TROUBLESHOOTING SUPPORT

September 18, 2025
troubleshooting troubleshooting << Back to all categories General Diagnostics Electrical Diagnostics Error Codes Paper Test Element Diagnostics Firing Log Genesis Log Home> Support> Kiln Diagnostics & Troubleshooting Troubleshooting & Diagnosing Kilns Click on any of the categories above to focus on particular issues. We suggest starting with the General Troubleshooting Guide unless you know what you are looking for. Troubleshooting Knowledgebase At what temperature should you turn off the Vent-Sure kiln vent? Bartlett 3-Key: How do I program general instruction panels for 3-key Bartlett Bartlett 3-Key: How to add soak or change temperature to a 3-Button Bartlett Control or Custom Programs in the One-Touch Control during a firing Bartlett High Limit: Is there a reset button? Brick: My firebrick has some cracks. What should I do? Brick: What is L&L's brick facing for and how do I use it? Calibration: Cone Offset Calibration: How to fire very precisely using witness cones Calibration: How to Manually Control When Your Vary Fire Program Stops Firing but Still Maintains a Controlled Cooldown Calibration: Thermocouple Offset Calibration: Thermocouple Offset and Cone Offsets Calibration: What can I do to promote even kiln firings? Calibration: Why does the temperature read-out on my hand-held pyrometer differ from the temperature shown on the DynaTrol? Can I convert a manual J230 to an automatic JD230? If so, what parts are required? Can you use Advancer Shelves in an L&L Kiln? Changing from 208 volts to 240 volts - what to do? Does my Vent Motor require lubrication? Does the digital controller have a way to prevent an over fire? DynaTrol: Differences in DynaTrol Boards for installation (600 vs 700 series) DynaTrol: How do I control the cooling with the DynaTrol? DynaTrol: How many times has the kiln been fired? DynaTrol: How to add soak to or reprogram a DynaTrol during a firing DynaTrol: How to create very long programs in the DynaTrol? DynaTrol: How to fix DynaTrol keypad buttons if they stop working DynaTrol: How to interpret a garbled message on the DynaTrol DynaTrol: How to Program Easy-Fire Programs for DynaTrol DynaTrol: How to use the PreHeat feature in the DynaTrol DynaTrol: I have a two section kilns and got a FAIL TC 3 message DynaTrol: Programs in Excel Format DynaTrol: The DynaTrol shows cone 05 after I program it for 5 or 06 after I program it for 6 DynaTrol: What the final temperature reached in a program on a DynaTrol? DynaTrol: What to do if there is no display on the DynaTrol Electrical Supply Problems and slow kiln performance Electrical: How can I protect an existing power supply? Electrical: How do I hook up my kiln to power? Electrical: How do I switch my kiln from 3 phase to 1 phase and vise-versa? Electrical: How to size the circuit breaker, fuses, cord and/or power supply of your kiln. Electrical: Is it OK to have a 24 amp e18S-3 kiln on a 50 amp circuit? Electrical: Should you replace a K18 power cord? Electrical: What is the difference between 220 volts, 3 phase and 380/220 volts, 3 phase (Non-USA)? Electrical: What wire size is used to connect a kiln? Electrical: Why is the 3 phase WYE 2 section kiln Amp listing lower than the actual amp reading on Neutral? Element Connections are glowing. Why? What should be done? Elements: Can I put Small Elements in an Element Channel designed for Large Elements? Elements: How can I extend ceramic kiln element life? Elements: How can I tell the difference between elements wired in parallel versus series? Elements: One of my elements failed, should I replace them all or just the one that failed? Elements: What size elements should I order? Elements: What sort of pliers should I have for installing the very thick series elements into my kiln? Elements: Which kilns have element circuits wired in series and which are wired in parallel? Elements: Why are some elements not twisted? Elements: Why is the element for the powered bottom not long enough? Error Codes: Control reads higher temperature than my studio. No error code. What is wrong? Error Codes: Display Reads 2400 or CPLt When it Starts Up Error Codes: E-4, E- 4, or Err4 Error Codes: How to fix E- 2 or Err2 Error Codes: How to fix E-1 or Err1 Error Codes: How to fix E-22 or E- 6 error Error Codes: How to fix E-5 or Err 5 Error Codes: How to fix E-d or Errd Error Codes: How to fix PF, E- P, E-P, ErrP Error Codes: List of All Error Codes Error Codes: What to do when you see "FAIL"? Firing: Can I cool my kiln faster than it would normally? Firing: Fast or Slow Glaze or Fast or Slow Bisque? Firing: How do hold times and heatwork affect my work? Firing: How do I fire with fewer kiln sections on my Jupiter Kiln? Firing: How