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=A0am, "Christopher Glaeser"  wrote:
> My gas fireplace is sometimes difficult to start. =A0It appears that the
> automatic electric starter is arcing at the wrong place, perhaps affected=
 by
> the humidity. =A0Is it possible the starter wire has insufficient insulat=
ion?
> Is this a common problem? =A0If so, what is the recommended repair? =A0Ca=
n 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" <n...@nospam.com> wrote in message 
news:Y...@giganews.com...
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" <n...@nospam.com> wrote in message 
news:X...@giganews.com...
> 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" <n...@nospam.com> wrote in message 
news:D...@giganews.com...
> 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