How To Wire an Electric Kiln
- 1). Turn off the circuit breaker feeding electricity to the kiln's disconnect box. The wires from the circuit breaker connect to the disconnect box's input -- or line -- terminals and the wires leading to the electric kiln connect to the disconnect's output, or load, terminals.
- 2). Locate and open the electric kiln's electric service box, usually located on the back of the kiln near its base. Use the correct size and type of screwdriver to remove the screws holding the service box's lid in place.
- 3). Examine the electric kiln's wiring chart or diagram. The wiring chart or diagram labels each terminal and gives the terminal's function.
- 4). Remove 1/2 inch of the insulation on each wire entering the electric kiln from the disconnect box. Three or four wires enter the kiln and each wire uses color-coded insulation.
- 5). Wrap the end of the ground wire around the electric kiln's ground screw, the green screw located in the kiln's electrical service box, then tighten the screw with the appropriate screwdriver. Either the uninsulated wire or the wire with green insulation acts as ground.
- 6). Insert the end of the black wire from the disconnect box into the electric kiln's hot terminal labeled "Hot" or "L1." Tighten the terminal with the correct screwdriver.
- 7). Slip the end of the second live wire into the electric kiln's second hot terminal, usually labeled "L2" or "Common," and tighten the terminal with the correct screwdriver. If the electric kiln uses 120 volts, then push the remaining wire into the "Common" terminal. If the kiln needs 240 volts and three wires enter the kiln from the disconnect box, then push the remaining wire into the "L2" kiln terminal. If the kiln uses 240 volts and four wires enter the kiln from the disconnect box, then insert the red colored wire into the "L2" terminal.
- 8). Push the fourth wire, if equipped, into the electric kiln's "Neutral" terminal and tighten the terminal with the correct screwdriver. The neutral wire usually uses white insulation. If the kiln model can use both three- and four-wire wire sets, then remove the bonding strip between the neutral terminal and the kiln's housing before installing the neutral wire. The bonding strip looks like a 1/4-inch-wide thin copper strip.
- 9). Replace the cover on the kiln's electric service box.
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