Lisa VanDonsel on mon 11 oct 10
Hi,
I'm new here. I've been throwing for a number of years, but always in a
classroom setting. I've done a little kiln work (loading and unloading) and
have fired an electric kiln, but have no experience with setting up a studi=
o
I salvaged an electric kiln recently. I'm guessing it's at least 30 years
old, but the price was right (free!). I'm not entirely certain that it
works, and since it's been sitting for some time, I'm inclined to think it
doesn't. The kiln is a Skutt, model 181. There is no instruction manual,
though I'm trying to get one. I'm planning to fire to cone 5. The specs on
the panel on it's side are as follows:
115v/230-208
3 wire
20 amp
4600 watts
Fires to cone 6
We recently bought a house in a rural setting, and I'm in the process of
setting up a studio. One of outbuildings once housed the RV of the previous
owners. It is covered, and there is an outlet in which they used to power
the RV. The outlet has a matching plug to the kiln, but is marked
110v/30amp. I've read that 110v and 115v is really the same. And a 30amp
outlet for a 20amp kiln, is fine, no? So is my kiln compatible with this
outlet? I've been trying to read up, but am still confused. Are there
other issues that an electrician should check for?
I'm also wondering if any of you could recommend a good book on electric
kiln repair. I've been to Amazon, and have a couple in my shopping cart, bu=
t
which would you recommend??
Thanks,
Lisa
0
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Lynn Goodman Porcelain Pottery on mon 11 oct 10
Lisa,
Please please please have either an electrician or a qualified kiln
repair person check out the kiln and the outlet. Something is only
free if it doesn't burn down the building!
Lynn
On Oct 11, 2010, at 2:10 PM, Lisa VanDonsel wrote:
> I salvaged an electric kiln recently. I'm guessing it's at least 30
> years
> old, but the price was right (free!). I'm not entirely certain that it
> works, and since it's been sitting for some time, I'm inclined to
> think it
> doesn't. The kiln is a Skutt, model 181. There is no instruction
> manual,
> though I'm trying to get one. I'm planning to fire to cone 5. The
> specs on
> the panel on it's side are as follows:
>
> 115v/230-208
> 3 wire
> 20 amp
> 4600 watts
> Fires to cone 6
>
> We recently bought a house in a rural setting, and I'm in the
> process of
> setting up a studio. One of outbuildings once housed the RV of the
> previous
> owners. It is covered, and there is an outlet in which they used to
> power
> the RV. The outlet has a matching plug to the kiln, but is marked
> 110v/30amp. I've read that 110v and 115v is really the same. And a
> 30amp
> outlet for a 20amp kiln, is fine, no? So is my kiln compatible with
> this
> outlet? I've been trying to read up, but am still confused. Are
> there
> other issues that an electrician should check for?
>
> Thanks,
>
Lynn Goodman
Fine Porcelain Pottery
Cell 347-526-9805
www.lynngoodmanporcelain.com
William & Susan Schran User on mon 11 oct 10
On 10/11/10 2:10 PM, "Lisa VanDonsel" wrote:
> I salvaged an electric kiln recently. I'm guessing it's at least 30 years
> old, but the price was right (free!). I'm not entirely certain that it
> works, and since it's been sitting for some time, I'm inclined to think i=
t
> doesn't. The kiln is a Skutt, model 181. There is no instruction manual,
> though I'm trying to get one. I'm planning to fire to cone 5. The specs o=
n
> the panel on it's side are as follows:
>
> 115v/230-208
> 3 wire
> 20 amp
> 4600 watts
> Fires to cone 6
First - go on Skutt's web site.
Second - read the service manual:
http://www.skutt.com/pdf/service_manual/stm.pdf
This will cover new and old kilns.
Third - contact technical support:
http://www.skutt.com/support/tech_info.html
They will assist you in what you will need to know to safely get this kiln
connected and working.
Bill
--
William "Bill" Schran
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
http://www.creativecreekartisans.com
Arnold Howard on mon 11 oct 10
From: "Lisa VanDonsel"
The outlet has a matching plug to the kiln, but is marked
> 110v/30amp. I've read that 110v and 115v is really the
> same. And a 30amp
> outlet for a 20amp kiln, is fine, no?
