May 12, 2025

maintenance

maintenance

Maintaining your kiln

Click on any category above to find instructions on repairing any aspect of your kiln.

REPAIR & MAINTENANCE KNOWLEDGEBASE

Calculating ventilation requirements for heat from a kiln room
Calculate how many CFM of air ventilation you need
  • Find the BTUs per hour (BTU/Hour) your
    • Is there a Kiln Installation Checklist?
    See this page.
    Brick: My firebrick has some cracks. What should I do?

    See this page

    Brick: What is L&L's brick facing for and how do I use it?

    Facing is meant to penetrate into the brick 1/2" or so. When it is fired, it makes that part of

    Calibration: What can I do to promote even kiln firings?
    Control
  • Our DynaTrol or Genesis control with Dynamic Zone Control is the state-of-the-art
    • Calibration: Why does the temperature read-out on my hand-held pyrometer differ from the temperature shown on the DynaTrol?
  • In order for temperature readouts to be close to each other, the two devices need to use the
    • Can I convert a manual J230 to an automatic JD230? If so, what parts are required?

    Yes, it’s possible to convert a manual J230 kiln into an automatic JD230.

    Parts Required
    • Can you use a centralized vent system instead of the Vent-Sure Vent?

    Question: We received this semester a DaVinci 2327-D and I'm hoping you can help us with some

    Can you vent through the roof?

    It is fine to go through a roof with the L&L Vent-Sure kiln fumes vent system.

    • Case: Do kiln stands rust and what should be done about it?

    It is very common for kiln stands to rust. This happens from condensation in the air and possibly

    Changing from 208 volts to 240 volts - what to do?
  • You must replace the elements.
    Example: JD2927 elements rated for 208V (10.4 ohms) will draw
    • Do you need to insulate the ductwork for a Vent-Sure?
  • The molecules of air (which expand during the heating of the kiln) do not carry many BTUs.
    • DynaTrol: What to do if there is no display on the DynaTrol
    How the DynaTrol is Supposed to Work

    All of the DynaTrol or Genesis controlled L&L Kilns

    Electrical Supply Problems and slow kiln performance

    See this link for Basic

    Electrical: How can I protect an existing power supply?
    Circuit Breakers
  • Circuit breakers that have tripped and been reset repeatedly will be more likely
    • Electrical: How do I hook up my kiln to power?

    L&L's official recommendation is for an electrician to connect the kiln to power. You should

    Electrical: How do I switch my kiln from 3 phase to 1 phase and vise-versa?

    On most L&L Kilns this is very easy to do. It is a matter of re-distributing the wires

    Electrical: How to size the circuit breaker, fuses, cord and/or power supply of your kiln.
    Safety Warnings

    NOTE: If you are unsure about some part or procedure in creating or testing a

    Electrical: Is it OK to have a 24 amp e18S-3 kiln on a 50 amp circuit?
  • This is fine to do if you are careful.
  • The only concern would be if you put the wrong
    • Electrical: Should you replace a K18 power cord?
  • The power supply cord originally supplied with K18 kilns is only a three-wire cord. The third
    • Electrical: What is the difference between 220 volts, 3 phase and 380/220 volts, 3 phase (Non-USA)?
    380 volts, 3 phase wye (220 volts line to neutral)
  • If you have 380/220 volts and 3-phase
    • Electrical: What wire size is used to connect a kiln?
    Basics

    When you are installing the circuit for your new kiln, it is important to use the

    Electrical: Why is the 3 phase WYE 2 section kiln Amp listing lower than the actual amp reading on Neutral?
    • On 3-section kilns with wires running to N, L1, L2, and L3 all 3 amp readings (L1,
    Element Connections are glowing. Why? What should be done?

    An element connection can start to glow if it overheats, which can occur for several reasons:

    Elements: Can I put Small Elements in an Element Channel designed for Large Elements?

    Yes - there is no problem putting a smaller element in a larger holder. Just be careful on the

    Elements: How can I extend ceramic kiln element life?
    Why do elements in electric kilns fail? How can you save on kiln maintenance costs?

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    Elements: How can I tell the difference between elements wired in parallel versus series?
  • Your kiln will have its elements either wired in parallel or wired in series. The quickest way
    • Elements: One of my elements failed, should I replace them all or just the one that failed?
  • Normally it is best to have elements that are all the same age. That way it is easier for the
    • Elements: What size elements should I order?
  • We have had several improvements in our element holder designs over the years and have been
    • Elements: What sort of pliers should I have for installing the very thick series elements into my kiln?

    The pliers to get for grabbing the wire and bending it around the bolt are called Linesman Pliers

    Elements: Which kilns have element circuits wired in series and which are wired in parallel?
  • Mostly you just have to remember how each kiln is wired or look at the wiring diagram.
    • Elements: Why are some elements not twisted?

    We double-twist element ends that are 14 gauge and thinner. We do not twist element ends on 13

    Elements: Why is the element for the powered bottom not long enough?
  • Elements in most L&L kilns are the same (exceptions are front-loaders with door elements,
    • Error Codes: Display Reads 2400 or CPLt When it Starts Up

    Even though you know the kiln is not that hot: this indicates a thermocouple failure.

    Error Codes: How to fix E- 2 or Err2
  • Err2 can only happen in a hold segment.
  • One of the 3 temps has to be 50°F higher
    • Error Codes: How to fix E-1 or Err1

     

     

    Although the steps below are comprehensive, in most cases,

    Error Codes: How to fix E-22 or E- 6 error

    E-22 is the same as E-6. It means one of the thermocouple wires is connected backward.

    Here

    Error Codes: How to fix E-5 or Err 5
    Possible Reasons for E-5

    E- 5 errors read as "Err5" on controls manufactured before 2006

    Error Codes: How to fix E-d or Errd

    Note: E- d errors read as "Errd" on controls manufactured before 2006

    Basic Problem
    Error Codes: How to fix PF, E- P, E-P, ErrP
  • The ErrP (PF, E- P, E-P in some older models) comes from a reset of the processor during
    • Error Codes: List of All Error Codes
    Error codes for the DynaTrol

    Note: Many of these error codes have an ‘Err’ prefix rather

    Error Codes: What to do when you see "FAIL"?
    BASICS
  • FAIL usually just means a thermocouple is broken. It will read FAIL,&nbsp
    • Firing: How do I fire with fewer kiln sections on my Jupiter Kiln?

    The outlets are numbered on the side of the control box. In this example below all the outlets

    Firing: How do I fire with fewer sections on my five section kiln?
  • Remove the lid. Open it first to remove the spring-loaded connections to the front of the lid
    • Genesis: How to Change Thermocouple Type (Type S or Type K) on a Genesis

    The type of thermocouple on a Genesis can be either Type K or Type S.

    How can my kiln section stay on all the time in my computerized kiln, even when the on/off switch is off?
    A Relay May Be Stuck Shut
  • All computerized kilns use relays to cycle the power on and off
    • How do I keep elements from falling out of the element holders in the corner of a kiln?
  • Sometimes with thick elements, especially in the corner of a DaVinci, or Easy-Load kiln, the
    • How long does a Vent-Sure downdraft vent last?
  • The Vent-Sure downdraft kiln vent is pulling not only air but moisture and the products of
    • How to control an external ventilation system

    Problem: You have a room ventilation system that is external to your kiln, and you want to turn

    How to handle power interruptions, blackouts, and bad electrical power grids
  • In some places, the electrical power is very inconsistent with power outages, interruptions,