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A thermocouple is a temperature sensor, or more precisely measures temperature differences between two locations. Because it uses only wire in the sensing, it can be useful for measuring extreme hot or cold temperatures or in difficult environments.
A thermocouple works because of the thermoelectric effect. What's thermoelectric effect? Thank a cat named Seebeck for the answer. If a piece of metal is warmer at one end than at another, the temperature gradient (the difference in temperature) creates a tiny voltage and the voltage depends on the type of metal. In a loop of wire made from the same material, the voltage effect cancels. But if the loop contains two different metals the different parts of the loop produce different voltages ,and the voltage difference can be used to calculate the temperature difference. The voltage set up (usually a few microvolts or 1/1,000,000ths of a volt) is usable to measure temperature difference with an external circuit. The conversion from voltage to temperature is typically a complicated polynomial equation. And in this day and age, the electronics to measure and convert are cheap and the device is fairly accurate.
Since the thermocouple only measures the difference in temperature between two points, you also need a reference temperature measurement. In the old days, this was done with an ice bath (0 degrees C), but now usually another temperature sensing device is used.
Need something to measure temperature and talk to control circuits in equipment that is used to heat stuff? Like your oven, maybe? We've got just the ticket. It's a thermocouple temperature probe. Works well, lasts a long time and doesn't wear out.
Wiki User
∙ 7y ago
Wiki User
∙ 7y agoA thermocouple is a device for measuring temperature. It consists of two wires of dissimilar metals. These two dissimilar metals are connected at two points, When heat is applied at this juncture a voltage is developed between the two points.
This voltage is in proportion to the temperature difference. These output voltages are very small and have to have additional monitoring and amplification circuits for control operations.
These temperature sensors are used in high temperature applications like kilns, smelting furnaces and monitoring of exhaust gas temperatures in gasoline and diesel engines.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoA: By connecting to a single point two dissimilar metal and inserting the point to a temperature a signal is generated,
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How do you relight the pilot light?
If you have an automatic lighter connected to the thermostat follow these directions: - Turn the on/off/pilot valve to 'pilot' - Hold the button on top of the controls down completely. This is the thermocoupler button. - While keeping the thermocoupler button pressed down push the automatic lighter button until the pilot light lites. You can see it lit through the viewing glass. - Keep holding the thermocoupler button down for a minute after the pilot light is lit. - If it does not stay lit then your thermocoupler is probably bad and needs to be replaced
Is the thermocoupler bad if a Teledyne Laars series 1 EPG 250 pool heater pilot light ignites and burns high but does not light the burners?
It could be it. The pilot generator may be weak. The Valve could be defective. The High limit or other safties could also be defective. Could be corrosion on the connection. could be a water flow broblem. could be a weak flame
What is the purpose of a thermocoupler?
safety feature of a gas burner
How do you relight the pilot light?
If you have an automatic lighter connected to the thermostat follow these directions: - Turn the on/off/pilot valve to 'pilot' - Hold the button on top of the controls down completely. This is the thermocoupler button. - While keeping the thermocoupler button pressed down push the automatic lighter button until the pilot light lites. You can see it lit through the viewing glass. - Keep holding the thermocoupler button down for a minute after the pilot light is lit. - If it does not stay lit then your thermocoupler is probably bad and needs to be replaced
How do you replace thermocoupler on rp2100 pool heaterAsk us anything?
Call a gas technician.
Why does my pilot light keep going out on my hot water tank?
try changing the "thermocoupler"( not sure of the spelling) The piolit light heats the thermocoupler. looks like a little metal rod that sits above or right next to the piolit light. when the thermocoupler is heated it produces a millivolt of electricity the power it produces is what keeps the gas vaulve open. this is a safety feature, if the piolit light goes out the gas will shut off so that the house does not fill with gas. This is why when you light the piolit you must manually hold the button in until the thermocoupler heats up. Gas appliances should only be worked on by licienced pros, don't risk the lives in your house in order to save a few bucks
Why is cold air blowing out when heater is on?
It could be a thermocoupler, happened to my furnace in middle of night a few years ago.
What is wrong if the exhaust temperature light comes on?
There are times when the exhaust temperature light may come on right after washing the vehicle, since water can get into the wires. Another reason for this could be that the thermocoupler ECU's are not working properly.
Why does your pilot light keep blowing out?
