Evenheat Kiln Element Meltdown

[Kris]

Need advice on my Evenheat kiln.  I have had two elements meltdown at the ceramic plug and cause the element wire to break and of course the kiln to mis fire.  Once a couple of weeks ago, it was a middle element and then again two days ago it was the bottom element.  This kiln is 10 years old and has not been fired over 60 times!

 

I replaced all of the elements last summer and had the electrical to the kiln checked for capacity and room, all checked out fine.  I replaced the thermocouple earlier in the summer and now the elements are melting at the ceramic sleeve that goes through the body of the kiln.  What is going on?  Any help would be awesome.

[Arnold Howard]

The element connectors must be very tight. A loose connector will burn out, breaking the element at that point, because the connectors will get too hot. What type of connectors did you use? Can you post a picture?

 

Sincerely,

 

Arnold Howard

Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA

ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com

 

[neilestrick]

Are they frying out on the kiln side of the element, inside the sleeve, or at the connection side?

 

If it's melting down on the kiln side, make sure only the pigtail (twisted end of the element) is in the tube. If any of the single thickness element wire is in there, it can overheat and melt down. On the connection side, make sure the connections are tight, as Arnold said. Also make sure the connections aren't corroded and the wires aren't crunchy when you bend them.

[Kris]

It makes sense that the element pigtail might have been loose.  that would account for the randomness of the failures.  First the middle and then the bottom.  I did replace all the elements last summer.  I have fired safely since then.  maybe over time they can get compromised? and get loose?  Thank you for your advice.  I have a new element on the way.....I want to do it right this time.  I will for sure tighten down the others so this won't happen again.