----------
Lisa, you will need to match the NEMA number on the plug
with the number on the wall outlet. Some of the outlets look
similar but are not the same. You will know what I mean by
looking at this chart:
http://www.paragonweb.com/files/manuals/NEMA_Config_Chart.pdf
You can test the elements even before the kiln is plugged
in. You will need a voltmeter. This video shows how to use
one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DUsDdQaIO7FI
Skutt has published a kiln service manual that you should
read. You can also find Kiln Sitter manuals here:
http://www.paragonweb.com/Instruction_Manuals.cfm
Sincerely,
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com
steve graber on tue 12 oct 10
call up the Skutt kiln people and get the straight scoop.=3DA0 Clayart is a=
g=3D
reat =3D0Agroup of people, but the various manufacturers of pottery equipme=
nt=3D
are also a =3D0Agreat group of people.=3DA0 ~ they are clay people which m=
eans=3D
really cool people ~ =3D0Ano reason to skip talking to them!=3DA0 unless y=
ou h=3D
ave a product from a =3D0Amanufacturer that is out of business.=3DA0 =3D0A=
=3D0A=3D0Au=3D
nlike other fields such as calling up GE on blender or kitchen aid mixers, =
=3D
the =3D0Apottery industry is small and chances are you'll talk to the main =
gu=3D
y making the =3D0Aproducts.=3DA0 you will not be routed to any india call c=
ente=3D
rs and a guy named =3D0A"Jim".=3DA0 =3D0A=3D0A=3D0Ayour local pottery store=
also=3DA0is=3D
likely to be a great resource for service =3D0Abeyond just=3DA0selling cla=
y an=3D
d materials.=3DA0 =3D0A=3D0A=3D0Ai'm lucky to have launched my little textu=
re tool =3D
and i get to talk to=3DA0quite a =3D0Afew stores now.=3DA0 all have a lot o=
f frie=3D
ndly people.=3DA0 i have gotten to visit =3D0Aseveral stores in person for =
demo=3D
s, and all of them are as if visiting long lost =3D0Afamily.=3DA0 locate yo=
ur l=3D
ocal store and get to know them!=3DA0 many now have been =3D0Ahaving open h=
ouse=3D
events which are like mini-NCECA's=3D0A=3D0ASteve Graber, Graber's Pottery=
, In=3D
c=3D0AClaremont, California USA=3D0AThe Steve Tool - for awesome texture on=
pot=3D
s! =3D0Awww.graberspottery.com steve@graberspottery.com =3D0A=3D0A=3D0AOn L=
aguna Cl=3D
ay's website=3D0Ahttp://www.lagunaclay.com/blogs/ =3D0A=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A-----=
Original =3D
Message ----=3D0A> From: Lisa VanDonsel =3D0A> To: Cl=
ayar=3D
t@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG=3D0A> Sent: Mon, October 11, 2010 11:10:42 AM=3D0A> Subj=
ect:=3D
electric kiln questions from newbie=3D0A> =3D0A> Hi,=3D0A> I'm new here. I=
've be=3D
en throwing for a number of years, but always in a=3D0A> classroom setting.=
I=3D
've done a little kiln work (loading and unloading) and=3D0A> have fired an=
e=3D
lectric kiln, but have no experience with setting up a studio=3D0A> =3D0A> =
I sa=3D
lvaged an electric kiln recently. I'm guessing it's at least 30 years=3D0A>=
o=3D
ld, but the price was right (free!). I'm not entirely certain that it=3D0A>=
w=3D
orks, and since it's been sitting for some time, I'm inclined to think it=
=3D
=3D0A> doesn't. The kiln is a Skutt, model 181. There is no instruction man=
ua=3D
l,=3D0A> though I'm trying to get one. I'm planning to fire to cone 5. The =
sp=3D
ecs on=3D0A> the panel on it's side are as follows:=3D0A> =3D0A> 115v/230-2=
08=3D0A>=3D
3 wire=3D0A> 20 amp=3D0A> 4600 watts=3D0A> Fires to cone 6=3D0A> =3D0A> We=
recently =3D
bought a house in a rural setting, and I'm in the process of=3D0A> setting =
up=3D
a studio. One of outbuildings once housed the RV of the previous=3D0A> own=
er=3D
s. It is covered, and there is an outlet in which they used to power=3D0A> =
