Donald G. Goldsobel on sat 14 jan 06
I have a recurring problem. My kiln has a basso valve controlled pilot that
works fine.When I release the red Basso button, the pilot ring that ignites
the burners won't light. I recently had successful firings. After getting
rid of water in the gas line problems, I got a new pilot and thermocouple.
They were fine. Now, after 6 or 7 firings, it seems the thermocouple is no
good. I tried lightly filing off the outside of the thermocouple tip, but
no results. I guess I need a new thermocouple.
Is there something happening to make them burn out so soon? My first two
thermocouples lasted for years, not a few months.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Donald
In the San Fernando Valley where ther rain is just starting
( I wanted to fire in the rain.)
William & Susan Schran User on sat 14 jan 06
On 1/14/06 11:19 AM, "Donald G. Goldsobel" wrote:
> Is there something happening to make them burn out so soon? My first two
> thermocouples lasted for years, not a few months.
The thermocouple has a hot junction and a cold junction. If the cold
junction gets too hot, thermocouple positioned too high on the burner or the
surrounding air is too hot, that will cause the thermocouple not to work
properly. The thermocouple needs a blue flame continuously directly on the
tip.
Marc Ward has an article in the latest ClayTimes on this subject, that's
where I got the information.
-- William "Bill" Schran
Fredericksburg, Virginia
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
Vince Pitelka on sat 14 jan 06
>I have a recurring problem. My kiln has a basso valve controlled pilot that
> works fine.When I release the red Basso button, the pilot ring that
> ignites
> the burners won't light. I recently had successful firings. After getting
> rid of water in the gas line problems, I got a new pilot and thermocouple.
> They were fine. Now, after 6 or 7 firings, it seems the thermocouple is no
> good. I tried lightly filing off the outside of the thermocouple tip, but
> no results. I guess I need a new thermocouple.
Donald -
Usually these systems have a normal target pilot with thermocouple to
energize the Baso valve. Once the Baso is energized by the thermocouple
(heated by the pilot flame), the pilot flame should remain lit. In some
systems incoroporating an ignition ring (a ring burner that in turn ignites
the main burners), the ignition ring ignites as soon as you release the
button on the Baso valve. In other systems, there is a separate valve to
turn on the ignition ring once the pilot is burning. In either case, the
pilot flame should remain lit when you release the Baso valve button.
When you release the button on the Baso valve, does the pilot flame remain
lit? If it doesn't, then the thermocouple may be bad. Only the tip of the
thermocouple should be in the pilot flame. Is that the way yours is set up?
If the thermocouple is not exposed to flame other than the tip in the pilot
flame, then it should last for many years. It is possible that you just got
a defective one.
If this doesn't explain the problem, you might want to give us a more
thorough explanation of the system, including positioning of the pilot flame
in relation to the thermocouple, and in relation to the ignition ring.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Technological University
Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/
Michael McDowell on mon 16 jan 06
Donald,
It is a little difficult to troubleshoot your problem without a
clear picture of just how your ignition system is configured. For
instance, I have a small updraft which has the thermocouple set over
flame coming from the "pilot ring". The text of your message
requesting suggestions indicates that you have a separate flame
activating your thermocouple, and that when you release the red
button the pilot ring won't light. If I understand this correctly,
you are saying that you have a flame on the thermocouple that does
stay on when you release the red button. I that is true then there
is no reason to suspect the thermocouple is bad. I'm wondering if
perhaps, you may have corrosion on the inside of the "pilot ring"
burner that has simply plugged it up. The recent difficulty with
water in your gas line may have contrbuted to such a situation.
On the other hand, it may be that I've mis-interpreted your message
regarding the configuration of the ignition system. It may be like
mine, and the problem is that the "pilot ring" won't stay lit when
the red button is released. For that I would suggest that you try
lightly sanding the tip of the thermocouple that mounts into the
baso valve. The connection there is critical. And make sure it is
screwed down tight...
Good Luck,
Michael McDowell
Whatcom County, WA
Michael@McDowellPottery.com
http://www.McDowellPottery.com
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