Kathryn & Stuart Fields on tue 28 dec 04
Just finishing up the rebuild on a 1958 V-Cella elec kiln -- very small test
kiln of about 9 x 5 x 5". It had been used as an assay kiln in mine here in
the Mojave so the old bricks were highly toxic and very damaged. V-Cella
sent a rebuild kit and walked me through the process.
Currently the wireing is about to be connected and then the body will be
buttoned up. What I'd like to know is there anything I should check for
before the buttoning? Then when its ready is there any checks that can be
made to get a feel for its safety. Yes, I'll fire outside -- lots of empty
with a large concrete helo pad. The kiln will be placed at the center of the
pad so even exploding is not a real danger once I can get out of the way and
I don't care about loosing a bunch of test tiles. BUT, it'd be great if
there were some pre check. Any thoughts, advice, admonitions, etc. All are
much appreciated.
Kathryn Fields
Experimental Helo magazine
www.experimentalhelo.com
Inyokern, CA -- this morning, the very, very wet Mojave desert.
Arnold Howard on tue 28 dec 04
Kathryn, before installing the switch box on your rebuilt kiln, you should
check the kiln's wiring. Compare each wire in the switch box with the
corresponding wire in the wiring diagram.
Connections must be tight--especially element connections. Replace wires
that have damaged insulation.
Cut off any excess element length that sticks out past element connectors.
(I am referring to the element ends made of double element wire twisted
together.) Excess element wire can short out inside the switch box.
Porcelain insulators should prevent the elements from touching the kiln's
steel case. The insulators should be held in place snugly so that they
cannot work their way back out of the kiln's case.
The manufacturer may also have an ohmmeter test that you can do.
Sincerely,
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
arnoldhoward@att.net / www.paragonweb.com
From: "Kathryn & Stuart Fields"
> Just finishing up the rebuild on a 1958 V-Cella elec kiln -- very small
> test
> kiln of about 9 x 5 x 5". It had been used as an assay kiln in mine here
> in
> the Mojave so the old bricks were highly toxic and very damaged. V-Cella
> sent a rebuild kit and walked me through the process.
>
> Currently the wireing is about to be connected and then the body will be
> buttoned up. What I'd like to know is there anything I should check for
> before the buttoning? Then when its ready is there any checks that can be
> made to get a feel for its safety. Yes, I'll fire outside -- lots of
> empty
> with a large concrete helo pad. The kiln will be placed at the center of
> the
> pad so even exploding is not a real danger once I can get out of the way
> and
> I don't care about loosing a bunch of test tiles. BUT, it'd be great if
> there were some pre check. Any thoughts, advice, admonitions, etc. All
> are
> much appreciated.
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