DaveC wrote:
Have a 50-year-old (?) natural gas wall heater in my apartment. Thermostat is
connected to gas valve in heater by 2 wires. No evidence of transformer or
low voltage (ie, 30 vac) on the wires.

Symptom is that the 'stat won't open the valve. If I short the terminals for
just a second, the valve opens, and shuts at the appropriate temperature. (I
since have read that it's not a good idea to short those terminals together;
it could damage the valve, or some other component.)

What replacement thermostat should I be looking for? All I see are multi-wire
types that require a transformer voltage. Will any mercury-bulb type work?
(That's what the old one was.)

I'm also curious where the voltage comes from to operate the valve. Is this
generated by the thermocouple / sensor next to the pilot flame?

Suggestions welcome.

Thanks,

Did you *actually* put an AC voltmeter across the 2 wires with the
thermostat contacts open??
If you *did* and got no reading, the system may use a thermopile
(which generates a tiny voltage) for power source. In that event,
you can NOT use any common thermostat due to the resistance of the
anticipator heater.

Best to have the landlord's permission before doing any work on this.

Jim

Dave,
http://www.freepoolheat.com/gassystem.html#millivolt

Jabs


"DaveC" wrote in message
al.net...
Have a 50-year-old (?) natural gas wall heater in my apartment. Thermostat
is
connected to gas valve in heater by 2 wires. No evidence of transformer or
low voltage (ie, 30 vac) on the wires.

Symptom is that the 'stat won't open the valve. If I short the terminals
for
just a second, the valve opens, and shuts at the appropriate temperature.
(I
since have read that it's not a good idea to short those terminals
together;
it could damage the valve, or some other component.)

What replacement thermostat should I be looking for? All I see are
multi-wire
types that require a transformer voltage. Will any mercury-bulb type work?
(That's what the old one was.)

I'm also curious where the voltage comes from to operate the valve. Is
this
generated by the thermocouple / sensor next to the pilot flame?

Suggestions welcome.

Thanks,
--
Please, no "Go Google this" replies. I wouldn't
ask a question here if I hadn't done that already.

DaveC

This is an invalid return address
Please reply in the news group

DaveC wrote:
Have a 50-year-old (?) natural gas wall heater in my apartment.
Thermostat is connected to gas valve in heater by 2 wires. No
evidence of transformer or low voltage (ie, 30 vac) on the wires.

Symptom is that the 'stat won't open the valve. If I short the
terminals for just a second, the valve opens, and shuts at the
appropriate temperature. (I since have read that it's not a good idea
to short those terminals together; it could damage the valve, or some
other component.)

What replacement thermostat should I be looking for? All I see are
multi-wire types that require a transformer voltage. Will any
mercury-bulb type work? (That's what the old one was.)

I'm also curious where the voltage comes from to operate the valve.
Is this generated by the thermocouple / sensor next to the pilot
flame?

As you guessed, the voltage (250, 500, or 750 millivolts, MOL) comes from
the thermopile heated by the pilot flame. Most systems are 750 mv. If you
have a voltmeter, measure the output of your thermopile.

Use a thermostat designed for millivolt systems (usually the specs will
state). Many battery-operated programmable thermostats will work, too.

"DaveC" wrote in message
al.net...
Have a 50-year-old (?) natural gas wall heater in my apartment. Thermostat is
connected to gas valve in heater by 2 wires. No evidence of transformer or
low voltage (ie, 30 vac) on the wires.

Symptom is that the 'stat won't open the valve. If I short the terminals for
just a second, the valve opens, and shuts at the appropriate temperature. (I
since have read that it's not a good idea to short those terminals together;
it could damage the valve, or some other component.)

What replacement thermostat should I be looking for? All I see are multi-wire
types that require a transformer voltage. Will any mercury-bulb type work?
(That's what the old one was.)

I'm also curious where the voltage comes from to operate the valve. Is this
generated by the thermocouple / sensor next to the pilot flame?

Suggestions welcome.

Thanks,
--
Please, no "Go Google this" replies. I wouldn't
ask a question here if I hadn't done that already.

DaveC

This is an invalid return address
Please reply in the news group


This is Turtle.

You have a break in the wires to or from the heater to thermostat or a bad
thermostat. Your going to have to trouble shoot it out.

TURTLE