Kilnsitter

A device for controlling the length of firing of an electric kiln, and for automatically shutting off the kiln once the desired heatwork has been done.

Above is the part of the kilnsitter that protrudes into the firing chamber. A cone of the target rating is used to prop the three metal fingers apart; once this is done, the kiln is able to be turned on. When the kiln reaches temperature, the cone bends, allowing the top prong to sink down, which in turn unlatches a hinged weighted switch that falls, triggering the kiln to shut off.

The photo below shows the dial that sets how many hours you want the kiln to be able to fire. Next to it is the weighted switch that falls and shuts off the kiln when the prong inside lowers (raising the little catch at the top that holds the switch). The white button turns the kiln on, and the dials to the side control how hot each electric element is.

If a kiln stops firing but the kilnsitter hasn't tripped, either there was not enough time on the timer for the kiln to reach peak temperature; something inside the kiln blew up or shifted, knocking the cone out; or the power went out/the circuit breaker to the kiln's outlet tripped. If the kilnsitter is tripped but the cone is not bent and the kiln didn't reach temperature, some bozo was probably messing around by the kiln and knocked it off by accident. Don't let bozos mess around by your kilns.