High temp electrical romex and fixtures

[Ken S.]

I wasnt quite sure what to put in my title. I am looking for a source (if it exists) of high temperature electrical wire and light fixtures and light bulbs. It would be nice, if it is technically possible to put a light inside the ovens. I tried to research it on the internet but couldnt find anything. It seems if we can put a man on the moon that we should be able to light a pizza oven. However I also realize that not everyone accepts that we have put people on the moon. Thanks Ken

[jengineer]

And it all has a finite melting point. If you take a magnet and heat it up it will lose its properties. The key is in insulation. The wire will need to be heavily insulated from the heat otherwise it will lose its capability to carry current. First blush to look is at an industrial gas/electrical stove manufacturer. I know my mom's oven had a shielded light bulb, behind some sort of thermal glass. It was a real PITA to replace it. I remember hearing some choice Sicilian words out of my dad's mouth that day. The next time it burned out he bought mom a new stove that had no light.

Another option is to get in touch with someone that works at your local power plant - providing they are using natural gas, pulverized coal. In high school we tool a tour of a fluidized bed power generation station. Someone in the controls gorup may be ablet o lend some info.

Are you sure you really want a light in the oven? If you are cooking with flame the coals should gove off enough light. granted it is not white light but after a while you should be able to properly judge it. If you are baking bread I can see a need for a light.

[Aaron]

I had the same problem, and solved it by buying some high temperature wire (available on the internet - I got 850F wire), and an old-fashioned ceramic light fixture from the hardware store. The fixture screws onto the face of a standard electrical box, and the wire screws into the back of the fixture. No plastic fittings required, and the insulator on the wire is fiberglass.