A.O. Smith TC-049-R2 manual Service Handbook, Residential Gas And Electric Water Heater

RESIDENTIAL GAS AND ELECTRIC WATER HEATER

SERVICE HANDBOOK

Residential Gas – continued

Burner: The burner assembly consists of the main burner, main burner orifice, main burner gas supply tube, pilot burner, pilot burner orifice, pilot burner gas supply tube and thermocouple.

The pilot burner remains on once it is manually lit. When incoming cold water activates the thermostat, gas flows to the main burner. The pilot flame ignites this gas. The main flame burns until the tank reaches set temperature then the thermostat interrupts this main gas flow.

AFTER HAVING CONFIRMED THAT THE WATER HEATER HAS BEEN INSTALLED

PER THE INSTALLATION MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS:

Normal Operation

Electrical:The Pilot Flame heats the end of a thermocouple. As the thermocouple gets hotter, it generates a small (cannot be detected without an electrical meter) electrical current to the bottom of the control valve. This current powers the electromagnet and holds open the safety valve as long as the pilot flame is heating the thermocouple. DANGER! If the pilot is extinguished, it can take up to 180 seconds for the thermocouple to cool sufficiently to close the safety valve.

A.O. Smith Water Products Company	7	Training Department
©2002		Ashland City, Tennessee