by High Performance HVAC | Gas Furnaces |
Gas Furnace Electronic Ignition Control Board
Electronic Ignition Gas Furnaces Types | Gas Heating Systems. Gas furnaces, boilers, and water heaters have evolved from the basic standing pilot ignition system to the state-of-the-art electronic ignition models. Standing pilot gas furnaces relied on keeping a pilot flame lit for the furnace, boiler, or water heater to function. The advent of electronic ignition has made it possible to prove a flame without keeping a pilot light lit 24/7.
That saves money because electronic ignition only needs to have a flame when there is a call for heat. Lastly, no more worries about lighting a pilot light. There are different types of electronic ignition gas furnaces. Remember, this is a classification of gas furnaces. There are other classifications or types of gas furnaces.
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by High Performance HVAC | Gas Furnaces |
Gas Fired Pool Heater
Gas Furnace Types come in a variety of sizes and can be used for different applications. Types of gas furnaces have different classifications. By and large, the most common gas furnaces use natural gas and utilize electronic ignition. Electronic ignition gas furnaces are slowly replacing the older style standing pilot furnaces where a pilot light remained lit all the time.
Now, with the newer modern electronic ignition, gas furnaces only use gas when there is an actual call for heat. That adds efficiency because, with the older standing pilot gas furnace, the pilot remained on even in the summer months. The heat produced by a standing pilot light is negligible. However, it is still added heat to the system in the summer.
The whole purpose of the AC in the summer is to remove the heat from the system. Rather than add heat like a standing pilot would do.
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by High Performance HVAC | Gas Furnaces |
White Rodgers Gas Furnace Ignition Control Board
Electronic Ignition Gas Furnace Problems Troubleshooting - Gas furnaces are a prevalent form of heat for homes and businesses, and occasionally a gas furnace needs to be repaired because of a problem with the gas furnace.
Since there are many different types of gas furnaces, it is difficult to cover every single possible gas furnace problem that can occur with a gas furnace in one article. We are going to break this theme “gas furnace problems” down into a series of articles with the first one being gas furnace problems with electronic ignition gas furnaces.
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by High Performance HVAC | Gas Furnaces |
The Honeywell Y8610U Intermittent Pilot Retrofit Kit
Changing a Standing Pilot Boiler to Electronic Ignition - Conversion Upgrade - How many times have you spent time in the cold trying to light a pilot light on a standing pilot gas system?
I am certain if you are a service technician, then the previous sentence can be qualified with “How many frustrating times.” You go on a service call and find the old standing pilot gas system. Whether it is a water heater, furnace, or boiler, and you find the thermocouple is bad. Or some other reason that is keeping the pilot light from staying lit.
You clean the pilot burner and replace the thermocouple and walla…………..it lights and stays lit. The magical standing pilot works again. There is another option for you and your customer. And while it is not recommended in every situation it can help eliminate those pesky repeat service calls.
Calls where the pilot continues to go out for whatever reason? The sudden ghostly draft is one of the big reasons. Honeywell produces an electronic ignition retrofit kit that is ideal for residential and light commercial gas furnace systems. Gas systems that are eligible for an upgrade from standing pilot to electronic ignition (covers BTU ratings up to 270,000).
Honeywell Y8610U6006 Gas Valve Intermittent Pilot Retrofit Kit Available here
Changing a Standing Pilot Boiler to Electronic Ignition | Conversion Upgrade
The Y8610U Intermittent Pilot Retrofit Kit from Honeywell comes complete. It comes with a gas valve (Natural Gas to Propane (LP)) conversion kit in the box), ignition control, electronic spark assembly with flame sensor, ignition wire, and wiring harness. A seasoned technician will find wiring this a snap. Out of the box the gas valve can be used with either ½” or ¾” pipe so this will work with little changes made to the gas pipe.
From Standing Pilot to Electronic Ignition - Changing a Standing Pilot Boiler to Electronic Ignition
I recently upgraded my boiler from a standing pilot to this electronic ignition control. It reminded me of all those standing pilot furnaces and boilers out there that have been changed to electronic ignition by me when I was working in the field. I had recently purchased a new – old house (1920) that has a steam boiler in the basement. All summer, I kept thinking about upgrading the boiler to electronic ignition from a standing pilot.
Especially after a nasty springtime encounter with lighting the pilot light that reminded me of all the frustrating experiences. Finally, fall arrived, and it was time to start up the old boiler so we can have some heat. That is when I ordered the Y8610U Intermittent Pilot Retrofit Kit.
Throwing the Switch - Changing a Standing Pilot Boiler to Electronic Ignition
The intermittent pilot retrofit kit arrived, and immediately, I took it down to the boiler to make the new introduction. About an hour and a half later, I threw the switch for the main power. The boiler and the new electronic ignition module came to life by sparking. I couldn’t see it, but I could hear it.
