Kiln Element Life - Electric Mid&Hi Fired Ceramics2024-03-28T17:45:37Zhttps://cone6pots.ning.com/forum/topics/kiln-element-life?commentId=2103784%3AComment%3A88072&feed=yes&xn_auth=noSSR's need to be sized to the…tag:cone6pots.ning.com,2015-03-10:2103784:Comment:1200662015-03-10T19:32:15.392ZJeff Poulterhttps://cone6pots.ning.com/profile/JeffPoulter
<p>SSR's need to be sized to the circuit in your kiln. They take the place of a relay, so you would need the total wattage of your kiln & divide it by the number of circuits(or look on your kiln spec sheet). I believe they recommend that the SSR be rated at 125% of what the circuit would pull. An SSR is cycling in milliseconds so that it appears as a constant level either going up or down depending on what the TC is telling the controller to do. They do produce heat as a byproduct of…</p>
<p>SSR's need to be sized to the circuit in your kiln. They take the place of a relay, so you would need the total wattage of your kiln & divide it by the number of circuits(or look on your kiln spec sheet). I believe they recommend that the SSR be rated at 125% of what the circuit would pull. An SSR is cycling in milliseconds so that it appears as a constant level either going up or down depending on what the TC is telling the controller to do. They do produce heat as a byproduct of their function so they need to be cooled with finned heat sinks or small fans. I run a small muffin fan on top of my controller anyway to pull cool air up through it to keep the board cool. They gain their efficiency by not cycling on & off like a switch, but more like a dimmer so that they only pass through the current needed to heat the kiln at that moment. I am no expert by any means, just sharing what I know. There are others on here with way more knowledge than I possess. jhp</p> Solid State Relays work the s…tag:cone6pots.ning.com,2015-03-10:2103784:Comment:1201722015-03-10T19:29:55.809ZNorm Stuarthttps://cone6pots.ning.com/profile/NormStuart
<p>Solid State Relays work the same way mechanical relays do. The control system, a microprocessor in our kiln, turns on a low control voltage which causes the SSR to turn on the high voltage. I have no idea what they might cost or if they're compatible with a Bartlett controller. But you would definitely need one for each current relay in order to control the kiln in the same way.</p>
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<p>Some SSRs are volumetric like an amplifier, so would definitely not be compatible with a Bartlett…</p>
<p>Solid State Relays work the same way mechanical relays do. The control system, a microprocessor in our kiln, turns on a low control voltage which causes the SSR to turn on the high voltage. I have no idea what they might cost or if they're compatible with a Bartlett controller. But you would definitely need one for each current relay in order to control the kiln in the same way.</p>
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<p>Some SSRs are volumetric like an amplifier, so would definitely not be compatible with a Bartlett controller. A controller for a volumetric SSR would have to create variable voltage outputs rather than an off and on.</p>
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<p>Being involved in ceramics as long as you have I'm sure you recall some older kilns used mercury switch relays, which probably never needed replacement.</p>
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<p>We bought replacement Tyco relays for $19 online, the same ones our kiln manufacturer sells for $48, which is probably the most economical route.</p> I'm reading with interest ab…tag:cone6pots.ning.com,2015-03-10:2103784:Comment:1199842015-03-10T18:13:53.186ZJon Andersonhttps://cone6pots.ning.com/profile/JonAnderson
<p> I'm reading with interest about the use of SSR, it has never come up before in my small realm that many potters work in. I don't get out much. Could someone here go into a little more detail about setting them up and their use. What cycles them during preheat, is there a heat sensor involved. Do you use one for each existing switch or one for all of them, I see people talking about using them and adding them as each switch burns out. We have 4 kilns going, 3 different sizes, so do you…</p>
<p> I'm reading with interest about the use of SSR, it has never come up before in my small realm that many potters work in. I don't get out much. Could someone here go into a little more detail about setting them up and their use. What cycles them during preheat, is there a heat sensor involved. Do you use one for each existing switch or one for all of them, I see people talking about using them and adding them as each switch burns out. We have 4 kilns going, 3 different sizes, so do you need multiple SSR's. Sounds interesting.</p> I'll mention that to our tech…tag:cone6pots.ning.com,2015-03-09:2103784:Comment:1200612015-03-09T22:41:32.859ZGina Skillingshttps://cone6pots.ning.com/profile/GinaSkillings
<p>I'll mention that to our tech guy next time we need a repair and ask about a platinum thermocouple. </p>
<p>I'll mention that to our tech guy next time we need a repair and ask about a platinum thermocouple. </p> If your kiln controller can b…tag:cone6pots.ning.com,2015-03-09:2103784:Comment:1199152015-03-09T22:20:23.149ZNorm Stuarthttps://cone6pots.ning.com/profile/NormStuart
<p>If your kiln controller can be reset for a platinum thermocouple, we have found that to be a good investment. It's accurate to just a few degrees and lasts far longer.</p>
<p>If your kiln controller can be reset for a platinum thermocouple, we have found that to be a good investment. It's accurate to just a few degrees and lasts far longer.</p> Interesting discussion. I had…tag:cone6pots.ning.com,2015-03-09:2103784:Comment:1199772015-03-09T20:36:25.759ZGina Skillingshttps://cone6pots.ning.com/profile/GinaSkillings
<p>Interesting discussion. I had not considered the effects of firing upward using 9999 but I've never done that, only fired part way down at 9999. Good info to know for the future.</p>
<p>My home kiln is a Skutt 1027 and so far I've fired it 224 times and have not had to change the elements or relays, only the thermocouple a couple times. The kilns where I work are Skutt 1227 and the elements, relays and thermocouples need changing much more often although I don't know at how many firings as…</p>
