Vecstar MRF Series, MRF1, MRF2, MRF3, MRF5 Installation, Operation & Maintenance Instructions Manual

INSTALLATION, OPERATION &
MAINTAINANCE INSTRUCTIONS
FOR TYPES MRF SERIES
SERIAL No

THIS MANUAL IS FOR THE GUIDANCE OF OPERATORS FOR THE ABOVE
VECSTAR EQUIPMENT AND SHOULD BE READ AND UNDERSTOOD
BEFORE INSTALLATION AND OPERATION

CONTENTS

SECTION

1.0 SYMBOLS AND WARNING LABELS

2.0 MANUAL HANDLING & UNPACKING

3.0 INSTALLATION & SAFETY

4.0 OPERATION

5.0 MAINTAINANCE

6.0 SPARES & REPAIRS

7.0 FAULT ANALYSIS

8.0 CIRCUIT DIAGRAMS

9.0 SPECIFICATIONS

10.0 CONTACT DETAILS

VECSTAR LTD

1.0 SYMBOLS & WARNINGS

1.1 WARNING LABELS

Danger of electric shock read any warnings printed by
this symbol.

Danger hot surface read any warnings printed by this

symbol. Warning all surfaces of a furnace may be hot.

Earth bonding point for electrical safety.

1.2 LIGHTS & SWITCHES

Green mains on light illuminates when the supply is
connected to the furnace.

Green instrument switch illuminates when turned on.

Heat on light illuminates or flashes when power is
applied to the element.

Red over temperature light illuminates if the furnace
trips out in the event of an over temperature condition.

2.0 MANUAL HANDLING & UNPACKING

2.1 MANUAL HANDLING

Caution this equipment is heavy and should only be lifted from the
base with a person on each corner. Never lift it by the door. Care
should be taken not to trap fingers under the feet.

2.2 UNPACKING

Visually check for any damage to the shipping container.
Visually check for any damage to the equipment.
Open the furnace door and remove any packaging from
the furnace chamber.
It is recommended to vacuum the furnace chamber to remove any
insulation dust due to shipment.
Retain the original packaging if re-shipment is foreseen
or required.

3.0 INSTALLATION & SAFETY

3.1 SITE SELECTION
The furnace should be placed on a heat resistant surface in a well
ventilated room. Do not mount the furnace on an inflammable
surface.
There must be at least 6 inches of space around the furnace to
allow adequate ventilation.
Ensure the furnace is placed in a way it can easily be turned off or
disconnected from the electrical supply.
If the furnace is to be used to heat materials that give off fumes it is
recommended to have an extraction hood above the furnace.

3.2 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION

Connection To Mains Supply

Furnace Voltage is 230 Volts, single Phase.

Connect to a 35 amp supply using suitable cable.

Connection by a qualified electrician is recommended.
All furnaces covered by this manual are either single phase live,
neutral and earth non reversible or three phase live neutral &
earth.
Before connecting check the furnace specification plate on the back
panel of the furnace. Make sure the supply voltage and capacity
matches the voltage and amperage on the specification plate.
All incoming electrical supplies must be fused correctly.
If a cable is fitted either wire straight to a fused isolator or fit a
fused line plug.
Please Note: The supply cable connections are:
Live = Number 1, Neutral = Number 2, Earth = green/yellow
Connection by line plug this should be within easy reach of the
operator for removal.
Connection by isolating switch should disconnect both live and
neutral conductors and be in easy reach of the operator to
disconnect.
The supply must be earthed for safety reasons.
If in doubt please contact Vecstar.
Servicing should only be carried out by qualified personnel.

3.3 SAFETY

Your Vecstar furnace has been designed with function, reliability
and safety in mind. It is the user's responsibility to install it in
conformance with local electrical codes.

For user safety we strongly recommend the use of protective
clothing including face shield and gloves when inserting or
removing objects from this furnace. It is advisable to have a heat
resistant surface available ready to receive hot objects.

To avoid electrical shock, this furnace must:

1. Use a properly grounded electrical outlet of correct voltage and
current handling capacity.

2. Be disconnected from the power supply prior to maintenance
and servicing.

3. Have the door switch operating properly.

To avoid burns, this furnace must:

1. Not to be touched on the exterior or interior surfaces during use
or for a period of time after use.

To avoid personal injury:

1. Do not use in the presence of flammable or combustible
materials; fire or explosion may result. This device contains
component’s that may ignite such material.

