17
Trouble Shooting The Gas Control System
WARNING: BEFORE DOING ANY GAS CONTROL SERVICE WORK, REMOVE THE GLASS FRONT.
NOTE: Before troubleshooting the gas control system, be sure external gas shut off is in the “On” position.
Problem
Possible Causes
Corrective Action
Spark igniter will not light.
Defective or misaligned electrode
Check for spark at electrode and pilot: if no spark and electrode wire is
at pilot.
properly connected, replace igniter.
Defective igniter
Using a match, light pilot. If pilot lights, turn off pilot and push the red
(push-button)
button again. If pilot will not light - check gap at electrode and pilot
should be 1/8” to 1/4” to have a strong spark.
Pilot will not stay lit after carefully
Defective pilot generator, remote Check pilot flame. Must impinge on generator and thermocouple.
following lighting instructions.
wall switch, or thermocouple
Clean and/or adjust pilot for maximum flame impingement on
(flame switch where applicable) generator and thermocouple.
Be sure wire connections from generator at gas valve terminators
are tight and generator is fully inserted into pilot bracket.
One of the wall switch wires may be gerounded. Remove wall
switch wired from valve terminals if pilot now stays lit, trace
wall switch wiring for ground. May be grounded to appliance or
gas supply.
Check generator with millivolt meter. Take reading at generator
terminals of gas valve. Should read 325 millivolts minimum while
holding valve knob depressed in pilot position and wall switch
“off”.Replace faulty generator if reading is below specified minimum.
Defective valve magnet.
Turn valve knob to “”On”, place wall switch to “On”. Millivolt meter
should read greater than 100mV. If the readingis okay and the burner
does not come on, replace the gas valve.
Pilot burning, no gas to burner,
Wall switch or wires
Check wall switch and wires for proper connections. Jumper wire
Valve knob “ON”, Wall
defective.
across terminals at wall switch. If burner comes on, replace defective
Switch “ON”
wall switch. If okay, jumper wires, across wall switch wires at valve.
If burner comes on, wires are faulty or connections are bad.
Generator may not be generating
Re-check symptom #2
sufficient voltage.
Plugged burner orifice.
Check burner orifice for stoppage and remove.
Defective automatic valve
Remove ON/OFF switch wires from gas valve. Install jumper wires
operator.
from top bottom terminals of gas valve. Turn valve on “ON”. If main
burner does not light, replace valve.
Frequent Pilot outage problem.
Pilot flame may be too low or
Clean and/or adjust pilot flame for maximum flame impingement
blowing (high) causing the pilot
on generator and thermocouple.
safety to drop out.
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