john eden on fri 3 dec 04
Many homes have burnt to the ground because of old furnaces blowing up,
failing to switch off as programmed etc. and yet we all accept the fact
that we are going to leave our furnace running when we go away for a few
days, particularly here in the North. We would almost certainly expect a
car manufacturer to fix things that were caused by a faulty computer
circuit board in our car, particularly if it was a recent purchase and yet
we don't seem to question the fact that some controllers on kilns are not
as good as others and some don't function properly at all. I think it
would be interesting to know what would be the result of a law suit with
regard to a kiln controller on a new kiln failing and causing the kiln to
destroy itself. I DO think that the "Don't do this or that notices" are
quite often for legal reasons and whether they would stand up in court is
another question.
Most controllers that I have used have a feature that will give the number
of hours that the firing took. It shouldn't be too difficult to put in a
feature that would give the approximate length of a firing when it is first
programmed, this would certainly be helpful to some people. I am not
suggesting that people don't pay attention to their kilns while firing but
in many cases it is not possible to sit with a kiln at all times as was
suggested. One example would be a one person studio or a teacher in a K12
situation, somebody who can easily be distracted for legitimate reasons.
Instead of implying that anyone who doesn't keep an eye on their kiln at
all times is some kind of idiot (I find rather juvenile and a bit holier
than thou the suggestion that anyone who doesn't is unprofessional and
should find something other than pottery to do) it might be more helpful to
suggest ways in which electric kilns could be improved or systems put in
place that would lessen the chances of an over fire. For example Russel
pointed out in a recent message that computers do not like to be
overheated, perhaps the controllers on kilns should not be surrounded by a
box which is up against the side of a kiln and should be separate from the
kiln. Many (and I mean many)years ago the London Education Authority put
what they called a heat switch in the back of kilns in schools that was
supposed to cut off the electricity to avoid a meltdown if the temperature,
where the switches were, got too high, whether it worked or not I do not
know but it is an interesting idea. As far as I know the market for
electric kilns for K12 situations is a sizeable one.
By the way, has any manufacturer investigated the possibility of providing
insurance for such an event. Maybe it could be a money maker, I am always
pressured to buy extended warranties for almost everything these days and I
cannot imagine that it is not profitable.
I extend my heartfelt sympathies to the person who had the meltdown it must
be a miserable situation human error or not.
Cheers, John
John Eden
University of Maine
Department of Art
5712 Carnegie Hall
Orono
ME 04469-5712
USA
Cat Jarosz on sun 5 dec 04
In a message dated 12/5/2004 2:38:26 AM Eastern Standard Time,
john.eden@UMIT.MAINE.EDU writes:
We would almost certainly expect a
car manufacturer to fix things that were caused by a faulty computer
circuit board in our car, particularly if it was a recent purchase and yet
we don't seem to question the fact that some controllers on kilns are not
as good as others and some don't function properly at all. I think it
would be interesting to know what would be the result of a law suit with
regard to a kiln controller on a new kiln failing and causing the kiln to
destroy itself. I DO think that the "Don't do this or that notices" are
quite often for legal reasons and whether they would stand up in court is
another question.
Instead of implying that anyone who doesn't keep an eye on their kiln at
all times is some kind of idiot (I find rather juvenile and a bit holier
than thou the suggestion that anyone who doesn't is unprofessional and
should find something other than pottery to do) it might be more helpful to
suggest ways in which electric kilns could be improved or systems put in
place that would lessen the chances of an over fire.
Thank you John Eden for writing the above statements... I never left my
kiln alone . I did nothing wrong that I can see ... the kiln sitter timer
button was popped out, the lights were out on the switches that were manually
shut off . NOOOO I did not go down to my breaker box and use it as an ON
OFF switch... 100 amps is not anything to fool around with and not to be used
as a on off switch unless an emergency... heck they tell you to stand way
out of the way when you throw the switch on as it could blow out.. Not wise to
use this as an on off switch. it is made to be emergency...
I learned a lesson though... I will always check my meter box after
shutting down .. and if it keeps spinning I will know to pull the plugs out of
the control box.....
What concerns me is this is a brand new kiln... 5 firings.. its huge..
29 " inside wide and 36" tall with all 4 sections on which means it holds a
lot of pots !!!! ... I will only be using it as a bisque kiln and NO Computer
control on it .. all manual as I DO NOT TRUST computers with my work.. I
trust ME only... This is MY LIFE... my work is MY LIFE . I do not leave a ki
ln going without me being THERE !!!! I am really insulted to think I would be
concidered unprofessional.
1 yr is all its waranteed for and because its soo big I wont be using it
much in a yr to test the quality of the switch boxes inside.. This is the
2nd bad one I got, the first one arrived not working . ps my electrics are
perfect for this kiln and I had to go buy a meter to prove it to the tech
guy at L and L... Nothing I did contributed to the problem but I will not
trust this kiln ever again and that bothers me to no end as its most likely the
last bisque kiln I will own in my lifetime as a potter. We depend on our
equipment and this is NOT a Happy thought.
If anyone wants to call me unprofessional because I trusted that when the
lights go out and the switches are all on OFF and the dawson kiln sitter
timer button is OUT in off position that things are OFF , well go ahead and
call me unprofessional.. I hope you all check your meters as I know I will
from here on out.(which is the point of this email). I shudder at the idea
that I will need to have switches on hand to change out all the time... I
have no back up kilns to bisque in so this is not an option for me not to
mention very expensive.. I am soo ready to cry in frustration.
L and L is going to change out all the controll box switches to some bigger
ones ?? I am not really sure what they are doing for me but I will keep
you all posted on the progress of this kiln. I know they want me to be happy
and are so far been wonderful to deal with but I am just not happy that I
have to experience this with a NEW KILN. I
sure wish the parts were made in USA and Quality control was assured. I
dont know for sure that these parts are made in China or outsourced but my gut
tells me Americans would not make crappy parts.
I hope everyones open houses and Sales are better than expected, my best
to you all Cat Jarosz in western North Carolina mountains in a town called
Leicester ( pronounced lester) next to Asheville NC.. I live 15 min from
downtown Asheville.. If your in town next weekend I also will be having an
impromptu open house with cheese balls and cookies. email me for
directions if your interested in coming over....
V)''(V woof & >^..^< mew, Chicks with beards rule !!!
(_o_)
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