Hendrix, Taylor J. on sun 28 mar 04
Rachel,
Check out the archives. I have done a search for you. You can click on
these links. I remember this from when I first joined Clay Town. Hope
people discussed cold temps.
http://lsv.ceramics.org/scripts/wa.exe?S2=3Dclayart&L=3DCLAYART&q=3D&s=3D=
kiln+an
d+outside&f=3D&a=3D&b=3D
More than likely the above link has been wrapped and broken in at least
two pieces. You may need to cut and paste the second piece into your
browser's address bar. Have fun.
Taylor, in Waco
p.s. Here is the addy for the archive's search page:
http://lsv.ceramics.org/scripts/wa.exe?S1=3Dclayart
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Rachel
Campbell
Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2004 4:59 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Can an electric kiln live outside?
Hello all,
This may sound like a really dumb question... but I'm wondering if an
electric kiln can live outside in below-freezing (sometimes) conditions
w/o
it being damaged? =20
Rachel Campbell on sun 28 mar 04
Hello all,
This may sound like a really dumb question... but I'm wondering if an
electric kiln can live outside in below-freezing (sometimes) conditions w/o
it being damaged? (Not exposed to rain/snow/whatever, but probably exposed
to cold temperatures.)
I'm trying to decide on a scheme to get my kiln out of my basement...
Currently it lives next to my dryer (so it can borrow the dryer's 220
outlet) and also about 3 feet from the gas water heater. So it's
inconvenient and a little scary.
One possibility is to build a shed kind of thing, but that would be
expensive and a nightmare in terms of running the electricity outside. But
another thought I had, is that we are thinking of building a deck out from
our second floor which would provide a "shelter" from the elements. And if
the kiln lived under the new deck it would be easier to provide access to
electricity.
I'm pretty sure I could finagle something to keep the kiln dry, but I live
in Maryland and it gets well below freezing in the winter. Does this sound
at all doable, or should I scrap that idea and go back to nagging my
husband to build me a real insulated building with electricity etc.?
Oh, I should say that the kiln also has a computer controller, so that's
another consideration.
Thanks for your help and patience...
Rachel Campbell (mommy/obsessive midnight potter)
Carol Tripp on mon 29 mar 04
Hi Rachel,
I cannot comment on cold temps living as I do in the desert but I can give
you a suggestion. The controller has max and min tempuratures over and
under which it won't work well. Disconnect the unit and bring it inside
when the weather is too cold. Obviously, this prevents you from firing
during the cold weather but you can plan around that. Sacrifices must be
made! (just kidding)
I bring my controller in at the end of May and I don't fire again until
mid-October because it is simply too hot out on the back porch. One drips
into the kiln and the tiles burn my feet. I wish I had a basement... I
find that a car cover works well to protect the kiln when it's not in use.
The flannel lining absorbs any moisture and the cover is baggy so there is
proper air circulation. The only problem is, the stray cats love to pee on
it. But that is another story.
Best regards,
Carol
Dubai, UAE
Rachel wrote, in part:
>electric kiln can live outside in below-freezing (sometimes) conditions w/o
>it being damaged? (Not exposed to rain/snow/whatever, but probably exposed
>to cold temperatures.)
>
_________________________________________________________________
Add photos to your messages with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*.
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail
John Jensen on mon 29 mar 04
Rachel;
I don't think the cold alone would constitute a problem. My electric
kilns have been in an outdoor shed for many years with no problem.
Water and moisture can cause troubles though, so whatever you do make
sure the kiln and surrounding area stays dry. I developed a leak in my
roof which would let a little drip on one of my kilns during heavy
rainstorms. I have it fixed now, but I think it lead to the demise of a
couple of circuit boards over the course of a couple of years.
I'm not sure what your plans are; but at minimum I'd put down or pour
a concrete pad, preferably with a plastic moisture barrier under it.
I'd rig a metal roof over it....maybe fastened to the deck joists. And
keep the kiln covered with a tarp when not in use..
I wouldn't recommend nagging, under any circumstance.
John Jensen, Mudbug Pottery
mudbug@toadhouse.com , http://www.toadhouse.com
Alison Mazzetta on mon 29 mar 04
Hi Rachel,
I live in a very small house in Syracuse, NY so I have always had my 2
kilns out in my unheated garage. The temps here go way below freezing for
probably a bit longer than in Maryland and my kilns seem to be taking it
fine. I don't do a ton of firing in the extreme cold just because it's very
uncomfortable to be freezing my butt off for more than 15 minutes and I
can't wear gloves when I need to pack the kiln tightly and my hands go numb.
Not to mention the pain in the neck to bisque out in the garage, carry all
my pots inside and downstairs to glaze them, and carry them back outside
through a foot of snow. to the garage. I have 2 Skutt kilns and I have
always followed the advice in the manual. The minimum temp. to fire at is
40 F. I have 2 small space heaters. I put one inside the kiln with the lid
propped open slightly and the other one I direct at the controller box.
After about 10 minutes I turn on the kiln and it usually registers at 60
degrees or higher. I turn off the heaters and take the one out of the kiln.
I turn on the kiln while it is warmed up and keep it steady at about 90
degrees while I am loading it. This also warms me and my hands periodically
while I'm loading. It's not the best arrangement, but it works. I have been
firing my large kiln for 7 years out there. Probably a total of 180 firings
and it still works good as new. I haven't even had to replace the elements
. I have computerized controllers on both my kilns and I've had no problems
there either. Good luck. Alison
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rachel Campbell"
To:
Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2004 5:59 PM
Subject: Can an electric kiln live outside?
