Sunday, April 14, 2019

How To Test A Thermocouple

By John Ross


Thermocouples are safety devices that helps control the supply of gas on gas heated furnaces. If it stops from working, the furnace lights will turn off as well. There are many kinds of thermocouples in the market and each one has its pros and cons. Many factors must be considered serious to ensure the best purchase. The main question in every persons mind is what is a thermocoupler.

Find the pilot light control which is located on the gas valve. The gas tanks are usually located in lowest parts of the house which is possibly installed in the basement or other lowest floors. Pilot lights are being controlled by a tiny box that has white, red and black dials. It also has a pipe that runs to it that supplies the gases.

Life expectancy. Every thermocouple has a life expectancy. Individuals must have a general idea how long will the device will last. The life expectancy will vary from different factors. For various application, its life will denote the accuracy of the instrument over time. The most common factors that affects the instrument are operating environments and temperature, thermocouples protection and wire size and required accuracy.

As the time will go on, the thermocouple and its accuracy will denote and becomes inaccurate. In some instances, the accuracy of an instrument will become unreliable that people will think that the instrument has lost its effectiveness. This will happen because of millivolts signal on the instrument. For most applications, the more drifts in signal that is being tolerated, the long lasting a device can last.

Turn the supply for gases and check the thermocouple once again. It is important to double check to ensure that the device is the fault, check the dials and see which position is the label off. If this cannot be done, follow the pipes that will lead into the pilots light that has a small valve on the top. Turn clockwise the vale to prevent the flow of gases.

Sheath material or chemical resistance of the device. This is important especially when the device is being used in corrosive environment. The most common materials for sheaths are Inconel and stainless steel. Inconel can support much higher ranges of temperature rather than steel but due to its broaden chemical compatibility, stainless steel has become the most preferred sheath.

Listen closely for any clicking sounds on the valves. There is usually a clicking sound that can be heard where the pipes will meet with the valve box. If there is still clicking sounds before twenty second is over, then this is a sign that the system is in dire need for repairs. Its best to call a professional to handle the repairs.

Researching is the first step that individuals will have to do before they make any testing for their thermocouples. The device is complicated and the necessary adjustments must only be done once you have acquired certain knowledge about how the system works. Take the time to learn more information before you begin doing some testing.

Price will differ from one device to another. Individuals can choose between the common metals or the much better rare ones. Make sure that you will purchase the right instrument that is fitting for the application.




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