Building a kiln controller

I am looking to build a controller for my kiln its 240 30 amp
it has 4 240 6kw elements in it. I was thinking of using the Omega CN1501
Series http://www.omega.com/ppt/pptsc.asp?ref=CN1501. I am a little confused
on how many relays an output can control I assume its one for one but I am
not sure. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Liam Potts

"liam potts" wqdwqe@kjka wrote in message
news


I am looking to build a controller for my kiln its 240 30 amp
it has 4 240 6kw elements in it. I was thinking of using the Omega CN1501
Series http://www.omega.com/ppt/pptsc.asp?ref=CN1501. I am a little
confused
on how many relays an output can control I assume its one for one but I am
not sure. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Liam Potts


If you want all elements to operate, "as one", all off or all on, then what
I have in mine is one relay per element, but all the relays run on one
controller.

Bet Jack chimes in here any minute, and I certainly would follow his
recommendations, he has done it successfully.

--
....
If you want all elements to operate, "as one", all off or all on, then
what
I have in mine is one relay per element, but all the relays run on one
controller.
Considering each element is 240 6kw so lets see 6000/240=25x4= 100 amps I
do not want to put all the elements on at the same time. Its only a 30 amp
breaker

liam potts wrote:

--
...
If you want all elements to operate, "as one", all off or all on, then
what
I have in mine is one relay per element, but all the relays run on one
controller.
Considering each element is 240 6kw so lets see 6000/240=25x4= 100 amps I
do not want to put all the elements on at the same time. Its only a 30 amp
breaker

This is strange liam. Why do you want to try to run a 100A kiln on a 30
amp circuit? Sounds like you're trying to run one element at a time. Not
trying to be a smart ass here, but I'm working on this round thing.
Think I'll call it a wheel. It's gonna be a big hit. Maybe I am trying
to be a smart ass. Seems like you're going about things in a complicated
manner.

Jack

This is strange liam. Why do you want to try to run a 100A kiln on a 30
amp circuit? Sounds like you're trying to run one element at a time. Not
trying to be a smart ass here, but I'm working on this round thing.
Think I'll call it a wheel. It's gonna be a big hit. Maybe I am trying
to be a smart ass. Seems like you're going about things in a complicated
manner.

Jack


Here is the deal I have a cress c-20-l its 240 30 amp kiln with four
elements and three manual controls one control is hooked up to two elements
the middle ones. Excuse my ignorance but I figured if each element is 240vac
25 amps I would want to avoid having all the elements on at the same time.
So once again I assumed I would need a relay per element to avoid having all
the elements on at the same time. I do agree I may be way over complicating
things if I am please suggest a better route.

liam potts wrote:

This is strange liam. Why do you want to try to run a 100A kiln on a 30
amp circuit? Sounds like you're trying to run one element at a time. Not
trying to be a smart ass here, but I'm working on this round thing.
Think I'll call it a wheel. It's gonna be a big hit. Maybe I am trying
to be a smart ass. Seems like you're going about things in a complicated
manner.

Jack

Here is the deal I have a cress c-20-l its 240 30 amp kiln with four
elements and three manual controls one control is hooked up to two elements
the middle ones. Excuse my ignorance but I figured if each element is 240vac
25 amps I would want to avoid having all the elements on at the same time.
So once again I assumed I would need a relay per element to avoid having all
the elements on at the same time. I do agree I may be way over complicating
things if I am please suggest a better route.



Now we're getting somewhere. I doubt each element is 25 amps. Most
likely, the whole kiln with all switches on high draws 25 amps. Does it
plug into a 30 amp circuit? If so that is the 25 is probably the max it
will draw. Are you running single phase power? If so your kiln (not each
element)is listed at 22 amps.

So, let's say it does plug into a 30 amp outlet. Then you will build a
control box that your kiln plugs into. All kiln switches will remain on
high, the controller will do the rest.

Here's how I have done it:

Purchase a CAL9500P controller with SSR output List $225
a 40 amp SSR with heat sink, maybe $50
a metal box, $15
a plug to plug the box into the wall $15
an outlet to plug the kiln into $8
a simple on/off switch and fuse $5

Wire it all together and plug it in. My first kiln has a kiln sitter so
I use an 1800F cone to protect against runaway.

My second kiln has 2 controllers in the box. One just monitors for high
temp runaway.

Jack

"liam potts" wqdwqe@kjka wrote in message
...
This is strange liam. Why do you want to try to run a 100A kiln on a 30
amp circuit? Sounds like you're trying to run one element at a time. Not
trying to be a smart ass here, but I'm working on this round thing.
Think I'll call it a wheel. It's gonna be a big hit. Maybe I am trying
to be a smart ass. Seems like you're going about things in a complicated
manner.

Jack


Here is the deal I have a cress c-20-l its 240 30 amp kiln with four
elements and three manual controls one control is hooked up to two
elements
the middle ones. Excuse my ignorance but I figured if each element is
240vac
25 amps I would want to avoid having all the elements on at the same time.
So once again I assumed I would need a relay per element to avoid having
all
the elements on at the same time. I do agree I may be way over
complicating
things if I am please suggest a better route.


if you have a 30 amp kiln, then the sum of the element usages is 30 amps,
not 30 amps each.

On Wed, 9 Feb 2005 11:54:42 -0800, "liam potts" wqdwqe@kjka wrote:

I use a Perfect Fire which operate 3 relays with two contacts each ,
so it can switch 6 times 25 Amp
Bought this in New Zealand , controller , probe and relay end wiring
Works great

I am looking to build a controller for my kiln its 240 30 amp
it has 4 240 6kw elements in it. I was thinking of using the Omega CN1501
Series http://www.omega.com/ppt/pptsc.asp?ref=CN1501. I am a little confused
on how many relays an output can control I assume its one for one but I am
not sure. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Liam Potts

that looks like it would do anything a fuser needs.

I am working on a computer based unit, I have it running now in, HOLD ON,
dos.

yes folks a dos batch file (showing my age.) I have a board that works off
the parallel port that has 12 relays.

I have a USB unit that will ultimately run up to five kilns at once with 2
type thermocouples in each and up to 196 relays.



wrote in message
...
On Wed, 9 Feb 2005 11:54:42 -0800, "liam potts" wqdwqe@kjka wrote:

I use a Perfect Fire which operate 3 relays with two contacts each ,
so it can switch 6 times 25 Amp
Bought this in New Zealand , controller , probe and relay end wiring
Works great

I am looking to build a controller for my kiln its 240 30 amp
it has 4 240 6kw elements in it. I was thinking of using the Omega
CN1501
Series http://www.omega.com/ppt/pptsc.asp?ref=CN1501. I am a little
confused
on how many relays an output can control I assume its one for one but I
am
not sure. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Liam Potts

What unit do you have the uses USB? I thought that would be a good way to
go.

ed

"Boner the Cat" wrote in message
. ..
that looks like it would do anything a fuser needs.

I am working on a computer based unit, I have it running now in, HOLD ON,
dos.

yes folks a dos batch file (showing my age.) I have a board that works
off
the parallel port that has 12 relays.

I have a USB unit that will ultimately run up to five kilns at once with 2
type thermocouples in each and up to 196 relays.