PID Temperature Controller

Operation

Warning! Do not connect the thermocouple input during e-beam annealing with applied high voltage.

After the switch-on procedure, the controller can be operated manually from the PID module by buttons 1a-e, or remotely from PC (see Software section).

Connecting thermocouple input

The positive (+) pole of the used N-type thermocouple (pink wire) must be connected to the shorter pin and the negative (-) (white wire) to the longer pin of the thermocouple feedthrough on the manipulator.

Switch-on remote control of Elind power supply

1. Select “Man” mode pressing Auto/Man button (1a) and zero output (Down button).
2. Set switch 2 into Elind position.
3. Select between remote control of current and voltage (switch 3, typically voltage).
4. Set manual output limit on potentiometer 4.
5. Turn both Elind potentiometers for current and voltage output fully country-clockwise to zero the output.
6. Switch the Remote/Local button of the Elind to Remote position.

Switch-off remote control of Elind power supply

1. Select “Man” mode pressing Auto/Man button (1a).
2. Zero output using Down button (1e).
3. Make sure both Elind potentiometers are rotated fully country-clockwise (Zero output).
4. Switch the Remote/Local button of the Elind to Local position.

Switch-on remote control of Sorensen power supply

1. Select “Man” mode pressing Auto/Man button (1a) and zero output (Down button).
2. Turn both output current and voltage controls fully country-clockwise (zero output).
3. Set switch 2 into Sorensen position.
4. Select between remote control of voltage and current (switch 5).
5. Set manually maximum current (voltage) output limit for the remotely controlled voltage (current) rotating the 10-turn potentiometers of the Sorensen. (1 Turn of the current control corresponds ca. to 1.2A; 1 Turn of the voltage control ca. 10V).

Basic PID operation

Some basic operations of the Eurotherm 2408 PID controller are following. For more details, see Chapter 2 of the Installation and Operation Handbook (Eurotherm 2408)
 
Note: One can get back to Home display at any time by pressing Page and Scroll buttons together. Alternatively, you will always be returned to this display if no button is pressed for 45 seconds, or whenever the power is turned off and on.

Note: A single press of Scroll button (1d) will flash the display units for 0.5 seconds, after which you will be returned to the Home display.

Manual and Automatic mode

The PID controller has two basic modes of operation:

• Automatic modein which the output is automatically adjusted to maintain the temperature or process value at the setpoint.
• Manual modein which you can adjust the output (voltage typically) independently of the setpoint. You can toggle between the modes by pressing the AUTO/MAN button.

Manual mode

If the AUTO light is on, press the AUTO/MAN button to select manual mode. The MAN light comes on. The upper readout shows the measured temperature, or process value. The lower readout shows roughly the output value. To adjust the output, press Up or Down button.
(Note: If Output Rate Limit has been enabled, then the lower readout will show the working output. If Up or Down button is pressed, it will change to show and allow adjustment of the target output.)

Automatic mode

If the MAN light is on, press the AUTO/MAN button to select automatic mode. The AUTO light comes on. The upper readout shows the measured temperature. The lower readout shows the setpoint. To adjust the setpoint up or down, press or Up or Down button.
(Note: If Setpoint Rate Limit has been enabled, then the lower readout will show the active setpoint. If Up or Down button is pressed, it will change to show and allow adjustment of the target setpoint.)

Parameters and how to access them

Parameters are settings within the controller that determine how the controller will operate. For ease of access, the parameters are arranged in lists as shown in the following navigation diagram

The lists are:
Home list
Run list
Programming list
Alarm list
Autotune list
PID list
Setpoint list
Input list
Output list
Communications list
Information list
Access list.
 
To step through the list headers, press Page button.
Keep pressing Page button to step through the list headers, eventually returning you to the Home display.
Note: Some of the lists (grey color in the diagram below) can be accessed only full manual mode. This mode can be enabled with the switch 6, labelled PID full (up position).
 
To step through the parameterswithin a particular list, press Scroll button.
When you reach the end of the list, you will return to the list header. From within a list you can return to the current list header at any time can by pressing Page button. To step to the next list header, press Page button once again.
 
To change the value of a parameterpress either Up or Down button. During adjustment, single presses change the value by one digit. Keeping the button pressed speeds up the rate of change. Two seconds after releasing either button, the display blinks to show that the controller has accepted the new value.

Eurotherm PID Navigation diagram

Example 1: How to Set, Enable, or Disable Setpoint Rate Limit.
First, enagle full level of manual operation with rocker switch 6 (PID full, up position). Access Setpoint list of parameters by pressing Page button. (SP List will appear on the display). Pressing Scroll button reach SPrr parameter (Setpoint ramp rate limit). Set value >0 or 0 to enable or disable the rate limit. The rate is in K/s units. For example, 0.2 correspond to 1K/5s or 12K/min (Ramp rate for Temperature-programmed XPS is typically 3-12K/min (0.05-0.2K/s).
 
Example 2:  How to Enable/Disable Output Rate Limit.
Access Output list of parameters by pressing Page button. (OP List will appear on the display). Pressing Scroll button reach OPrr parameter (Output ramp rate limit). Set value >0 or 0 to enable or disable the rate limit. The rate is in %/s units (that is roughly V/s in case of Elind Voltage control configuration).

Configuration level

To set up more parameters and characteristics of the PID controller (e.g. type of thermocouple or temperature units), one has to enter the Configuration level.
Access to Full, Edit or Configuration levels is protected by a password to prevent unauthorised access.

1. Press Page button until you reach the access list (ACCS).
2. Press Scroll button, ‘codE’ display will appear.
3. Press Up button to set password ‘1’, lower readout will change to ‘PASS’ after two seconds. Access to higher level is now unlocked.
4. Press Scroll button to proceed to the ‘Goto’ list.
5. Use Up or Down button to select ‘conF’ level and press Scroll button.
6. Enter password ‘2’ repeating the password entry procedure described above.
7. Press Scroll button, ‘InSt ConF’ display will appear. The configuration level has been unlocked.
8. See Chapter 6 of the Installation and Operation Handbook (Eurotherm 2408) for details of the configuration parameters.

To step through the list headers, press the Page button.
To step through the parameters within a particular list press the Scroll button.
 
Example: How to set the type of input thermocouple
Access Input configuration list of parameters by pressing Page button. (iP ConF will appear on the display). Pressing Scroll button reach inPt parameter and select input type using Up or Down button (n.tc = N thermocouple, k.tc = K thermocouple).
 
To leave the Configuration level press Page button until the ‘Edit’ display appears. Use Up or Down button to select ‘Yes’. After a two-second delay, the display will blank and revert to the Home display in Operator level.