On 6/11/2011 11:47 PM, Ivan Vegvary wrote:
I have two 30,000 BTU propane heaters that I want to install high in my shop. Make is Schwank and they are of no help.
Problem is that I want to mount them about 10 feet off the ground and do not want a pilot light burning all winter. In order to light them you have to hold the starter button in for a good long minute. No fun on a high ladder.

Would like to convert this to electric ignition but unable to find any information that would help me. The advantage of the pilot light is that it is a safety in case the flame should ever blow out. The pilot (thermocouple)keeps the solenoid valve open. If flame goes out the main gas valve shuts in about 1.5 seconds.

Anyway, anybody have any ideas oh how to reconfigure this and still have a safe system. Would putting an electric ignitor BUT keeping all the existing controls work? Guess not, ignitor would be able to light the main burners but not the pilot since there is nobody there to push the button. This must have already been solved somewhere, somehow.

All ideas appreciated. Buying new units not an option. How about the freestanding heaters used in outdoor restaurants? How do they work? Does somebody stand there for a minute lighting a pilot???

Thanks, Ivan Vegvary

Honeywell Y8610U6006 is one example of a retrofit kit.

MikeB