Cindy Strnad on tue 4 jul 00
I'm having a recurring problem with elements corroding and breaking at the
connectors. Not knowing a lot about electric stuff, I'm not sure what to do
about this. Can I coat them with ITC where they connect, or will this
isolate them from the power source? Might this help? Should I coat them with
some kind of lubricant, or would this (as I'm inclined to believe) burn off
immediately and provide no benefit?
Thanks for any advice you can give,
Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels Pottery
RR 1, Box 51
Custer, SD 57730
earthenv@gwtc.net
Louis Katz on wed 5 jul 00
Hi Cindy,
I suspect that you will ge a lot of respnse to this. Here is my Susan B. Anthony.
1. You need to have a very good electrical connection between the wires and
elements.
This means clean bright wires and elements.Use fine grade sand paper or emery
cloth for this.
2. The elements usually connect in a place there they are twice the thickness
(acheived by doubling over the element wire). If this part is broken off you
should probably get new elements, although theoretically you could remake the
doubled over area.
3. The wires going to the element must be in good condition. If the are not they
will not only take out your element connections but you switches, interbox plugs
(if any) kiln sitter switch and anything else they are connected to. They will do
this because they will heat up if they are thin and heat up whatever they are
connected to.
4. You must use the correct type and gauge wire for replacements and use the right
kind of connectors.
5. You should buy or make a heavy duty crimping tool. The ones that come on multi
purpose stripping tool won't usually do it. Heavy duty crimping tools are
available from Harbor Freight Tools for cheap (you get what you pay for) or
appliance electrical parts stores.
The real key is clean and tight connections.
Louis
Arnold Howard on wed 5 jul 00
When elements corrode at the connectors, the reason is
usually loose connections. The connection screws must
be very tight.
Arnold Howard
Paragon
--- Cindy Strnad wrote:
> I'm having a recurring problem with elements
> corroding and breaking at the
> connectors. Not knowing a lot about electric stuff,
> I'm not sure what to do
> about this. Can I coat them with ITC where they
> connect, or will this
> isolate them from the power source? Might this help?
> Should I coat them with
> some kind of lubricant, or would this (as I'm
> inclined to believe) burn off
> immediately and provide no benefit?
>
> Thanks for any advice you can give,
>
> Cindy Strnad
> Earthen Vessels Pottery
> RR 1, Box 51
> Custer, SD 57730
> earthenv@gwtc.net
>
>
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Don Goodrich on wed 5 jul 00
Cindy,
Conductive antioxidant pastes are available for high-current connections.
Electricians use them for aluminum-to-copper applications, but they work
quite well on kiln element terminals. They aren't normally exposed to high
temperatures, but the terminals for your elements are on the outside of the
firebrick (I hope) and not subject to excessive heat. More likely, your
corrosion is from gases evolved during the firing and escaping through those
little holes that the wires go through. The antioxidant grease should protect
them from such gases. It's worked in my Evenheat for several years. I've
actually been able to unscrew and reuse the brass connectors when changing
elements, and the connections have had no significant corrosion. The stuff
I've been using is called Penetrox, made by Burndy. There should be a vendor
in Custer, certainly in Rapid City, who stocks it. If you find out where the
local electricians buy their supplies, they should be able to help.
Good luck,
Don Goodrich in Zion, Illinois
goodrichdn@aol.com
chris@euclids.com on thu 6 jul 00
> I'm having a recurring problem with elements corroding and breaking at the
> connectors
> Cindy Strnad
> Earthen Vessels Pottery
Hi Cindy,
There`s been some good advice posted to this already but i`d like to add ...
if the holes where the elements wires go through the brick are too large,
then the connection can be exposed to excessive fumes from the kiln ... this
can result in a build up of 'crap' on & around the connector which, in turn,
will contribute to shortening its life.
If this is the case, you can pack the holes with a bit of fibre ... try not
too pack the fibre too tightly, as this can overheat the element tail ...
just enough to slow the moment of fumes.
chris
chris@euclids.com
www.euclids.com
800-296-5456
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