Holly Keeney on mon 15 jul 02
Hi all...
I was doing a cone 6 glaze firing in at the local art center. They have an
old electric kiln (very old, if you ask me). It has a kiln sitter and I
put a 6 in there but did not put any other cones in so I have no idea how
hot it got before it shut off. I was in the room at the time and heard a
click, so I went over hoping the kiln sitter had dropped and I would be
able to leave. As I was walking towards the kiln a spark shot out of the
area where the knobs are to turn up the heat intensity. There was no
resulting smoke and no circuit breakers where flipped the wrong way. It
seems the kiln just blew up. The cone never melted. I really need to
remedy this problem, but don't know where to start. Any help would be
good. Should I just start taking it apart and looking at wires or is this
something that they should just send somewhere to be repaired (if possible).
Any sort of specific advice on where to start looking for a problem would
be invaluable.
Thank you all in advance.
Holly...who is streesed out in central PA
Marcia Selsor on mon 15 jul 02
You need to check both the elements and the switches but i think more likely by
your description a switch burnt out.
If you know any electricians with an ohm reader borrow it or get the center to buy
one. They are not too expensive. It will tell you if there is a positive
connection though an element from one end to the other. I think you can also check
the switches this way. You can also call the kiln manufacturer support staff. they
are usually very helpful and know their products very well.
Good luck. I am heading to central PA. to visit family on Thurs.
Best wishes,
marcia in montana record in montana 112 yesterday!!!!
Holly Keeney wrote:
> Hi all...
> I was doing a cone 6 glaze firing in at the local art center. They have an
> old electric kiln (very old, if you ask me). It has a kiln sitter and I
> put a 6 in there but did not put any other cones in so I have no idea how
> hot it got before it shut off. I was in the room at the time and heard a
> click, so I went over hoping the kiln sitter had dropped and I would be
> able to leave. As I was walking towards the kiln a spark shot out of the
> area where the knobs are to turn up the heat intensity. There was no
> resulting smoke and no circuit breakers where flipped the wrong way. It
> seems the kiln just blew up. The cone never melted. I really need to
> remedy this problem, but don't know where to start. Any help would be
> good. Should I just start taking it apart and looking at wires or is this
> something that they should just send somewhere to be repaired (if possible).
> Any sort of specific advice on where to start looking for a problem would
> be invaluable.
> Thank you all in advance.
> Holly...who is streesed out in central PA
>
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william schran on mon 15 jul 02
Holly wrote: "As I was walking towards the kiln a spark shot out of the
area where the knobs are to turn up the heat intensity. There was no
resulting smoke and no circuit breakers where flipped the wrong way."
Sounds like a lead wire that was corroded finally gave up. It should
be a fairly easy fix. TURN OFF CIRCUIT BREAKER AND UNPLUG KILN! Open
the control box where you think the problem is (at the section) and
look for the burned out connection - probably at a terminal lead.
Go online to the kiln manufacturer's web site, look for repair parts
or call and describe the problem.
You should check other connections for corrosion as this may very
well happen again.
Bill
L. P. Skeen on mon 15 jul 02
Hey Holly,
This happened to me with my old Paragon, except I got the shot of sparks,
then a big ol' flame and my wife put the thing out with a fire extinguisher.
I had just turned the switches up to Medium, and if I hadn't JUST stepped
behind the kiln to raise the window, I'd have had my calf torched. :(
I expect you may need new switches installed on the kiln. Get the kiln
repair guy to come over or get an electrician person to check it out.
Switch repair is not hard, but you kinda need instructions. I DO hope you
flipped off the breaker switch before you left........
L
----- Original Message -----
From: "Holly Keeney"
Subject: KILN STOPPED WORKING-HELP!!!
As I was walking towards the kiln a spark shot out of the
> area where the knobs are to turn up the heat intensity. There was no
resulting smoke and no circuit breakers where flipped the wrong way. It
seems the kiln just blew up.
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