Menno’s
Tech
Minutes
July 2011
A Monthly Article Being
Provided To Help Out
With Common Household
Appliances
By Menno Hochstedler
Spark Igniter
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Page 35
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have the possible broken, wet, or jammed switch
continuing to complete the circuit. Sometimes you
have intermittent sparking because the unit is not
properly grounded. When the module is included
in circuitry that can monitor flame integrity by using
the igniter or another sensing probe, and sparking
continues, you need to check connections along with
sensibility of sensor. Some ranges can monitor each
burner independently. This creates a spark to re-light
that burner if the spark probe fails to be grounded to
the burner head by the moisture in the flame.
Some furnaces using spark modules will have
circuitry that monitors a pilot flame prior to sending
power to the main valve that allows gas to the burners.
If there is a properly sized pilot flame and there is
continued sparking at the igniter without the main
burners lighting, sensitivity is lacking somewhere in the
circuit. When a module that is used on a range starts
to fail, you might find that only two of the burners will
light properly. The reason that happens is because the
module is a two-part coil set-up, each powering only
two igniters. Spark gap between igniter tip and the
grounding source can become incorrect from impact
or carbon buildup created by impurities in the general
area. When the gap is incorrect you will end up with
a weak spark or none at all.
Phone: 260-463-4901 • Fax 888-439-6528 • The Hometown Treasure
Igniters come in many different forms, as seen when
research is done on the subject. This article will focus
on spark igniters powered by rectified charging circuits
that pulse a step-up transformer two to three times a
second, producing a spark hot enough to create a mini
explosion when the correct gas/air is introduced to
the area. Some circuits are only capable of producing
spark when line voltage is applied to the primary side
of the module, while other modules are included in
circuitry that allows the spark igniter to also become
a sensor that monitors flame integrity.
If the module functions when power is applied to
the primary side of the circuit, and sparking continues
when not called for, you need to check what completes
the circuit on the primary side of the module. You