mains supply of the appropriate voltage to
power the instrument. Refer to Section 3.1, Specifications, for power de-
tails.
• Before initial use, after transport, and anytime the furnace has not been
energized for more than 10 days, the instrument needs to be energized for
a “dry-out” period of 1-2 hours before it can be assumed to meet all of the
safety requirements of the IEC 1010-1.
• The instrument is equipped with operator accessible fuses. If a fuse
blows, it may be due to a power surge or failure of a component. Replace
the fuse once. If the fuse blows a second time, it is likely caused by fail-
ure of a component part. If this occurs, contact Hart Scientific Customer
Service. Always replace the fuse with one of the same rating, voltage, and
type. Never replace the fuse with one of a higher current rating.
• If a mains supply power fluctuation occurs, immediately turn off the in-
strument. Power bumps from brownouts and blackouts could damage the
instrument. Wait until the power has stabilized before re-energizing the
instrument.
• Air circulated through the unit keeps the chassis cool. DO NOT SHUT
OFF THE FURNACE WHILE AT HIGH TEMPERATURES.

11
5 Quick Start
Unpacking

5 Quick Start

5.1 Unpacking
Unpack the furnace carefully and inspect it for any damage that may have oc-
curred during shipment. If there is shipping damage, notify the carrier
immediately.
Verify that the following components are present:
• 9150 Furnace
• 3150, Insert
• Insert Insulator
• Power Cord
• Manual
• RS-232 Cable

5.2 Set-Up
Place the calibrator on a flat surface with at least 6 inches of free space around
the instrument. Plug the power cord into a grounded mains outlet. Observe that
the nominal voltage corresponds to that indicated on the back of the calibrator.
Carefully insert the probe sleeve into the well. (DO NOT drop the sleeve in the
well.) Probe sleeve holes should be of the smallest diameter possible while still
allowing the probe to slide in and out easily. Sleeves with various hole sizes are
available from Hart Scientific. The well must be clear of any foreign objects,
dirt and grit before the sleeve is inserted. The sleeve is inserted with the two
small tong holes positioned upward.
Turn on the power to the calibrator by toggling the switch on the power entry
module. The fan should begin quietly blowing air through the instrument and
the controller display should illuminate after 3 seconds. After a brief self test
the controller should begin normal operation. If the unit fails to operate please
check the power connection.
The display begins to show the well temperature and the well heater starts oper-
ating to bring the temperature of the well to the set-point temperature.

5.3 Power
Plug the furnace power cord into a mains outlet of the proper voltage, fre-
quency, and current capability. Refer to Section 3.1, Specifications, for power
details. Turn the furnace on using the rear panel “POWER” switch. The furnace
turns on and begins to heat to the previously programmed temperature
set-point. The front panel LED display indicates the actual furnace temperature.

13
9150 Portable Furnace
User’s Guide

5.4 Setting the Temperature

Section 8 explains in detail how to set the temperature set-point on the calibra-
tor using the front panel keys. The procedure is summarized here.
(1) Press “SET” twice to access the set-point value.
(2) Press “SET” to move the cursor to the units that need changing.
(3) Press “UP” or “DOWN” to change the set-point value.
(4) Press “SET” until the display exits to store the new set-point.
(5) Press “EXIT” to return to the temperature display without saving the
new set-point value.
When the set-point temperature is changed the controller switches the well
heater on or off to raise or lower the temperature. The displayed well tempera-
ture gradually changes until it reaches the set-point temperature. The well may
require 35 minutes to reach the set-point depending on the span. Another 10 to
20 minutes is required to stabilize within ±0.5°C of the set-point. Ultimate sta-
bility may take 15 to 20 minutes more of stabilization time.

14
6 Parts and Controls
Back Panel

6 Parts and Controls

The user should become familiar with the furnace back panel, front panel, and
constant temperature block assembly.

6.1 Back Panel

The back panel (Figure 1) features the Power Entry Module (PEM) that con-
tains the power cord socket, the power switch, and the heater voltage switch,
the serial port, and the fan.

Figure 1 Back Panel

Power Cord - On the back of the calibrator is the removable power cord inlet
that plugs into an IEC grounded socket.
Power Switch - The power switch is located on the power entry module
(PEM). The PEM also houses the fuses and the dual voltage selector. The PEM
and Heater Voltage Switch allow the unit to be field switchable for 115 VAC
(±10%) or 230 VAC (±10%) operation.
Heater Voltage Switch - To be used only when changing the input voltage.
(See Section 7.2 for instructions.)
Serial Port - A DB-9 male connector is present for interfacing the calibrator to
a computer or terminal with serial RS-232 communications.

15
9150 Portable Furnace
User’s Guide

Fan - The fan inside the calibrator runs continuously when the unit is being op-
erated to provide cooling for the instrument. Slots at the top and sides of the
calibrator are provided for airflow. The area around the calibrator must be kept
clear to allow adequate ventilation. The airflow is directed upward and can be
extremely hot.

6.2 Front Panel

The front panel consists of the controller display and the controller keypad as
shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2 Front Panel

Controller Display - The digital display is an important part of the temperature

controller because it not only displays set and actual temperatures but also dis-
plays various calibrator functions, settings, and constants. The display shows
temperatures in units according to the selected scale °C or °F.
Controller Keypad - The four button keypad allows easy setting of the
set-point temperature. The control buttons (SET, DOWN, UP, and EXIT) are
used to set the calibrator temperature set-point, access and set other operating
parameters, and access and set calibration parameters.
Setting the control temperature is done directly in degrees of the current scale.
It can be set to one-tenth of a degree Celsius or Fahrenheit.
The functions of the buttons are as follows:
SET – Used to display the next parameter in the menu and to store parameters
to the displayed value.
DOWN – Used to decrement the displayed value of parameters.
UP – Used to increment the displayed value.

16
6 Parts and Controls
Constant Temperature Block Assembly

EXIT – Used to exit from a menu. When EXIT is pressed any changes made to
the displayed value are ignored.

