Alisa and Claus Clausen on sun 29 aug 99
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I am reposting this message, to include anyone on the list who can help me =
in
the decision of
buying controllers and backup shut offs for my electric kiln. I addressed =
the
UK blokes, because
I will buying the equipment here in Europe, and was hoping they could give =
me
advice on
what I should buy, plus supplier names. Still would very much appreciate =
your
input. I would also
like suggestions from the others who have good knowledge on this subject.
Hello from Denmark,
I have an electric kiln home now that I =22inherited=22 and my electrician =
husband
has repaired and renewed. Now it is time to choose the equipment for firing
programs
and safety shut offs.
Here many people use something I have no experience with. It is a gold rod
that melts if the temp. goes higher than programmed. It is a safety shut =
off,
but costs 1000.dk (150US) each timeto replace. Expensive if things
go wrong more than once or twice.
For electric kilns, I am accustomed to using a kiln sitter. As I remember
from my student studio days, the small cone set in the 3 prongs melted when =
the
temp.
programmed was reachedand shut off the kiln. (do not recall any failures).
These are not commonly used here. But it seems like a simple and cheap
alternative to gold safety rods.
I am thinking about 2 issues.
Reaching the temp. and Kiln shutting off (cone in sitter bends, kiln off)
Safety back up if cone bends and for whatever reason kiln does not shut off
(does this happen or am I horriblizing?)
The other equipment I am looking at is an electronic controller. Example
Orton makes one called Auto Fire.
Is this instead of a kiln sitter? (dumb de dum dumb).
I have Orton's info, and will call them, but I would like to hear your
suggestion and where I can order it from in the UK
(or EU)?
An electronic controller sounds very good to me, easy and exact? But do I
need back up as far as an extra safety for shutting down the kiln if the
controller fails
(is this a concern?).
The kiln I am firing is farily large, 260 ltrs. and I will fire bisque (06)
and cone 6. I have not fired it yet, so do not know what the firing time =
is.
(thinking about a timer as emergency shut off).
Thank you Dave F. for your suggestion of a controller and sitter and/or =
timer as
a backup.
I will not be babysitting the kiln too much, as I will
be firing it at night, when the household power comsumption is at it's =
lowest.
I would really appreciate information on the pros and cons of what is =
available
and
so I can try to make an educated purchase=21 Since the kiln was gratis, I =
have
some
money to use on these devices. Better use it before I spend it on =
...........
more clay.
Thank you in advance,
Alisa
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