Pilot Light Won't Stay Lit

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CUTiger78

CUTiger78

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May 24, 2009
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NoVA
Subject line pretty much says it all.

I've got a Teledyne/Laars/Jandy Lite2â„¢ Pool and Spa Heater Model LG (natural gas). Following the instructions that are printed on the heater, the pilot lights, but won't stay lit when the gas control knob is released from the "pilot" position.

Anything I can try before calling in a technician?

Thanks!
 
CUTiger78 said:
Subject line pretty much says it all.

I've got a Teledyne/Laars/Jandy Lite2â„¢ Pool and Spa Heater Model LG (natural gas). Following the instructions that are printed on the heater, the pilot lights, but won't stay lit when the gas control knob is released from the "pilot" position.

Anything I can try before calling in a technician?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Try holding it in longer.

There's a part called a thermocouple that is in the pilot light. It heats up and expands and pushes a wire to hold the gas valve open. Pilot blows out, thermocouple shrinks, gas shuts off. When you hold the knob in, you're substituting for the thermocouple until it heats up. Give it a minute, maybe two.

I've changed them on furnaces before, it was pretty easy. Never done one on a pool heater, but I doubt it's much different. If common practice holds true, the part will be some standard item, but cost 3X as much because it says "pool" on the package somewhere.

I don't know if you're "handy" or not, so I don't know whether you want to try it yourself or not. But if you want to try, look for the bulb with a wire attached that is sitting in the pilot light. Trace the wire to the control valve. It's probably screwed in. You just remove it and take it to an appliance shop or heating/AC place and have them match it. The length doesn't have to be exact, by the way.
 
Before removing it, you want to make sure it's actually in the fire from the pilot light. If it is, the just hold the control valve in longer until it can hold the valve open.

These are not terribly expensive but can be tricky to get to when replacing - I have to use a little mirror to even see mine.
 
The flame should look like a small torch's and blue, not like a candle or Bic lighter. Sometimes it can take a couple minutes for the pilot generator to create enough voltage/current signal for the regulator to realize it's lit.

If you have a multimeter, set it for 2 VDC. Pull on lead from the pressure switch and put one of the meter's leads in the connector. Light the pilot and hold. The gas regulator wants at least 250 mV DC to keep the pilot lit and 400 for the main burners. If it isn't there and the probe that is in the pilot's flame is clean, the pilot generator needs replacing.

If the voltage is over 800 mV, the pilot is getting too much gas and needs to be reduced but this is a very rare situation.

Scott
 
This happened to me last year. I could get the pilot lit but the main burner would not kick in. The gas to the pilot and main burner is controlled by a solenoid that is powered by the thermocouple.

Most likely, the thermocouple is covered in a fine layer of soot which doesn't allow the heat of the pilot to fully transfer. Detach the thermocouple and give it a light rub with emory cloth or fine sandpaper.

As previously mentioned, use a voltmeter to measure the difference.
 
Thanks, guys, for the tips!

The easiest one, hold the pilot lighter longer, didn't work.

I couldn't figure out, even with the schematic, which leads to tap into with my multimeter, so I didn't get those readings. My paws are too big to get into the space where the thermocouple must be in the pilot light. Looks to me like I'd have to partially disassemble the heater to get in there and I don't feel comfortable with that.

So, I guess a call to the service guy is next. That's a pig-in-a-poke, too! I haven't found anybody reliable since Rob Cox went out of business and devoted all of his time to poolcenter.com.

Thanks again!
 
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