I'm alive--but do you guys have time for THIS story? PART 1

[Woody]

I had thought that there was a thermocouple installed for gas shut off on most gas appliances when the pilot light flame went out. As long as the gas is on and the pilot light is lit, the thermocouple remains hot and the gas is allowed to flow.

[GeorgeTelford]

Hi

I am now wondering is the US different? or is it like UK where people are forever surprised when there is a power cut that their Gas central heating and hot water will not work, Gas cookers do as the thermocouple/flame failure device requires no power.

Just turned the power to My central heating off, there is no way to get i to relight, wothout power the gas solenod will not open and allow gas through. Went down to motorhome, same thing without 12v the gas soleniod doesnt operate.
I totally understand that thermocouples (flame failure devices) require no power, but soleniods always require electricity.


Stoves, cookers will all work here without 12v or 240v too.

[Gage]

Strange how I can work all my propane appliance without elec (either 110 or 12v) in my Motorhome or travel trailer. My teardrop has an igniter on the stove, but I could use a match. My motorhome has pilot lights and I use a match in my travel trailer.

Have a good day.

[madjack]

there are differnet types of devices...some will work with power off some will not, it depends on the indiviual device...NO central unit will work without power, some wall and floor furnaces require power to operate a solenoid, some do not. Most water heaters will work without power unless it has an electronic ignitor...there is nothing universal about this. There are also 2(basically) different thermal sensing saftey devices for pilot lights, one is the thermocouple, commonly used on water heaters to keep the pilot lit...if it is used on a furnace it generally requires outside power to operate a solenoid and then there is a pilot generator, it is about as big around as your little finger and generates enough voltage to operate a solenoid on its own...if you wonder what you have...cut the power to your house and then see what will work and what wont
madjack

[asianflava]

I never bothered to check the central heat. I figure that it wouldn't matter because you don't have the fan to distribute the heat anyway. It is still kinda mild here. I actually heard the air conditioner kick on today.