WARNING: The TAP controller is not a safety device. The controller provides 12VDC outputs to operate relays, which in turn enable/disable heating elements. It is possible for relays to fail in the on position. This controller cannot protect against relay failure. Use this controller at your own risk.

NEVER LEAVE THE KILN UNATTENDED! 

The Temperature Automation by Proportional Integral-Derivative (TAP) controller provides a temperature control solution, which incorporates a Graphical User Interface (GUI). This controller is designed to take the guess work out of firing schedule creation, modification, execution, and monitoring.

The intuitive touchscreen interface utilizes a smart-phone like UI to enable immediate out of the box use. This unique design approach alleviates the need to continually refer to this User Manual for performing the most basic tasks.

You’ve got TAP and it’s been installed, GREAT! Now let’s get started quickly.

When you apply power to TAP, the controller will go through a sequence of boot-up routines. Additionally, if you can see inside the control box, you’ll probably see a flashing blue light and a solid red light. These lights are normal and expected.

When power is initially applied, TAP begins to run through a complex initialization period in which it configures all the inputs, outputs, and the underlying file system. This boot screen will be present for 5-10 seconds as it configures the inputs and outputs.

After this, the screen will display a manufacturer logo for 10-20 seconds. DO NOT WORRY… this is perfectly normal. During this time the controller is initializing all the peripherals, such as USB and Ethernet, as well as optimizing the display resolution and color settings.

Following the manufacturer logo, the controller will initialize the Home Screen. If a valid time is not recognized by the operating system, a Date/Time screen will be displayed.

If applicable, once you have entered the Date and Time, press “Done” on the screen. You will now be transitioned to the Home Screen, the starting point for all remaining controller activities.

This section will guide you through the process to begin a kiln firing with a previously stored schedule or custom schedule. From the Home Screen, press START. This will transition you to the schedule selector screen. 

After you have selected the schedule you wish to execute, press START. This will begin the firing process. During this stage of execution, you will be viewing the execution in which the following information will be available:

• Currently Executing Schedule Title (This is the title of the schedule you selected to run) 
• Current Executing Step of Total Steps (This indicates where in the overall schedule you currently are)
• Current Board Temperature (This indicates the temperature internal to the control box) 
• Current Kiln Temperature (This indicates the temperature inside the kiln) 
• Current Step Ramp Rate (This indicates the degrees per hour (°F or °C) the kiln is programmed to ramp) Current Step Setpoint (This indicates the temperature to which the kiln is heating/cooling) 
• Current Step Hold Time (This indicates the programed hold time for the step, or provides a countdown if currently holding) 
• Current Firing Elapsed Time (This indicates the total time the firing has been running in HH:MM:SS) 
• Current Firing Accrued Cost (This indicates the total accrued cost to the current point in the firing (subject to appropriate settings))

If, during the firing, you want to modify the currently executing schedule, press EDIT SCHEDULE. Once EDIT SCHEDULE is pressed, you will be transitioned to the EDIT SCHEDULE screen. This will give you the opportunity to modify any schedule steps beyond those that have already been executed.  

If, at any point during the firing, you want to advance the kiln schedule to the next step, simply press SKIP STEP. This can be performed at any point during a firing. When you press SKIP STEP, you will be presented with a confirmation dialog. To complete the action and skip to the next step, you must press YES at the confirmation dialog.

You can also cancel the firing at any time by pressing ABORT. When you press ABORT, you will be presented with a confirmation dialog. To complete the action and abort the firing, you must press YES at the confirmation dialog. If you choose to abort a firing, you will be returned to the Home Screen.

The home screen is the kickoff point for all controller activity. This screen provides the current date, time, mode of operation, and kiln temperature. This screen is displayed when the controller is in standby mode.

If the controller is inactive for 10 minutes (ie no button presses) the controller will enter a sleep state in which the display will transition to a splash screen. The splash screen display will vary based on manufacturer, but at a minimum will display the current kiln temperature. To wake the controller back up, simply tap anywhere on the screen.

The home screen is also the entry point to kiln schedule execution and the myriad menu items available.

