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The Honeywell Y8610U Intermittent Pilot Retrofit Kit
Conversion of a Water Heater to Electronic Ignition - This article covers converting from standing pilot to electronic ignition. So you are tired of relighting the pilot light every so often or replacing the thermocouple on your standing pilot gas water heater. You want to replace the standing pilot gas valve with an electronic ignition gas system so you can never have to ever worry about lighting another pilot light again. How do you do this? You can refer to this article about changing a standing pilot gas boiler system to electron ignition for additional information.
Conversion of a Water Heater to Electronic Ignition
First of all, you need to have a very good understanding of basic electric circuits. If you are not confident about your electrical skills and knowledge of electrical circuits it is best to hire someone. Hire someone to make the conversion for you. You should also have a basic understanding of piping. You will need to replace the gas valve and position the new pilot burner really close to the main burners of the water heater. Other than skills and knowledge you will also need all the tools to perform the task. Lastly, the materials and new components will cost.
Converting From Standing Pilot to Electronic Ignition
Honeywell Conversion Kit Available here - includes gas valves and all the parts needed for the conversion.
Conversion of a Water Heater to Electronic Ignition - The Kits
There are a few manufacturers that offer complete electronic ignition kits. Kits to make it easier for you to make the conversion. The kit will not include a transformer which you will need plus a source of power. You need a junction box near the water heater to provide 120 volts for the transformer. The transformer should be a step-down transformer from 120 to 24 volts. If you need to run a new circuit from the circuit breaker box it is best to get a qualified electrician to do it for you.
The new control and gas valve will need a 24-volt power source to work. The 24 volts can run from a transformer mounted on a junction box where the 120 volts powers the line side of the transformer. Some standing pilot gas water heaters already have a transformer. Therefore, it will not be necessary to run the 120 or buy a transformer.
Conversion Procedure
Honeywell Conversion Kit Available here - includes gas valves and all the parts needed for the conversion.
Conversion of a Water Heater to Electronic Ignition - Once you have the 24-volt power source for the new control and gas valve you should follow the instructions exactly. The instructions provided with the kit. The kit I have personally used with great success in the past is the Honeywell conversion kit captioned in the photo above. It comes with a wiring harness that makes the wiring from the controller to the other components a breeze. It comes with a new gas valve and has the necessary parts for either 1/2″ or 3/4″ piping whichever you may have for your water heater.
A typical installation for conversion should take only about an hour. An hour unless you have to run the 120 volts supply feed for the transformer. Depending on where a circuit is that you can tap off of or the circuit breaker box will depend on the time to complete the job. In addition to running the wiring through the safety circuits, you need to make sure you run the control wire through the temperature switch on the water heater. It is the same switch that turns the water heater on and off. Lastly, it is controlled by temperature.
Conclusion
Converting From Standing Pilot to Electronic Ignition - After successful installation is complete you will never have to worry about lighting the pilot light on the water heater ever again. It will light automatically every time. There are issues that can come up where it will not light but that is a different story. Most electronic ignition controls provide very reliable service for years with no problems. Enjoy!
Conversion of a Water Heater to Electronic Ignition - Gas Heating Systems
“IT IS NOT A THERMOSTAT!! It is an ignition control…” my point exactly.
The existing Honeywell Gas Valve Control 9007890 that is being replaced by the Retrofit Kit also contains the thermostat!!! Here is a link to my current valve
This Gas Valve is wired to a temperature sensor that is part of the water heater. The big red knob sets the thermostat’s temperature setting. It is part of the 9007890 Gas Valve being replaced. My question is simple, does the Retrofit Kit contain a Thermostat or is one needed to be added? My point is one the 9007890 Gas Valve is removed all the water heater has left is a temp sensor. This is not an older unit with a separate thermostat and gas valve assembly, they are a combined unit.
If the retro kit does not contain a thermostat then please recommend one suitable for this application.