6.3 Constant Temperature Block Assembly

The constant temperature block assembly is shown in Figure 3 and consists of
removable inserts.

Figure 3 Removable Inserts

6.3.1 Constant Temperature Block

The “Block” is made of aluminum-oxide and provides a relatively constant and
accurate temperature environment for the sensor that is to be calibrated. A
1.25-inch diameter well is provided that may be used for sensors of that size or
may be sleeved down with various sized multi-hole probe sleeves. Heaters sur-
round the block assembly and provide even heat to the sensor. A Type S ther-
mocouple is used to sense and control the temperature of the block. The entire
assembly is surrounded by a heat reflector to thermally isolate the chassis and
electronics.

6.3.2 Probe Sleeves and Tongs

The calibrator is supplied with a multi-hole aluminum-oxide probe sleeve and
insulator sleeve for insertion into the calibrator well and tongs for removing
sleeves. Probe sleeves of various hole sizes are available to allow the user’s
probe to fit snugly into the well whatever the diameter of the probe.
Insert A and an insulator is provided unless otherwise indicated . The inserts
are:

17
9150 Portable Furnace
User’s Guide

• Insert A Model 3150-2 (variety block): 1/2”, 1/4”, 3/8”, 3/16”, 1/8”, and
1/16” holes
• Insert B Model 3150-3 (comparison block): two each 3/8”, 1/4”, and
3/16” holes
or
• Insert C Model 3150-4 (1/4” comparison block): six 1/4” holes

18
7 General Operation
Changing Display Units

7 General Operation

7.1 Changing Display Units

The 9150 can display temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit. The temperature
units are shipped from the factory set to Celsius. To change to Fahrenheit or
back to Celsius there are two ways:
1 - Press the “SET” and “DOWN” simultaneously.
or
1 - Press the “SET” key three times from the temperature display and then
“EXIT” to show the units.

Un= C
2 - Press the “UP” or “DOWN” key to change units.
3 - Press “SET” to store changes and then “EXIT” to display the temperature.

7.2 Switching to 230V Operation

The 9150 is switchable from 115 VAC to 230 VAC 50/60 Hz. Switching the
voltage can change the calibration, so the unit should be calibrated after
changing the input voltage.
To change from 115 VAC to 230 VAC
1. Unplug the unit.
2. With a small straight slot screwdriver remove the fuse holder from the
PEM located on the back of the unit.
3. Replace the two 12A F 250V fuses with two 6.3A F 250V fuses.
4. Replace the fuse holder with the “230V” in the display window.
5. Lay the unit on its side and with a small straight slot screwdriver, move
the heater switches located on the bottom of the unit to display “230V”.
Note: If the heater switches and the fuse holder do not all read “230V when
complete, the unit will either not heat or only heat at a fraction of its capacity.
If not done properly, the unit could become damaged and void the calibration
and warranty. Refer to Section 3.1, Specifications, for correct fuse usage.

CAUTION: Do not plug the unit into 230V if the heater switches and fuse
holder read 115V. This will cause the fuses to blow and may damage the
instrument.

19
8 Controller Operation
Well Temperature

8 Controller Operation
This section discusses in detail how to operate the furnace temperature control-
ler using the front control panel. By using the front panel key-switches and
LED display the user may monitor the well temperature, adjust the set-point
temperature in degrees C or F, monitor the heater output power, adjust the con-
troller proportional band, and program the probe calibration parameters, operat-
ing parameters, serial interface configuration, and controller calibration
parameters. Operation of the functions and parameters are shown in the
flowchart in Figure 4 on page 22. This chart may be copied for reference.
In the following discussion a button with the word SET, UP, DOWN, or EXIT
inside indicates the panel button while the dotted box indicates the display
reading. Explanation of the button or display reading are to the right of each
button or display value.

8.1 Well Temperature

The digital LED display on the front panel allows direct viewing of the actual
well temperature. This temperature value is what is normally shown on the dis-
play. The units, C or F, of the temperature value are displayed at the right. For
example,

962.3 C Well temperature in degrees Celsius

The temperature displayed function may be accessed from any other function
by pressing the “EXIT” button.

8.2 Temperature Set-point

The temperature set-point can be set to any value within the range and resolu-
tion as given in the specifications. Be careful not to exceed the safe upper tem-
perature limit of any device inserted into the well.
Setting the temperature involves two steps: (1) select the set-point memory and
(2) adjust the set-point value.

8.2.1 Programmable Set-points

The controller stores 8 set-point temperatures in memory. The set-points can be
quickly recalled to conveniently set the calibrator to a previously programmed
temperature set-point.
To set the temperature one must first select the set-point memory. This function
is accessed from the temperature display function by pressing “SET”. The
number of the set-point memory currently being used is shown at the left on the
display followed by the current set-point value.

21
9150 Portable Furnace
User’s Guide

Figure 4 Controller Operation Flowchart

22
8 Controller Operation
Temperature Set-point

200.0 C Well temperature in degrees Celsius

S Access set-point memory

1. 200. Set-point memory 1, 200.0°C currently used

To change the set-point memory press “UP” or “DOWN”.

5. 900. New set-point memory 5, 900.0°C

Press “SET” to accept the new selection and access the set-point value.

S Accept selected set-point memory

8.2.2 Set-point Value

The set-point value may be adjusted after selecting the set-point memory and
pressing “SET”.

0900.0 Set-point value in °C

The first digit flashes on and off. If the set-point value is correct, press “EXIT”
to display the temperature scale units.
If the first digit is correct press “SET”.
To adjust the first digit, press “UP” or “DOWN”. Then, press “SET” to go to
the second digit. The second digit of the temperature should now be flashing.
Adjust this digit by pressing “UP” or “DOWN”.
Press “SET” to accept the second digit and repeat until the last digit has been
adjusted.

0962.7 New set-point value

Press “SET” to accept the new set-point. If “EXIT” is pressed all changes made
to the set-point are discarded.

