Gas Fireplace Thermocouple And Thermopile

The thermocouple on your gas fireplace is a heat sensitive device that keeps the pilot gas tube open while the pilot is lit.

Gas fireplace thermocouple and thermopile.

Thermopiles are used to provide something like an output in response to temperature. The thermopile is the compilation of several thermocouples together. This one covers the thermopile wiring on the gas fireplace. Gas fireplaces and fireplace inserts use thermocouples and thermopiles primarily to generate electricity.

When turned on the pilot in a gas stove generates heat which travels through a thermocouple. If your pilot light stays lit for a few moments but continues to go out after relighting it may very well need the thermocouple replaced. The thermocouple on your gas furnace is a heat sensitive device that transmits a small electrical signal to the gas valve to keep it open when the pilot is on. They produce enough current to power up a small circuit board used in conjunction with a more modern electronic gas valve.

The thermocouple lasts for 10 years or more and when it fails the pilot won t stay lit and the fireplace won t work. This video is part of the heating and cooling series of training videos made to accompany my webs. Cleaning the thermocouple is a pretty simple process but should only be done when the fireplace is turned off and is completely cool. The thermocouple on a gas fireplace may eventually become clogged with dirt and soot which can reduce the effectiveness of the thermocouple and may eventually prevent the fireplace from lighting as expected.

It does this by generating a small electric current on the order of. This entry was posted in diy and tagged diy gas fireplace gas valve pilot light thermocouple thermopile won t light on october 21 2012 by steve jenkins updated 2117 days ago disclaimer as with all my diy posts anything you decide to do as a result of reading this post you do so at your own risk. 750mv thermocouple for heat glo heatilator fireplace thermopile replacement fireplace stove accessories for fire gas stoves heat glo gas stoves oven water heater frying furnace 24 aluminum 4 4 out of 5 stars 163. A gas fireplace thermocouple is a safety device that measures heat and recognizes if a pilot light has gone out shutting down the fuel supply such as gas or propane.