Eva Gallagher on thu 8 dec 05
Anybody have experience with electronic controllers in frigid weather? Our
temp go down to minus 35 - occasionally minus 40 here -( F and C are the
same at this temp) The Deep River Potters' Guild is the lucky recipient of
a 24 cu ft Bailey gas kiln courtesy of the Trillium Foundation. However we
have an electronic controller and all the other bells and whistles and have
it in an uninsulated shed. - and so have been advised not to fire if below
freezing until room warm-up. Even if controller is dry, moist air in the
controller can condense and form ice crystals which then can grow and short
out the circuit board if started up.
Regards,
Eva Gallagher
Deep River Potters' Guild (oldest potters guild in Canada)
We finally have a gas kiln after 51 years of wishing!
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Irvine"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2005 7:11 PM
Subject: Re: Canadian kiln
> Mike,
>
> The kiln has been out in the open like that for well over 30 years now,
> and during the course of
> about 1,000 firings, I've only had to delay one firing one day because of
> the weather. I usually just
> shrug and carry on if the weather gets rough. It's kind of exhilarating to
> hit ^10R in the midst of a
> blizzard or thunderstorm!
>
> The landscape is nice right now. Joan and I went for a walk after lunch
> and I've hardly ever seen
> the country side more beautiful.
>
Arnold Howard on thu 8 dec 05
From: "Eva Gallagher"
> Anybody have experience with electronic controllers in frigid weather? Our
> temp go down to minus 35 - occasionally minus 40 here -( F and C are the
> same at this temp)
It is okay to store digital controllers in sub-zero weather. But before
operating, raise the room temperature to 32 deg. F. That is the lowest
recommended operating temperature.
Some of the earlier controllers do not recognize a temperature lower than 1
deg. C. You might look through your instruction manual to see if that is the
case with your controller.
Sincerely,
Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com
clennell on thu 8 dec 05
Sour Cherry Pottery
> From: "Eva Gallagher"
>> Anybody have experience with electronic controllers in frigid weather? Our
>> temp go down to minus 35 - occasionally minus 40 here -( F and C are the
>> same at this temp)
>
Eva: We have our Geil kiln outside with a roof over it but no shed walls. We
fire regularly in sub zero temperatures. I have a shower cap over the
controller to protect it from the rain. fired at -37 windchill. Cone 10
dropped as if on a summers day.
Best,
Tony
Eva Gallagher on fri 9 dec 05
Thank you everyone for your suggestions. It is reassuring that controllers
can withstand the Canadian winters - though warming up the controller first
seems to be the recommendation - including Baileys. However CSA
certification of other parts of kiln like the burners and safety items -
according to the TSSA people (the Ontario gas certification agency) are
rated only to minus 40. Still waiting to hear from the TSSA people what
happens if you hit below 40 - does it mean you cannot operate it or once the
equipment is exposed to minus 40 if is no longer reliable and should not be
used as it has lost its certification.
Regards,
Eva
----- Original Message -----
From: "clennell"
To:
Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 3:59 PM
Subject: Re: Canadian kiln and electronic cotrollers
> Sour Cherry Pottery
>
>> From: "Eva Gallagher"
>>> Anybody have experience with electronic controllers in frigid weather?
>>> Our
>>> temp go down to minus 35 - occasionally minus 40 here -( F and C are the
>>> same at this temp)
>>
> Eva: We have our Geil kiln outside with a roof over it but no shed walls.
> We
> fire regularly in sub zero temperatures. I have a shower cap over the
> controller to protect it from the rain. fired at -37 windchill. Cone 10
> dropped as if on a summers day.
> Best,
> Tony
>
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