Kay Howard on tue 18 jun 02
I need some advice. I have a 7 year old Evenheat Perfect Fire 2929. It =
has worked great up until about 6 months ago--what was occasionally =
annoying has now become a real problem. For no apparent reason (power =
surges, weather, etc) that I can determine, the kiln shuts off before =
finishing a firing cycle. Not all the time. And usually after one =
aborted try a second reset would "take" and the cycle would finish. =
However, last week, with new pots firing for last week-end's show the =
second try pooped out too. A new set of elements and thermocouple did =
not help. No error messages. Just shuts off. Evenheat says there are =
two mercury relays that are wearing out. Husband Phil (engineer) and =
supplier/potter Mike Taylor say mercury relays don't wear out, and have =
collaborated to agree to replace some other relays (much cheaper). So =
here're the questions--if this relatively simple attempt to fix it =
doesn't--what would you guys do? I don't want to replace an outdated =
controller with the same thing (no cool down control, etc). Has anyone =
out there retrofitted an older kiln with a new controller? Any =
recommendations/cautions/etc.? Phil is lobbying to convert our old =
Crusader (kiln sitter, dependable) to electronic firing if it didn't =
cost and arm and a leg. Are there any "two-fer" controllers out there =
that can be recommended? Is this even a good idea (I'm conservative and =
like having my mechanical back-up) Has anyone had this problem or =
something like it? Are we on the right path? Thanks in advance. I =
have only been hanging out on Clayart for a short time, but have learned =
SO much. Everyone's generosity is truly impressive. Thanks!!
Kay in Grass Lake who, when the damn kiln worked the third time last =
week, got a gorgeous humungus leaf platter with waterfall, sprayed =
rutile/nephsyn and (gasp) electric blue highlight. Wait 'til you see it =
in Grand Haven Dave E.
Capricorn Clay
capclay@modempool.com
Bryan on wed 19 jun 02
I recently replaced a perfect fire with a rampmaster, it fits same
opening, has same connectors, made by same company. For more info about
your controller call Canadian Instrumentation. I think that the phone
number is on the unit. Steve is usually very helpful.
Gleefully top posted
Bryan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kay Howard"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2002 4:05 PM
Subject: Controller problem--advice needed
I need some advice. I have a 7 year old Evenheat Perfect Fire 2929. It
has worked great up until about 6 months ago--what was occasionally
annoying has now become a real problem. For no apparent reason (power
surges, weather, etc) that I can determine, the kiln shuts off before
finishing a firing cycle. Not all the time. And usually after one
aborted try a second reset would "take" and the cycle would finish.
However, last week, with new pots firing for last week-end's show the
second try pooped out too. A new set of elements and thermocouple did
not help. No error messages. Just shuts off. Evenheat says there are
two mercury relays that are wearing out. Husband Phil (engineer) and
supplier/potter Mike Taylor say mercury relays don't wear out, and have
collaborated to agree to replace some other relays (much cheaper). So
here're the questions--if this relatively simple attempt to fix it
doesn't--what would you guys do? I don't want to replace an outdated
controller with the same thing (no cool down control, etc). Has anyone
out there retrofitted an older kiln with a new controller? Any
recommendations/cautions/etc.? Phil is lobbying to convert our old
Crusader (kiln sitter, dependable) to electronic firing if it didn't
cost and arm and a leg. Are there any "two-fer" controllers out there
that can be recommended? Is this even a good idea (I'm conservative and
like having my mechanical back-up) Has anyone had this problem or
something like it? Are we on the right path? Thanks in advance. I
have only been hanging out on Clayart for a short time, but have learned
SO much. Everyone's generosity is truly impressive. Thanks!!
Kay in Grass Lake who, when the damn kiln worked the third time last
week, got a gorgeous humungus leaf platter with waterfall, sprayed
rutile/nephsyn and (gasp) electric blue highlight. Wait 'til you see it
in Grand Haven Dave E.
Capricorn Clay
capclay@modempool.com
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Arnold Howard on wed 19 jun 02
Does the controller show a CPLT message when it stops firing? If
not, what message appears?
If it stopped firing, as you describe, and you did not reset the
controller, would a fail message eventually appear?
At what temperature does it stop firing?
I've heard of a controller problem that occurred only when a
specific button was pressed at a specific segment. It was a
software glitch. Is it possible that during the firings when the
kiln shuts off too soon, you have pressed a key that you don't
usually press? (For instance, pressing a key to see which segment
you are in.)
If the problem is the controller, you can probably have it
reconditioned for a nominal charge by the controller manufacturer.
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, Inc.
--- Kay Howard wrote:
> I need some advice. I have a 7 year old Evenheat Perfect Fire
> 2929. It has worked great up until about 6 months ago--what was
> occasionally annoying has now become a real problem. For no
> apparent reason (power surges, weather, etc) that I can
> determine, the kiln shuts off before finishing a firing cycle.
> Not all the time. And usually after one aborted try a second
> reset would "take" and the cycle would finish. However, last
> week, with new pots firing for last week-end's show the second
> try pooped out too. A new set of elements and thermocouple did
> not help. No error messages. Just shuts off. Evenheat says
> there are two mercury relays that are wearing out. Husband Phil
> (engineer) and supplier/potter Mike Taylor say mercury relays
> don't wear out, and have collaborated to agree to replace some
> other relays (much cheaper). So here're the questions--if this
> relatively simple attempt to fix it doesn't--what would you guys
> do? I don't want to replace an outdated controller with the
> same thing (no cool down control, etc). Has anyone out there
> retrofitted an older kiln with a new controller? Any
> recommendations/cautions/etc.? Phil is lobbying to convert our
> old Crusader (kiln sitter, dependable) to electronic firing if it
> didn't cost and arm and a leg. Are there any "two-fer"
> controllers out there that can be recommended? Is this even a
> good idea (I'm conservative and like having my mechanical
> back-up) Has anyone had this problem or something like it? Are
> we on the right path? Thanks in advance. I have only been
> hanging out on Clayart for a short time, but have learned SO
> much. Everyone's generosity is truly impressive. Thanks!!
>
> Kay in Grass Lake who, when the damn kiln worked the third time
> last week, got a gorgeous humungus leaf platter with waterfall,
> sprayed rutile/nephsyn and (gasp) electric blue highlight. Wait
> 'til you see it in Grand Haven Dave E.
> Capricorn Clay
> capclay@modempool.com
>
>
______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your
> subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
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