My gas fireplace is sometimes difficult to start. It appears that the
automatic electric starter is arcing at the wrong place, perhaps affected by
the humidity. Is it possible the starter wire has insufficient insulation?
Is this a common problem? If so, what is the recommended repair? Can the
wire be wrapped with additional insulation, or should the starter wire be
replaced?

Best,
Christopher

On Jan 5, 11:19*am, "Christopher Glaeser" wrote:
My gas fireplace is sometimes difficult to start. *It appears that the
automatic electric starter is arcing at the wrong place, perhaps affected by
the humidity. *Is it possible the starter wire has insufficient insulation?
Is this a common problem? *If so, what is the recommended repair? *Can the
wire be wrapped with additional insulation, or should the starter wire be
replaced?

Best,
Christopher

It is not uncomment to tweak these by bending them slightly to get the
arc in the correct position. You may also want to check the position
of the flame sensor to make sure it is in the flame.

On Tue, 5 Jan 2010 08:19:42 -0800, Christopher Glaeser wrote:

My gas fireplace is sometimes difficult to start. It appears that the
automatic electric starter is arcing at the wrong place, perhaps affected by
the humidity. Is it possible the starter wire has insufficient insulation?
Is this a common problem? If so, what is the recommended repair? Can the
wire be wrapped with additional insulation, or should the starter wire be
replaced?

Best,
Christopher

From your description it sounds like the insulation is damaged and arcing
in the middle of the wire instead of the contact point. I would think you
will need a new wire as any insulation you would use would have to handle
high temps.

Is it sparking from the wire?

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"Christopher Glaeser" wrote in message
...
My gas fireplace is sometimes difficult to start. It
appears that the
automatic electric starter is arcing at the wrong place,
perhaps affected by
the humidity. Is it possible the starter wire has
insufficient insulation?
Is this a common problem? If so, what is the recommended
repair? Can the
wire be wrapped with additional insulation, or should the
starter wire be
replaced?

Best,
Christopher

Is it sparking from the wire?

Yes. The wire comes up through a round hole in a galvanized metal plate.
On nights when the unit repeatadly fails to ignite, the wire arcs to this
metal plate. Since the wire feeds through the center of this hole, it is
not possible to move the wire away from the metal plate.

Best,
Christopher

I would think you will need a new wire as any insulation you would use
would have to handle high temps.

In the few inches of space below this gas ceramic log fireplace where this
wire is located, there are paper tags, a plastic remote starter unit with
plastic coated household 120V wiring, and even an old plastic parts baggy
left from the installer, so it does not get very hot in this space
immediately below the fireplace.

Best,
Christopher

Hmm. Sounds like the wire wore through. Not worked on one of
these, so I havn't got a mental picture. Sounds like time to
make the hole a bit larger, and smoother. And to find some
high temp insulation for the wire.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"Christopher Glaeser" wrote in message
...
Is it sparking from the wire?

Yes. The wire comes up through a round hole in a galvanized
metal plate.
On nights when the unit repeatadly fails to ignite, the wire
arcs to this
metal plate. Since the wire feeds through the center of
this hole, it is
not possible to move the wire away from the metal plate.

Best,
Christopher

Can you smooth the edges of the hole, and wrap some high
temp electrical tape around the wire? Ideal would be a Romex
connector for the hole.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"Christopher Glaeser" wrote in message
news
I would think you will need a new wire as any insulation
you would use
would have to handle high temps.

In the few inches of space below this gas ceramic log
fireplace where this
wire is located, there are paper tags, a plastic remote
starter unit with
plastic coated household 120V wiring, and even an old
plastic parts baggy
left from the installer, so it does not get very hot in this
space
immediately below the fireplace.

Best,
Christopher