Stephani Stephenson on tue 21 dec 10
Oh snail,
I did exactly the same thing too, in similar circumstances: dryer plug,=
=3D
rental, skutt
1028.. I knew exactly how much i could get from it, and it I tried to sne=
=3D
ak
any more power through those lines, breaker breaker!
Paul Haigh on tue 21 dec 10
I picked up an old 10 cu ft Skutt for cheap... but it probably wasn't worth=
much. I want it as a bisque kiln so am not asking much out of it.
First attempts- all 3 controls on low- it hums along and gets nice and warm=
. Turn them to medium- it keeps rockin until it throws the breaker.
So this thing is rated at 48 A, and my breaker is 40A. I was figuring that =
I might get away with it though, as I probably won't be using full power. S=
o my options here are: 1) change out for a new 40A breaker and try it again=
(this is in my shed- installed in 1979, and not a controlled atmosphere so=
maybe the breaker is dying), 2) check wiring etc for shorts to make sure i=
t's not a kiln issue, and 3) convert to propane.
My questions-
1) should I be able to bisque and stay under 40A with this thing if it's wo=
rking properly?
2) Am I going to go through a lot of propane bisque firing this? Should I n=
ot bother and just get a better electric if it's not worth repairing?
Thanks
Paul Haigh
Wiley Hill Mudworks
Web: http://whmudworks.com
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/28ggv3w
etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/WileyHillMudworks
Arnold Howard on tue 21 dec 10
On 12/21/2010 3:56 PM, Paul Haigh wrote:
> 1) should I be able to bisque and stay under 40A with this thing if it's =
working properly?
---------
Paul, you will likely have to install a heavier circuit if your kiln is
48 amps and your present circuit has a 40 amp breaker. When you turn the
kiln switches to high, the kiln will pull its maximum amperage even if
you don't fire to high temperatures.
Sincerely,
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com
Paul Herman on tue 21 dec 10
Paul,
You will need a 60 amp breaker for this kiln, if you have the same
experience as me. I had used a 50 amp breaker for a 48 amp Skutt 1027,
and it eventually started flipping before I could get to bisque
temperature. A 60 amp cured the problem.
I think the electric bisque will be cheaper than propane, though am
not positive of course.
best,
Paul Herman
Great Basin Pottery
Doyle, California US
www.greatbasinpottery.com/
On Dec 21, 2010, at 1:56 PM, Paul Haigh wrote:
>
> My questions-
> 1) should I be able to bisque and stay under 40A with this thing if
> it's working properly?
> 2) Am I going to go through a lot of propane bisque firing this?
> Should I not bother and just get a better electric if it's not worth
> repairing?
>
> Thanks
>
>
> Paul Haigh
William & Susan Schran User on tue 21 dec 10
On 12/21/10 4:56 PM, "Paul Haigh" wrote:
> So this thing is rated at 48 A, and my breaker is 40A. I was figuring tha=
t I
> might get away with it though, as I probably won't be using full power. S=
o my
> options here are: 1) change out for a new 40A breaker and try it again (t=
his
> is in my shed- installed in 1979, and not a controlled atmosphere so mayb=
e the
> breaker is dying), 2) check wiring etc for shorts to make sure it's not a=
kiln
> issue, and 3) convert to propane.
> My questions-
> 1) should I be able to bisque and stay under 40A with this thing if it's
> working properly?
> 2) Am I going to go through a lot of propane bisque firing this? Should I=
not
> bother and just get a better electric if it's not worth repairing?
Ok finished laughing...sorry.
Sorry, but you need to have a breaker that is 120% above the amp rating of
the kiln - you need a 60 amp breaker.
Tripped breaker will continue, don't know if the wiring for the kiln is
suitable either.
Need to check Skutt's web site for specific electrical needs.
If not, then a kiln that draws about 30/32 amps for your 40 amp circuit.
If you convert to firing with propane, you will probably blow up pots with
too rapid a heat rise at start of firing.
Bill
--
William "Bill" Schran
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
http://www.creativecreekartisans.com
Stephani Stephenson on tue 21 dec 10
what Paul said!=3D20
in some houses ,older ones with 100 amp service, you will not be able to=
=3D
put in a 60 amp
breaker without some additional expense... all you can do with that size=
=3D
kiln is fire to a very low bisque..frustrating..
one way around the problem is to simply make the kiln smaller.
