Forums > Specific Focus > Home, Garden & Construction in Mexico

karamia

Mar 24, 2004, 10:59 PM

Post #1 of 11 (6534 views)

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50 amp Kiln to Mex.

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I've a 50 amp electronic glass kiln that I would like to
bring when I move ......... if I buy an older house can the wiring be upgraded for this capacity ...... if I consider new construction can it easiily be included ?? It has it's own special plug ...... which obviously requires the feed to it.

Rolly / Moderator

Mar 25, 2004, 8:39 AM

Post #2 of 11 (6516 views)

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Re: [karamia] 50 amp Kiln to Mex.

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If it draws 50 amps, it probably also runs on 208/220 volts which is available in most, but not all, areas. You should check with the CFE (the power company) in the area you plan to move to.

Adding a special service for your kiln will not be a problem in an old house or a new one.

Paying for the power, however, may well be a shock for you. Electrical rates in Mexico can be quite high. The rate structure is on a sliding scale -- the more you use, the higher the billing rate.

Rolly Pirate

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Esteban

Mar 25, 2004, 11:53 AM

Post #3 of 11 (6505 views)

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Re: [karamia] 50 amp Kiln to Mex.

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It will definitely all depend on your specific location. Where I live in Mazatlan, they have 3-phase available for residential use. My neighbor has a 14 ton AC unit that runs on 3 phase. His house is on the end of the new electrical lines. On my side of the street we have single phase 220 that is VERY old. Many places in town have, as Rolly mentioned, a single hot line (130 volts plus or minus) with no 220 available. An all gas kiln with minimum electrical controls would probably be the cheapest way to go. But then, the price of gas has been going higher too. I guess you'll have to raise the price of what you are selling. But, there is low inflation here :-) (according to governmental sources). When I was staying in the city of Guanajuato, some potters were firing their stuff with used motor oil. Just a thought.

karamia

Mar 25, 2004, 4:37 PM

Post #4 of 11 (6489 views)

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Re: [Esteban] 50 amp Kiln to Mex.

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Thanks Guys ...... i assume .... it iwill have to be well thougtht
out ....... it is a beautiful Paragon glass kiln with electronic
controls and elements on all sides ..... the clay pot just needs to
feel the heat .... glass needs to **SEE** it. Does anyone know
how the glass artists in mexico do it ?? Perhaps, i can bring it and share it with others ... there by helping the cost of operation !! A thought ...... another problem is that it weighs
a ton !! Oh, Well ....... where there is Will there is Way. K.

TomG

Mar 26, 2004, 7:30 AM

Post #5 of 11 (6471 views)

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Re: [Esteban] 50 amp Kiln to Mex.

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When I was staying in the city of Guanajuato, some potters were firing their stuff with used motor oil.

That is one fuel source that sounds good for intense heat needs. I had a friend that used motor oil for a foundry melt furnace years ago. You can tune in the flame after half a minute or so to a well balanced blue. If I were doing this, I would get the gadgets in the USA - blower, pyrometer, and any controls you wanted (if you want them). You would fast be popular in Mexico - heck, you'd be a celebrity in Oaxaca. I certainly would not lug dead weight bricks (kiln) to Mexico. You could construct an adobe kiln rapidly and cheaply to any size you like, but I would bring that old $25 kiln design book that is available in the USA. You could help save a lot of trees down here, improve the air quality a great deal, and raise the temperature beyond the wildest local dreams. Might help the lead glaze problem and increase durability.

Low temperature traditional wood fired kilns (in many cases little more than bonfires) are valuable for a few national treasure type artists cases and for the famous black pottery of San Bartolo Coyotepec.

You would be paying about 18 cents US a kilowatt for the electric energy you used in Mexico, and contributing nothing applicable to the technical knowledge base of the area.

Whoops! Gotta close the door, neighbors are burning their daily trash with plastic.

(This post was edited by TomG on Mar 26, 2004, 7:35 AM)

karamia

Mar 28, 2004, 4:04 AM

Post #6 of 11 (6444 views)

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Re: [TomG] 50 amp Kiln to Mex.

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Hi, Tom ......... you are right on all fronts .....shipping brick ...
and not being an unconscious consumer. Glass requires very
specific step up / step down temperature procedures ...... so
having an electronic programmer is very handy .... I
certainly couldn't care less if I fired or some one else did. this is
my passion ...... entertaining myself with kilncast glass sculpture that is then incorporated into mixed media. Will
research this thoroughly ...... thanks for guidance.

How did you choose Oaxaca as your place **To Be**. My requirements for an outer social life are minumum. Karen

mkdutch

Mar 28, 2004, 7:42 AM

Post #7 of 11 (6435 views)

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Re: [karamia] 50 amp Kiln to Mex.

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Karen, another thing you may want to consider, if you use Electricity for a heating source, is to have a seperate meter (service) installed just for the kiln. As has been stated, they charge on a graduated scale - so you would be penalized less by "starting from zero on your meter" than adding on that usage to your household use. Some people do this for their pools/spas for the same reason.

It would be a good idea, regardless, to ask about the availability of 3 phase, 240V service before buying or renting anything. Buena Suerte...........Dutch

karamia

Mar 28, 2004, 9:25 AM

Post #8 of 11 (6431 views)

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Re: [mkdutch] 50 amp Kiln to Mex.

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Hi, Dutch .... I am not a rocket scientist ......and need all the
help I can get .... isn't it (in the USA) running now on 110 .... with 50 amps ?? I don't know what I am saying ........but
another service is a SUPER idea ....... as I got into this further,
apparently, for glass I need to stay with electricity ...... the
degree with which the temperatures MUST BE controlled cannot
be achieved with gas or other oil burning products ..... but I
will not stop investigating ...... I am very conscious to gang uo
the work ....... and only run it twice a month here !! Even
at that. it tis a mighty pull of "''heat'' !! Thanks for the creative thinking ..... K

johanson

Mar 28, 2004, 3:03 PM

Post #9 of 11 (6419 views)

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Re: [karamia] 50 amp Kiln to Mex.

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Just a guess here, but I bet your kiln which you indicated draws 50 Amps, draws its electrons :) from two 110 to 120 volt legs for a total of 220 to 240 volts

(This post was edited by johanson on Mar 28, 2004, 3:06 PM)

karamia

Mar 28, 2004, 5:06 PM

Post #10 of 11 (6409 views)

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Re: [johanson] 50 amp Kiln to Mex.

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O.K. Guys ..... now i understand ...... yes, you are right it is pulled from two circuits in the grey box ....... yes.... important i find out what could be available from where I would be buying !!

Before falling asleep tonight, I will whisper a prayer of thankfulness for the care, concern and compassion for
this special ommunity. I look so forward to be a part of it. My late husband was a Mayanist ... anthropoligist .... he visited and studied many years in the Yucatan. He would be sooo happy for me to be there. Good Night ... Karen

TomG

Mar 28, 2004, 8:42 PM

Post #11 of 11 (6398 views)

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Re: [johanson] 50 amp Kiln to Mex.

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two 110 to 120 volt legs for a total of 220 to 240 volts

That is the most likely configuration: 220 volts single phase. Read the ID plate and it will say what it is. If it has a big three prong plug it's 220 single phase - unless it is wired direct without plug. Anyway it is what it is, and the only question is whether you really need it.