How do I know if my thermopile is bad?
How do I know if my thermopile is bad?
Just like the thermocouple, the thermopile can be read with a multimeter to check if it’s the cause of the problem. Three hundred millivolts or higher voltage is a sign of a good thermopile. A reading below 300 millivolts would require you to replace the thermopile.
How many millivolts should a thermopile generate?
A healthy thermopile in an open circuit test will read between 650 to 850 millivolts or somewhere in between. If the open-circuit test reads below 400 millivolts, then the thermopile likely requires service or replacement.
How long do thermopiles last?
Thermopile sensors don’t have a specific life expectancy or degradation rate. As long as they are used correctly and maintained properly, thermopiles can last for years or even decades and remain in good working condition.
What is the function of a closed millivolt test?
CLOSED CIRCUIT – This measures the millivolts used by the coil in the electromagnet. A rule-of-thumb is this reading should be roughly half of the open circuit. It is taken using an adapter screwed into the magnet and the thermocouple screwed into the adapter.
What does mV millivolt mean?
one thousandth of a volt
Noun. 1. millivolt – a unit of potential equal to one thousandth of a volt. mV.
What is the millivolt reading of a good thermocouple?
Thermocouples designed for residential gas appliances, such as fireplaces, water heaters and furnaces, are made for 30 Millivolts. The reading should be between 25 and 30. Anything under or hovering around the 20 millivolts mark means the thermocouple needs to be replaced.
Should a thermocouple be in the flame?
If the pilot light goes out, the thermocouple detects it and shuts the valve supplying gas to the pilot. The pilot flame should touch the thermocouple at a specific level. If the flame covers the top of the thermocouple and burns steadily with a yellow tip, that’s just about right.
Does cleaning a thermocouple help?
Yes, you can clean a thermocouple, but the task must be done with a light touch. Remove the thermocouple from the process assembly, using a steel wool or emery cloth, lightly clean the tip removing any build up. Cleaning a thermocouple is not a fix for an issue, such as inaccurate readings.
What does thermopile low mean?
So, this is what the thermopile voltage low error means. The error means the thermocouples in the collection cannot generate enough current to power the control panel that we mentioned. If this happens, the controller system will stop working, and you will see an error message on the water heater.
How far should thermocouple be from pilot?
Remove the pilot tube from the gas valve and spray compressed air to clear it. When working properly in most gas appliances, the pilot flame should hit the upper 1/2 to 3/8 of the thermocouple. If the pilot has a weak, orange-yellow flame or barely reaches the thermocouple, it’s too low.
How do you test the voltage of a thermopile?
The end of the thermopile wire branches off into two leads usually in red & white colors. The leads of the thermopile will be attached to the main valve. We can test the voltage using a digital multimeter on DC millivolt setting on the terminals that the thermopile is connected to.
How to test a gas fireplace thermopile sensor?
A multimeter is used to test the thermopile leads. They are connected to the gas control valve, so the very first thing we should do is to locate the valve. Generally, the main control valve is typically located underneath the lower grill of the fireplace. Below the main control valve, the thermopile sensor will be found.
How do I know if my thermopile needs to be replaced?
You will notice that it is done when the reading on your multi-meter slows down. A healthy thermopile in an open circuit test will read between 650 to 850 millivolts or somewhere in between. If the open-circuit test reads below 400 millivolts, then the thermopile likely requires service or replacement.
How do you test a thermocouple on a gas boiler?
If you do have a yellow flame , disconnect the pilot tube at the gas valve and blow it out with compressed air or something similar. This will clear an oxide that builds up on the pilot orifice. To test a thermocouple.You need a Multi meter set to dc volts in the millivolt range.