do I fire with fewer sections on my five section kiln? Firing: How do I fix pinholes and blistering in glazing? Firing: How do I program a slump or tack or full fuse glass program? Firing: How soon after the test firing can one bisque fire? Firing: How to Fire - General instruction panels for Dura-Fire. Firing: Should I turn off the kiln with the On/Off Switch? Firing: Why use slow bisque over fast bisque? Is it just a moisture issue? Genesis: How to Change Thermocouple Type (Type S or Type K) on a Genesis Genesis: How to create custom program in the Genesis Control Hinge: Spring Tool for Older Easy-Fire Hinge Assembly is Missing How can my kiln section stay on all the time in my computerized kiln, even when the on/off switch is off? How can my kiln section stay on all the time on my manual kiln even when the kiln-sitter is off? How do I control my vent fan motor with my Genesis or DynaTrol? How do I keep elements from falling out of the element holders in the corner of a kiln? How do I know if my vent is pulling enough air through? How to control an external ventilation system How to fix elements falling our of ceramic channels How to handle power interruptions, blackouts, and bad electrical power grids How to move DaVinci Cord Connection to make them cooler How to pack a kiln for moving How to recall at what temperature an error occurred in a DynaTrol control I blew up a a piece of ceramic, how do I get glaze out of the wall and off the element? I want to do reduction firing with alcohol drip. Does L&L provide any coating on elements to improve lifetime in such usage? Kiln stalls or stop heating with lots of clicking (relays) & no error code Loading: How do I load my kiln properly? Longevity: How long does a kiln last? Longevity: How should my kiln be maintained on a regular basis? Manual Control: How deep should a Kiln Sitter Tube go into a kiln? How do you adjust the depth? Manual Control: How do I adjust my kiln-sitter? Manual Control: How to fire - general instructions for Manual Kilns Manual Kilns: What do I do if the kiln doesn't heat at all? Programming: How do I enter a really slow program? Programming: How do you program a controlled cool down in the DynaTrol or One-Touch control? Programming: How high can the DynaTrol or Genesis be programmed to fire to? Programming: How to program a slump or tack or full fuse glass program into my 3-Key Bartlett Control or One-Touch Control? Programming: Why does my kiln jump over the Preheat without holding at the Preheat temp? Relays: How long do relays last? Switching a manual kiln from 208 volts to 240 volts The center of my kiln gets too hot compared to the top and bottom. The contactors on my Easy-Load, or Davinci kiln are loud. What can I do about it? The controlled cooling on an Easy-Fire keeps changing. Why? The Spring Hinge does not go all the way back. What is wrong? The temperature in the control is jumping erratically. How do I fix it? There are small ceramic discs wedged in the element holders. What are they for? Thermocouples: How can the thermocouple wires get reversed on a Jupiter or DaVinci Automatic Kiln? Thermocouples: How do I know which thermocouples to get for my kiln? Thermocouples: How to Change Type (Type S or K) on DynaTrol Thermocouples: Markings on Type S Thermocouples and lead wire colors Thermocouples: What are Thermocouples? Thermocouples: What is a thermocouple (TC) and how does it work? Thermocouples: Where do T1, TC2 and TC3 go on a kiln? Trouble with Kiln-Sitter. What to do? Weight of Kiln Rings or Sections and Tops and Bottoms for Lifting Guidance What do I do if I get error message "E-A"? What do I do if I overfire and melt clay and/ or glaze all over the inside of the kiln? What do I do if the control display doesn't show anything? What do I do if the display is normal but the kiln won't heat up? What do I do if the kiln heats too fast? What do I do if the kiln stalls? What does it cost ($) for the electricity to fire the kiln? What happens if the power goes out while I am firing? What makes elements melt and sag? What to do if the kiln fires slowly? What's the worst thing that can happen from restarting after an Error Code? Why do I get TC-- code when I run my 3-button Bartlett Why do my DaVinci kiln sections move out of alignment or slide off the floor slab over time? Why do stainless steel threads become jammed on element terminals? Why does my 8, 10, and 12 sided kiln lid open more in the front when I fire? Why does my DaVinci kiln lid open more in the front when I fire? Why does my kiln seem like it overfires the pottery? Why does my kiln seem like it underfires the pottery? Why does the kiln's breaker keep tripping? Why kiln amperage is higher than the rating when first turned on