Valice Raffi on sat 7 aug 99
Hi all,
I unplugged my kiln yesterday to move it during the remodel of the studio &
found some corrosion inside the housing on the connections.
Can I clean off the connections? The plug is a weird configuration (very
old kiln) & I'm not even sure I could find a replacement. If it can't be
cleaned (& operate safely), does anyone have any ideas on where a
replacement could be found? The kiln is an ancient Duncan Studio model,
the plug is a Levaton, 3 plug, 50a, 250v.
Awaiting your sage advice,
Valice
in Sacramento where I'm hoping it won't rain on all my studio "stuff",
which is outside during the remodel.
Thonas C. Curran on sun 8 aug 99
Valice Raffi wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hi all,
>
> I unplugged my kiln yesterday to move it during the remodel of the studio &
> found some corrosion inside the housing on the connections.
>
> Can I clean off the connections? The plug is a weird configuration (very
> old kiln) & I'm not even sure I could find a replacement. If it can't be
> cleaned (& operate safely), does anyone have any ideas on where a
> replacement could be found? The kiln is an ancient Duncan Studio model,
> the plug is a Levaton, 3 plug, 50a, 250v.
>
> Awaiting your sage advice,
>
> Valice
> in Sacramento where I'm hoping it won't rain on all my studio "stuff",
> which is outside during the remodel.
Dear Valice,
I don't know if it's sage advice or not, but the electrician who
installed my kiln wiring, etc. recommended a light sanding of the plug
when corroded. Another time he replaced the receptacle when I noticed
that the plug was getting hot during the firing but the plug was OK.
(I had been unplugging the kiln after each firing, but he said it was
better to leave it in each time and to rely on the switches...for what
it's worth. Now I leave the plug in...but I also touch the plug once in
a while after the firing to make sure it's not getting hot.) Yet another
time my treasured electrician was able to fiddle around with the
receptacle to obtain a better connection, saying that a replacement was
not yet necessary. It seems that the metal whatchamacallits in the
outlet were somehow not aligned properly and were allowing a slight
arcing or something which caused the plug to heat up. (In worse case
scenario, not only plug but also wire inside a wall might heat up, cause
a short and perhaps a fire. ( I once had a close call with a 15 amp test
kiln which ran on household current where there was a corrosion-caused
short in the outlet which bypassed the circuit breaker. I learned you
cannot rely on circuit breakers!) Carolyn aka CNC
As to the antiquated plug, could you or an electrician replace both
plug and receptacle with parts available now, using the original cord
wires if they are OK? I would think it would be possible, but I don't
have definitive answer. Good luck from Carolyn who just took a nice
long swim in the Hudson River ---nirvana!
Kenneth D. Westfall on mon 9 aug 99
Valice
As long as the plug is not pitted and severely corroded a good
scrubbing with some fine sand paper or steel wool is all that is need to
bring it back to life. You mite think about getting some nolox (the
grease like stuff you have to use for aluminum wiring to prevent corrosion)
and use it on the plug to help fight with further corrosion. A electrical
supply house or WW Grainger i am sure can come up with the Levaton, 3
plug, 50a, 250v plug and outlet. Levaton in a well know brand name and I
don't know of any that are discontinued. Most likely yours uses what is
commonly used for 50 amp electric welders and not sold in home repair centers.
Kenneth D. Westfall
Pine Hill Pottery
R.D. #2 Box 6AA
Harrisville, WV 26362
pinehill@ruralnet.org
http://www.ruralnet.org/pinehillpottery
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