th=3D
e RV. The outlet has a matching plug to the kiln, but is marked=3D0A> 110v/=
30=3D
amp. I've read that 110v and 115v is really the same.=3DA0 And a 30amp=3D0A=
> ou=3D
tlet for a 20amp kiln, is fine, no? So is my kiln compatible with this=3D0A=
> =3D
outlet?=3DA0 I've been trying to read up, but am still confused.=3DA0 Are t=
here=3D
=3D0A> other issues that an electrician should check for?=3D0A> =3D0A> I'm =
also w=3D
ondering if any of you could recommend a good book on electric=3D0A> kiln r=
ep=3D
air. I've been to Amazon, and have a couple in my shopping cart, but=3D0A> =
wh=3D
ich would you recommend??=3D0A> =3D0A> Thanks,=3D0A> =3D0A> Lisa=3D0A> 0=3D=
0A> =3D0A> =3DA0=3D
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orums&type=3D
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d7caf3b9=3D
09c&post_return=3D3D3006>=3D0A>=3D0A> =3DA0 - [image: =3D0A>-]icartsdail=3D
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tion&do=3D
=3D3Dadd_rating&app_rate=3D3Dforums&type=3D3Dpid&type_id=3D3D3006&rating=3D=
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Nancy Spinella on tue 12 oct 10
Somewhere on the service tag (usually with the volt/amp rating and the
serial number) it should say "1P" or "3P" -- if you salvaged it from a
business it is possibly a 3-phase kiln, which won't work in a single-phase
residence.
And I second the suggestion about getting an electrician. Your outlet has t=
o
go with a certain gauge wire, which also needs to match up to a certain siz=
e
breaker - and bigger is not better in this case, because a "x" amp breaker
is designed to trip when the load exceeds that rating, and if your 20 amp
kiln gets over 20 but not over 30, it could result in damage to the kiln
and/or a fire. If you're not sure, call in an expert.
Best of luck to you! If you need a new kiln-sitter, though, plan to wait
about 4 months to get it from Skutt because they're all on backorder....
Keep us posted on how it goes!
--Nancy
On Mon, Oct 11, 2010 at 2:10 PM, Lisa VanDonsel wrote=
:
> Hi,
> I'm new here. I've been throwing for a number of years, but always in a
> classroom setting. I've done a little kiln work (loading and unloading) a=
nd
> have fired an electric kiln, but have no experience with setting up a
> studio
>
> I salvaged an electric kiln recently. I'm guessing it's at least 30 years
> old, but the price was right (free!). I'm not entirely certain that it
> works, and since it's been sitting for some time, I'm inclined to think i=
t
> doesn't. The kiln is a Skutt, model 181. There is no instruction manual,
> though I'm trying to get one. I'm planning to fire to cone 5. The specs o=
n
> the panel on it's side are as follows:
>
> 115v/230-208
> 3 wire
> 20 amp
> 4600 watts
> Fires to cone 6
>
> We recently bought a house in a rural setting, and I'm in the process of
> setting up a studio. One of outbuildings once housed the RV of the previo=
us
> owners. It is covered, and there is an outlet in which they used to power
> the RV. The outlet has a matching plug to the kiln, but is marked
> 110v/30amp. I've read that 110v and 115v is really the same. And a 30amp
> outlet for a 20amp kiln, is fine, no? So is my kiln compatible with this
> outlet? I've been trying to read up, but am still confused. Are there
> other issues that an electrician should check for?
>
> I'm also wondering if any of you could recommend a good book on electric
> kiln repair. I've been to Amazon, and have a couple in my shopping cart,
> but
> which would you recommend??
>
> Thanks,
>
> Lisa
> 0
>
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--
www.twitter.com/nanspins
www.wix.com/nanspin/pottery
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