How difficult is it to convert a pottery kiln to digi control?

G

gixxer

Joined
Sep 21, 2006
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I am spying a pottery kiln, but it has a dawson kiln sitter installed on it. What would I have to do to install digi controls on it?
 
I'm not too sure of how complex a job it would be. You would obviously need to add a thermocouple and link that to the digi controller that was fitted in-line with the power supply.

If you were to use the kiln as a heat treat oven be very careful ! Ceramic kilns are NOT designed to have the doors opened whilst they are at high temperatures. The sudden in-rush of cold air has a tendency to shatter the linings and ruin the heating elements in no time flat. Without opening the door at temperature I don't see how you are going to get the knife out to quench it.
 
I have aquired a used kiln for $100 and here is my plan. I am going to cut a small hole in the lid (4"x4") and make a cover for it some stainless and insulation. I can suspent the blades inside th opening on stainless wires, then I just open the small area lift the blade out by its wire and quench. (another members suggestion) I have a themocouple and a diital controller. I will connect the power feed to the heater coils to a relay and the controler will open and close the relay. A relay is the same as a starter solenoid. A low amperage current causes an electromagnetic coil to pull in a set of contacts that support a higher curent load. Mine were originaly used to start a 15hp 220v motor.

My kiln is lined with soft fire brick. If it goes gunny bags on me I shall turn it on its side and reline it (I can get the soft bricks or insulboard at work) and install replacement coils. I am currently working on a 650# steam boiler and replacing sections of the skin with 3/16" 304 stainless. I work on boilers and heaters quite a bit so eveerything but the coils is easy and cheap. I can always get my pick of small amounts of the extra materials.
 
Sounds like that whole not opening the lid while hot sure puts a damper on things. I might contemplate getting the elements, thermocouple, and controller and maybe build my own kiln. Kinda like using the stuff that other folks use to make a forge vessel/chamber, only electric powered. How crazy does that sound? Something with a door of course. Maybe weld up a metal frame, firebricks, other odds and ends. I have to do some research on forge building.
 
Fitzo, that tutorial is EXACTLY what I was looking for!!!! Now I can start priceing all the ingredients!! I guess one thing to make building easier is to size the steel frame so I do not have to cut as many bricks for fitment. Rock on, thanks!:D
 
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