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kim's kiln woes

updated sun 21 oct 01

 

Heidi Haugen on fri 19 oct 01


hi kim,

i've been in your boat too many times this past year, if it wasn't one
thing with my skutt 1227, it was another. (sadly, most self-induced).

I just discovered heaven on earth last week at continental clay in
minneapolis where ed, the v.p. took me into the "back room" where I
sorted through kiln part replacements to my heart's delight,( the skutt
people were starting to think i was some sort of kiln-demolishing
wacko) he also kept throwing in free ones, like a kid in a candy store.

i've had mostly connection issues, i would recommend checking each
element connector to make certain it is crimped down tightly as possible
without cracking the backside of the connecter tube. (i tried some of
the split-bolt connectors and didn't like how they separated the wire.)

i also bastardized some of my "flag connectors" (hook onto the end of
jump cables and attach to my switches) thought i needed to crimp them
and ended up distorting them, replaced them all yesterday.

also get out your wiring diagram and stare at it until you understand
and then make certain that everything is attached to its proper mate.

get out your multimeter and make sure you've got 240 coming out of the
wall. do you have your kiln on t the proper gauge wire from the box to
the outlet and a breaker large enough to handle it?

I know my wiring inside and out but up until this year, didn't know much
about electricity so i had trouble with connections not tight enough
which turned into some very expensive replacement parts. (2 switches,
many sets of elements, a shunt block and endless wires) sucks...but a
great education.

take care, good luck,
heidi haugen