If your pool heater is outdoors in a high wind area, the wind might be blowing it out. In some cases you can solve this by installing an outdoor vent cap to extend the distance from the end of the exhaust and the combustion chamber.Answer:try changing the "thermocoupler"( not sure of the spelling) The piolit light heats the thermocoupler. looks like a little metal rod that sits above or right next to the piolit light. when the thermocoupler is heated it produces a millivolt of electricity the power it produces is what keeps the gas vaulve open. this is a safety feature, if the piolit light goes out the gas will shut off so that the house does not fill with gas. This is why when you light the piolit you must manually hold the button in until the thermocoupler heats up. Gas appliances should only be worked on by licienced pros, don't risk the lives in your house in order to save a few bucks.http://services.Google.com/feedback/abg?URL=http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_does_your_gas_fireplace_go_out_after_about_2_hours_of_use&hl=en&client=ca-gurunet_wikianswers_js&adU=www.ConsumerReports.org&adT=Gas+Fireplace&adU=www.WoodstoveCombustors.com&adT=Woodstove+Combustors&adU=www.SuperiorPropane.com&adT=Propane+Appliance+Safety&done=1Why_does_your_gas_fireplace_go_out_after_about_2_hours_of_useDiscuss:Why_does_your_gas_fireplace_go_out_after_about_2_hours_of_useWhy_does_your_gas_fireplace_go_out_after_about_2_hours_of_useFirst answer by User:Patrickh. Last edit by User:Patrickh. Contributor http://wiki.answers.com/help/trust_points: 4 [recommended]. Question http://wiki.answers.com/help/question_popularity: 1 [Why_does_your_gas_fireplace_go_out_after_about_2_hours_of_use]
Have a vulcan ultra 30 under floor ducted heating unit and it blows cold air and the igniter unit fires and fan blows but the burners will not light ignite but it keeps blowing cold air any sugg?
check your thermocoupler. It will not let the gas flow if it is faulty. Easy fix too.
How do you light the water heater pilot?
Turn knob to PILOT, press button down and light the pilot; hold button down for 60 seconds and release - pilot should remain lit; turn knob to ON. If pilot does not remain lit, turn knob to OFF, wait 5 minutes and try again, If pilot still will not remain lit, replace the thermocoupler.
Is the thermocoupler bad if a Teledyne Laars series 1 EPG 250 pool heater pilot light ignites and burns high but does not light the burners?
It could be it. The pilot generator may be weak. The Valve could be defective. The High limit or other safties could also be defective. Could be corrosion on the connection. could be a water flow broblem. could be a weak flame
My potterton fisher 11 boiler poilot light will not come on?
A pilot light will only stay on if your themocoupler is working. A thermocoupler is a small rod that the flame touches and heats up generating millivolts of electicity that in turn keeps the gas valve open. Otherwise you've got a flame out, a gas valve open, and when the gas finds another source of ignition...BOOM Elvis has left the building
Why does your gas fireplace go out after about 2 hours of use?
try changing the "thermocoupler"( not sure of the spelling) The piolit light heats the termocoupler. looks like a little metal rod that sits above or right next to the piolit light. when the thermocoupler is heated it produces a millivolt of electricity the power it produces is what keeps the gas vaulve open. this is a safety feature, if the piolit light goes out the gas will shut off so that the house does not fill with gas. some times a faulty themocoupler will fail to work consistently. possibly the thermocoupler is in the wrong position and when the firplace is on the draw from it's heat can pull the piolit light off the thermocoupler, when it cools the unit will shut down. it could also be equipt with a safety thermostat designed to shut off the unit if it overheats the unit may be over heating or this thermostat could be malfunctioning. unless you are sure of what are doing, don't mess around with your gas fireplace get a pro to look at it, little things can cause them to be dangerous for example even just improper placement of the logs can create improper burning and cause carbonmonoxide piosoning. Don't play with the lives of your family get a pro. Thermocouples have no moving parts and do not "go bad" unless physically damaged or filthy with carbon (20 years technician). When a gas log set goes out it is one of two things: pilot moving away from tip of thermocouple (ods is designed to do this to save your life) which could be ODS or heat-causing movement of thermocouple. The only way to tell is to sit and watch it happen. Second possibility is the more common issue: use a vacuum to clean the sensors and the air-hole on the pilot flame tube. About 90% of the calls we get with this same complaint, 10 minutes with a vacuum fixes the problem. On a fully-electronic system it is possible over heating is damaging a module but this is very rare. Overheating is usually a problem that affects the sensors and the air holes because they get dirt and carbon, pet hair, dust, etc sucked-in and needs to be cleaned. This will be explained in detail in your manual.
