How To Fix Thermal Runaway Ender 3

I have been using my 3D printers well-nigh non-stop since I got them. 3D printing is a fun and exciting way to create new things and one of the questions that I often go asked is how dangerous is a 3D printer and what is the likelihood of information technology catching fire.

At that place are very few things on a 3D printer that will crusade catastrophic problems and thermal runaway is the leading crusade of all fires started by 3D printers.

Thermal runaway on an Ender 3 is the process of the 3D printer elements uncontrollably heating across the desired temperature. Thermal runaway can potentially cause damage to the printer and could even result in a fire.

The three components that control the temperature of the hot end are the heating cartridge, thermistor, and heating block.

What Causes Thermal Runaway On A 3D Printer?

Heating cartridge disconnecting from the heating block.
Thermistor disconnecting from the heating block.
Damaged Thermistor Wire.
Damaged Heating Cartridge Wire.

The main causes for thermal runaway is the heating cartridge disconnecting from the heating block and the thermistor disconnecting from the heating cake. Some other effect that tin cause a thermal runaway error is a damaged thermistor or heating cartridge.

Heating Cartridge Disconnecting From The Heating Block.

The near common cause of 3D printer related housefires is the heating cartridge falling out disconnecting from the heating block. If your printer does not have thermal runaway protection and your heating cartridge becomes disconnected the heating cartridge volition begin to rut to its max potential.

At max temperature the heating cartridge will glow red hot and volition almost probable result in a burn down. With thermal delinquent protection your 3D printer will be able to identify that the thermistor is reading at room temperature when the heating cartridge is heating up. If the thermistor doesnt read a higher temperature every bit information technology should when the heating cartridge is heating the 3D printer will close down all heating functions.

Thermistor disconnecting from the heating block.

The thermistor disconnecting from the heating block is non as dangerous as the heating cartridge falling out of the heating cake but information technology can all the same outcome in a business firm burn down if your heating block cannot withstand the rut of the heating cartridge.

On some occasions the heating cartridge is able to get so hot that information technology actually melts the heating cake and drops the heating cartridge on the build plate which tin potentially catch surrounding things on fire.

Nigh filaments are besides flammable (particularly PLA) so the heater cartridge falling on a partially completed print will create a fire that is fueled by the filament.

Damaged Thermistor Wire.

A damaged thermistor wire is probably the safest failure on this listing because if the thermistor is damaged it will non report a reading dorsum to the printer and the printer will not permit the hot terminate to heat without a reading from the thermistor.

On an Ender 3 if the thermistor is damaged the easiest fashion to ostend this is with the hot stop temperature reading 0 on the screen. In virtually cases the thermistor wire is not repairable and will need to be replaced.

Damaged Heating Cartridge Wire.

The counter to the thermistor wire being damaged or broken is the heater cartridge wire being damaged or broken. If the heating cartridge wire is damaged the hot stop will not be able to estrus up in the get-go place. The danger comes if the wire is damaged or frayed in the middle of the line which can cause the printer to arc electricity and potentially impairment components.

How to Ready Thermal Runaway.

The simplest style to fix thermal runaway is by diagnosing your printer and verifying the thermistor wires and heating cartridge are assembled correctly. If the printer is assembled correctly supercede the hot end thermistor wire.

If you are however receiving a thermal runaway message you may demand to replace the thermistor wire for the build plate or the heating cartridge.

Thermistor wires are pretty inexpensive and are an item that is adept to accept around merely in instance. I personally accept broken a thermistor wire twice on the same printer. The wires are very thin and fragile so please don't judge.

How To Replace The Hot End Thermistor On An Ender 3.

Step 1 – Remove The Power Cable.

The first step every fourth dimension yous work on your 3D printer is to remove the power cable to ensure that you are safe from the electrical components and also to ensure that any electrostatic discharge damages your 3D printer's primary board.

Your 3D printer's hot end should be cool when replacing the thermistor.

Footstep 2 – Remove The Fan Shroud From The Hot Terminate.

Remove the fan shroud from the hot end to access the thermistor cable.

Step 3 – Disconnect The Thermistor From The Hot End.

Remove the screw property the thermistor wire to the heating block, then disconnect the thermistor.

In this photo the heating block is disconnected from the heatsink. In your case information technology will non be necessary to remove the heating block from the heatsink.

Step 4 – Remove The Mainboard Encompass.

To replace the thermistor in the hot end you will have to remove the mainboard cover by accessing the bottom of your Ender three and removing the 3 screws holding the encompass on.

Step v – Unplug The Thermistor Cable From The Main Board.

Unplug the thermistor cable from the mainboard. The thermistor connection is in the corner of the lath as shown below, you might have to remove any adhesion that is added to the board.

Step six – Remove The Thermistor Cable.

You tin now remove the thermistor cable by pulling the thermistor through the cable cluster from the board end.

Just lightly pull the thermistor cable until it is free from the cable cluster.

Stride seven – Install The New Thermistor Cable.

Install the new thermistor past gently feeding the thermistor through the cable cluster. This tin be a difficult and wearisome process if done incorrectly but is mostly pretty elementary and straightforward.

Connect the thermistor to the mainboard in the same slot that you removed the onetime thermistor from.

Connect the thermistor to the heating block. Practise not over tighten the screw that hold the thermistor to the heating block. The thin wires in the thermistor cable are very frail and can break easily.

Step 8 – Turn On Your Ender 3.

Turn on your Ender 3 to ensure that your thermistor is installed properly. The temperature of your hot end should read room temperature. If the thermistor reads cypher on the temperature of the hot end then your thermistor is not installed correctly.

Does The Ender iii Have Thermal Runaway Protection?

Creality claims that all Ender 3's are now shipped from the factory with thermal runaway enabled. If you have an Ender 3 that is more than 2 years erstwhile yous may want to update your firmware to the latest version of marlin, or if y'all have an Ender 3 V2 you can update to JyersUI.

For directions on updating your Ender three firmware delight read the linked article that will walk you through the whole process.

How To Examination Thermal Runaway Protection On An Ender 3.

The safest mode to test thermal runaway protections is past disconnecting the heating cartridge from the motherboard, then heat the hot end.

The thermistor volition not heat at all because it is not connected to the main lath and afterwards about 1 minute the thermistor should recognize that the hot finish is non heating and will throw a thermal runaway error.

Do NOT remove the heating cartridge from the heating block for this exam.

The simplest (but not safest) fashion to test thermal delinquent protection is by disconnecting the thermistor from the heating block and so rut the hot end.

If the printer does not throw a thermal runaway error within 2 minutes yous should put your printer in cooldown fashion and arrest the test.

If a thermal runaway error does not show up on your printer inside 2 minutes this likely ways that your printer does not have thermal runaway protection and you should update your firmware to the latest version available.

Is Min/Max Temp Error The Same Equally Thermal Delinquent?

Min temp error and max temp error are not the aforementioned as thermal runaway. In general the three issues are typically caused by a damaged thermistor wire but they manifest themselves in dissimilar ways and through different error codes.

Min Temp Mistake.

Min temp error is a status where the hot finish of your 3D printer is not heating at all and is reading zippo on the hot end temperature. This condition typically means that your thermistor is damaged and needs to be replaced.

Max Temp Fault.

Max temp fault unremarkably occurs every bit shortly as you lot turn your printer on, the hot end heats up without beingness prompted and errors out upon reaching max temp.

Max temp fault can be acquired past a few different components just the most common outcome is in the thermistor.

If the thermistor does not gear up the issue you likely accept a damaged main board which can be much more expensive than the thermistor.