Shula on sat 29 mar 08
OK, so I am on a question jag today. Now that I have been working with clay semi-regularly for the first time in years (I'm taking a class at a local community college) and have access to a kiln during the school year, I am more eager to get my own kiln, again.
So, last time I wrote, right after I bought my house, I asked for advice about a shed in which to put the kiln. For all sorts of reasons, I would like to explore another possibility - putting the kiln on my back patio.
The patio:
The patio is 9 feet wide and 40 or more feet long. It is covered by a roof - an extension of the house roof (stucco house with with cement tiles on the roof). The ceiling of the patio roof is 10 feet or so. The house is to the East of the patio. I live in the desert and it is frequently windy. Often the wind comes from the west. Several miles west of me there are wind farms that I can see from my back yard. While it may not be as windy at my house as it is at the wind farms, it's windier than I've experienced (except for when I lived briefly in OK in tornado alley)
The idea:
I will have an electrical box put in at the north side of the patio (near the AC unit). It will be less than 50 feet from the main electrical box. The kiln will be hard wired, but have a long wire between the electrical box (that will have shut off capability) and the kiln. I will have the kiln on a stand with casters. When I am not using the kiln, it will be within inches of the house, covered with a tarp or two to protect the electronics, and cinder blocks blocking the casters so the wind won't push around the kiln. When I use the kiln, I will move it away from the house and the columns that support the patio roof.
The questions:
Does this sound OK?
Can you think of any draw backs?
Any suggestions?
Being outside, I assume I don't need a vent. If you disagree, where would I mount it?
Most important question:
I don't want to mount the electrical box for the kiln on the house (don't want the insurance company to have any opportunity to deny a claim, should there be one, that a fire started because of the electrical box for the kiln). I envision it mounted at the end of the patio. Now to the question: How / on what should the electrical box for the kiln be mounted?
Thanks for your help.
Shula
Desert Hot Springs, California USA
Arnold Howard on tue 1 apr 08
From: "Shula"
> The patio is 9 feet wide and 40 or more feet long. It is
> covered by a roof - an extension of the house roof (stucco
> house with with cement tiles on the roof). The ceiling of
> the patio roof is 10 feet or so. The house is to the East
> of the patio. I live in the desert and it is frequently
> windy. Often the wind comes from the west.
------------
The patio sounds like a good location for your electric
kiln. However, the wind blowing against the kiln may raise
the electrical cost slightly and reduce cooling time. On the
other hand, the wind will blow away fumes and lower the
kiln's switch box temperature.
Try to position the kiln so the wind will not blow against
the peepholes, and make sure the lid is down all the way
during firing.
I would depend on a local electrician to help you determine
where to mount the electrical shutoff box. The main
consideration is to use heavy gauge wire for the circuit.
Sincerely,
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com
| |
|
