neilestrick

Looks like typical thickness blowouts to me. I've seen them in that location before. I'm surprised that the preheat didn't prevent it, but that could be related to the location in the kiln, stacking, and how quickly the firing ramped after the preheat.

Lots of great discussion here, but we still don't know what the blowouts look like, where they were on the piece, etc. OP has abandoned us. Personally, I've never considered compression to be the cause for blowouts. They are typically caused by foreign bodies in the clay or moisture. I don't see why compression, platelets alignment, etc, would cause a section to violently separate from the piece.

There are 2 elements per ring in a Skutt kiln. Each element loops twice. On low the switch sends power through both elements in series, creating 1/4 the available power. On medium it send power through one element, so 1/2 power. On high it turns on both elements in parallel for full power. The controller regulates the temperature by cycling the relays/elements on and off. However you can't just swap the  Sitter with a  controller and put some relays in the box. The existing box is not made to house a digital system. It's not vented well enough and there's no heat baffle. If you want to convert it to a digital system you'll need to build a separate box and mount it to the wall. The kiln plugs into the box and the box plugs into the outlet. Look at the Skutt KM-1 wall mount controller as an option. That type of system uses one big relay to run everything rather than individual relays for each section. Or you can buy a complete new digital box from Skutt, with their controller. For the money I'd replace the whole box so you don't have to deal with having the manual system and the digital system.

I've had good luck with the connectors you show above, and ConeArt uses them in all their kilns. Are those tinned copper? I usually use raw copper, as does ConeArt. Not sure if that matters or not. One tip, make sure you're putting the wire at the bottom in the V and the element at the top, so the bolt pushes on the element. That'll give a tight connection. You may also need to re-tighten them after the first few firings just to be safe.
Bending the end of the element into a circle and putting a bolt through it is a great connection. Use stainless steel, put a washer on each side, use a lock washer, and connect the feeder wire to it with a high temp ring terminal. Totally old school and very good. I'd use a 10-24 bolt.

Lots of great discussion here, but we still don't know what the blowouts look like, where they were on the piece, etc. OP has abandoned us. Personally, I've never considered compression to be the cause for blowouts. They are typically caused by foreign bodies in the clay or moisture. I don't see why compression, platelets alignment, etc, would cause a section to violently separate from the piece.

GFCI outlets are not recommended for use with kilns. See HERE. 

Cool, will check. Not sure on the resistance part yet, need to measure. 
 
I'mcone step away from ordering a new kiln anyway so if there's any drama at all then it's getting used as a bisque or raku kiln in future! 

Aha ! Better pictures. So it has terminal extensions. If it’s just not working then check the fuse between PIN number 11 of the power switch and pin 4 of the relay. Also check the lid switch if you have one, this kiln will not start without the lid down. There should be an adjustable lid switch that connects when the lid is closed. It may have bent or be slightly out of adjustment.
And not to forget to mention, ( not likely but….) the new crimp has to be crimped around bare wire, not just the outer plastic of the wire. A nice tight connection that cannot be pulled out of the connector.

@THW Aha! It's not an 8 tab, it's a 6 tab with a double connector. Okay, so that all good then. We just couldn't tell from the photo. In that case double check all the crimps and see if that helps. A bad crimp could definitely cause the relay to overheat and fail.

Talk to Brent to confirm before buying anything.

Facebook Martketplace is a good place to sell, too.

I think it's just not the right glaze for that situation. You either need to do a wipeback to expose the texture better, or use a glaze that is more fluid/breaks better. I'm also not a big fan of having texture like that on the eating surface. It's going to be difficult to clean unless it fills completely with glaze.

I think it's just not the right glaze for that situation. You either need to do a wipeback to expose the texture better, or use a glaze that is more fluid/breaks better. I'm also not a big fan of having texture like that on the eating surface. It's going to be difficult to clean unless it fills completely with glaze.

A little ceramics in 7th grade and 9th grade, like one or two projects, but then I didn't touch clay until my junior year of college. I jumped headfirst into it though, and made up for lost time. I was a math major before going into art, so it was a difficult transition in some ways. From my bio on my web page:
I was very concerned about my future, as there aren't a lot of jobs for potters (shocking, I know), and was even more troubled about the mental health of my parents, who were already reeling from my decision to abandon my actuarial ambitions. After several long conversations with my ceramics professor during which he tried to ease my fears about earning potential and financial stability, he finally said the words that would seal the deal:

"If you are passionate about it, you'll make it work. Boom."

