irenepots Posted February 18, 2022 Report Share Posted February 18, 2022 My kiln isn't hard-wired and when I checked the plug at its wall socket after my last bisque firing I found it was surprisingly hot to the touch. It is pushed all the way into the socket. I've never noticed it being this hot before, but I also don't regularly check it so I don't know how long it's been heating up like this. It was almost too hot to touch. My bisques run about 14 hours. I've heard it's best to hardwire a kiln and I'm thinking it might be time to do that. Could the age of the kiln affect the way the wire heats? It's on its own circuit, and the wire is a replacement I got from the kiln company some time ago when the original cord's sheathing broke away from the plug. This wire is stiffer than the original was. I tried to search this topic before posting but couldn't find anything, maybe because I used the wrong search terms.? Thanks in advance for your expertise and knowledge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted February 18, 2022 Report Share Posted February 18, 2022 Is the plug a molded plug and cannot be taken apart? Or is it the kind with 4 screws on one of the flats and you can take it apart and see if the wires are cooked? More info is needed-plug should NOT get toasty-it can also be the plug was not plugged in enough and this alone coild be the issue.Ant loose plug prongs or wire within the plug can make for excess heat and issues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted February 18, 2022 Report Share Posted February 18, 2022 If the heat is at the outlet, and the cord is cooler where it connects to the kiln, I would replace the plug and outlet. Also inspect the wires in the cord and the and wall, and replace them if they show signs of having overheated. If the cord is hot where it connects to the kiln, then replace the cord. Bill Kielb 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irenepots Posted February 19, 2022 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2022 On 2/18/2022 at 3:53 PM, Mark C. said: Is the plug a molded plug and cannot be taken apart? Or is it the kind with 4 screws on one of the flats and you can take it apart and see if the wires are cooked? More info is needed-plug should NOT get toasty-it can also be the plug was not plugged in enough and this alone coild be the issue.Ant loose plug prongs or wire within the plug can make for excess heat and issues. On 2/18/2022 at 4:23 PM, Rockhopper said: Does the plug fit snugly into the outlet ? It could be that the outlet is wearing out, and it is no longer gripping the blades tight enough, which can cause arcing inside the outlet. 21 hours ago, neilestrick said: If the heat is at the outlet, and the cord is cooler where it connects to the kiln, I would replace the plug and outlet. Also inspect the wires in the cord and the and wall, and replace them if they show signs of having overheated. If the cord is hot where it connects to the kiln, then replace the cord. I hope these pictures help. I leave the plug in all the time, and it seems to fit very snugly, doesn't move around. Unfortunately the plug can't be unscrewed and examined. I'll be doing a glaze load in a few days hopefully and I'll check to see if the cord is hot anywhere else in addition to the plug. Would you agree that if I have to replace the cord I might as well have it hardwired? It's an L&L kiln by the way. Thank you all for your input(s). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted February 20, 2022 Report Share Posted February 20, 2022 If you never move the kiln hardwiring takes all the loose connections out of the picture. No more heating up due to loose contacts. Plugs can get hot with lots of amps so yes hardwiring is easy and heat will no longer be a factor.If you use the kiln a lot this all takes a toll on pugs and sockets I have found.. I gave up on plugs in the 80s for electrics only melted and fried a few breakers since then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilestrick Posted February 21, 2022 Report Share Posted February 21, 2022 Yes, hard wiring does eliminate a possible weak point in the system, but from a maintenance and repair standpoint I prefer plugs to hard-wired because I don't have to work around a fixed cord that may or may not allow me to easily open the control box(es) and work inside them. More often than not, with hard-wired kilns I end up having to either hold the box open with my knee while I work in the box (uncomfortable and not as safe), or remove the box completely. With a plug I can just unplug the kiln and move the cord wherever I need it to be. I work on a lot of kilns with plugs, and every year I do run into a couple that need the outlet to be replaced due to corrosion and/or arcing, so it does happen. However those are almost always kilns at schools where people are not regularly inspecting the system. If you have it hard wired, use a long enough whip that you can open the inner box all the way without the whip being a nuisance, assuming a whip that long is allowed by your local code. At the very least it needs to be long enough that you can open the inner box far enough to pull the wires through so the box can be removed. Piedmont Pottery and Rae Reich 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kielb Posted February 21, 2022 Report Share Posted February 21, 2022 (edited) Just to add, generally the plug fulfills the need for a service disconnect to be present within six feet of the appliance. It’s a relatively economical disconnect. Hard wired things generally have better connections less prone to becoming loose and overheated. Best to turn off the power, remove the receptacle and inspect / tighten the wires as necessary to be sure. Also best to measure the temperature of the cord and plug after the kiln has been in operation. Things that overheat can become fire hazards. Find the hot spots and fix them. If the plug is significantly warmer than the cord, say 5 degrees or more and continues to increase to 6,7,8 with respect to the cord as the kiln operates, definitely replace all or at least the bad component. I have had molded plugs fail internally, so it does happen as well as mechanical connections that have failed, shown below. The molded plug in the picture failed internally and was replaced with a new cord end. Edited February 21, 2022 by Bill Kielb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsaunas Posted November 3, 2022 Report Share Posted November 3, 2022 (edited) I think the reason may be that your oven is quite old, and some of its parts may fail. I recommend calling a specialist who can look at your oven and recommend something. You may need to replace the wires or plug in the oven. If you are going to replace such parts, it is better to use new technologies for plugs that will prevent a fire if your oven suddenly fails. Be careful when using this oven as there is a possibility of fire. And yet, contact a repairer for such things. Edited November 7, 2022 by redsaunas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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