S Accept new set-point value

8.2.3 Temperature Scale Units

Temperature Scale Units of the controller are set by the user to degrees Celsius
(°C) or Fahrenheit (°F). The units are used in displaying the well temperature,
set-point, and proportional band.
Press “SET” after adjusting the set-point value to change display units.

Un= C
23
9150 Portable Furnace
User’s Guide

Scale units currently selected

Press “UP” or “DOWN” to change the units.

Un= F New units selected

Press “EXIT” to display the well temperature or press “SET” to access the scan
control.

8.3 Scan
The scan rate can be set and enabled so that when the set-point is changed the
furnace heats or cools at a specified rate (degrees per minute) until it reaches
the new set-point. With the scan disabled the furnace heats or cools at the maxi-
mum possible rate.

8.3.1 Scan Control

The scan is controlled with the scan on/off function that appears in the main
menu after the temperature scale units.

Sc=OFF Scan function off

Press “UP” or “DOWN” to toggle the scan on or off.

Sc=On Scan function on

Press “SET” to accept the present setting and access the scan rate.

S Accept scan setting

8.3.2 Scan Rate

The next function in the main menu is the scan rate. The scan rate can be set
from .1 to 99.9°C/minute. The maximum scan rate however is actually limited
by the natural heating or cooling rate of the instrument. This rate is often less
than 100°C/minute, especially when cooling.
The scan rate function appears in the main menu after the scan control function.
The scan rate units are in degrees per minute, degrees C or F depending on the
selected units.

Sr=10.0 Scan rate in °C/min.

Press “UP” or “DOWN” to change the scan rate.

Sr= 5.8 New scan rate

24
8 Controller Operation
Ramp and Soak Program

Press “SET” to accept the new scan rate and continue.

S Accept scan rate

8.4 Ramp and Soak Program

The ramp and soak program feature for the 9150 allows the user to program a
number of set-points, cycle the furnace automatically between the temperatures
at a scan rate set by the user, and hold the furnace at each temperature for a pe-
riod of time set by the user. The user can select one of four different cycle func-
tions. The Ramp and Soak Menu is accessed by pressing “SET” and “UP”
simultaneously.

8.4.1 Program Points

The 9150 contains eight “program points”. Each program point contains a
set-point, scan rate, and soak time. When the unit is in program mode the unit
heats or cools to the current program set-point at the current program scan rate.
Once the program set-point is reached the unit waits for the program soak time
before heating or cooling to the next program set-point. To access the Ramp
and Soak Program Menu press “SET” and “UP” simultaneously.

962.4 Well temperature

S+U Access Ramp and Soak Program Menu

ProG Ramp and Soak Program

Press “SET” to access the number of program points.

8.4.2 Number of Program Points

The first parameter in the program menu is the number of program points to cy-
cle through. Up to 8 set-points can be used in a ramp and soak program.

Pn= 8 Number of program points to cycle through

Use the “UP” and “DOWN” buttons to change the program points. The valid
range is from 2 to 8.

Pn= 4 New number of program points

Press “SET” to continue. Pressing “EXIT” causes any changes made to the pa-
rameter to be discarded.

S Accept the new number of program points.

25
9150 Portable Furnace
User’s Guide

8.4.3 Program Set-Points

The controller allows the user to adjust up to eight program points. These are
accessed by pressing “SET” after setting the number of program points as de-
scribed in Section 8.4.2. Each program point has three associated parameters:
the program set-point, the program scan rate, and the program hold (or soak)
time. After adjusting the number of program points press “SET”.

SP 1 Program point 1

Use the “UP” or “DOWN” buttons to select any of the program points. The
controller only allows the user to edit program points that are less than or equal
to the number of programs points selected as explained in Section 8.4.2. For
example, if the user has selected 4 program points program points 5, 6, 7, and 8
cannot be edited.

SP 4 Program point 4

Press “SET” to edit a program point.

S Edit program point

The first value to edit is the program set-point.

0962.7 Program set-point value in °C

Use “UP”, “DOWN”, and “SET” to adjust the set-point as each digit flashes.

0970.0 New program set-point value for program point 4

Press “SET” to save the new set-point value or “EXIT” to discard changes.

S Accept the program point set-point

The next value to edit is the program soak time.

Pt 4 Program point 4 soak time

Press “SET” to edit the program soak time.

S Edit program point soak time

00001 Current program point soak time

Use “UP”, “DOWN”, and “SET” to adjust the program soak time. This value
can be any integer from 0 to 14400. This time is the minutes the program
set-point maintains after the temperature of the furnace has settled and before
proceeding to the next set-point. Each digit flashes individually to indicate that

26
8 Controller Operation
Ramp and Soak Program

it can be adjusted.

00200 Program point 4 soak time set for 200 minutes

Press “SET” to save the new soak-time value or “EXIT” to discard changes

S Accept the program point soak time

The next value to edit is the program scan rate. This value is ignored if scan is
not enabled for the unit (See Section 8.3.1).

Sr 4 Program point 4 scan rate

Press “SET” to edit the program scan rate.

S Edit the program point scan rate

10.0 Current program point 4 scan rate

Use “UP” and “DOWN” to adjust the program scan rate.

11.3 New program point 4 scan rate

Press “SET” to save the new scan rate value or “EXIT” to discard changes.

S Accept the program point scan rate

After “SET” is pressed the controller advances to the next program point or, if
there are no more program points to edit, exits to the Program Function Menu.
Repeat the above steps to edit any program point.

8.4.4 Program Function Mode

The next parameter is the program function or cycle mode. There are four pos-
sible modes which determine whether the program scans up (from set-point 1
to n) only or both up and down (from set-point n to 1), and also whether the
program stops after one cycle or repeats the cycle indefinitely. The table below
shows the action of each of the four program mode settings.

Function Action
1 up-stop
2 up-down-stop
3 up-repeat
4 up-down-repeat

Pf=1
27
9150 Portable Furnace
User’s Guide

Program mode
Press “SET” to adjust the program mode and the “UP” or “DOWN” buttons to
change the mode.

