Environmental Express Soil-Cell - Manual (Page 15)

800.745.8218 / 843.576.1147 / www.environmentalexpress.com Environmental Express • 13
Soil-Cell: Operation and Instruction Manual Troubleshooting Your HotBlock TM
The HotBlock TM will not heat
beyond ambient temperature.
A HotBlock TM that will not heat beyond ambient temperature typically has a failed
relay, heater mat or controller.
Relay: To test the relay, the output voltage must be determined with a volt-meter.
Caution: This procedure is a potential electrical hazard and should only
be performed by qualified personnel.
To measure the relay voltage, follow these steps:
1. Remove the bottom panel of your HotBlock
TM by unscrewing the rubber feet.
2. Locate the solid state relay mounted to the bottom panel.
3. Set your volt-meter to measure AC voltage.
4. Touch your red lead to terminal T1(white wire) of the solid state relay and
touch your black lead to a ground source (i.e., the green/yellow wire from the
power module or an empty terminal on the terminal board).
5. If your volt-meter does not read 110V-122V, then the relay has stuck in the
open position and it must be replaced (see parts list, page 11).
Heater Mat: To test the heater mat, the resistance in ohms (Ω) must be determined
with a volt-meter. It is recommended that your heater mat be replaced if it
measures 25 ohms (Ω) or greater. It is also recommended that the thermocouple
and insulation be replaced as well, both are inexpensive parts that are not easily
accessible otherwise.
To measure your heater mat resistance, follow these steps:
1. Power off your HotBlock
TM and remove the bottom panel of your HotBlock TM by
unscrewing the rubber feet.
2. Locate and disconnect the white wire connected to terminal T1 of the relay
and an identical wire on terminal #2 of the terminal board (note: terminal #2
of the terminal board contains 3 white wires. To ensure you have the correct
wire, trace it back and ensure it originates from the graphite portion of your
HotBlock
TM .
3. Set your volt-meter to measure ohms (Ω)
4. Touch the red lead to one of these wires and touch the black lead to the
remaining wire.
5. If your reading is “OL” (over limit) or a value greater than 25 ohms, then the
heater mat has failed and it must be replaced (see parts list, page 11).
Controller: To test the controller, the output voltage must be determined with a
volt-meter.
Caution: This procedure is a potential electrical hazard and should only
be performed by qualified personnel.
To measure voltage from the controller, follow these steps:
1. Remove the bottom panel of your HotBlock by unscrewing the rubber feet.
2. Locate the solid state relay mounted to the bottom panel.
3. Set your volt-meter to measure DC voltage.
4. Touch the red lead to terminal A1 (red) and the black lead to terminal A2 (blue)
of the solid state relay.
5. Your volt-meter should read 3V-16V.
6. If your volt-meter does not read 3V-16V, perform steps 3 and 4 on the red and
blue (5 and 6) wires at the terminal board and controller to determine if there
is a faulty or loose connection.
7. If you do not get a reading of 3V-16V at terminals Y2 (red) and W2 (blue) of the
controller then the controller has failed internally and it must be replaced (see
replacement parts list, page 9).