November 21, 2024
TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR L&L KILNS TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR L&L KILNS TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR L&L KILNS Home>Support>Technical Support for L&L Kilns Help us help you Gather: The Serial Number, Model Number, and Voltage information from your Data Nameplate. A description of the problem you are having and anything you have done so far to troubleshoot it. Send Photos! Email: service@hotkilns.com We try to be very quick about answering service emails. If you need a phone call we can help you better if we have this information before we call. Note about element resistance values: You can often find the proper ohms for your elements on the wiring diagram which comes with your instruction manual. Nameplate This is a Data Nameplate that you will find on your kiln. Obtain the Serial Number, Model Number, Voltage, Phase, Amps, and Watts for your email for quicker better service. This kiln was manufactured in May of 2011. Common Problems Error 1, Err1 Error D, ErrD All Error messages on the DynaTrol Adjusting and Calibrating the DynaTrol for More Accurate Firing What to do if the kiln fires slowly? Warranty Service Warranty Policy Note there are different warranties for different products. Most kilns have the standard 3-year warranty. School-Master kilns have a special 5-year warranty. Easy-Load and Bell-Lift kilns have a Comercial Warranty. More Get your Wiring Diagram Be sure to get your wiring diagram if you don’t have it. You can get this emailed free from our office if you know your model number, serial number, and voltage. This is the key to understanding what is happening electrically and it makes a great visual reference to share with the tech support department over the phone. Get a Multimeter Get a “Digital Multimeter”. Digital Multi-meters are inexpensive. For around $50 or less you can get one at a place like Radio-Shack or Home Depot. Get one that can test at least 250 volts AC and 28 volts DC, also ohms from 0 to 200, and is able to show at least the tenths decimal place for accuracy. See this tutorial on how to use a multimeter. If you need an electrician Sometimes you may need to get an electrician or experienced person, to test live electricity if you cannot. If you get someone to provide on-site service, the kiln must be hot and exhibit its problem when they test it. Sometimes it is difficult to coordinate the electrician, a hot kiln, and our technical support on the phone all at the same time, but it can be necessary to make the most of the electrician’s time and to fix the kiln in a timely fashion. It is usually best also to discuss with our technical support department the date and approximate time an electrician is expected to arrive. Application Support We offer minimal application support. Distributors often offer a degree of application support. For instance, if you are having problems with firing your work the first place to go for answers is the people who supply your clay and glazes. There is some application information on this website. Look at the External Links for many great sites that can help you. Be Comprehensive and Proactive We have found through long experience that is best when trouble starts to replace all of a certain part. If your elements are old and one burns out – change the whole set of elements. The same is true for thermocouples, thermocouple wires, element terminal screws, power cords, and contactors. Do not expect control panel components to reliably perform after 15 or 20 years. The heat of kilns causes unavoidable oxidation of electrical components - some that you can't see. Kilns need to be rebuilt occasionally. Changing JUST the part that is causing the immediate problem is just asking for more trouble in short order.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR L&L KILNS

Help us help you

Gather:

The Serial Number, Model Number, and Voltage information from your Data Nameplate.
A description of the problem you are having and anything you have done so far to troubleshoot it.
Send Photos!

We try to be very quick about answering service emails. If you need a phone call we can help you better if we have this information before we call.

Note about element resistance values: You can often find the proper ohms for your elements on the wiring diagram which comes with your instruction manual.

Nameplate

Photo of Kiln Data Nameplate

This is a Data Nameplate that you will find on your kiln. Obtain the Serial Number, Model Number, Voltage, Phase, Amps, and Watts for your email for quicker better service. This kiln was manufactured in May of 2011.

Common Problems

Warranty Service

Warranty Policy
Note there are different warranties for different products. Most kilns have the standard 3-year warranty. School-Master kilns have a special 5-year warranty. Easy-Load and Bell-Lift kilns have a Comercial Warranty.

Get your Wiring Diagram

Be sure to get your wiring diagram if you don’t have it. You can get this emailed free from our office if you know your model number, serial number, and voltage. This is the key to understanding what is happening electrically and it makes a great visual reference to share with the tech support department over the phone.

Get a Multimeter

Get a “Digital Multimeter”. Digital Multi-meters are inexpensive. For around $50 or less you can get one at a place like Radio-Shack or Home Depot. Get one that can test at least 250 volts AC and 28 volts DC, also ohms from 0 to 200, and is able to show at least the tenths decimal place for accuracy. See this tutorial on how to use a multimeter.

If you need an electrician

Sometimes you may need to get an electrician or experienced person, to test live electricity if you cannot. If you get someone to provide on-site service, the kiln must be hot and exhibit its problem when they test it. Sometimes it is difficult to coordinate the electrician, a hot kiln, and our technical support on the phone all at the same time, but it can be necessary to make the most of the electrician’s time and to fix the kiln in a timely fashion. It is usually best also to discuss with our technical support department the date and approximate time an electrician is expected to arrive.

Application Support

We offer minimal application support. Distributors often offer a degree of application support. For instance, if you are having problems with firing your work the first place to go for answers is the people who supply your clay and glazes. There is some application information on this website. Look at the External Links for many great sites that can help you.

Be Comprehensive and Proactive

We have found through long experience that is best when trouble starts to replace all of a certain part. If your elements are old and one burns out – change the whole set of elements. The same is true for thermocouples, thermocouple wires, element terminal screws, power cords, and contactors. Do not expect control panel components to reliably perform after 15 or 20 years. The heat of kilns causes unavoidable oxidation of electrical components - some that you can't see. Kilns need to be rebuilt occasionally. Changing JUST the part that is causing the immediate problem is just asking for more trouble in short order.