Pf=4 New mode

Press “SET” to continue or “EXIT” to continue without saving the new value.

S Save new setting

8.4.5 Program Control

The final parameter in the program menu is the control parameter. You may
choose between three options to either start the program from the beginning,
continue the program from where it was when it was stopped, or stop the
program.

P=OFF Program presently off

Use the “UP” or “DOWN” buttons to change the status.

P=Go Start cycle from beginning

Press “SET” to activate the new program control command and return to the
temperature display.

S Activate new command.

8.5 Secondary Menu

Functions which are used less often are accessed within the secondary menu.
The secondary menu is accessed by pressing “SET” and “EXIT” simulta-
neously and then releasing. The first function in the secondary menu is the
heater power display. (See Figure 4 on page 22.)

8.6 Heater Power

The temperature controller controls the temperature of the furnace by pulsing
the heater on and off. The total power being applied to the heater is determined
by the duty cycle or the ratio of heater on time to the pulse cycle time. By
knowing the amount of heating the user can tell if the calibrator is heating up to
the set-point, cooling down, or controlling at a constant temperature. Monitor-
ing the percent heater power lets the user know how stable the well temperature
is. With good control stability the percent heating power should not fluctuate
more than ±1% within one minute.
The heater power display is accessed in the secondary menu. Press “SET” and

28
8 Controller Operation
Set-point Voltage

”EXIT” simultaneously and release. The heater power is displayed as a percent-

age of full power.

962.4 Well temperature

S+E Access heater power in secondary menu

100.0 P Heater power in percent

To exit out of the secondary menu press “EXIT”. To continue on to the

set-point voltage setting function press “SET”.

8.7 Set-point Voltage

The set-point voltage is displayed for informational purposes and is used to cal-
ibrate the instrument.
The value of the set-point voltage changes when the set-point temperature is
changed and also when DC1 and DC2 are adjusted.

S+E Access heater power in secondary menu

100.0 P Heater power in percent

S Access set-point voltage

11.934U Set-point voltage in millivolts

To exit out of the secondary menu, press “EXIT”. To continue on to the propor-
tional band setting function press “SET”.

8.8 Proportional Band

In a proportional controller such a this the heater output power is proportional
to the well temperature over a limited range of temperatures around the
set-point. This range of temperature is called proportional band. At the bottom
of the proportional band the heater output is 100%. At the top of the propor-
tional band the heater output is 0. Thus as the temperature rises the heater
power is reduced, which consequently tends to lower the temperature back
down. In this way the temperature is maintained at a fairly constant
temperature.
The temperature stability of the well and response time depend on the width of
the proportional band. If the band is too wide the well temperature deviates ex-
cessively from the set-point due to varying external conditions. This deviation
is because the power output changes very little with temperature and the con-

29
9150 Portable Furnace
User’s Guide

troller cannot respond very well to changing conditions or noise in the system.
If the proportional band is too narrow the temperature may swing back and
forth because the controller overreacts to temperature variations. For best con-
trol stability the proportional band must be set for the optimum width.
The proportional band width is set at the factory to about 30.0°C. The propor-
tional band width may be altered by the user if he desires to optimize the con-
trol characteristics for a particular application.
The proportional band width is easily adjusted from the front panel. The width
may be set to discrete values in degrees C or F depending on the selected units.
The proportional band adjustment can be accessed within the secondary menu.
Press “SET” and “EXIT” to enter the secondary menu and show the heater
power. Then press “SET” twice to access the proportional band.

S+E Access heater power in secondary menu

100.0 P Heater power in percent

S Access set-point voltage

11.934 U Set-point voltage in millivolts

S Access proportional band

ProP Flashes and then displays the setting

30.0 Proportional band

To change the proportional band, press “UP” or “DOWN.”

30.5 New proportional band setting

To store the new setting press “SET”. Press “EXIT” to continue without storing
the new value.

S Accept the new proportional band setting

8.9 Controller Configuration

The controller has a number of configuration and operating options and calibra-
tion parameters which are programmable via the front panel. These are ac-
cessed from the secondary menu after the proportional band function by
pressing “SET”. Pressing “SET” again enters the first of three groups of config-
uration parameters—operating parameters, serial interface parameters and cali-

30
8 Controller Operation
Operating Parameters

bration parameters. The groups are selected using the “UP” and “DOWN” keys
and then pressing “SET”.

8.10 Operating Parameters

The operating parameters menu is indicated by:

Par Operating parameters menu

Press “SET” to enter the menu. The operating parameters menu contains the
HL (High Limit) parameter, the Soft Cutout parameter, and the Cutout Reset
Mode parameter.

8.10.1 High Limit

The HL parameter adjusts the upper set-point temperature. The factory default
and maximum are set to 1200. For safety, a user can adjust the HL down so the
maximum temperature set-point is restricted.

HL High Limit parameter

Press “SET” to enable adjustment of HL.

S Access High Limit

1200 Flashes the current value and then displays the value for
adjustment

1200.0 Current HL setting

Adjust the HL parameter digit by digit using “UP”, “DOWN”, and “SET” as
each digit flashes.

1005.9 New HL setting

Press “SET” to accept the new temperature limit.

8.10.2 Soft Cutout

The Soft Cutout parameter is used by the controller to shut the unit down dur-
ing over-temperature conditions.

SoFtCo Soft Cutout parameter

Press “SET” to enable adjustments of the Soft Cutout.

S Access Soft Cutout

31
9150 Portable Furnace
User’s Guide

1225 Flashes the current value and then displays the value for
adjustment

1225.0 Current Soft Cutout setting

Adjust this parameter by using “UP”, “DOWN”, and “SET” as each digit
flashes.

1200.0 New Soft Cutout setting

Press “SET” to accept the new temperature limit.

If the temperature of the unit is ever greater than the Soft Cutout temperature
the controller shuts itself down and displays, alternately, “SCtOut” and “Err
8”.

