Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    jonwilliam's Avatar
    jonwilliam Posts: 31, Reputation: 1
    Junior Member
    		  
    #1

    Mar 28, 2009, 04:16 PM
    Gas fireplace Security model SBGH36
    Hi gents

    Thermopile and a flame switch and a piezo igniter used on the burner assembly.
    The pilot is lit all the time ,but the burner does not light up .
    How do I measure the millivolt to make sure the thermopile is OK??
    How do I check out the flame switch to make sure it is not faulty>??
    Any response will be appreciated .
    letmetellu's Avatar
    letmetellu Posts: 3,151, Reputation: 317
    Ultra Member
    		  
    #2

    Mar 28, 2009, 07:34 PM

    You need a volt meter to check voltage and millivolts is so low of voltage that you can not check it with a regular volt meter. If you have a regular volt meter with an amp probe on it I can tell you how to check the amps and that would indicate that there is voltage.

    So let me know if you have one.

    The biggest problem with a millivolt system is that the pilot is not burning good or the valve is bad.
    jonwilliam's Avatar
    jonwilliam Posts: 31, Reputation: 1
    Junior Member
    		  
    #3

    Mar 29, 2009, 02:06 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by letmetellu View Post
    You need a volt meter to check voltage and millivolts is so low of voltage that you can not check it with a regular volt meter. If you have a regular volt meter with an amp probe on it I can tell you how to check the amps and that would indicate that there is voltage.

    So let me know if you have one.

    The biggest problem with a millivolt system is that the pilot is not burning good or the valve is bad.
    Thanks for your response . Yes I do have a clamp on amp .
    Would appreciate if you would please show me how to check the amps to make sure there is any voltage and also I would like to know how to check the flame switch on a F/P as well as how to check a thermocoupl too . Tks again
    Looking forward to your response .
    letmetellu's Avatar
    letmetellu Posts: 3,151, Reputation: 317
    Ultra Member
    		  
    #4

    Mar 29, 2009, 06:36 PM

    Take a length of small wire with a cover Wrap it ten wraps around one of the clamps of the amp meter, set the meter at the lowest amp reading. Not disconnect one of the wires on the valve, touch one end of the wire that you wrapped around the meter to the post that you disconnected the wire from, touch the other end of the wrapped wire to the wire that you disconnected from the valve. The meter should read some amperage if the power is going through the valve.

    Let me know if this works.
    jonwilliam's Avatar
    jonwilliam Posts: 31, Reputation: 1
    Junior Member
    		  
    #5

    Mar 30, 2009, 05:47 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by letmetellu View Post
    Take a length of small wire with a cover Wrap it ten wraps around one of the clamps of the amp meter, set the meter at the lowest amp reading. Not disconnect one of the wires on the valve, touch one end of the wire that you wrapped around the meter to the post that you disconnected the wire from, touch the other end of the wrapped wire to the wire that you disconnected from the valve. The meter should read some amperage if the power is going through the valve.

    Let me know if this works.
    Thanks for your response yes I got some voltage however I am not posititive how much voltage would be correct for proper functiioning of the thermopiles though . Possibly it would give me some voltage and the question is does that work for the two functions or just one function . Anyway thanks again.
    letmetellu's Avatar
    letmetellu Posts: 3,151, Reputation: 317
    Ultra Member
    		  
    #6

    Mar 30, 2009, 07:46 PM

    Most thermopiles run off 750 millivolts.

    And the amp meter would check a complete system for you, it is to show if you unit is overloading the heat anticipator of a thermostat.
Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions
 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Kenmore elite model quiet guard 7 model 665. [ 12 Answers ]

Six month old dishwasher. Worked fine until today - won't start. LIghts are on and control panel seems to be working OK. The "Clean" indicator is flashing in intervals of 7 flashes and then pauses. When I select the "Start" button it flashes red 3 times and then nothing. The "Drain/Cancel"...

I'm replacing a white rodgers 1F58-72 model thermostat with a Hunter model 44155C [ 2 Answers ]

There are some different wiring codes that are different how do I do it.

Supplemental security income and social security disability income? [ 2 Answers ]

If you are approved for supplemental security income and social security disability will you get full benefits from both or will it get cut in half and if your children receive ssi will their benefit be effected?

Leak around basement fireplace but not in fireplace [ 1 Answers ]

Recently when we had heavy rain it leaked around the baement fireplace. I have noticed that the grout around the bricks are wet (not sure if soaking up from the floor). Thought because some flooding near by that it was a one time thing. Now it rained a coupe of days ago and I am noticing that it is...

View more questions Search