Before replacing elements, make sure the problem is
not merely low voltage, which can double firing time and
strain elements. It is common during hot summer days. If
low voltage is a problem, schedule firing during off-peak
hours when the voltage is higher.
You may also be firing a 240 volt kiln on a 208 volt out-
let. (240 and 208 volt receptacles look the same.) If you are
not sure which voltage you have, call your power company.
Fuse Blows Or Circuit Breaker Trips
Probable Causes:
■
Overloaded circuit
■
A short in the receptacle wiring or kiln wiring
If the kiln blows a fuse or trips a breaker immediately,
the problem is a short in the kiln wiring or circuit wiring.
Do not attempt to fire until corrected.
If the fuse blows or breaker trips after the kiln has fired
for some time, the problem is an overloaded circuit, not a
short circuit. (A short circuit or “short” causes a large
amount of current to flow, generating so much heat that
the fuse or breaker opens the circuit almost instantly.)
Make sure no other appliances are used on the kiln’s cir-
cuit. Have an electrician check the circuit wire and
breaker sizes. If the breaker trips only once in awhile, you
may have a weak breaker that should be replaced.
Wire heats when an electric current passes through it.
If the same current passes through both a small wire and
a large wire, the smaller wire will reach a higher tempera-
ture. A fuse uses this principle to protect the wiring in a
building. It has a small, short wire of low melting temper-
ature metal connected in such a manner that all current
passing through the circuit must also pass through the
fuse. A circuit breaker uses a tiny heating element to heat
a thermostat, which interrupts the current when the
maximum safe amount is reached.
A loose or poor connection at the fuse or breaker will
generate heat. If the fuse or circuit breaker panel feels
unusually warm, have your electrician check for loose
connections, particularly at the center screw of the fuse
socket, even in a new fuse box.
Hot Plug Or Outlet
If you smell burning plastic, turn off the breaker im-
mediately. Touch the wall receptacle faceplate. If it feels
hot, replace the receptacle. Replace the kiln cord if it has
been damaged by heat. Do not fire until repaired.
Note:
As the kiln fires, it is a good habit to place
your hand on the kiln's power cord to check the
temperature. It is okay if the cord is slightly
warm, but it should never feel hot.
Middle Elements Do Not Glow Red
The middle elements in most Paragon kilns do not
glow as bright as the top and bottom elements. Do not be
concerned as long as the kiln is firing properly.
Kiln Heats Unevenly
You can increase heat in a section of the kiln by loading
that section lighter; lower heat by loading heavier. In-
crease mass to lower temperature; decrease mass to raise
temperature. Fire the kiln more slowly. Slow firing gives
the heat time to even out inside the firing chamber.
Infinite Control Switch Wears Out
Prematurely
The infinite control switch makes a clicking noise dur-
ing operation. This is the sound of a bimetallic timer
turning the elements on or off to control the firing rate.
When the switch is about to fail, it sometimes makes a
faint popping instead of a clicking noise. This is a sign to
order a new switch.
Probable Causes:
■
New elements are higher amperage than the kiln was
designed for.
■
Push-on connectors are loose.
■
The kiln's heat shield is missing.
■
A 120 volt switch is installed on a 240 volt kiln.
■
The kiln room is too hot.
Loose connectors over-heat the switch by creating a
tiny electrical arc inside the connector.
The kiln's heat shield is a sheet metal channel that
helps guide heat away from the switch box. The heat
shield is under the porcelain insulators of most kilns.
120 volt and 240 volt switches look the same; the volt-
age is printed on the switch body.
Switches burn up more frequently on hot summer
days. In this case, use a fan to circulate air through the kiln
switch box. But do not blow air against the outside of the
firing chamber.
The SnF Switch-Timer Fails
Probable Causes:
■
Disconnected wire
■
Defective switch-timer motor
Paragon SnF kilns use an infinite control switch plus
one or two switch-timers. (The Limit Timer on the Kiln
Sitter is a different type of timer.)
A wire from the PL terminal on the infinite control
switch powers a clock motor on the switch-timer. After
the correct amount of time has elapsed, the switch-timer
turns on additional elements.
If you have just replaced a switch-timer, and the new
timer does not operate, the reason is usually a crossed
wire. The easiest way to track down the problem is to
trace the wires inside the switch box using the kiln's wir-
ing diagram. (Before examining the wiring, please un-
plug or disconnect the kiln.)
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