8.10.3 Cutout Reset Mode

The cutout reset mode determines whether the cutout resets automatically when
the well temperature drops to a safe value or must be manually reset by the
operator.
The parameter is indicated by,

CtorSt Cutout reset mode parameter

Press “SET” to access the parameter setting. Normally the cutout is set for au-
tomatic mode.

Auto Cutout set for automatic reset

To change to manual reset mode press “UP” or “DOWN” and then “SET”.

rSt Cutout set for manual reset

8.11 Serial Interface Parameters

The serial RS-232 interface parameters menu is indicated by,

SEriAL Serial RS-232 interface parameters menu

The serial interface parameters menu contains parameters which determine the
operation of the serial interface. The parameters in the menu are: BAUD rate,
sample period, duplex mode, and linefeed.

32
8 Controller Operation
Serial Interface Parameters

8.11.1 BAUD Rate

The BAUD rate is the first parameter in the menu. The BAUD rate setting de-
termines the serial communications transmission rate.
The BAUD rate parameter is indicated by,

bAUd Serial BAUD rate parameter

Press “SET” to choose to set the BAUD rate. The current BAUD rate value is
then be displayed.

2400 b Current BAUD rate

The BAUD rate of the serial communications may be programmed to 300 600,
1200, 2400, 4800, or 9600 BAUD. 2400 BAUD is the default setting. Use “UP”
or “DOWN” to change the BAUD rate value.

4800 b New BAUD rate

Press “SET” to set the BAUD rate to the new value or “EXIT” to abort the op-
eration and skip to the next parameter in the menu.

8.11.2 Sample Period

The sample period is the next parameter in the serial interface parameter menu.
The sample period is the time period in seconds between temperature measure-
ments transmitted from the serial interface. If the sample rate is set to 5, the in-
strument transmits the current measurement over the serial interface
approximately every five seconds. The automatic sampling is disabled with a
sample period of 0. The sample period is indicated by,

SPEr Serial sample period parameter

Press “SET” to choose to set the sample period. The current sample period
value is displayed.

SP=1 Current sample period (seconds)

Adjust the value with “UP” or “DOWN” and then use “SET” to set the sample
rate to the displayed value.

SP=60 New sample period

8.11.3 Duplex Mode

The next parameter is the duplex mode. The duplex mode may be set to full du-
plex or half duplex. With full duplex any commands received by the calibrator

33
9150 Portable Furnace
User’s Guide

via the serial interface are immediately echoed or transmitted back to the device
of origin. With half duplex the commands are executed but not echoed. The du-
plex mode parameter is indicated by,

dUPL Serial duplex mode parameter

Press “SET” to access the mode setting

d=FULL Current duplex mode setting

The mode may be changed using “UP” or DOWN” and pressing “SET”.

d=HALF New duplex mode setting

8.11.4 Linefeed
The final parameter in the serial interface menu is the linefeed mode. This pa-
rameter enables (on) or disables (off) transmission of a linefeed character (LF,
ASCII 10) after transmission of any carriage-return. The linefeed parameter is
indicated by,

LF Serial linefeed parameter

Press “SET” to access the linefeed parameter.

LF=On Current linefeed setting

The mode may be changed using “UP” or “DOWN” and pressing “SET”.

LF=OFF New linefeed setting

8.12 Calibration Parameters

The operator of the 9150 has access to the furnace calibration constants. These
values are set at the factory and must not be altered. The correct values are im-
portant to the accuracy and proper and safe operation of the furnace. Access to
these parameters is available to the user only so that in the event the controller
memory fails, the user may restore these values to the factory settings. The user
should have a list of these constants and their settings with the manual.

CAUTION: DO NOT change the values of the furnace calibration con-

stants from the factory set values. The correct settings of these parameters
is important to the safety and proper operation of the furnace.

The calibration parameters menu is indicated by,

34
8 Controller Operation
Calibration Parameters

CAL Calibration parameters menu

Press “SET” five times to enter the menu. The calibration parameters menu
contains the parameters Hard Cutout, CT1, CE1, CT2, CE2, CT3, and CE3.

8.12.1 Hard Cutout

This parameter is the temperature above which the unit shuts down automati-
cally. The parameter is set at the factory to approximately 1260°C and cannot
be changed by the user.

8.12.2 CT1, CT2, and CT3

The calibration parameters CT1, CT2, and CT3 are the calibration
temperatures.

8.12.3 CE1, CE2, and CE3

The calibration parameters CE1, CE2 and CE3 are the calibration errors corre-
sponding to the calibration temperatures.

35
9 Digital Communication Interface
Serial Communications

9 Digital Communication Interface

The furnace is capable of communicating with and being controlled by other
equipment through the digital serial interface.
With a digital interface the instrument may be connected to a computer or other
equipment. This allows the user to set the set-point temperature, monitor the
temperature, and access any of the other controller functions, all using remote
communications equipment. Communications commands are summarized in
Table 2 on page 40.

9.1 Serial Communications

The calibrator is installed with an RS-232 serial interface that allows serial dig-
ital communications over fairly long distances. With the serial interface the user
may access any of the functions, parameters and settings discussed in Section 8
with the exception of the BAUD rate setting.

9.1.1 Wiring
The serial communications ca-
ble attaches to the calibrator
through the DB-9 connector at
the back of the instrument. Fig-
ure 5 shows the pin-out of this
connector and suggested cable
wiring. The serial cable should
be shielded. If the unit is used
in a heavy industrial setting,
the serial cable must be limited
to ONE meter.

9.1.2 Setup
Before operation the serial in-
terface must first be set up by
programming the BAUD rate
and other configuration param-
eters. These parameters are
programmed within the serial
interface menu. The serial in-
terface parameters menu is out-
lined in Figure 4 on page 22.
To enter the serial parameter
programming mode first press
“EXIT” while pressing “SET”
and release to enter the second- Figure 5 Serial Cable Wiring Diagram

37
9150 Portable Furnace
User’s Guide

ary menu. Press “SET” repeatedly until the display reads “CAL”. Press “UP”
until the serial interface menu is indicated with “SErIAL”. Finally press “SET”
to enter the serial parameter menu. In the serial interface parameters menu are
the BAUD rate, the sample rate, the duplex mode, and the linefeed parameter.