<p>Interesting discussion. I had not considered the effects of firing upward using 9999 but I've never done that, only fired part way down at 9999. Good info to know for the future.</p>
<p>My home kiln is a Skutt 1027 and so far I've fired it 224 times and have not had to change the elements or relays, only the thermocouple a couple times. The kilns where I work are Skutt 1227 and the elements, relays and thermocouples need changing much more often although I don't know at how many firings as I'm the only who wants to keep records. I wonder if elements etc need changing more often there because perhaps some of the glazes spit and the overall conditions of a community setting where more gets packed into a kiln than ideally fits, less frequent vacuuming, etc.</p>
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<p></p> The max continuous operating…tag:cone6pots.ning.com,2013-08-27:2103784:Comment:879982013-08-27T17:39:56.363ZNeil Estrickhttps://cone6pots.ning.com/profile/NeilEstrick
<p>The max continuous operating temp for Kanthal A-1 is 2550F. Melting point is 2730F. So if I run it at 9999 to 2350, and the elements are <em>400 degrees hotter or more</em>, that puts them beyond the melting point, yet they survive for another firing. Even at a slower ramp the elements will be full on for extended periods in order to get to 2350. So, respectfully, I don't buy it that the elements run that hot. Yes, they do run hotter than the interior air temp of the kiln, but according to a…</p>
<p>The max continuous operating temp for Kanthal A-1 is 2550F. Melting point is 2730F. So if I run it at 9999 to 2350, and the elements are <em>400 degrees hotter or more</em>, that puts them beyond the melting point, yet they survive for another firing. Even at a slower ramp the elements will be full on for extended periods in order to get to 2350. So, respectfully, I don't buy it that the elements run that hot. Yes, they do run hotter than the interior air temp of the kiln, but according to a kiln manufacturer I spoke with, it's more like 100 degrees hotter.</p>
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<p>Do you really think they would make it possible to burn out your elements by firing at full speed?</p>
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<p>Yes, I believe there is truth to the idea that slowing down the firing a bit will extend the life of your elements by allowing them to cycle down. But when they cycle at high temperatures, they are off for a very short time, and on for a very long time, so I don't think it would make nearly as much of a difference as claimed. And like I said, manual kilns are on 'High' for hours without shortening the element life.</p> So then why don't manual kiln…tag:cone6pots.ning.com,2013-08-27:2103784:Comment:881762013-08-27T14:27:23.935ZNeil Estrickhttps://cone6pots.ning.com/profile/NeilEstrick
<p>So then why don't manual kilns burn out their elements really fast? You turn it in 'High' and the elements run at full blast for several hours until the sitter shuts it off. Yet they don't burn out any faster than elements in digital kilns...</p>
<p>So then why don't manual kilns burn out their elements really fast? You turn it in 'High' and the elements run at full blast for several hours until the sitter shuts it off. Yet they don't burn out any faster than elements in digital kilns...</p> OK, I lied! I have user 1 on…tag:cone6pots.ning.com,2013-08-27:2103784:Comment:880842013-08-27T00:59:35.866ZJeff Poulterhttps://cone6pots.ning.com/profile/JeffPoulter
OK, I lied! I have user 1 on my e18t programmed to do a 9999 ramp to 100c for when I am reheating a large pot to re-spray it. I don't hardly use it so I forgot. jhp
OK, I lied! I have user 1 on my e18t programmed to do a 9999 ramp to 100c for when I am reheating a large pot to re-spray it. I don't hardly use it so I forgot. jhp Now you tell me, after I had…tag:cone6pots.ning.com,2013-08-27:2103784:Comment:880832013-08-27T00:41:35.392ZNorm Stuarthttps://cone6pots.ning.com/profile/NormStuart
<p>Now you tell me, after I had to see how fast our new kiln was at 9999 ramp.</p>
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<p><img alt="http://www.beliefnet.com/~/media/AC4369E5DE314288AA4BCDBD0B2265AA.ashx?w=400&h=300&bg=00000000&f=png" class="decoded" src="http://www.beliefnet.com/%7E/media/AC4369E5DE314288AA4BCDBD0B2265AA.ashx?w=400&h=300&bg=00000000&f=png"></img> <br></br> <br></br> <cite>Jeff Poulter said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://cone6pots.ning.com/forum/topics/kiln-element-life?commentId=2103784%3AComment%3A87990&xg_source=activity#2103784Comment87879"><div><p><span><span>What can you do to get the biggest BANG for the buck?</span><br></br><br></br><span>STOP USING 9999 ON YOUR HEATING RAMPS</span><br></br><span>There is a big DISADVANTAGE to 9999 “ it…</span></span></p>
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<p>Now you tell me, after I had to see how fast our new kiln was at 9999 ramp.</p>
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<p><img class="decoded" alt="http://www.beliefnet.com/~/media/AC4369E5DE314288AA4BCDBD0B2265AA.ashx?w=400&h=300&bg=00000000&f=png" src="http://www.beliefnet.com/%7E/media/AC4369E5DE314288AA4BCDBD0B2265AA.ashx?w=400&h=300&bg=00000000&f=png"/><br/> <br/> <cite>Jeff Poulter said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://cone6pots.ning.com/forum/topics/kiln-element-life?commentId=2103784%3AComment%3A87990&xg_source=activity#2103784Comment87879"><div><p><span><span>What can you do to get the biggest BANG for the buck?</span><br/><br/><span>STOP USING 9999 ON YOUR HEATING RAMPS</span><br/><span>There is a big DISADVANTAGE to 9999 “ it cooks the elements.”</span></span></p>
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<p><span>If the elements would last 100 hours at 2000° they will only last 20 hours at 2450°</span><br/><span>If it takes One hour for the kiln to reach your top temperature and you programmed in 9999 you used up Five hours of element life in just one hour.</span></p>
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