Specifications

5
S-Series Manual Kilns
SnF-Series
S
nF-series automatic
kilns use
switch-timers to
change the heat settings. A
Dawson Kiln Sitter with
Limit Timer shuts the kiln off
at the end of the firing.
The top switch of an SnF
kiln is an infinite control. The
switch cycles on and off. The
higher the switch setting, the
longer the heating elements
stay on during each cycle.
This switch controls the heat
output during the first stage
of firing.
The second switch (and
third, if the kiln has one) is a
switch-timer. When you set
thesecond(andthird)
switches, you are adjusting
timers, the same way you
would set an egg timer. As the kiln fires and
the timers run out of time, the second (and
then the third) switches turn on, thereby de
-
livering power to the elements.
At the beginning of firing, the only ele
-
ments that turn on are the ones wired to the
top switch. When the time you set on the
second switch elapses, stage two firing be
-
gins. The time adjusted on the second
switch determines the firing time of the first
stage. The third switch (if the kiln has one)
is a timer that adjusts firing time on the sec
-
ond stage of firing. As timers run out of
time, more elements are powered,
raising the temperature.
The SnF kilns are easy to fire.
Basic switch settings are printed
right on the front of the switch
box. The SnF kilns have proven,
since 1987, to be very reliable.
Dawson Kiln
Sitter® with
Limit Timer
U
ntil Paragon popularized
electronic controllers,
the Dawson Kiln Sitter
was the mainstay in automatic
kiln shut-off. The Kiln Sitter is
dependable and
accurate when fired
properly.
A small pyrometric
cone placed in the Kiln
Sitter triggers a
shut-off switch. (Pyro
-
metric cones, small clay pyramids
placed inside the kiln, bend to in
-
dicate when ware is fired to matu
-
rity. They are rated by number.)
The cone, mounted in the Kiln Sitter,
supports a rod. When the cone bends, the
rod moves downward, releasing a trigger in
the Kiln Sitter. The trigger drops a weight,
which shuts off the power to the kiln.
The Limit Timer is a safety backup clock
timer. It is designed to shut off the kiln
should the Kiln Sitter malfunction.
As you gain experience firing the kiln,
you will know how long a firing should take.
Set the Limit Timer to the length of firing,
plus 20 or 30 minutes. When the Limit
S
-series manual-fire kilns operate
without electronics or timers. They
use infinite control switches to adjust
heat output. These switches have been
proven reliable over many years of kiln
production.
The infinite control switch cycles on and
off through a bi-metallic timer. The higher
the switch setting, the longer the heating ele
-
ments stay on during each cycle. When the
switch is turned to High, the elements stay
on continuously.
When the cone bends, a rod
lowers, which drops the Kiln
Sitter weight. This shuts off the
kiln.
The pyrometric cone mounted
in the Kiln Sitter before firing.
SnF-Series Non-Digital Automatic
For most firings, the switches are set on
LOW to begin with, then turned up to
higher settings. Adjusting the switches can
control heat distribution in the 8-, 10- and
12-sided S-series (though not the 7-sided).
If a section of kiln is firing too hot, turn the
switch for that section to a lower setting
than the other switches. This is especially ef
-
fective near the end of the firing.
A Dawson Kiln Sitter® with Limit Timer
comes standard on S-series. The Kiln Sitter
shuts off the kiln at the end of firing; the
Limit Timer is a safety back-up. (See
below.)