9.1.2.1 BAUD Rate

The BAUD rate is the first parameter in the menu. The display prompts with
the BAUD rate parameter by showing “bAUd”. Press “SET” to choose to set
the BAUD rate. The current BAUD rate value is displayed. The BAUD rate of
the 9150 serial communications may be programmed to 300, 600, 1200, 2400,
4800, or 9600 baud. The BAUD rate is preprogrammed to 2400 BAUD. Use
“UP” or “DOWN” to change the BAUD rate value. Press “SET” to set the
BAUD rate to the new value or “EXIT” to abort the operation and skip to the
next parameter in the menu.

9.1.2.2 Sample Period

The sample period is the next parameter in the menu and prompted with
“SPEr”. The sample period is the time period in seconds between temperature
measurements transmitted from the serial interface. If the sample rate is set to
5, the instrument transmits the current measurement over the serial interface ap-
proximately every five seconds. The automatic sampling is disabled with a
sample period of 0. Press “SET” to choose to set the sample period. Adjust the
period with “UP” or “DOWN” and then use “SET” to set the sample rate to the
displayed value.

9.1.2.3 Duplex Mode

The next parameter is the duplex mode indicated with “dUPL”. The duplex
mode may be set to half duplex (“HALF”) or full duplex (“FULL”). With full
duplex any commands received by the thermometer via the serial interface are
immediately echoed or transmitted back to the device of origin. With half du-
plex the commands are executed but not echoed. The default setting is full du-
plex. The mode may be changed using “UP” or “DOWN” and pressing “SET”.

9.1.2.4 Linefeed
The final parameter in the serial interface menu is the linefeed mode. This pa-
rameter enables (“On”) or disables (“OFF”) transmission of a linefeed charac-
ter (LF, ASCII 10) after transmission of any carriage-return. The default setting
is with linefeed on. The mode may be changed using “UP” or “DOWN” and
pressing “SET”.

9.1.3 Serial Operation

Once the cable has been attached and the interface set up properly, the control-
ler immediately begins transmitting temperature readings at the programmed
rate. The serial communications uses 8 data bits, one stop bit, and no parity.
The set-point and other commands may be sent via the serial interface to set the

38
9 Digital Communication Interface
Interface Commands

temperature set-point and view or program the various parameters. The inter-
face commands are discussed in Section 9.2. All commands are ASCII charac-
ter strings terminated with a carriage-return character (CR, ASCII 13).

9.2 Interface Commands

The various commands for accessing the calibrator functions via the digital in-
terfaces are listed in this section (see Table 2). These commands are used with
the RS-232 serial interface. The commands are terminated with a carriage-re-
turn character. The interface makes no distinction between upper and lower
case letters, hence either may be used. Commands may be abbreviated to the
minimum number of letters which determines a unique command. A command
may be used to either set a parameter or display a parameter depending on
whether or not a value is sent with the command following a “=” character. For
example “s”<CR> returns the current set-point and “s=150.0”<CR> sets the
set-point to 150.0 degrees.
In the following list of commands, characters or data within brackets, “[” and
“]”, are optional for the command. A slash, “/”, denotes alternate characters or
data. Numeric data, denoted by “n”, may be entered in decimal or exponential
notation. Characters are shown in lower case although upper case may be used.
Spaces may be added within command strings and are ignored. Backspace (BS,
ASCII 8) may be used to erase the previous character. A terminating CR is im-
plied with all commands.

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9150 Portable Furnace
User’s Guide

Table 2 Communications Command Summary

Command Command Returned Acceptable

Command Description Format Example Returned Example Values
Display Temperature
Read current set-point s[etpoint] s set: 9999.99 {C or F} set: 150.0 C
Set current set-point to n s[etpoint]=n s=450 Instrument
Range
Set temperature units: u[nits]=c/f C or F
Set temperature units to Celsius u[nits]=c u=c
Set temperature units to u[nits]=f u=f
Fahrenheit
Read scan function sc[an] sc scan: {ON or OFF} scan: ON
Set scan function: sc[an]=on/of[f] ON or OFF
Turn scan function on sc[an]=on sc=on
Turn scan function off sc[an]=of[f] sc=of
Read scan rate sr[ate] sr srat: 999.99 {C or F}/min srat: 10.0 C/min
Set scan rate to n degrees per sr[ate]=n sr=5 .1 to 99.9
minute
Secondary Menu
Read proportional band setting pr[op-band] pr pb: 999.9 pb: 15.9
Set proportional band to n pr[op-band]=n pr=8.83 0.1 to 100
Read heater power po[wer] po po: 999.9 po: 1
(duty cycle)
Ramp and Soak Menu
Read number of programmable pn pn pn: 9 pn: 2
set-points
Set number of programmable pn=n pn=4 1 to 8
set-points to n
Read programmable set-point psn ps3 psn: 9999.99 {C or F} ps1: 50.00 C
number n
Set programmable set-point num- psn=n ps3=50 1 to 8, Instru-
ber n to n ment Range
Read program set-point soak ptn pt3 tin: 999 ti1: 5
time
Set program set-point soak time ptn=n pt3=5 0 to 14400
to n minutes
Read program scan rate pxn px3 srn: 99.9 sr3: 11.3
Set program scan rate pxn=n px3=10 .1 to 99.9
Read program control mode pc pc prog: {OFF or ON} prog: OFF
Set program control mode: pc=g[o]/s[top]/c[ont] GO or STOP or
CONT
Start program pc=g[o] pc=g