If it is the 3 section Skutt, you can just eliminate one section, so yo=
=3D
u
have a shorter kiln. with 2 secttions plugged into each other. you still
have the bottom blank ring and the ring with the kiln sitter. you elimina=
=3D
te
the top ring with the male plug and affix the lid to the second ring.
It won't draw as many amps, so you can turn the switches to med and high=
=3D
..
Snail Scott on tue 21 dec 10
On Dec 21, 2010, at 3:56 PM, Paul Haigh wrote:
> I picked up an old 10 cu ft Skutt for cheap...
> So this thing is rated at 48 A, and my breaker is 40A. I was figuring =3D
that I might get away with it...
> 1) should I be able to bisque and stay under 40A with this thing if =3D
it's working properly?
Done this. If you keep the middle ring on 'medium'=3D20
when the top and bottom are on 'high', you can keep=3D20
it under 40A and get a solid, even ^06. I did this for =3D20
six months while in a rental house, firing earthenware=3D20
using the existing dryer circuit.=3D20
-Snail=3D
Mayssan Farra on wed 22 dec 10
When I had my first kiln connected it tripped off the breaker, the electric=
ian
came back and changed it up and it didn't trip anymore.
I kept feeling the wall getting hotter and hotter with every firing, then I=
got
another electrician to look at it and was told I almost burnt down the stud=
io
because the original wire was not to the specification I gave of 7 gauge bu=
t
rather a 10 gauge, because everyone knows that what is good for a dryer is =
good
for a kiln, right? anyway. lesson learned. do not believe what is said chec=
k it
out to be safe.
Merry Christmas to all from my new home in Indian Land SC where the Grand B=
abies
are close and we can sit outside sipping coffee, most days.
Mayssan Shora Farra
http://clayette.blogspot.com
----- Original Message ----
> From: Stephani Stephenson
> To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Sent: Tue, December 21, 2010 7:37:32 PM
> Subject: Re: [Clayart] Old electric throws my breaker
>
> what Paul said!
> in some houses ,older ones with 100 amp service, you will not be able t=
o
> put in a 60 amp
> breaker without some additional expense... all you can do with that siz=
e
> kiln is fire to a very low bisque..frustrating..
> one way around the problem is to simply make the kiln smaller.
> If it is the 3 section Skutt, you can just eliminate one section, so y=
ou
> have a shorter kiln. with 2 secttions plugged into each other. you still
> have the bottom blank ring and the ring with the kiln sitter. you elimin=
ate
> the top ring with the male plug and affix the lid to the second ring.
> It won't draw as many amps, so you can turn the switches to med and hig=
h..
>
Nancy Spinella on tue 28 dec 10
Seconding this recommendation....check your wiring, or have an electrician
check it for you. The breaker is only one piece of the puzzle.
--Nancy
On Wed, Dec 22, 2010 at 11:52 AM, Mayssan Farra wrote:
> When I had my first kiln connected it tripped off the breaker, the
> electrician
> came back and changed it up and it didn't trip anymore.
> I kept feeling the wall getting hotter and hotter with every firing, then=
I
> got
> another electrician to look at it and was told I almost burnt down the
> studio
> because the original wire was not to the specification I gave of 7 gauge
> but
> rather a 10 gauge, because everyone knows that what is good for a dryer i=
s
> good
> for a kiln, right? anyway. lesson learned. do not believe what is said
> check it
> out to be safe.
>
>
> Merry Christmas to all from my new home in Indian Land SC where the Grand
> Babies
> are close and we can sit outside sipping coffee, most days.
>
>
> Mayssan Shora Farra
>
>
> http://clayette.blogspot.com
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> > From: Stephani Stephenson
> > To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> > Sent: Tue, December 21, 2010 7:37:32 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Clayart] Old electric throws my breaker
> >
> > what Paul said!
> > in some houses ,older ones with 100 amp service, you will not be able
> to
> > put in a 60 amp
> > breaker without some additional expense... all you can do with that
> size
> > kiln is fire to a very low bisque..frustrating..
> > one way around the problem is to simply make the kiln smaller.
> > If it is the 3 section Skutt, you can just eliminate one section, so
> you
> > have a shorter kiln. with 2 secttions plugged into each other. you sti=
ll
> > have the bottom blank ring and the ring with the kiln sitter. you
> eliminate
> > the top ring with the male plug and affix the lid to the second ring.
> > It won't draw as many amps, so you can turn the switches to med and
> high..
> >
>
--
www.twitter.com/nanspins
www.wix.com/nanspin/pottery
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