Infinite range controllers

[Pete VanderLaan]

I used to use these little electric range controls which were common on kitchen ranges. The simple ones had a "Low Medium or High" position and then there were ones which had a 1-10 and the a high setting. The 1-10 is the one I'm looking for. I have looked in Graingers and in McMaster Carr and even Johnson controls with no luck.

It was a squirrely underengineered device and they did fail quite frequently but it was great while it worked, doling out amps to kanthal elements in the world. Does anyone have a notion of where to get them these days OR something else that is suitable for the same function that is cheap. I'm building a kiln for MB to fire her jewelry in and she wants to be able to control the amps going in to elements individually so her firings are even. The whole mess will have a master MDR run by a love controller, of which I have a lifetime supply.

[Wes Hunting]

We have a guy in town here that repairs old electric stoves. I used to use these years ago and he has a boat load of them in storage. Tell me the voltage and I'll see what he's got.

[Tom Fuhrman]

I think I still have a couple new ones in stock I bought years ago and never used if you need them. JOhnstone Supply ,appliance parts supplier, I think still has them. They have distribution all over the country.

[Pete VanderLaan]

It's 240V VAC Wes. I would buy six of them. Thanks Tom I had conflated Johnson controls with Johnstone supplies.

[Wes Hunting]

I have to run to town later today. I'll stop buy and see what he's got.

[Pete VanderLaan]

Thanks Wes. There are two styles. one is Low Med and High. The other is 1-10. If you get me six, I'll send you a check. Either that or have the guy call and I'll give him a cc# and he can ship them which is probably a lot easier.
603-323-7900

[Ron Mynatt]

I use a (whirlpool # 4391989) they have them on ebay it is a 1-10 switch.Ron

[Ted Trower]

Try repairclinic.com

[Pete VanderLaan]

Thanks Wes, you're the best

354 Washington Hill Rd
Chocorua NH 03817.

Now I need the damn dials which I lose or break all the time. We have a business not unlike your friend's near here appropriately named "the town dump"

[Wes Hunting]

He also had a box of plastic dials all different sizes. you could go for the mad scientist look. rig up a whisle when it reaches temp. I'll stop over there when I get back and see what he,s got in the way of dials.

[Pete VanderLaan]

the dials came with this little set of inserts that fit over the shaft and then into the indicating handle. It was cheap shoddy construction. They either blow up right away or they last a long time. I think coupling it up with that insulated wire Cheyenne popped up with may help. We want to be able to vary the amps going in to different elements in the kiln and this is the only way to control multiple elements at the same time with one controller.

And Ted, Thank you for that site. I think I've been there before looking for parts for our expensive shoddy construction Jennaire range.

[Steve Beckwith]

I have bought things like this from Johnstone Supply. I think they are called an infinite switch. Call 'em. They are good guys on the phone.

[Pete VanderLaan]

I too have bought them from Johnstone, a company that now has opened retail stores and seems to be going down the path where Brookstone tools, once a fine company went to languish in personal shaving supplies and other sharper image tar pits.

[Steve Beckwith]

http://www.johnstonesupply.com/store...odF16-514.html

I looked in their online catalog, this is the kind of thing I have used in the past for controlling some kilns I have made using oven broiler elements as the heat source.

[Pete VanderLaan]

Thanks Steve. That is one of them, which amperage I can't say since the specs don't list it. Most likely 15 Amp.

In the good old days they would have listed the price. Now I have to log in so I can call one of the stores, which I have already done- twice to different ones, each saying that I needed parts numbers and essentially mumbling that this was too much trouble.

Wes swears by some living God that they will be here friday. I hope it's not that Mormon one.

Pete, if looking for knobs, we have a drop in Frigidaire model and the knobs on is say low simmer for 1 then 2, 3, 4, med for 5 and 6,7,8 and hi for 9. These would work if you can find just the knobs.

Lonnie

[Steve Beckwith]

I might add that these things increase power in either a clockwise or counter clockwise motion depending on the model. The proper knob for the switch will make life easier. Some years back I ordered the wrong combo so low is high and vice versy. Pete, I have a 12 year old catalog from Johnstone. If it will help, I would look up some part numbers for you.

[Pete VanderLaan]

I appreciate it. I think I'm OK now. Wes is sending me the old ones.