TROUBLESHOOTING

TROUBLESHOOTING

Replacing Elements

    1. Unplug kiln.
    2. Remove the Control Box.
    3. Using a 3/8" nut driver or ratchet wrench or adjustable wrench, remove the nuts that hold the element end onto the Element Terminal Bolt. Note that the terminal bolt head is held in place by an inset shape on the underside of the ceramic terminal block and it will not turn much.
    4. Untwist the element end from around the Element Terminal Bolt. Straighten it out as much as possible.
    5. In most cases the element can be lifted out of the holder at this point. Sometimes, if the element has really disintegrated, you need to remove it in pieces with needle nose pliers.
    6. If element is hard to get out of the holders (because of growth of the element) you can try heating up the kiln slightly so as to heat up the element slightly to just the point where element is slightly pliable–don't let it get red. This will soften the wire. Then turn off the kiln and disconnect all power to the kiln. Using heat protecting gloves and a pair of needle nose pliers pull out the softened element.
    7. From the inside of the kiln, using needle nose pliers, grab the element as close to where it goes through the brick wall to Terminal Block. Pull the element end through the hole. Be careful not to enlarge the hole in firebrick. The brick is soft and will not take much abrasion.
    8. Be sure to check for failure points for evidence of contamination on the element and the element holder. If the element holder is contaminated it will cause rapid failure of the new element. Replace contaminated holders with the new ones.
    9. Using your multimeter check the resistance of the new element.
    10. Install the twisted ends of the elements through the holes in the wall of the kiln. Element ends should be straight at this point.
    11. Pull them up tight up to the wall of the kiln by pulling from outside the kiln.
    12. Lay the element into the groove. Note that the unfired element is going to have some springiness to it before it is fired for the first time. You may need to use a screwdriver to press the element into the holder. YOU DO NOT NEED PINS.
    13. FOR KILNS WITH NON-CERAMIC TERMINAL BLOCK OR ON RETROFITTED KILNS WHERE YOU HAVE ADDED A CERAMIC TERMINAL BLOCK BUT STILL NEED BUSHINGS: Be sure to replace the insulators and spacers over the element tails.
    14. Consulting your picture or labeling, wrap the appropriate element tails around the appropriate element connection bolt, clockwise, one around and cut off the excess tail.
      1. Install the elements and hardware: Place the wires from the jumper cord or connecting wires onto the appropriate bolts and tighten with stainless steel nuts.
      2. A washer goes under the first element.
      3. Twist the first element end CLOCKWISE around the Terminal Bolt.
      4. The next element gets twisted around the Terminal Bolt on top of the first element.
      5. Another washer goes over the Terminal Bolt.
      6. Place a nut on top and tighten it.
      7. Put another washer on.
      8. Put on the Ring Terminal of the Power Lead Wire.
      9. Put another washer on.
      10. Put another nut on and tighten it. How much the nut can be tightened is dependent on how tight the element connection bolt is on the element connection board. A tight connection is very important, but if you tighten too much and twist the element on the bolt too far you could break the element, the bolt, or the insulator.
      11. Reattach the ground wires and the element box if the kiln has them. DO NOT FORGET TO ATTACH GROUND WIRES. IF EACH KILN SECTION IS NOT GROUNDED THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS.
      12. Test the resistance at the jumper cord's plug head or at the other end of the connecting wires.
      13. Reattach the control box, turn on the kiln and make sure all the elements come on.

      See this tutorial on how to use a multimeter

      See when we twist element ends

      See this vide on changing elements