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PID oral errors ...

 
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LW117




Joined: 21 Nov 2016
Posts: 4
Location: NH


PostLink    Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2018 9:18 pm    Post subject: PID oral errors ... Reply with quote


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Let me preface this post by saying that my control panel was built from a kit, by me, as my first introduction to anything wiring/electrical. While it never looked as immaculate as Kals, it did work well for the majority of the first four years and over 500 batches. I also regularly used the panel and my kettles as an impromptu keg easier, so needless to say I have worked this box hard. Over time I have stripped out internal components as they went bad and simplified the overall workings of the panel to fit its current limpable state. Today it finally sh*t the bed...after mashing in, the PIDs all starting flashing -344/OrAL. I read up on the error code on the Auber website and thought I could safely conclude that it is a problem in the connection to the temp probe, so I tried to jumper the terminals at the pid. This almost worked but not quite. The temp would go from -344 to 1176 before flashing OrAL again. After playing with it for a while with no success, I ended up having to dump the wort...not a good brew day. I assume the proper fix is to completely replace the PIDs in question, but in the meantime I’m hoping someone out there could help me to hardwire the system to just constantly heat while turned on. I emptied my oak barrel this morning in hopes of filling it this afternoon. If possible I would love to be able to fill it back up tomorrow! Any help is greatly appreciated!!
Cheers - Graham[/i]
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kal
Forum Administrator



Joined: 12 Dec 2010
Posts: 11116
Location: Ottawa, Canada

Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter


PostLink    Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2018 2:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi,

If a PID is displaying 'orAL' or the temperature's jumping around wildly then the PID is unable to communicate with the temperature probe tip.
The connection point between the temp probe cable and the stainless temp probe tip is likely damaged. It may be damage on either side or both sides. This can happen if one is not careful when disconnecting/reconnecting the cable and the connectors are twisted and or turned when connecting them instead of lining up the tabs and pushing them together straight.

There’s a little tab you need to line up when you mate the two halves together. To connect/disconnect, the tabs need to be lined up and pushed together, they should NEVER BE TWISTED/TURNED. If you twist/turn them to make a connection you may damage one or both ends. Twisting/turning can pull apart the wires inside the connector.

You can test if it's the cable only end by swapping cables with one of the known working temperature probes.
If swapping cables does not help I would recommend replacing the entire assembly (probe tip and cable).

Replacement cables as well as replacement cables with probe tips are available for order here:

https://shop.theelectricbrewery.com/collections/temperature-probes

If twisting/turning caused damage and you are handy with a soldering iron, you may be able to easily repair the probe yourself. Remove the four small screws from the back of the probe and slide the resistor and cable end out of the probe (you should not have to remove it from the pot or Tee). You will see one end of the resistor soldered to pin #2, and the other side soldered to either 1 or 3 with a jumper between the two. One of those points is most likely broken and/or making intermittent contact. A quick re-soldering is all that is needed.

If you need to get into the connector on the cable, plug the cable end into one of the probes to prevent it from spinning and rotate the winged portion counter clockwise, it will unscrew from the other section allowing you access to the connections. I would recommend de-soldering all 3 wires (if not already detached), trimming them back a little, and making sure there is a good solder connection.

Now all this said, it doesn't make sense that *all* PIDs with all 3 probes started to display "orAL". That would mean a triple failure at the same time. You'd have better luck buying a lottery ticket. Wink Odds are the problem is with a single probe you tried on all 3 PIDs? Meaning the temp probe has an issue?

Kal

P.S. Topic name changed to be more appropriate

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hobbes




Joined: 08 Sep 2017
Posts: 26



PostLink    Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2018 10:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This... orAl means "Out of Range Alarm". If the temp is swinging or ever showing oral you prob have loose wire or perhaps a wire in your panel that is broken. If seen some people use solid wire over stranded and if bent too far in a radius curve or moved back/forth too much the conductor can break. Then you have a situation where it reads fine when sitting a certain why and looses connection if touched or shaken.
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