barbara lund on sat 24 jan 98
I have an L@L econo kiln about 6 years old that has always behaved itself
for the most part. The other day I did a glaze fire and noticed that it
took forever for the red color to start to leave after all the switches and
the sitter were off. I pulled out the bottom peep hole plug and after 12
hours it was a nice toasty red still! I discontected the electric plug to
the bottom section,from the control box and within a few minutes the color
faded. That was strange enough. Then last night I was in the kiln room
unloading the kiln and noticed the control box was making very slight
switching on and off sounds. I pulled all the section plugs out and it
continued to "talk". Then I gave up and threw the main switch and all was
quiet. Any guesses where I should start to look for the problem? Should I
give up and call the electrician? Both shut off devices were off and the
bottom section was still firing away until I pulled the plug. Then the next
day the control box started to chatter when no power should have been
getting to the box in the first place. If it is not going to cause a fire
hazzard, I can live switching the main connector at the power box when I
want to use the kiln for a while since I am rapidly running out of money-it
being that time of year when none comes in for me and I had less than usual
to start off the winter in the first place. Any ideas?
Something somewhere isn't right!
Other Barb In Bloomington, In. cold and grey-34 degrees.
Kenneth D. Westfall on sun 25 jan 98
Barb
This is a signal that you have several infinite switches fused in the
closed position (the on position). This switches have contact point that
are open and closed during the firing to regulate the temp by turn the
element on and off. You also indicated that they were on with the kiln
sitter in the off position which again indicates that the switch in the
sitter is fused in the closed position and that it and the switches need
replacing. The other possibility is that you have a bad short that is
letting power go past the switches and the sitter. If your not familiar or
have test equipment to work on electric by all means call an electrician.
Your house and health depends on it being fixed correctly. By the way, it
is a good practice to turn the power off to electric kilns at the
disconnect or breaker to insure you don't get electrocuted. Elements are
bare wire conductors and will shock you if touch them with the electric on.
Kenneth D. Westfall
Pine Hill Pottery
RD#2 Box 6AA
Harrisville, WV 26362
pinehill@ruralnet.org
DON'T GET STUCK IN THE MUDPIES--K & T
Elizabeth A. Ringus on mon 26 jan 98
Hi Barbara, My engineering husband read your problem with the kiln not shutting
off and said that we had a similar problem once. It was caused by the acidic
reaction from firings that caused corrosion on the shut-off terminals in the
control box. It's a poor ground that is finding another way to keep the circuit
closed. We had a spare parts kiln (L&L) that we replace the control box. My
husband says it's a matter of time with kiln firings that the acids attack the
circuitry and your time is now.
Sorry, hope you get it fixed soon,
Liz <><
SC, USA
barbara lund wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I have an L@L econo kiln about 6 years old that has always behaved itself
> for the most part. The other day I did a glaze fire and noticed that it
> took forever for the red color to start to leave after all the switches and
> the sitter were off. I pulled out the bottom peep hole plug and after 12
> hours it was a nice toasty red still! I discontected the electric plug to
> the bottom section,from the control box and within a few minutes the color
> faded. That was strange enough. Then last night I was in the kiln room
> unloading the kiln and noticed the control box was making very slight
> switching on and off sounds. I pulled all the section plugs out and it
> continued to "talk". Then I gave up and threw the main switch and all was
> quiet. Any guesses where I should start to look for the problem? Should I
> give up and call the electrician? Both shut off devices were off and the
> bottom section was still firing away until I pulled the plug. Then the next
> day the control box started to chatter when no power should have been
> getting to the box in the first place. If it is not going to cause a fire
> hazzard, I can live switching the main connector at the power box when I
> want to use the kiln for a while since I am rapidly running out of money-it
> being that time of year when none comes in for me and I had less than usual
> to start off the winter in the first place. Any ideas?
> Something somewhere isn't right!
>
> Other Barb In Bloomington, In. cold and grey-34 degrees.
