Vermont Castings Radiance Model 2600 b-vent thermopile question

[rwh63]

this gas stove is used quite a lot in the heating season. i kill the pilot in April, restart in October. i believe thermopiles last about 5 years. i have been having big issues with any thermostat i have hooked up to it over the past few winters. last winter i swapped in the rocker switch and would just run its that way. tried again this fall, thermo has no effect. right now, neither does the rocker. thinking the thermopile is bad.

i am going to try screwing it up higher in case a lower part of the pile is still working. if not, i will swap it out. does this sound reasonable? are all thermopile created equal, or is this a specific part?

 

[Lennox65]

this gas stove is used quite a lot in the heating season. i kill the pilot in April, restart in October. i believe thermopiles last about 5 years. i have been having big issues with any thermostat i have hooked up to it over the past few winters. last winter i swapped in the rocker switch and would just run its that way. tried again this fall, thermo has no effect. right now, neither does the rocker. thinking the thermopile is bad.

i am going to try screwing it up higher in case a lower part of the pile is still working. if not, i will swap it out. does this sound reasonable? are all thermopile created equal, or is this a specific part?

Test the output of the thermopile before you try to change it. The problem could be in your switches or switch wiring.
Some appliances require a higher output from the thermopile(in these cases there are usually two thermopiles) but most will work with a standard one. I have bought them at Home Depot.

 

[DAKSY]

Have you read the mV output of the thermopile?

 

[rwh63]

Never tested one, need to learn. Do have a multi meter.

Here is the layout. I guess thermocouple and pile are interchangeable terms.

 

[rwh63]

Located the last thermocouple I replaced. Ordered through a stove shop. Receipt is dated 2013.

 

[rwh63]

So, tweaked the thermocouple. I think the main issue is it wasn’t in the pilot flame enough. Rocker switch turned it right on now. Have to hook up the thermostat later for testing. Is round mercury stats a good choice for millivolt? Was going to do a Nest, but the one I have around is not suited for it.

 

[rwh63]

update: cajoled a free "warranty" replacement valve and propane regulator out of Robert Shaw. got it installed for $390(!). Stove back to working normally. Shaw says the valve should not be failing in several years, as does installer. no idea why it is.