To begin a firing, press START.

To access the menu, press MENU.

The execution screen is the display which will be present for the duration of a firing. The screen provides all pertinent information with respect to the current firing as well as certain control features. The following is a list of information presented during a firing: 

• Currently Executing Schedule Title (This is the title of the schedule you selected to run) 
• Current Executing Step of Total Steps (This indicates where in the overall schedule you currently are) 
• Current Board Temperature (This indicates the temperature internal to the control box) 
• Current Kiln Temperature (This indicates the temperature inside the kiln) 
• Current Step Ramp Rate (This indicates the degrees per hour (°F or °C) the kiln is programmed to ramp) 
• Current Step Setpoint (This indicates the temperature to which the kiln is heating/cooling) 
• Current Step Hold Time (This indicates the programed hold time for the step, or provides a countdown if currently holding) 
• Current Firing Elapsed Time (This indicates the total time the firing has been running in HH:MM:SS) 
• Current Firing Accrued Cost (This indicates the total accrued cost to the current point in the firing (subject to appropriate settings))

The following is a list of control functions available during a firing:

• Skip Step (This function advances process control to the next user defined program step or completes the firing if no additional steps are programmed)
• Schedule Summary (This function provides the user an overall view of the current firing schedule programmed steps)
• View Graphical (This function provides a graphical representation of the firing up to the current point in time)
• Edit Schedule (This function allows the user to modify the current or future firing schedule steps)
• Abort (This function cancels the firing, disabling all elements and reverting to Standby Mode)

The menu on TAP provides access to many features and settings within the controller. This menu is accessed by selecting MENU from the home screen. Once the menu is entered (Figure 10 – Main Menu), the controller is set to Admin mode and allows the user to modify Settings, read Event Logs, access Developer Information, and perform Software Updates. All of these items are described in detail in the following subsections. To navigate through the full set of menu options, select the right or left arrow. The current list of menu options are as follows: 

• Schedules
• Settings
• Event Logs
• Diagnostics
• Software Update
• Developer Information

Kiln Maximum Temperature has been exceeded! Firing is aborted… 

This condition can occur during a firing. If this alarm is presented, the kiln temp has exceeded the maximum defined kiln temperature. The default value for Glass Mode is 1700F. The default value for Ceramic Mode is 2300F. If this error condition is met, the controller will abort the firing and disable all outputs. This condition can occur due to: 

• A user programming a schedule with a firing temp exceeding the max temp
• A latched relay resulting in continuous power application to the heating elements

Kiln is failing to cool! Firing is aborted… 

This condition can occur during a firing. If this alarm is presented, the controller has determined that the kiln is not cooling. If this error condition is met, the controller will abort the firing and disable all outputs. The condition can occur due to: 

• A user defined temperature that is below the room’s ambient temperature
• A latched relay resulting in continuous power application to the heating elements

A high temperature deviation from the hold temp has occurred! Firing is aborted… 

This condition can occur during a firing. If this alarm is presented, the controller has determined that the current temperature is greater than 50°F above the current setpoint. If this error condition is met, the controller will abort the firing and disable all outputs. The condition can occur due to: 

• A user has opened the kiln during a hold for an extended period of time, resulting in the kiln attempting to generate significant heat to maintain the loss of temperature. (Avoid this by only opening the kiln for short periods if necessary).
• A latched relay resulting in continuous power application to the heating elements.
• An excessively high ramp rate to a low setpoint. This condition can result in significant overshoot, thus triggering the alarm. (Avoid this by using a slower ramp rate to avoid overshoot)

Kiln is failing to heat for too long. Firing is aborted… 

This condition can occur during a firing. If this alarm is presented, the controller has determined that the kiln is not heating or the input is invalid. If this error condition is met, the controller will abort the firing and disable all outputs. The condition can occur due to:

• Disconnected Thermocouple 
• Thermocouple not present
• Failed Thermocouple
• Failed Element(s)
• Failed Relay(s)
• Insufficient power supply
• Setpoint temperature greater than capability of kiln