About a second or two of sparking and I heard the pilot fire. A second later, the main burner’s fired and the old boiler (approximately 30 years old) got a taste of modern technology. Another hour in the basement was taking care of the boiler and doing annual boiler maintenance, and I can feel comfortable. Comfortable with the reliable heat this winter and the colder days of fall and spring.
Installation Made Easy by Honeywell
The manifold side of the gas valve is a ½ inch, but the kit comes with a ¾ inch flange if the manifold side of the gas valve requires ¾ inch. The gas supply side of the gas valve is a ¾ inch, but Honeywell includes a ¾ inch to ½ inch reducer bushing.
That makes it possible to use the include gas valve for either ¾ inch pipe or ½ inch black iron pipe. The most difficult part of the installation for me is usually not the piping or even the wiring but getting the pilot burner in the correct position to light the main burners.
The pilot burner is usually installed in a tight space, and you have to get it exactly right, so the main gas burners light right away when the main valve in the gas valve opens to feed gas to the main burners. We do not want any “whoosh” main burner ignition.
That means the pilot light is too far away from the main burner. That allows gas build-up, which can be dangerous. Make sure you get the pilot light in the recommended position per the manufacturer’s recommendations or guidelines.
Installation Tips
A few installation tips and features include the control only needs to be supplied with 24 VAC – no line voltage needed – you tap into the 24-volt transformer that should be with the boiler. Make sure you wire through all the safeties, so the control loses power when one of the safeties trips.
When the controller loses power, the burner shuts down. Always follow all the instructions when installing anything. Good luck with any future upgrades you decide to make concerning this retrofit ignition control kit.
Honeywell Y8610U6006 Gas Valve Intermittent Pilot Retrofit Kit Available here
Changing a Standing Pilot Boiler to Electronic Ignition
by High Performance HVAC | Gas Furnaces |
Steps to Light a Pilot Light
- Determine That You Actually Have a Standing Pilot Gas System
- Check to Make Sure You Have Fuel
- Understand the Valve Function
- Light the Pilot Light
- Enjoy the Warmth
How To Light a Pilot Light – Standing pilot gas furnaces and water heaters are still around today even in newer homes. All the major hardware stores and HVAC dealers carry standing pilot appliances. Although a new standing pilot gas furnace or boiler is rare finds these days. Because of the move to higher efficiency models and the wide use of electronic ignition technology which improves efficiency.
Before you proceed you’ll want to determine if you actually have a standing pilot system in your HVAC furnace, boiler, or water heater.
In many cases, on many appliances, there are basic instructions on lighting it, in fact, you do have a standing pilot system. Check around the main panel or look at the gas valve itself. Sometimes, especially on older appliances, there are no instructions on it if the pilot light goes out on a standing pilot gas furnace, boiler, or water heater.
The label or sticker on the furnace, boiler, or water heater faded a long time ago and you will need to follow the instructions in this article. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Oil Heat |
Honeywell Oil Burner Ignition Control | HVAC Heating - This Honeywell oil burner ignition control controls the oil burner sequence of operation. On a call for heat from the thermostat, the oil burner ignition control starts the burner blower. this mechanically interlinked with the oil pump.
The blower blows air into the combustion chamber and the oil pump pumps oil to the burner’s nozzle. The step-up transformer is energized and applies a very high voltage spark to the burner’s ignitor. When the flame is detected it is immediately detected by a cad cell eye which recognizes the light produced by the flame inside the combustion chamber. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Gas Furnaces |
Gas Valve Troubleshooting - Gas valves used in modern state-of-the-art residential gas furnaces are typically controlled via a state-of-the-art electronic ignition control or a printed circuit board. Other types of gas valves include the standing pilot gas valve.
Gas valves can be found on gas furnaces, gas-fired steam boilers or hot water boilers, and gas-fired water heaters. With gas valve troubleshooting and any “gas valve” issues, safety is always first.
When troubleshooting a gas valve, the technician should only be concerned with input to the gas valve and output of the gas valve, whether it is an electronic module or circuit board controlled gas valve, or a standing pilot gas valve. The input with gas valve troubleshooting includes ensuring the safety circuit is good.
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by High Performance HVAC | Gas Furnaces |
Standing Pilot Gas Furnaces & Heating Safety. The picture to the right is the main reason carbon monoxide detectors are needed. CO Detectors are important to have for people who own gas or oil-fired furnaces. The customer had been suffering from severe headaches, nausea, and sinus problems.
I condemned the gas pack furnace and the next day returned to replace all the heat exchanger cells in the furnace. This was the fourth one that winter (2001) that I had found in different furnaces.
How many more are out there in furnaces that no one knows anything about except a slight headache and nausea? This is an excellent reason to have your furnace/heater and heat exchanger inspected immediately. Don’t take any chances, get your carbon monoxide detector and call your local heating and air company for a furnace/heater inspection today. (more…)