And I apologize in advance for this back and forth…
PS – I’m an electrician by trade and understand the 24v circuit. Just trying to understand the functionality of the Retrofit Kit. It does not appear that it has a thermostat function…
My rule is simple when it comes to things like this: The best replacement is an exact replacement. If that is not possible then you will have to re-engineer the water heater. I am guessing this existing control that you have has some kind of temperature well with a probe inside the well. In that case, I would likely find something like this temperature controller and use that for the setpoint of the water heater. 130° max set point for a water heater and wire through that to control the ignition kit. It’s not as fancy as a typical water heater controller but what you are showing me doesn’t look typical for any water heat I am familiar with. You won’t have vacation mode but it will suffice provided you don’t turn the temperature up to high (over 130° F) and you get the T&P valve blowing. Other than that I couldn’t tell you. I have used this control kit many times to convert water heaters and gas furnaces and it works great. In your situation, that existing controller is unfamiliar. Find the temperature probe and then find a thermostat that will work right. Otherwise, you will have to find the exact replacement.
Great article. Just need a bit of clarification. I have a 5 year old Whirlpool (L50T61-403) / American Standard water heater with Honeywell Gas Valve Control 9007890. So the pilot is full-time but is started electronically and the thermostat is part of this unit. Is the The Honeywell Y8610U Intermittent Pilot Retrofit Kit you refer to a direct replacement for this unit assuming 120v power is available? Is the step-down transformer, I assume it just plugs in to the wall socket, part of the kit? Thanks in advance for a reply. BB
The transformer does not come with the kit and it does require 24 VAC to function. If there is not a step-down transformer there with the model you have then you will need to wire one in the circuit for to power the Honeywell kit. All the step-down transformers I have worked with are hardwired into a higher voltage including 120 volts. If you want to put the high side of the transformer on a plug so you can plug it into a wall socket you can do that. Simply make sure you wire the thermostat up properly so it cycles on and off based on temperature. And it is not a direct replacement, however, everything you need to make it work (besides the transformer) is in the box including ignitor, wiring harness, module, ect…. It is definitely not plug and go as it does require a little retrofitting to make it work. If the gas valve is a 24-volt valve then it will likely work with this system however the valve is included in the kit with bushings/adapters for 1/2″ or 3/4″ pipe.
Thanks for the quick reply. Sorry to seem thick. Is there an adjustment on the conversion kit for temperature? Or is a separate thermostat required? I just do not see any pictures that indicate there is a temperature adjustment on the kit like there is on the existing Honeywell Gas Valve Control 9007890. Thans in advance, BB
The water heater has a thermostat on it. The existing control should run through the thermostat to break contact to the control when the setpoint is satisfied.
The Honeywell Gas Valve Control 9007890 has the thermostat and it is connected to the temperature sensor which is part of the water heater. Replacing the Honeywell Gas Valve Control 9007890 with the conversion kit will eliminate the thermostat (the knob that adjust at what temp the contacts will open / close). It does not appear that the conversion kit has a thermostat (unless I’m missing something) so what needs to happen to use the kit?
IT IS NOT A THERMOSTAT!! It is an ignition control. It controls the automatic ignition of a gas appliance. Now you need to control when it turns on and off and that is done by temperature. The 24-volt hot wire can be run through the thermostat on the water heater to power the control when the thermostat calls for heating the water. No different than a thermostat for your furnace or air conditioner. If you cannot understand this then you will likely need to call a professional. And never list your email address on the web. I deleted yours before replying. Web spiders harvest email addresses and that is why many people get tons of spam. Once again, use the existing thermostat on the water heater. It is like a switch. When the switch closes it will energize the control with 24 volts and the burners will fire. When the thermostat is satisfied the switch inside the thermostat (on the water heater) will open killing the control voltage to the ignition control shutting down the burners. If you are unsure how to do this please call a professional.
I want to use this set up for heating water for a forced air heating system. Although the thermostat in the valve is sufficient by all means, is there a gas valve out there or some way of hooking up some sort of digital water temperature control. Basically the building will only be occupied occasionally so when unoccupied I don’t want standing hot water waiting for the call for heat. I want the water to stay about 42 deg. Min during winter when I’m not in the shop. eventually I will run low volt con. To my house approx 20 ft where I can turn up the temp of the water and turn up shop t-stat for occupancy.
you need to hookup a timer switch to the control circuit. Depending on the occupancy set the timer for a few hours before occupancy that way it’s ready when people need to use it.
How is water heater temp controlled using this conversion valve?
With a hot water heater thermostat as are all hot water heaters.
Its unclear how one would interconnect the new gas valve in a way so that it would detect the temperature of the water in the heater. Water heater gas control valves have a mechanical thermostat built in – how to replicate that with the Honeywell control which seems to be expecting a 24v signal from an external thermostat?
Sorry D, try again………….what you wrote makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.