ELEMENT & ELEMENT HOLDER CHANGES

ELEMENT & ELEMENT HOLDER CHANGES

ELEMENT & ELEMENT HOLDER CHANGES

A HISTORY OF IMPROVEMENTS

We have had several improvements in our element holder designs over the years and have been able to increase the interior size of the holder to accommodate a larger element. We used two different ceramic bodies (Tan which was all cordierite and Gray which had some silicon carbide in the body). The different bodies have different shrinkage factors and the gray holders were slightly bigger during the same time of manufacture. In addition, we also still use a special holder (the #541, tan) just for roofs, although these were occasionally used in front-loading kilns many years ago.

HOW OLD IS YOUR KILN?

  1. The serial number is on a data nameplate affixed to the control panel.
  2. Usually, the last two digits (before any suffixes) are the year in which it was made.
  3. For instance, a kiln with Serial Number 0992A would have been made in 1992. The "A" in this number is just a sequential number for the day.
  4. Recent serial numbers have the distributor coded in a suffix.
  5. How to read an L&L Data Nameplate

OVERVIEW

Standard-Small: Use on any kiln.
Heavy-Duty-Small: Use on any kiln made after Jan 1, 1996
Standard-Large: Approx 1/2” in diameter. Use on any kiln made after June 1, 2004
Heavy-Duty-Large: Approx 1/2” in diameter. Use on any kiln made after June 1, 2004

There were 5 different sized element holders:

Small - 541 (Original) - Tan Holders:

  • They were made from the late 1950s.
  • These can accommodate elements with an outside diameter of up to .33

Small - 542A - Tan Holders:

  • They were made from the late 1950s until January of 1996.
  • These can accommodate elements with an outside diameter of up to .33"
  • They were used on kilns with top elements and where you could pull them out from the front.

Medium - 542B - Tan Holders:

  • They were made between January 1, 1996, and June 1, 2004
  • These can accommodate elements with an outside diameter of up to .39"

Medium - 542A - Gray Holders:

  • These were used exclusively on DaVinci kilns from the mid-1980's until 2004. (We now use the Large 542 Tan Holders on DaVinci kilns.
  • They were made from 1985 until 2008.
  • These can accommodate elements with an outside diameter of up to .41"

Large - 542C - Tan Holders:

  • They were made from June of 2004 and are our current holder.
  • These can accommodate elements with an outside diameter of up to .46"

    EASY-FIRE

    Easy-Fire kilns made before June 2004 had Heavy-Duty-Small Elements (with a .383" outside diameter) that fit into our Medium-Sized Element Holders. After June 2004 they are all Heavy-Duty-Large (with a .46" outside diameter) and they fit into our Large-Sized Element Holders (542C).

    DURA-FIRE

    These are all one type - Heavy-Duty Large (.46" OD)

    LIBERTY-BELLE

    Liberty-Belle kilns made before June 2004 had Heavy-Duty-Small Elements (with a .383" outside diameter) that fit into our Medium-Sized Element Holders. After June 2004 they are all Heavy-Duty-Large (with a .46" outside diameter) and they fit into our Large-Sized Element Holders.

    DOLL-TEST

    Before June 2004 all small (.33" outside diameter). After June 2004 all large (.46" outside diameter). The wattage did not change at all.

    ECONO-KILNS, K MODELS, OV OVAL KILNS, B MODELS, DYNA-KILNS

    All of these obsolete kiln models used the small diameter (.33" outside diameter) elements for the small original holder.

    JUPITER ELEMENTS - VARIOUS TYPES AVAILABLE

    There are four types of elements available for the Jupiter Series kilns representing improvements we have made over the years. The first change was in January 1996 when we started using a slightly enlarged holder. Then in June of 2004, we introduced an even large holder. Those redesigned element holders have a larger opening for the element to be inserted into. The back of the element holder remains the same so that it fits in the same routed groove in the firebrick of all K and J kilns. MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE ELEMENTS IN YOUR KILN ARE OF THE SAME STYLE. The various types of holders can be mixed without problems, however.

    Note that all older Econo-Kilns ONLY had the standard-small elements.

    STANDARD-SMALL

    These elements will fit any Jupiter kiln, Econo-Kiln, or K Model kiln made. They have ohms ratings based on cold resistance.

    HEAVY-DUTY-SMALL

    As on January 1, 1996, the element holders were enlarged and we offered a heavier-duty element as an option. They are referred to as “Heavy-Duty-Small”. They are larger in diameter (approx .38 diameter) than the “Standard-Small” elements (approx .33 diameter) so they won’t fit in the very old original holders.

