Stephani Stephenson on tue 30 may 06
screws.
I have a Cress electric. am replacing a couple of switches and the lead
wires which go from the switches to the elements.
The set up is a simple bolt (with a screwdriver slot, 2 washers and a
nut ) which sandwiches tthe element and the lead wire terminal
together
the element is looped at the end and that loop is sandwiched next to
the the very small terminal on the switch lead/wire
the bolt runs through both and there is a washer on each side.
the only thing holding the element and the lead together, and causing
them to make contact
is the bolt and the pressure of the tightened bolt. I always think it
is kind of a clunky way to ensure good contact , but so it is.
what happens is the bolt inevitable gets rusted and welded together.
possibly from moisture in the coastal air here, possibly from bits of
exhaust gases from the kiln?
had to cut them apart. And they corrode pretty quickly.
now that I am replacing them I would like to improve the situation and
would greatly appreciate any advice.
.
1. what is the best metal to use for the bolt, washer and nut in this
application?
There are so many out there...
stainless steel? zinc coated? brass? nickel? Waaugh! I don't even
know...
2. Is there something I can treat the bolt/washers/nut with to keep
them from rusting. corroding or seizing together. yet not interfere
with the
electrical contact of the element/ lead wire? the Cress has a thick ,
and well insulated wall, so I don't know how much heat it would need to
actually endure...
3. the first part that usually strips when trying to remove anything
is the screwhead, so I am thinking I'd rather have a hex head on the
bolt
so I could at least use two wrenches rather than a screwdriver and a
wrench....
are the hex heads typically available in
metal which would be appropriate in an electrical application?
Stephani Stephenson
steph@revivaltileworks.com
http://www.revivaltileworks.com
last week I was the plumber the tilesetter, this week the
electrician, the designer, the bidder... not counting the gardener, the
kiln loader firer, glaze tech...etc etc.!
aye carumba!
William & Susan Schran User on tue 30 may 06
screws.
On 5/30/06 6:01 AM, "Stephani Stephenson"
wrote:
> 1. what is the best metal to use for the bolt, washer and nut in this
> application?
> There are so many out there...
> stainless steel?
We have all of our electric kilns at school in a non-conditioned building
outside of the studio.
As I replaced elements over time, I replaced all connections with stainless
steel bolts, nuts and screws. This seems to have lessened corrosion/rust
issues.
L&L's also use bolt & nut system to hook lead wires and elements together.
On the older ones that were rusted, I always found spraying with WD40 and
letting the connection sit while it did it's stuff to loosen it up, worked
to break the seal.
I think the idea of hex head bolts would work well.
-- William "Bill" Schran
Fredericksburg, Virginia
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
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