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possible electrical quandry in a gas kiln, or bad valve?

updated fri 12 jul 02

 

Julie Milazzo on thu 11 jul 02


Hey all! Well, it was time for firing number
five, and I should have known that something would go
wrong. I had left my little kiln goddess out on the
kiln, and she broke in half at the waist, and her left
arm is no longer attached, so I should have known
something would be up.
So, after glazing and procrastinating, the kiln
was finally loaded and ready to be lit around one last
night. This time I decided to follow the advice of
friend, fellow Clayarter, and superhero Heather
Bosworth, and candle overnight, crank it up around
five am, and go back to bed. Ths makes sense, as my
last firing was eighteen hours, and I was miserable
the next day.
Anyway, I tried to light the ding-dang thing,
and nothing. The electricity running to my kiln sitter
seemed fine, as the light was on. I have an extension
cord running from my computer's uninterruptible power
supply, so no danger of surges or shorts. Anyway, the
cable then leads from the kiln sitter to the solenoid
valve. When I press the ignition buttons, no propane
comes out. Usually there's a hiss, so I know it's
there, but last night, dead. Nada. I tried many
things, and yes, all the valves on my propane line
were open, I have plenty of gas, there's just
something wrong.
I called Olympic this morning, and tried to get
some tech support, but the main person there couldn't
get any techies to answer, and she didn't know. I
thought I might post on Clayart, as it could be
quicker, but I know that not many of you (or,
possibly, any) have a gas kiln with a kilnsitter. I'm
again thinking of getting rid of the valve, but
keeping the sitter, so that at least the light will go
off when cone ten drops, so I'll know. I still can't
see the blasted cones, but my dark-eyed brother
usually can. He thinks my light eyes can see better in
the dark, and his in the light, but I think that mine
may just be all around inferior. Anyway, suggestions
would be appreciated, as they always are. I'm supppsed
to be opening my gallery and studio to the public
TOMORROW!!! Yikes! Thanks, Jules
P.M.S. Perhaps it's time to fashion another kiln
goddess, or fix the one I broke...

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Cheryl Hoffman on thu 11 jul 02


In a message dated 7/11/02 8:09:10 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
snotpot69@YAHOO.COM writes:


> I had left my little kiln goddess out on the
> kiln, and she broke in half at the waist, and her left
> arm is no longer attached, so I should have known
> something would be up.
>

Jules,
Sorry about your firing. I've only had one REALLY terrible
firing...it was the one time I forgot to put out my statue of Pele, the
Volcano Goddess. Hey, call me superstitious but I wouldn't think of firing
without Her looking over my kiln.
Cher Hoffman