2. Refer servicing to qualified personnel.

4.0 OPERATION

4.1 INTENDED USE

The furnace is a general purpose laboratory and heat treating of
material and should not be used for anything else other than its
intended purpose.

4.2 The instructions for operating the controller, over temperature
controller if fitted and timer if fitted are given in separate booklets.

4.3 PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION

The furnace is heated by a wire element wrapped around a ceramic
muffle which is cemented into place. The muffle is placed in a box
and insulated with a mixture of ceramic fibre and board for models
1 –4 and wire elements suspended on ceramic tubes for models 5 &

6. The temperature is controlled by a pid controller using a type r
thermocouple to control the temperature. A door safety switch is
fitted to remove the power to the heating element when the door
is opened. Mains on the green light will illuminate when power is
applied to the furnace. Instruments on / off switch and the
controller will illuminate when turned to the on position. Heater on

The amber light will illuminate whenever the elements are drawing
power. Over temperature optional extra. The door safety switch
disconnects the power from the elements when the door is
opened. The amber heater on light will go out while the door is
open if this does not happen consult the trouble shooting guide.

4.4 FURNACE LOADING

For best results, use only centre two-thirds of the furnace chamber.

CAUTION

Do not overload your furnace chamber. If the load is to be heated
uniformly it should not occupy more than two-thirds of the furnace
chamber.

If you are heating a number of small parts, spread them throughout
the centre two-thirds of the furnace chamber.

Use insulated tongs and mittens when loading and unloading the
oven.

Always wear safety glasses.

Keep objects away from the thermocouple.

4.5 USE OF PROBES

Any kind of metal probes that are inserted in to the furnace
chamber while the furnace is switched on must be earthed.
Unearthed probes can cause serious electric shock.

4.6 GAS ATMOSPHERES

When an optional gas inlet is fitted only inert gases must be
introduced into the chamber.

4.7 ELECTRONIC OVER TEMPERATURE

When an optional digital over temperature is fitted this must be set
to the correct temperature before starting a heat cycle.

5.0 MAINTAINANCE

5.1 CLEANING

Soot and scale may build up inside the chamber. This must be
removed at regular intervals as they may affect the furnace
efficiency.

5.2 ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS

All electrical checks should be carried out by qualified personnel.

Electrical connections should be checked periodically to make sure
all connection are tight.

The door safety switch should be checked weekly to make sure it is
in good working order and it cuts the power to the elements when
the door is opened.

6.0 SPARES AND REPAIRS

Vecstar have a team of qualified engineers that can carry out
repairs either at the customer’s premises or the furnace can be
returned to our premises for repair. A telephone call in most cases
will identify the fault and a spare part can be despatched.

All furnaces have their own records so please quote the serial
number, model type and voltage that can be found on the rating
plate on the back of the furnace.

Vecstar can supply a recommended kit of spares or individual
spares as required please quote serial number, model type and
voltage that can be found on the rating plate on the back of the
furnace.

7.0 FAULT ANALYSIS

FAULT

Possible causes to
check

Corrective action

The furnace does not heat
up

The heat on light is on

The heat on light is off

Furnace overheats

The heat on light stays on
all the time

Heating element

Thermocouple

SSR switch

Door switch

Safety contactor

Controller

Thermal fuse

SSR switch

Over temp alarm
controller

Safety relay

Wrong thermocouple

Replace element and any
contaminated material

Replace any part found to be
faulty

Replace any part found to be
faulty

8.0 STANDARD WIRING DIAGRAM

8.1 OVERTEMPERATURE WIRING DIAGRAM

MODEL

MAX

TEMP

°C

MAX

POWER

KW

CHAMBER

SIZE

H W D

CAPACITY

LITRES

NET

WEIGHT

Kg

MRF1

1300

2.5

120

180

180

3.9

44

MRF2

1300

3.5

120

180

355

7.7

57

MRF3

1300

7

205

230

460

21.7

120

MRF4

1300

8

205

305

460

28.8

130

MRF5

1300

9

305

305

460

42.8

145

MRF6

1300

15

300

450

600

81

165

9.0 SPECIFICATIONS

The products covered in this manual are only a small part of our extensive range of our
ovens, tube furnaces, chamber furnaces and hot plates for laboratory and industrial use.
Please visit our web site at www.vecstar.com or contact us at the address below for more
information.

10.0 CONTACT DETAILS

UK Contact

USA Contact

Vecstar Limited
Units 11 & 12 Foxwood Road
Dunston Trading Estate
Chesterfield S41 9RF
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Vecstar Limited
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]