Where To Put The Temp Probe?

[JohnnyK]

This may be best answered by Neil...but others are welcome to chime in.

I have 2 old Cress kilns, a B-23-H ^6 and an FX-23-P ^10. The latter is a recent acquisition. I've also bought an Orton Auto-Fire digital controller. Where should I drill the hole for the temperature probe on each of these kilns?

My guess would be in the upper third of the kiln rather than the center. The ^10 kiln has a hole in the outer housing in the center from top to bottom. No holes in the firebrick on the inside.

I ultimately plan on selling the ^6 kiln after doing a ^6 firing and then sticking with the ^10 kiln for future use. When I do go to sell the ^6 unit what would be best to plug the hole?

 

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Thanks,

JohnnyK

[glazenerd]

JohnnyK

 

Neil would know: but as a point of reference: my single thermocouple kilns, all have them in the center.

 

Nerd

[Min]

chiming in here too, I've used a bit of ceramic blanket fiber (fiberfrax) to plug unwanted holes in firebrick. Just packed it in there and its been fine for years now. (wearing a respirator)

[Mark C.]

Most kilns have this hole and you just drill thru the brick there. Make sure its in middle of brick on inside away from any elements.

All my electrics have the thermocouple on middle of middle sections(all three piece sectionals )
I usually run a small bell hangers bit thru 1st to check on location(1/8 drill size and about 12 inches long) before the larger thermocouple drill bit.

I would as  Min says stuff with a piece of fiber when plugging.

[neilestrick]

Middle. That's the hottest part of the kiln. If you put it high or low then the middle could over-fire. And like Mark said, there may already be a hole in the metal jacket so you just have to drill through the brick. Just make sure it's actually lined up between elements.

[JohnnyK]

Thank you all for the input. First firing with the new controller soon to happen!