nyle L53 heat strip

[wills swamp]

is there a way to test if the heat strip is working?
kiln doesn't seem to get up to temp as it once did
thanks

[WDH]

You should be able to look down through the fan on the left side of the unit and see the heat strips.  I assume that if they are working, they will be glowing red. 

[wills swamp]

Is it a fact while the compressor is running the heat strips are not?  Also does green wood put out more heat than air dried? thanks.

[scsmith42]

My L200 has a thermal limiter switch that usually has to be replaced about every two years.  It's a standard HVAC item and when it goes bad your heat strips don't work.

[YellowHammer]

The heat strips in a Nyle 53 are only 1 KW, and with the fans on the "chimney" running, they will only feel slightly warm, as the moving air cools them.  If you disable the fans, the strip will get very hot, but they are sized not to get overly hot during normal operation for safety.  If you have a thermometer, you should see the temperature rise slightly out of the chimney when the strips are running.  The air will not be hot, but warm. 

When you command for heat on on the control unit, you should hear the heater relay click loudly inside the controller.  That doesn't necessarily means the strips are working only that power is being applied to the circuit.  If you open the side access panel of the DH, you will see the heat strip circuitry and the the heat strips are held in by sheet metal screw on both sides of the unit.  It is very easy to remove if needed.  Some quick checking with a voltmeter will help you troubleshoot the system, if it is not working.

Scsmith42,
I will keep an eye on my limiter switch.  Good info.

[scsmith42]

The heat strips in a Nyle 53 are only 1 KW, and with the fans on the "chimney" running, they will only feel slightly warm, as the moving air cools them.  If you disable the fans, the strip will get very hot, but they are sized not to get overly hot during normal operation for safety.  If you have a thermometer, you should see the temperature rise slightly out of the chimney when the strips are running.  The air will not be hot, but warm. 

When you command for heat on on the control unit, you should hear the heater relay click loudly inside the controller.  That doesn't necessarily means the strips are working only that power is being applied to the circuit.  If you open the side access panel of the DH, you will see the heat strip circuitry and the the heat strips are held in by sheet metal screw on both sides of the unit.  It is very easy to remove if needed.  Some quick checking with a voltmeter will help you troubleshoot the system, if it is not working.

Scsmith42,
I will keep an eye on my limiter switch.  Good info.

It's easy to spot - it's in the 240VAC circuit inside the kiln unit between the incoming wires and the heat strips.

[wills swamp]

thanks

[WDH]

Wills,

Stan at Nyle told me that the heat strips and the compressor cannot run at the same time on the L53 as their is not enough power (110 volts) to run both at the same time.  The compressor has precedence, and when the compressor comes on, the heat strips cut off.