Remote Indicator Light For Sitter

[ronfire]

I am planning on wiring a plug on the switched side of the sitter so I can run an extension cord with a light outside the garage so I can see when the sitter shuts down. Now I  would not have to walk to the shop all the time to see when the kiln shuts off so I can start my soak time.

The only concern I have is I would then be running a 15 amp plug, cord and light on a 60 amp breaker.

Anyone else done this?

[bciskepottery]

Is your kiln 110 or 208/240 volts? I would think (not being an electrician) that anything added would draw electricity from the kiln while it was firing, perhaps even overloading the kiln circuit. Why not just get a long extension cord and run a light from an existing garage outlet?

[oldlady]

i don't know electricity but i do know that most lights do not draw the full 15 amps.  and, if the light goes on when the kiln goes off, what is the question?

 

does your kiln actually use 60 amps?  most circuits are wired higher than the kiln actually draws.

[neilestrick]

You can hook into one side of the sitter to run a 110 line out to a light. The light won't pull enough amperage to affect the kiln. It won't raise the over all amperage draw enough to matter. If you look at the wiring, the power light comes off of one side of the sitter, so it would be just like that. Yes, it will be running through the 60 amp breaker, but in theory, if it were to surge beyond the 15 amp rating of the cord, it would flip the breaker because that would push the total amperage up to 60+ amps.

[ronfire]

Thanks Niel,I did not think about the total amps if there was a problem with the light. This then would not be a problem if there was a short because it then could overload the breaker and still be safe.

The kiln is 220 volt but if you know electrical you can draw 110 off  side of the sitter and use the ground as a return. The ground and neutral wire both attach to the same point electrically in your panel. 

I was thinking of installing a single receptacle in the  sitter box so I can plug in a standard extension cord and just hang a trouble light outside where I can see it from the house.

[neilestrick]

 

I was thinking of installing a single receptacle in the  sitter box so I can plug in a standard extension cord and just hang a trouble light outside where I can see it from the house.

 

That would be perfect.

[PSC]

The studio where i teach had at one time some similar system but using small red indicator lights. They no longer work as the studio was built back in the 60's and many electricians have come and gone and the light system abandoned but i look at that panel of indictor lights up on the back wall of the kiln room, lights you would be able to see without ever entering thru the window between the classroom and kiln room and wish it still worked.

[oldlady]

reminds me of a visit to Pewabic Pottery in Detroit.  the big, gas (i think)  kiln was on and the technician was trying to see the column of water in a glass tube. (?)  what it was for eludes me but when i suggested adding food color so the water would be more visible she was shocked!  "that might ruin the glass!" she exclaimed as she continued to try to read the level of clear water inside a clear glass tube.  what was that about, anyway.  holding a dark item behind the tube might have worked as well.