www.fueloilnews.com | FUEL OIL NEWS | MAY 2014 35
• Turn the gas valve to the 'OFF'
position.
• Remove the thermocouple from the
gas valve connection.
• Turn the gas valve to the 'OFF'
position.
• Remove the thermocouple from the
gas valve connection and install a
thermocouple test adapter, Figure
3-9. Connect the meter by clips
to the thermo couple line and set
the meter to read DC milli-volts
(mVdc). Make sure the leads are
in the proper terminals. Connect the
black lead using an alligator clip
to the set screw of the adapter, and
the red lead using an alligator clip
to the copper portion of the
thermocouple.
• Set the gas valve to the 'PILOT'
position.
• Press the control knob down and
light the gas pilot and observe the
pilot flame. It should be set to the
manufacturer's recommendations.
• Allow the pilot burner to operate
three to five minutes.
• Take the reading, normally between
10 and 15 mVdc indicates a good
thermocouple voltage or as required
by the manufacturer.
• Set the gas valve to the 'OFF'
position, the valve should
close and the pilot should go out.
• The valve should close and the meter
should hold a reading of at least five
milli-volts. If the reading drops
immediately, the valve is defective
and out of specification and the
combination thermostat/gas valve
should be replaced.
For more information on the adapter
or our meters and meter accessories drop
by our website or give us a call. Watch
for more new testers for those who do
gas and more gas heating seminars. For
those of you transitioning to servicing
gas check out our Gas Heating School
and seminars too!
See ya!
*George Lanthier is the owner of
Firedragon Academy, a Massachusetts
Certified School and publishing firm.
He is the author of over 60 books and
manuals on gas and oil heating and
HVAC subjects. He is a CETP, NATE,
NORA, PMAA and PMEF Proctor and
a Massachusetts Certified Instructor
operating a NORA and State recog-
nized school teaching gas and oil and
related subjects. He can be reached at
608 Moose Hill Road, Leicester, MA
01524. His phone is 508-421-3490
and his website can be found at www.
FiredragonEnt.com
By GeorGe Lanthier*
HVAC/ HydroniCs
l F o n
Figure 3-9
If the reading drops immediately, the valve is
defective and out of specification and the combination
thermostat/gas valve should be replaced.
