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heating elements, a better way?

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JHovel:
I suspect the reason for not haing an element in the bottom is for mechanical protection.
if something melts or falls over all hell could break loose.... :zap:

PK:

--- Quote from: JHovel on April 14, 2016, 06:19:54 AM ---I suspect the reason for not haing an element in the bottom is for mechanical protection.
if something melts or falls over all hell could break loose.... :zap:

--- End quote ---

:-) I think the phrase "What could possibly go wrong?" was coined in a foundry.
You really have to just accept that it's a bit risky and press on..... 

Worst case would be that you trip a breaker......

Another reason not to put the element in the bottom is because of the thing I forget the name of.....bugger... But it's basically a property of the element wire that limits the power density (ie Watts per unit area) you can have before the wire overheats and cracks. 
I ended up having to fit a higher resistance element, so I could space the coils more. This dropped the unit from 250V 15A to 250V 9A with a corresponding increase in time to melt.
It's more of a problem with small furnaces (like mine)... I really should have sprung for carbide bar elements... Or just built a bigger furnace...
I digress... On a small furnace you want as much surface area as you can get to keep the watts/m^2 low...

shipto:
ok I will consign that idea to the "not worth trying" section of my brain then.

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