Okay, he didn't say 'Boom',  but I definitely heard it in my head and felt it in my soul.
And here we are now. He was right. His name was Dick Luster, and he was one of the most influential people I've ever had in my life. He died a couple of years ago, and I was surprised at how hard it hit me, considering that we hand't talked for a number of years (cause life and distance and all those excuses). I hadn't really given him enough credit for the path my life has taken.

A little ceramics in 7th grade and 9th grade, like one or two projects, but then I didn't touch clay until my junior year of college. I jumped headfirst into it though, and made up for lost time. I was a math major before going into art, so it was a difficult transition in some ways. From my bio on my web page:
I was very concerned about my future, as there aren't a lot of jobs for potters (shocking, I know), and was even more troubled about the mental health of my parents, who were already reeling from my decision to abandon my actuarial ambitions. After several long conversations with my ceramics professor during which he tried to ease my fears about earning potential and financial stability, he finally said the words that would seal the deal:

"If you are passionate about it, you'll make it work. Boom."

Okay, he didn't say 'Boom',  but I definitely heard it in my head and felt it in my soul.
And here we are now. He was right. His name was Dick Luster, and he was one of the most influential people I've ever had in my life. He died a couple of years ago, and I was surprised at how hard it hit me, considering that we hand't talked for a number of years (cause life and distance and all those excuses). I hadn't really given him enough credit for the path my life has taken.

A little ceramics in 7th grade and 9th grade, like one or two projects, but then I didn't touch clay until my junior year of college. I jumped headfirst into it though, and made up for lost time. I was a math major before going into art, so it was a difficult transition in some ways. From my bio on my web page:
I was very concerned about my future, as there aren't a lot of jobs for potters (shocking, I know), and was even more troubled about the mental health of my parents, who were already reeling from my decision to abandon my actuarial ambitions. After several long conversations with my ceramics professor during which he tried to ease my fears about earning potential and financial stability, he finally said the words that would seal the deal:

"If you are passionate about it, you'll make it work. Boom."

Okay, he didn't say 'Boom',  but I definitely heard it in my head and felt it in my soul.
And here we are now. He was right. His name was Dick Luster, and he was one of the most influential people I've ever had in my life. He died a couple of years ago, and I was surprised at how hard it hit me, considering that we hand't talked for a number of years (cause life and distance and all those excuses). I hadn't really given him enough credit for the path my life has taken.

A little ceramics in 7th grade and 9th grade, like one or two projects, but then I didn't touch clay until my junior year of college. I jumped headfirst into it though, and made up for lost time. I was a math major before going into art, so it was a difficult transition in some ways. From my bio on my web page:
I was very concerned about my future, as there aren't a lot of jobs for potters (shocking, I know), and was even more troubled about the mental health of my parents, who were already reeling from my decision to abandon my actuarial ambitions. After several long conversations with my ceramics professor during which he tried to ease my fears about earning potential and financial stability, he finally said the words that would seal the deal:

"If you are passionate about it, you'll make it work. Boom."

Okay, he didn't say 'Boom',  but I definitely heard it in my head and felt it in my soul.
And here we are now. He was right. His name was Dick Luster, and he was one of the most influential people I've ever had in my life. He died a couple of years ago, and I was surprised at how hard it hit me, considering that we hand't talked for a number of years (cause life and distance and all those excuses). I hadn't really given him enough credit for the path my life has taken.

Yes, grounded.

It was the old wiring. I've literally seen it dozens of times. Even Skutt recommends replacing the harness if relays are burning out prematurely.

Hot spots at the elements connections don't cause the relays to fail, they just cause that connection to fail. There's no safe way to get access to a Skutt relay while it's under load, due to the way the box is constructed. You just track the number of firings you have on a set of relays, and if they're burning out under 150 firings then you replace the wiring harness and it's good to go.

Hot spots at the elements connections don't cause the relays to fail, they just cause that connection to fail. There's no safe way to get access to a Skutt relay while it's under load, due to the way the box is constructed. You just track the number of firings you have on a set of relays, and if they're burning out under 150 firings then you replace the wiring harness and it's good to go.

It was the old wiring. I've literally seen it dozens of times. Even Skutt recommends replacing the harness if relays are burning out prematurely.

I have 9 Skutt wheels, and love them. Their 1/3hp models can handle just about anything you would want to make.

Skutt rewiring was delayed a bit due to deadlines to finish other work, holiday decorating, packages to ship, and so much more.  BUT I finally finished up all of the rewiring yesterday, with new elements, new relays, new transmitter, everything except the motherboard changed out for new in the controller.  Test fired last night to cone 04 to oxidize the new elements and it performed beautifully!   I'll work on gutting and rewiring my Olympic sometime after the holidays. 
Thanks everyone.  Good to have my larger kiln back online!

@MIsty Can you post a picture of it? What brand is it?