Watch an animated presentation about heater bakeout
What is heater bakeout?
How does heater bakeout work?
Watch heater bakeout on an oscilloscope

Watch a four-minute animated presentation that explains heater bakeout:

When heater bakeout is needed.
How heater bakeout works.
How to set up heater bakeout.

Click here if the animation will not play or if you cannot hear the sound.

If a MgO-insulated heater element shuts down for a long period of time (or sits in storage), it can absorb moisture. If full power is applied, excessive current can damage the heater or blow fuses.

The heater bakeout feature soft starts the load to remove moisture from the heater and prevent blown heaters and fuses.

To get heater bakeout, order the heater diagnostics option (available on single phase and three phase, three leg models only).

During heater bakeout, the Power Series slowly increases voltage to the heater while monitoring the output current:

If the heater achieves full output before the bakeout time expires, then the heater is dry and can be put into service.

If the output current reaches a user-specified trip point during the bakeout—as it would if arcing occurred in the heater—then the Power Series shuts off the output and activates an alarm.

After the heater bakeout, the Power Series automatically switches to the user-selected control mode (phase angle or zero cross).

Watch a video clip of heater bakeout on an oscilloscope. If you cannot hear the sound, you may skip the first 24 seconds of this video.

The video shows two heater bakeouts:

Click here if the video will not play or if you cannot hear the sound.