mel jacobson on wed 30 apr 03
is a good idea.
it is safe and efficient.
because one does not know how to turn
of the power, in the right place, does
not make hard wire a bad thing.
everyone that has a kiln should know
where the off/power switch is. it is
just taken for granted. LEARN IT NOW.
what would you do if you had a kiln fire?
wander around scratching your head?
one of my new super handy tools is
a `live power tester`.
home depot, lowe's. under ten bucks.
it is a tiny probe, you push a button and
if what it is touching has power it makes
a loud ticking sound. it always works. can slide right into
an outlet, check each leg.
same goes for gas....know the alternative
on/off lever.
at the farm we have a rule.
`know where the propane tank is:
know what lever turns off all the gas:
learn to run there, and turn off everything
at the source.` if someone yells, `turn off the gas`...
5 people will run to the propane tank.
if one does that routine mentally before you
light your kiln, well it sure is like a fire drill.
second nature.
with natural gas, know where your meter is,
know where your wrench is...and know
you can turn off all the gas to your house
in about 40 seconds.
mel
From:
Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
web site: my.pclink.com/~melpots
or try: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
new/ http://www.TICK-ATTACK.COM
John Jensen on wed 30 apr 03
Very good advice, Mel. And I keep the wrench hanging on the pipe at the
gas shut off valve.
The word on electricity is like the word on glazes: Test, Test, Test!
John Jensen, Mudbug Pottery
mudbug@toadhouse.com , http://www.toadhouse.com
Arnold Howard on wed 30 apr 03
A hard-wired kiln should always have a disconnect box within a few feet
of the kiln. I can't think of a more convenient way to shut off the
power.
Not only would I shut off the power before working on the kiln, but I
would shut it off whenever the kiln is not in use--especially if it has
a digital controller.
Sincerely,
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P.
www.paragonweb.com
Subject: [CLAYART] hardwiring a kiln
> is a good idea.
> it is safe and efficient.
>
> because one does not know how to turn
> of the power, in the right place, does
> not make hard wire a bad thing.
>
> everyone that has a kiln should know
> where the off/power switch is. it is
> just taken for granted. LEARN IT NOW.
> what would you do if you had a kiln fire?
> wander around scratching your head?
Janet Kaiser on thu 1 may 03
I just want to point out (again) that hard wiring is the ONLY option BY LAW
in the UK and various other countries. It is NOT a matter of personal
choice, preference or prejudice.
Just as well, because most people have little more than a very elementary
knowledge of electricity and what is and is not safe. Even though I
restrict myself to connecting light fittings, changing plugs, renewing
wiring on lamps, irons, etc. and would not dream of stalling anything
serious like circuits, reading some recent posts has made me feel quite
ill. And not just Lisa's initial mail! If you were a cat, Lisa, there goes
one of your nine lives FOR SURE!!! As you are not, you are one very lucky
woman!
220-40V is more than enough to kill anyone. It is why anyone with any sense
uses a circuit breaker when working with "high risk" equipment like
electric strimmers, hedge cutters, lawn mowers, saws, etc. where it only
takes a slight of hand to cut through the cord... They only cost a few
pounds. When working with power tools at a bench in a workshop, rubber
matting underfoot is also a good idea, just as wearing gum boots or rubber
(not plastic) soled shoes when gardening. It is not being a whimp... Apart
from being good practice, it can be a life-saving strategy!
Here in the UK the 6, 16 and 32 amp circuit breaking fuses are clearly
marked and colour-coded in the main fuse box. The circuits also have
different gauge wiring, depending on whether lighting, sockets or equipment
like ovens and kilns are connected. Anything from a domestic cooker upwards
MUST be on its OWN DIRECT CIRCUIT with a hard wired switch within easy
reach. This is normally either immediately above or beside the equipment
concerned, certainly not the other side of the room and absolutely not out
of the room altogether!! Every child knows that the switch is ON when the
red light is glowing and OFF when it is not. The ON and OFF are also
written on the switch panel (unlike ordinary sockets, where up is off and
down is on) and equipment should always be switched off when not in use.
Even people who do not go around unplugging the TV etc. before they go to
bed at night (recommended practice), will switch off any "main switches"
like ovens or kilns immediately after use. BTW Not doing so will actually
nullify any insurance in the case of that equipment causing a fire!
In the event of work needing to be done and before anything is undertaken,
not only is this switch turned off, the correctly labelled RED fuse in the
main fuse box is put firmly OFF too. (the blue and yellow coding on the
other fuses are for the socket and lighting circuits in the building). If
in any doubt at all, the whole building is put into darkness by switching
off the main supply.
For what it is worth, I am utterly appalled at people wanting to simply
plug anything more than the tiniest test or enameling kiln into a socket!
How hot do the plugs get? What about the wear and tear on the wiring
through all the plugging-in and out? Can you be sure that the wiring to
that socket is the right gauge? Two-pin plugs not even earthed are they?
Let alone fitted with removable and testable fuses? You don't have socket
switches either, do you? So the cable is live from the socket to the kiln.
And that is therefore exposed and vulnerable to both visible and unseen
internal damage by various means!?
Geez. The UK may be turning into a Nanny State, but electricity is the most
dangerous thing in the world. We take it for granted, but it is potentially
lethal, so I for one am glad we have some very strict regulations. If some
of these horror tales of incompetent wiring and sloppy regulations are
anything to judge by, it is truly a wonder a workshop per week does not go
up in smoke! DO PLEASE BE CAREFUL!
220V is exactly twice 110V... Everything gets hotter and fries quicker. Do
not be the one on the receiving end!
Sincerely
Janet Kaiser
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TRUTH is too precious to tell every fool who asks for it...
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