> Hello all,
>
> This may sound like a really dumb question... but I'm wondering if an
> electric kiln can live outside in below-freezing (sometimes) conditions
w/o
> it being damaged? (Not exposed to rain/snow/whatever, but probably
exposed
> to cold temperatures.)
>
> I'm trying to decide on a scheme to get my kiln out of my basement...
> Currently it lives next to my dryer (so it can borrow the dryer's 220
> outlet) and also about 3 feet from the gas water heater. So it's
> inconvenient and a little scary.
>
> One possibility is to build a shed kind of thing, but that would be
> expensive and a nightmare in terms of running the electricity outside.
But
> another thought I had, is that we are thinking of building a deck out from
> our second floor which would provide a "shelter" from the elements. And
if
> the kiln lived under the new deck it would be easier to provide access to
> electricity.
>
> I'm pretty sure I could finagle something to keep the kiln dry, but I live
> in Maryland and it gets well below freezing in the winter. Does this
sound
> at all doable, or should I scrap that idea and go back to nagging my
> husband to build me a real insulated building with electricity etc.?
>
> Oh, I should say that the kiln also has a computer controller, so that's
> another consideration.
>
> Thanks for your help and patience...
>
> Rachel Campbell (mommy/obsessive midnight potter)
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> 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.
Alisa Liskin Clausen on mon 29 mar 04
>Hi Rachel,
>I live in a very small house in Syracuse, NY so I have always had my 2
>kilns out in my unheated garage. The temps here go way below freezing for
>probably a bit longer than in Maryland and my kilns seem to be taking it
>fine. I don't do a ton of firing in the extreme cold just because it's
very
Before I moved my bigger kiln to my present studio, it was housed in an
unheated shed. It was only heated when I was working in there, and it was
still quite cold during the winter months. The shed has a concrete floor,
a sealed roof and a brick wall behind the kiln. As John suggested, I kept
a tarp over it, just a huge platic bag from a furniture shop, in case it
rained very hard and there could be the risk of a leak. The danger would
be water leaking into the control box. I think water and moisture are the
biggest disadvantages for an electric kiln outdoor. But it is housed. For
2 years in there, the kiln fired fine.
My smaller kiln is in the shed now, with the same conditions. I am glad it
is in the shed, because although it is a small space, the advantage is I
get good air circulation from ventilation fan and the door can be open,
because there is no indoor heating to be lost.
I think in many ways an outdoor kiln shed is ideal, no matter what the
climate. Mainly because it is contained and the kiln is being fired in a
space that is not occupied around the clock (thinking about fumes and
hazards.) I appreciate my studio with heat and water, but I still like
best working in the shed, with rubber boots, mask and some extra clothing.
It is my glaze lab. now.
regards from Alisa in Denmark
Earl Krueger on mon 29 mar 04
Rachel,
The top 4 environmental factors that effect electronic equipment are:
1. Heat - Running electronics at high temperatures will cause early
failure. You would expect that kiln controller manufacturers are aware
of this and design their equipment to take heat into account so I will
not discuss it further.
2. Moisture/High Humidity - Liquid water, from drips or condensation
or such, is not good. The water provides alternate paths for the
electricity to flow which can cause the components to malfunction or
burn out. You can keep the drips out by use of a waterproof covering
but then you must be careful of condensation under the covering.
Also, prolonged high humidity or liquid water can cause connections and
solder joints to corrode. The corrosion can then cause connections to,
well... not be connected. Quite often this results in intermittent
problems which are a real problem to trouble shoot.
3. Extreme temperature changes - Expansion and contraction of
components can stress them beyond their limits. Especially if the
temperature change is rapid. For example, a kiln sitting outside on a
very cold night and then subjected to bright warm sunlight in the
morning. Automobiles are tested in chambers that go from arctic cold
to desert heat to locate these problems.
4. Radiation - I don't think you have to worry about this.
What this really boils down to is that by putting your kiln outside in
an uncontrolled environment you will increase the probability of having
a failure of some sort. Just how much the risk increases is so
dependent on your particular circumstances that it would be hard to
guess.
You will have to decide which risks you are willing to accept. Risks
to your kiln from being outside. Risks to your house from having the
kiln in the basement. Or, risks to your health by having the kiln in
an area where you live and work.
Make the decision that gives you the most peace of mind.
Earl K...
Bothell, WA, USA
william schran on tue 30 mar 04
Rachel wrote:
>This may sound like a really dumb question... but I'm wondering if an
electric kiln can live outside in below-freezing (sometimes) conditions w/o
it being damaged?<
>Oh, I should say that the kiln also has a computer controller<
We have at school 3 electric kilns in an outdoor "shed" and 2 other
ones inside. Have only noticed a bit more corrosion build up on the
outside kilns due to moisture in the air. Make sure you also keep
kiln furniture off the floor so they don't get wet either.
If you provide a stable/level base, protect from rain and provide
adequate ventilation it should work ok.
Regards the controller - if the temperature gets too low (or too
high), it may affect the controller.
Bill
william schran on tue 30 mar 04
Alison wrote:>I turn on the kiln while it is warmed up and keep it
steady at about 90
degrees while I am loading it. This also warms me and my hand<
Please, please don't do this! Should you accidently touch an element
while the kiln is on you could get a nasty burn, or worse!
Bill
| |
|