Sarah Barnes on tue 27 jan 98
Hi, I had a similar proplem with an L&L oval, had to shut the breaker
off. I had the school elctricians look at the kiln and they said it was
the contact. They had corroded and were not functioning properly. At any
rate I would get an elctrician to check the kiln.
Hope this helps
Sarah
Sbarnes@mica.edu
Baltimore, MD
On Sat, 24 Jan 1998, barbara lund wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I have an L@L econo kiln about 6 years old that has always behaved itself
> for the most part. The other day I did a glaze fire and noticed that it
> took forever for the red color to start to leave after all the switches and
> the sitter were off. I pulled out the bottom peep hole plug and after 12
> hours it was a nice toasty red still! I discontected the electric plug to
> the bottom section,from the control box and within a few minutes the color
> faded. That was strange enough. Then last night I was in the kiln room
> unloading the kiln and noticed the control box was making very slight
> switching on and off sounds. I pulled all the section plugs out and it
> continued to "talk". Then I gave up and threw the main switch and all was
> quiet. Any guesses where I should start to look for the problem? Should I
> give up and call the electrician? Both shut off devices were off and the
> bottom section was still firing away until I pulled the plug. Then the next
> day the control box started to chatter when no power should have been
> getting to the box in the first place. If it is not going to cause a fire
> hazzard, I can live switching the main connector at the power box when I
> want to use the kiln for a while since I am rapidly running out of money-it
> being that time of year when none comes in for me and I had less than usual
> to start off the winter in the first place. Any ideas?
> Something somewhere isn't right!
>
> Other Barb In Bloomington, In. cold and grey-34 degrees.
>
Paul Monaghan on tue 27 jan 98
Barbara,
you really need some careful investigation on this since it could/may
become a serious hazard. If the bottom element did not turn off it's
obviously getting power from the controller. The contactor could be
malfunctioning and a set of contacts could be welded together.
DISCONNECT the kiln from the MAIN power source - DON'T JUST TURN THE
POWER SWITCH OFF. Than take the controller case off and physically
inspect the components. Since you said it was making a switching sound
I'm assuming that it's an electromechanical contactor which switches the
power to each element. The contacts are on a spring loaded lever and
should show space between the contacts when the power is off. See if
the contacts move freely by hand. If all appears to be operating
properly than you may have an elment shorted to the power sorce. I
can't really advise you without a wiring diagram any further. If you
can't find someone locally who can trouble shoot the system send me a
copy of the wiring diagram and I'l be glad to see what I can do.
I WOULDN'T, however, continue switching the kiln on and off with the
plug until you determine the problem. I'm betting that it most likely
is a welded contac on the contactor. If this is the problem you can get
a replacement contactor from the manufacturer or most local electrical
supply houses or places like Graingers.
Paul :-)>
> ----------------------------Original
> message----------------------------
> I have an L@L econo kiln about 6 years old that has always behaved
> itself
> for the most part. The other day I did a glaze fire and noticed that
> it
> took forever for the red color to start to leave after all the
> switches and
> the sitter were off. I pulled out the bottom peep hole plug and after
> 12
> hours it was a nice toasty red still! I discontected the electric
> plug to
> the bottom section,from the control box and within a few minutes the
> color
> faded. That was strange enough. Then last night I was in the kiln
> room
> unloading the kiln and noticed the control box was making very slight
> switching on and off sounds. I pulled all the section plugs out and
> it
> continued to "talk". Then I gave up and threw the main switch and all
> was
> quiet. Any guesses where I should start to look for the problem?
> Should I
> give up and call the electrician? Both shut off devices were off and
> the
> bottom section was still firing away until I pulled the plug. Then
> the next
> day the control box started to chatter when no power should have been
> getting to the box in the first place. If it is not going to cause a
> fire
> hazzard, I can live switching the main connector at the power box when
> I
> want to use the kiln for a while since I am rapidly running out of
> money-it
> being that time of year when none comes in for me and I had less than
> usual
> to start off the winter in the first place. Any ideas?
> Something somewhere isn't right!
>
> Other Barb In Bloomington, In. cold and grey-34 degrees.
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