The Kiln Project

The Kiln project continues on today. The shed, or Dorothy's House as we are calling it, is done. The electrical work is on tap for today. Pictures to follow. Then you can see what the Dorothy thing is about.

I have a two circuit sub panel I am going to put in the 220 V single phase line for the A/C. The A/C line is OK at 30 amps. The Kiln pulls 20 amps. Actually I think it pulls 18 amps max. This is equivalent to four blow dryers. So, not that scary. It's not small however.

Once hooked up I will measure it with the amp clamp and see what the truth is.

I've had more power going with a bunchof halogen work lights to be honest. So been there and nothing has burned down so far. But, better safe than sorry.

So, I am putting 30 amp breakers in the sub panel. The kiln leg will be turned off unless it's being used and then I will shut off the A/C. The plan for summer is to run the A/C at night to get the house chilled, then fire up the kiln early. High fire duration takes like 12 hours. The A/C can probably be turned back on during the cool down leg which is about the last 1/2 to 1/3 of the cycle.

I need to measure the draw during cool down and the draw of the A/C compressor. I suspect both of them together during the intermittent cool down ramp time might bo OK. We'll see. It will depend on how long the kiln coils kick in to keep the ramp cool down rate OK.

Also, as shipped this kiln has one thermo couple. So, when it goes on, all the coils go on. Adding two more thermo couples might lessen the amount of time all three coils are on at the same time. I would expect the lower coil to run more and the top coil to run less.

Slower cool down ramps equate to structurally stronger ceramics, I think. Less cracks anyway.

Later,
John