    These “Heavy-Duty-Small” Elements have exactly the same wattage or power output as the “Standard-Small” elements. What makes them different is the fact that a heavier gauge wire is used with a lower watt density (watts per square inch of radiating element surface area). They will last longer than standard elements but will not make the kiln heat up any faster.

    STANDARD-LARGE

    These elements take advantage of the 1/2” diameter size of the newest holder design and the change in resistance when the elements get hot. Elements increase their resistance when they get hot which decreases their power output. By reducing the cold resistance of these elements we can maintain the nominal amperage and watt ratings of the kilns while increasing the actual power output while firing. The larger diameter of the elements allows us the make a superior element design as well. These are standard as of October 1, 2004 and can be used in kilns made since June 1, 2004. We no longer sell these - all have been transitioned to the Heavy-Duty Large (described below).

    HEAVY-DUTY-LARGE

    These elements also take advantage of the size of the newest holder design and the change in resistance when the elements get hot. The larger 1/2” diameter of the elements allows us the make a superior element design as well. In addition, on J2300 kilns, we are putting these elements in series (instead of parallel). This allows for a very thick wire with a great stretch ratio and watt density. These are available as an upgrade as of October 1, 2004, and can be used in kilns made since June 1, 2004.

    QUAD

    As of July 2011, we offer the "Quad" element option. This uses the same element holder and .46" OD of the element. However, there are four rows and two Quad elements per 9" section. The elements double around so they are twice as long as the large heavy-duty element. Generally, the wire gauge is much thicker and we are able to get more surface area on the element which reduces the watts density. Unless there is something custom about the kiln the Quad elements have the same watts as the standard elements.

    DAVINCI ELEMENTS - VARIOUS TYPES AVAILABLE

    There are four types of elements available for the DaVinci Series kilns. First of all there are the standard elements for 27”, 36”, and 45” high Davinci kilns. Then there are the XB and TB high power elements mostly used on 18” high kilns. In June of 2004, we introduced a new large holder. Those redesigned element holders have a larger opening for the element to be inserted into. The back of the element holder remains the same so that it may fit in the same routed groove that is in the firebrick of all DaVinci kilns. All DaVinci elements are heavy-duty. All are wired in parallel except for the X1800 kilns (which are wired with 3 elements in series) and 480 volts (277V) “Wye” elements. MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE ELEMENTS IN YOUR KILN ARE OF THE SAME STYLE. The various types of holders can be mixed without problems, however.

    For many years we used a special holder with silicon carbide in the ceramic body exclusively on the DaVinci kilns. This was slightly larger than the original small holder and allowed the elements to be .41" OD. When we changed to the new large holder we gradually phased out the silicon carbide type holders and now only use the Large-542-Tan Holders.

    OVERVIEW

    Standard-Small: Use on any kiln.
    High-Powered-Small: Use on any kiln. Changes power rating and UL listing for kilns that are higher than 18”.
    Standard-Large: Approx 1/2” in diameter. Use on any kiln made after June 1, 2004.
    High-Powered-Large: Approx 1/2” in diameter. Use on any kiln made after June 1, 2004. Changes power rating and UL listing for kilns that are higher than 18”.

    STANDARD-SMALL

    These elements will fit any DaVinci kiln made. They have ohms ratings based on cold resistance.

    HIGH-POWERED-SMALL

    These elements will fit any DaVinci kiln made. They have ohms ratings based on cold resistance. They have more power than the standard watt elements. These are used on XB and TB kilns.

    STANDARD-LARGE

    These elements take advantage of the 1/2” diameter size of the newest holder design and the change in resistance when the elements get hot. Elements increase their resistance when they get hot which decreases their power output. By reducing the cold resistance of these elements we can maintain the nominal amperage and watt ratings of the kilns while increasing the actual power output while firing. The larger diameter of the elements allows us the make a superior element design as well. These are standard as of October 1, 2004 and can be used in kilns made since June 1, 2004.

    HIGH-POWERED-LARGE

    These elements also take advantage of the size of the newest holder design and the change in resistance when the elements get hot. The larger diameter of the elements allows us the make a superior element design as well. They have more power than the standard watt elements. These are used on XB and TB kilns. These are standard  as of October 1, 2004 and can be used in kilns made since June 1, 2004.

    QUAD

    As of July 2011 we have offered the "Quad" element option. This uses the same element holder and .46" OD of the element. However, there are two rows of element holders per 4-1/2" high brick or four rows per 9" section. The elements double around so they are longer than the regular DaVinci element. Generally the wire gauge is much thicker and we are able to get more surface area on the element which reduces the watts density. Unless there is something custom about the kiln the Quad elements have the same watts as the standard elements. These will typically be wired in parallel (check your wiring diagram to be sure).