I noticed it when I tried to turn on my kiln for the last firing, and did not hear the normal "humming" sound that indicates the elements are warming up. So I flipped the switch back and forth a couple times, tried the other switches, which DID hum, and finally gave up and fired without my lowest element. Luckily it was just a bisque firing so I knew it would reach temp okay, as long as no other elements decided to kick the bucket, as well.
So today I got brave and decided to make sure it was the element, and not the switch, by checking the continuance of the element with an ohmmeter. It was definitely the element. Checked online for prices for a replacement, and even considered buying enough to replace all of them at the same time. HA! $60 a pop, at 4 elements...almost as much as I paid for the kiln originally.
So, I did the next best thing, and decided to take out the element of the extension for my kiln, which I've never used, yet, and save myself money for the time being. But a stubborn, rusty screw, and one last snap of the wire, and now I have a too-short element. I tried warming it to twist it with another piece, but keep breaking it, instead. So I'm waiting until my hubby can take a gander at it and make it (hopefully) work. I'll also see about splicing some of my other elements as there is at least one other very dark spot that is likely to go bad soon, as well.
It's days like these that I wish I had fallen in love with a much less expensive hobby.
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