what i'm doing wrong

[ernie]

I'm using the SYL-2342P to control the fermentation. I've connected the heater (bulb) (on 13 and 14) and the fridge (on 7 and 8) as shown in the manual.
I've programmed the PID to use deviation alarm with a hysteresis band of 0,2 C. Hy-1 and Hy-2 are both 1 oC.

When i'm turning the PID on the PV temperture is 18 oC while the SV temp is set on 23 oC. So, the bulb must turned on, but it doesn't. What am i doing wrong?

Here are the other settings:

ALM1: 9999
ALM2: -1999
HY1: 1
HY2: 1
HY: 0,2
AT: 0
Sn: 21
dP: 1
AL-P: 4
CooL: 1 i have also tryed 3
FiLt: 4
A-M: 2
LoCk: 808

[BrewQwest]

Hi, just trying to help with an answer in case you are in a hurry. It also helps me to quiz myself on applications on whether I
am right or wrong. Here is my two cents.

If I understand correctly, your temp sensor is reading 18C as verified by the PV readout, and you have your "action" temp at a set value (SV) of 23C.
You are able to program 4 alarms with this PID. The values you are using for ALM1 and ALM2 do not seem to be appropriate values for your fermentation chambers. This can easily be verified on whether or not your AL1 or AL2 (alarm indicators) are turned on when you expect them to be. If those indicators are not visible on the front panel, then something is possibly programmed incorrectly.
Now it is very possible I can be wrong here, but let us look at those values.
For ALM1 you state you have a value of 9999 and for ALM2 you state you have a value of -1999. If that is indeed the case
then this is what will happen (as I understand it - and remember, I am just a homebrewer learning to use these devices like yourself).

High Limit Alarm:
If your PV (temp sensor value) is greater than ALM1 (which you have as 9999) and add HY (which you have as 0.2) then the alarm will turn on. This means your temp sensor would have to reach 9999.2 prior to activating the alarm.

Low Limit Alarm:
If your PV (temp sensor value) is less than ALM2 (which you have as -1999) and subtract HY (which you have as 0.2) then the alarm will turn on. This means your temp sensor would have to reach -1999.2 prior to activiating the alarm.

If it were me, and I didnt want my fermentation to go below 18C, Then I might set ALM2 to be 19C and change the value of HY to be 1. This way, when my fermentation chamber drops to 18C the dry contact alarm relay would close and as long as I have my light bulb wired into the circuit correctly, It should turn on. You should also get an indication on the front panel of the PID showing the relay had activated.

Hopefully, I have explained this correctly and await the forum administrators to explain correctly. If I have misled you, I apologize beforehand.
cheers!!-BrewQwest

[ernie]

Thanks for your awnser. What you discribed is the way to use the process alarm feature, but i like to use the deviation alarm because the 2342p has the ramp and soak feature. With that i can turn the PV (action) temperture down after 2 days and again after another 2 days and so on, automaticly! With the ALM1 and ALM2 (process) tempertures set this is not possible, i guess.

In the manual at section 4.13 there can be read: "If you only want one alarm type to function, set the other alarm type parameters to maximum or minimum (ALM1, Hy-1 and Hy-2 to 9999, ALM2 to –1999) to stop its function."

I think my problem has something to do with the Alarm Suppression feature (Cool) combined with Alarm output definition (AL-P). I hope one of the forum admin's can help.

[BrewQwest]

thanks ernie... you just taught me a good deal of info.. The following link is to McMasterCarr's spade terminal catalog page. Which size terminal best fits the PID you are utilizing? I am thinking they pretty much have to be the same size for all the auber PIDs.. If the system admin sees this maybe they will give us an auber catalog number to buy directly from them ... thanks ernie and cheers!!

oopppss.. forgot the link.. here it is: http://www.mcmaster.com/#spade-terminals/=h15gkp .. I selected 14 gauge from the choices in the left window..

[admin]

The controller with ramp/soak function is a little bit different from the one without the ramp/soak function. The deviation alarms will not be triggered when the program is not running. When the Hy-1=Hy-2=1, Hy=0.3, the safety start function will not let the timer for the program start if at the beginning of a step, PV is not in the range SV-Hy-2+Hy to SV+Hy-1-Hy. When the controller is set for cooling, if the temperature is higher than SV+Hy-1-Hy, the main output will keep on until the temperature drops to the range; if the temperature is lower than SV-Hy-2+Hy, the controller will wait for the temperature going up to the range. When the program is not running, the LED A-M on the front panel will be blinking. After the temperature is in the range, the A-M LED will be solid.

So, probably you just need to adjust the program to make sure the set temperature at the beginning of the first step is very near the current process temperature so the controller can run the program.

Also, the alarm suppression does not work for the alarms.

[ernie]

thnx for the awnser admin. Just a thought, how to program the Set Values;

The original program is:
I have programmed the PID to begin at 24C and drop down in 2 days to 22C. After 2 days the temperture must be kept on 22C.

But, I don't know on what temperture the wort is (between the 17 and 30C). I can force the PID to trigger the alarms.
I let the SV begin at 15C and ramp it to 30C in 5 minutes, then I'll drop the SV to 24C in 5 minutes. In that case the alarms will be triggered. After that i can start with my original program.
So, i'll programmed the steps as follow:

temp1 = 15C
time1 = 5
temp2 = 30C
time2 = 5
temp3 = 24C
time3 = 2880
temp4 = 22C
time4 = 10
temp5 = 22C
time5 = -4

good thinking?

[admin]

Actually, you just need to set the temp1 to be lower than the actual temperature when start the program. If the temperature is higher, the controller will keep the fridge on. When it's around the temp1, the program will start automatically.