40
9 Digital Communication Interface
Interface Commands

Table 3 Communications Commands Summary continued

Command Command Returned Acceptable

Command Description Format Example Returned Example Values
Stop program pc=s[top] pc=s
Continue program pc=c[ont] pc=c
Read program function pf pf pf: 9 pf: 3
Set program function to n pf=n pf=2 1 to 4
Configuration Menu
Operating Parameters Menu
Read high limit hl hl hl: 9999 hl: 925
Set high limit hl=n hl=900 100–1200
Read soft cutout cuto cuto c: 9999.9 c: 1150.0
Set soft cutout setting: cu[tout]=n
Set soft cut-out to n degrees cu[tout]=n cu=500 0.0 to 1150.0
Read cut-out mode cm[ode] cm cm:{xxxx} cm: AUTO
Set cut-out mode cm[ode]=r[eset]/a[uto] Reset or Auto
Set cut-out to be reset manually cm[ode]=r[eset] cm=r
Set cut-out to be reset cm[ode]=a[uto] cm=a
automatically
Serial Interface Menu
Read serial sample setting sa[mple] sa sa: 9 sa: 1
Set serial sampling setting to n sa[mple]=n sa=0 0 to 4000
seconds
Set serial duplex mode: du[plex]=f[ull]/h[alf] FULL or HALF
Set serial duplex mode to full du[plex]=f[ull] du=f
Set serial duplex mode to half du[plex]=h[alf] du=h
Set serial linefeed mode: lf[eed]=on/of[f] ON or OFF
Set serial linefeed mode to on lf[eed]=on lf=on
Set serial linefeed mode to off lf[eed]=of[f] lf=of
Cal Menu
Read CTn calibration parameter ctn ct1 ctn: 99.9C ct1: –10.0C
Set CTn calibration parameter to ctn=n ct1=–10.0 0 to 12.00
n
Read CEn calibration parameter cen ce1 cen: 99.9C ce1: -10.1C
Set CEn calibration parameter to cen=n ce1=–10 –99.9 to 99.9
n

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9150 Portable Furnace
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Table 4 Communications Commands Summary continued

Command Command Returned Acceptable

Command Description Format Example Returned Example Values
These commands are only used for factory testing.
Miscellaneous (not on menus)
Read firmware version number *ver[sion] *ver ver.9999,9.99 ver.9150,2.20
Read structure of all commands h[elp] h list of commands
Legend: [] Optional Command data
{} Returns either information
n Numeric data supplied by user
9 Numeric data returned to user
x Character data returned to user
Note: When DUPLEX is set to FULL and a command is sent to READ, the command is returned followed by a
carriage return and linefeed. Then the value is returned as indicated in the RETURNED column.

42
10 Test Probe Calibration
Calibrating a Single Probe

10 Test Probe Calibration

For optimum accuracy and stability, allow the calibrator to warm up for 10
minutes after power-up and then allow adequate stabilization time after reach-
ing the set-point temperature. After completing operation of the calibrator, al-
low the well to cool by setting the temperature to 150°C or less for one-half
hour before switching the power off.

10.1 Calibrating a Single Probe

Insert the probe to be calibrated into the well of the furnace calibrator. The
probe should fit snugly into the calibrator probe sleeve yet should not be so
tight that it cannot be easily removed. Avoid any dirt or grit that may cause the
probe to jam into the sleeve. Best results are obtained with the probe inserted to
the full depth of the well. Once the probe is inserted into the well, allow ade-
quate stabilization time to allow the test probe temperature to settle as de-
scribed above. Once the probe has settled to the temperature of the well, it may
be compared to the calibrator display temperature. The display temperature
should be stable to within 1°C degree for best results.

CAUTION: Never introduce any foreign material into the probe hole of
the insert. Fluids etc. can leak into the calibrator causing damage to the
calibrator or binding and damage to your probe.

10.2 Furnace Characteristics

There is a temperature gradient vertically in the test well. The heater has been
applied to the block in such a way as to compensate for nominal heat losses out
of the top of the furnace. However, actual heat losses will vary with design of
the thermometer probes inserted into the calibrator and the temperature. For
best results, insert probe to full depth of well.

CAUTION: Do not remove inserts and insulators at high temperatures.

Inserts and insulators are the same temperature as the display tempera-
ture. Use extreme care when removing hot inserts and insulators.

10.2.1 Stabilization and Accuracy

The stabilization time of the calibrator depends on the conditions and tempera-
tures involved. Typically the test well is stable to 0.5°C within 20 minutes of
reaching the set-point temperature as indicated by the display. Ultimate stability
is achieved 10 to 20 minutes after reaching the set temperature.
Inserting a cold probe into a well requires another period of stabilizing depend-
ing on the magnitude of the disturbance and the required accuracy. For exam-
ple, inserting a .25 inch diameter room temperature probe into a sleeve at

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9150 Portable Furnace
User’s Guide

1200°C takes 10 minutes to be within 0.5°C of its settled point and takes 15
minutes to achieve maximum stability.
Speeding up the calibration process can be accomplished by knowing how soon
to make the measurement. It is recommended that typical measurements be
made at the desired temperatures with the desired test probes to establish these
times.

44
11 Calibration Procedure
Calibration Points

11 Calibration Procedure
At times the user may want to calibrate the unit to improve the temperature
set-point accuracy. Calibration is done by adjusting the controller probe cali-
bration constants CE1, CE2, and CE3 so that the temperature of the unit as
measured with a standard thermocouple agrees more closely with the set-point.
The thermometer used must be able to measure the well temperature with
higher accuracy than the desired accuracy of the unit.

11.1 Calibration Points

In calibrating the unit, CE1, CE2, and CE3 are adjusted to minimize the
set-point error at each of three different well temperatures. Any three reason-
ably separated temperatures may be used for the calibration. Improved results
can be obtained for shorter ranges when using temperatures that are just within
the most useful operating range of the unit. The farther apart the calibration
temperatures, the larger the calibration range but the calibration error is also
greater over the range. Choosing a range of 150°C to 500°C may allow the cali-
brator to have a better accuracy of maybe ±2.0°C but outside that range the ac-
curacy may be greater than ±10.0°C.

