Safety comes first when using gas.
Any gas appliance needs to be handled properly to protect yourself and loved ones. Some situations are unknown and out of our control. To protect consumers from these unknown dangers, manufacturers include safety features in their products to protect consumers.
What It Is
The thermocouple pilot safety switch is a flame-sensing safety device commonly seen in water heaters and conventional and mid-efficiency furnaces. The principle is that as long as the one end is sitting in the flame, the gas valve can open when there is a call for heat. This is to protect the homeowner from filling his home with gas in the event that the pilot goes out and the gas valve keeps pumping gas.
What It Is Made of
The thermocouple consists of two dissimilar metals fused at one end and not at the other. The thermocouple connects to the solenoid in the gas valve that reacts to the current from the thermocouple.
How It Works
The thermocouple sits 1/2 inch into the flame, and as the end heats up from the flame, it produces approximately 30 millivolts. The millivolts then power a small solenoid in the gas valve that allows gas to flow through the pilot. The gas valve cannot open without the solenoid opening it from the thermocouple.
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