Andrea Byrd on sun 19 sep 10
Hello,
I am trying to determine what the problem is with my kiln and hoping some=
=3D
one=3D20
can help me. I have a Shimpo ConeArt BX2327D 240 volt, 48 amp, single=3D20=
=3D
phase kiln with a Bartlett Controller. I have only fired it 85 times wit=
=3D
h cone 6=3D20
glaze firings and 04 bisque firings. Last week the kiln shut off with an=
=3D
ERR1=3D20
error message stating that the kiln was rising at less than 12 degrees pe=
=3D
r=3D20
hour. I tried refiring the kiln again and after 13 hours it was only at =
=3D
1600=3D20
degrees so I shut it off.
After reading several old posts on clayart about similar problems, I star=
=3D
ted=3D20
trying to narrow down the problem. I turned the kiln on and checked for =
=3D
red=3D20
hot elements. The second from the top element was black but all others=3D2=
0=3D
looked red hot. I bought a multimeter and tested the resistance of the=3D2=
0=3D
elements. The top two elements had a reading of 29-30, all others were 1=
=3D
8.=3D20=3D20
I don't know what the normal readings should be. I also noticed that whe=
=3D
re=3D20
the element drops down to the next row, it was sagging out of the groove =
=3D
and=3D20
had curled around in a loop and was touching itself.=3D20=3D20
After doing alot of reading, it sounds like it could be the element, the=3D=
20=3D
thermocouple, the relay, or problems with wires. I'm not sure where to g=
=3D
o=3D20
from here. I don't know how to check the thermocouple or relays. I look=
=3D
ed at=3D20
the wires and connections and they all looked good. Any suggestions woul=
=3D
d=3D20
be greatly appreciated.
Also, if it is the element, can I just replace the one bad element or am =
=3D
I=3D20
supposed to replace more than one? Or maybe the loop in the element is=3D2=
0=3D
causing the problem and I just need to straighten it out and put it back =
=3D
in it's=3D20
groove? (I imagine it's not going to be that simple.)
Thanks!
Andrea
Larry Kruzan on mon 20 sep 10
sounds like elements to me. I'd change all of them because if one has faile=
=3D
d, others will soon go bad. Bad elements cost more to fire in time and they=
=3D
consume much more electricity. 85 firings is a little soon - but not by to=
=3D
o much. I think around 100 firings would be more typical, but there are a l=
=3D
ot of varibles with saying any fixed point for expected life.=3D20
Larry Kruzan=3D20
Lost Creek Pottery=3D20
Camping in northern the=3DC2=3DA0Illinois "wilderness"=3D20
----- Original Message -----=3D20
From: "Andrea Byrd" =3D20
To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG=3D20
Sent: Sunday, September 19, 2010 1:06:13 PM=3D20
Subject: Problem with Kiln=3D20
Hello,=3D20
I am trying to determine what the problem is with my kiln and hoping someon=
=3D
e=3D20
can help me. =3DC2=3DA0I have a Shimpo ConeArt BX2327D 240 volt, 48 amp, si=
ngle=3D
=3D20
phase kiln with a Bartlett Controller. =3DC2=3DA0I have only fired it 85 ti=
mes =3D
with cone 6=3D20
glaze firings and 04 bisque firings. =3DC2=3DA0Last week the kiln shut off =
with=3D
an ERR1=3D20
error message stating that the kiln was rising at less than 12 degrees per=
=3D
=3D20
hour. =3DC2=3DA0I tried refiring the kiln again and after 13 hours it was o=
nly =3D
at 1600=3D20
degrees so I shut it off.=3D20
After reading several old posts on clayart about similar problems, I starte=
=3D
d=3D20
trying to narrow down the problem. =3DC2=3DA0I turned the kiln on and check=
ed f=3D
or red=3D20
hot elements. =3DC2=3DA0The second from the top element was black but all o=
ther=3D
s=3D20
looked red hot. =3DC2=3DA0I bought a multimeter and tested the resistance o=
f th=3D
e=3D20
elements. =3DC2=3DA0The top two elements had a reading of 29-30, all others=
wer=3D
e 18. =3DC2=3DA0=3D20
I don't know what the normal readings should be. =3DC2=3DA0I also noticed t=
hat =3D
where=3D20
the element drops down to the next row, it was sagging out of the groove an=
=3D
d=3D20
had curled around in a loop and was touching itself. =3DC2=3DA0=3D20
After doing alot of reading, it sounds like it could be the element, the=3D=
20
thermocouple, the relay, or problems with wires. =3DC2=3DA0I'm not sure whe=
re t=3D
o go=3D20
from here. =3DC2=3DA0I don't know how to check the thermocouple or relays. =
=3DC2=3D
=3DA0I looked at=3D20
the wires and connections and they all looked good. =3DC2=3DA0Any suggestio=
ns w=3D
ould=3D20
be greatly appreciated.=3D20
Also, if it is the element, can I just replace the one bad element or am I=
=3D
=3D20
supposed to replace more than one? =3DC2=3DA0Or maybe the loop in the eleme=
nt i=3D
s=3D20
causing the problem and I just need to straighten it out and put it back in=
=3D
it's=3D20
groove? =3DC2=3DA0(I imagine it's not going to be that simple.)=3D20
Thanks!=3D20
Andrea=3D20
William & Susan Schran User on mon 20 sep 10
On 9/19/10 2:06 PM, "Andrea Byrd" wrote:
> After doing alot of reading, it sounds like it could be the element, the
> thermocouple, the relay, or problems with wires. I'm not sure where to g=
o
> from here. I don't know how to check the thermocouple or relays. I look=
ed at
> the wires and connections and they all looked good. Any suggestions woul=
d
> be greatly appreciated.
>
> Also, if it is the element, can I just replace the one bad element or am =
I
> supposed to replace more than one? Or maybe the loop in the element is
> causing the problem and I just need to straighten it out and put it back =
in
> it's
> groove? (I imagine it's not going to be that simple.)
One element black, all the rest red - replace the one bad element.
Some kilns have top elements at a different resistance so they don't heat a=
s
much as the others.
Contact kiln maker for resistance readings for new elements.
If readings are off by 20%, it's time to replace them all.
FYI - never try to straighten out an element/put back in groove before you
heat to red color with torch, otherwise you will break it.
Bill
--
William "Bill" Schran
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
http://www.creativecreekartisans.com
Arnold Howard on tue 21 sep 10
From: "Andrea Byrd"
I also noticed that where
the element drops down to the next row, it was sagging out
of the groove and
had curled around in a loop and was touching itself.
-----------
Andrea, if the bulging element is touching another element,
I would try to repair the bulge. It will be an interesting
learning experience.
Disconnect the power from the kiln and heat the bulging
section of element with a propane torch. The bulging element
will glow red in about 10 seconds. Use the type of torch
that has an on/off button.
Press the coils together with needle-nose pliers so the
element moves back into the groove. The element must be hot
and pliable. If it cools to the point where it stiffens, it
will break when moved.
Sincerely,
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com
| |
|