11.2 Calibration Procedure

1. Choose three set-points to use in the calibration of CE1, CE2, and CE3
parameters. These set-points are generally CT1 = 150°C, CT2 = 675°C
and CT3 = 1200°C but other set-points may be used if desired or neces-
sary. Using these three temperature set-points may result in ±4.0°C
accuracy.
2. If the normal set-points are not used, initialize CT1, CT2, and CT3 to the
desired set points. Where CT1 is the low-set point and CT3 is the high
set-point.
3. Set the unit to the low set-point. When the unit reaches the set-point and
the display is stable, wait 15 minutes or so and take a reading from the
thermometer. Repeat step 3 for the other two set-points recording them
as Tm1, Tm2, and Tm3.
4. Retrieve the original calibration errors from the unit or the Report of
Calibration.
5. Record the previous values for CE1, CE2, and CE3 and calculate new
values for CE1, CE2, and CE3 using the following formula.

Tmn –Tsn +CEn = CEm

Where:
Tmn is the temperature measured, Tsn (CTn) is the set-point tempera-

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9150 Portable Furnace
User’s Guide

ture, CEn is the old value for calibration error, and CEm is the new value
for calibration error
6. Enter the new CEm value in the calibration parameter menu using either
the keypad or through the serial port.

46
12 Maintenance

12 Maintenance
• The calibration instrument has been designed with the utmost care. Ease
of operation and simplicity of maintenance have been a central theme in
the product development. Therefore, with proper care the instrument
should require very little maintenance. Avoid operating the instrument in
an oily, wet, dirty, or dusty environment.
• If the outside of the instrument becomes soiled, it may be wiped clean
with a damp cloth and mild detergent. Do not use harsh chemicals on the
surface which may damage the paint.
• Be sure that the well of the furnace is kept clean and clear of any foreign
matter. DO NOT use fluids to clean out the well.
• If a hazardous material is split on or inside the equipment, the user is re-
sponsible for taking the appropriate decontamination steps as outlined by
the national safety council with respect to the material.
• If the mains supply cord becomes damaged, replace it with a cord of the
appropriate gauge wire for the current of the instrument. If there are any
questions, call Hart Scientific Customer Service for more information.
• Before using any cleaning or decontamination method except those rec-
ommended by Hart, users should check with Hart Scientific Customer
Service to be sure that the proposed method will not damage the equip-
ment.
• If the instrument is used in a manner not in accordance with the equip-
ment design, the operation of the furnace may be impaired or safety haz-
ards may arise.
• The over-temperature cutout should be checked every 6 months to see that
it is working properly.

47
13 Troubleshooting

13 Troubleshooting
This section contains information on troubleshooting, CE Comments, and a
wiring diagram.

13.1 Troubleshooting Problems, Possible Causes,

and Solutions
In the event that the instrument appears to function abnormally, this section
may help to find and solve the problem. Several possible problem conditions
are described along with likely causes and solutions. If a problem arises, please
read this section carefully and attempt to understand and solve the problem. If
the problem cannot otherwise be solved, contact Hart Scientific Customer Ser-
vice for assistance (1-801-763-1600). Be sure to have the model number and
serial number of your instrument available.

Problem Possible Causes and Solutions

Incorrect temperature Incorrect calibration parameters. Find the values for CT1, CT2, CT3, CE1, CE2,
reading and CE3 on the Report of Calibration that was shipped with the instrument (or
from subsequent calibrations of the instrument). Reprogram the parameters into
the Model 9150 memory (see Section 8.12, Calibration Parameters). Allow the
instrument to stabilize and verify the accuracy of the temperature reading.

Memory scrambled. The memory may be scrambled due to a power surge or

other aberration. Initialize the system by performing the Factory Reset
Sequence.

Factory Reset Sequence. Hold the SET and EXIT buttons down at the same
time while powering up the instrument. After the instrument displays -init-, re-
lease the buttons. The display shows 9150, and then displays the firmware
version. After performing the master reset sequence, all of the configuration pa-
rameters are reset to their default values. Reprogram the calibration parameters
into the Model 9150 memory (see Section 8.12, Calibration Parameters) and
any other applicable configuration parameters. Allow the instrument to stabilize
and verify the accuracy of the temperature reading.
The instrument heats or Incorrect scan and scan rate settings. The scan and scan rate settings may be
cools too quickly or too set to unwanted values. Check the Scan and Scan Rate settings. The scan may
slowly be off (if the unit seems to be responding too quickly). The scan may be on with
the Scan Rate set low (if unit seems to be responding too slowly).

Incorrect heater switch polarity. The PEM and the heater voltage switch may
not be set for the same voltage. Check both settings and correct as needed.

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9150 Portable Furnace
User’s Guide

Problem Possible Causes and Solutions

The display shows any of Controller problem. The error messages signify the following problems with the
the following: err 1 , controller.
err 2 , err 3, err Err 1 - a RAM error
4 , Err 5, Err 6, Err 2 - a NVRAM error
Err 7, or Err 8 Err 3 - a RAM error
Err 4 - an ADC setup error
Err 5 - an ADC ready error
Err 6 – a Sensor error
Err 7 – a Heater control error
Err 8 – a Soft cutout error
Initialize the system by performing the Factory Reset Sequence describe
above.
Temperature cannot be Incorrect High Limit parameter. The High Limit parameter may be set below
set above a certain point 1200°C. Check this value as described in Section 8.10, Operating Parameters.
The display flashes Incorrect Soft Cutout parameter. Wait for the instrument to cool and adjust the
Cut-out Soft Cutout parameter as described in Section 8.10, Operating Parameters.

13.2 Comments
13.2.1 EMC Directive
Equipment manufactured by Hart Scientific has been tested to meet the Euro-
pean Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMC Directive, 89/336/EEC).
The Declaration of Conformity for your instrument lists the specific standards
to which the unit was tested.

13.2.2 Low Voltage Directive (Safety)

In order to comply with the European Low Voltage Directive (73/23/EEC),
Hart Scientific equipment has been designed to meet the IEC 1010-1 (EN
61010-1) and the IEC 1010-2-010 (EN 61010-2-010) standards.

50