Heidi Haugen on mon 15 jul 02
hi holly,
no fun to have sparks shooting out of the kiln but at the same time,
this is a great opportunity to start learning how it works.
if you have no interest in electrical stuff, and there's an able
repairperson near you, call them. if not, get out your screwdriver and
wire strippers.
BEFORE YOU TOUCH ANYTHING, UNPLUG AND TURN OFF THE BREAKER AT THE BOX,
MAKE CERTAIN THERE IS NO LIVE ELECTRICITY .
depending now on what kind of a kiln you have, you can unscrew the boxes
where the switches are and take a peek. my guess is that you've shorted
out a wire due to a bad/loose connection. the wires should be securely
attached to the switch and the element pigtails secure in their
connectors, wiggle them all to make sure. my guess is that if you saw
sparks, the problem is going to be very obvious, as in burnt up wire.
your switchbox may also be shot.
if you know someone good with electronics, maybe they could help/teach
you.
electric kilns are truly not that complex and once you figure out the
wiring and learn a few basics, you'll be amazed at how you are no longer
at the mercy of the equipment.
depending on what you find in the box, the next step may be one of many
things. take a look and let us know what you find.
feel free to email me off-list or i'll give you my phone number and talk
you through a few things. there's just too much for an email.
good luck
heidi haugen
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