More kiln trouble

A couple of months ago, I was getting a tCL error on my kiln and after some advice from Cherry Heaven to make sure it's warm before I turn it on, the kiln has been behaving itself nicely, I just turn on the studio heater a few minutes before the kiln. Once I start work, I usually turn the heater off because as the make-up air comes in from outside, I'm just paying to heat the garden!

I’ve been using the kiln at least 4 times a week without any more problems. However, this morning, it got up to temperature OK but when I started to work (with fan going and window open for fresh make-up air), obviously the studio got cooler again. Then I noticed that the kiln was losing heat with alarming speed. It has been much colder outside earlier on in the week and last week and it was working fine then.

In fact DH said the car was registering minus 2 when he turned on the ignition and that's much warmer than the last couple of mornings!  So I've e-mailed Cherry Heaven again to ask them what they think is up, I guess either relays or the thermocoupler. No beadmaking for me until it's fixed. 

EDIT after initial posting: Quick phone call with Cherry Heaven chap - I have an exercise to do when it's cooled down and then ring him to let him know how the kiln behaves to diagnose exactly what replacement part(s) I need. 

tCL error

I have been turning on my kiln to warm up very gingerly all this week. Monday was the first time I'd used it for a week and it wouldn't warm up. I got an error code "tCL" on the digital read out. I got out the manual and it said there was a fault in the thermocoupler and to check the wiring. Sounded like a job for DH but then I went to Frit Happens to see if anyone else had had this problem in the past and found a thread there. Someone else had the same thing happen after a fortnight away and they needed a new relay.

I have heard about relays being replaced, Laura had to do hers not so long ago and I knew it was an easy fix. I rang the people recommended at Cherry Heaven and a very helpful gentleman suggested I put the kiln in a warmer room. Apparently, the programmer has an expectation of how quickly the kiln should heat up. if it doesn't do that, it thinks something has gone wrong. The margin of decision has been increased on the newest programmers. it's not a fault - just an over-sensitivity. I was a bit sceptical about this solution as it's been much much colder than it was on Monday (especially last winter!) and the kiln has still worked. Anyway, if it still wasn't doing anything after warming it up, he said to ring back. I turned my heater on and left it for half an hour and it worked; every since it has been as good as gold.

I don't know why I didn't get this error on colder days in the past; one of life's little mysteries, I have a personal theory that my kiln just missed me whilst we were away and wanted a bit of attention as I'd been taking it for granted. My kiln has served me well for nearly four years without a problem and I certainly would've been stuck if it hadn't started working again.