Reply to Thread

Post a reply to the thread: Autopilot switch / mercury switch retrofit

Your Message

 
 

You may choose an icon for your message from this list

Register Now

Please enter the name by which you would like to log-in and be known on this site.

Please enter a password for your user account. Note that passwords are case-sensitive.

Please enter a valid email address for yourself.

Log-in

Additional Options

  • Will turn www.example.com into [URL]http://www.example.com[/URL].

Topic Review (Newest First)

  • 07-17-2013, 06:07 AM
    waterdawg
    Yes not the best way to showcase your work. All was good though, except for a whole lot of fire extinguisher powder you would never know lol. I'm happy to report a pretty much perfect safety record since then. Sorry to hijack the thread but by now i think everyone understands the importance of not removing or bypassing any safety devices even with homeowners knowledge not to mention the signed admission that it was done...holy crap lol.
  • 07-16-2013, 09:44 PM
    darthvader
    lol wow, kinda bad for business if your showroom burns down haha
  • 07-16-2013, 08:45 PM
    waterdawg
    I hate to admit it but that kinda happened in our shoowroom about 20 years back. Tech removed a insert and didnt cap a line. Same day another tech turned on one of 25 unmarked valves!!! Do i need to say more!!!! It was a sight to behold when the adjoining F/P pilot lit it off. I was at my desk when it happened and needless to say had to throw out my chair... . The tech that didnt cap the line and tag the valve is now i believe working at wallyworld in lawn and garden!! And yes it was a realistic fire lol.
  • 07-16-2013, 06:34 PM
    darthvader
    Ah the mental image of a propane bottle used for heating in a hearth showroom made me lol. Look ladies and gentlemen it's "safe" clean and 100% efficient, and depending on your interior decor could be even more BTU output than you thought possible! okay I had my fun I will now direct you to look at hearthmans avatar that's is a conservative estimation of what will happen to your home should you get any bright(pun intended!) ideas
  • 07-16-2013, 06:14 PM
    hearthman
    A 1lb propane bottle fired off upside down so liquid phase fuel is released is VERY exciting and makes for a VERY realistic fire. It even burns like *real* fire! Man, customers would LOVE that!!!

    No problemo Dawg--I know your heart was in it ;-)

    Vader, I know you're also good at watching things on here so I'm not too worried. My toes cannot support my weight!

    BTW, do not mess with propane as we're joking here!!! It is inherently VERY hazardous when used other than intended.
  • 07-16-2013, 02:09 PM
    darthvader
    ah but you can also use it to de-snow the roof so it doesn't collapse!
  • 07-16-2013, 12:21 PM
    waterdawg
    Quote Originally Posted by darthvader View Post
    I hear you can heat a house by taking a propane bottle turn it on and light a match, true or false?
    True!!! but it is a little oversized
  • 07-16-2013, 10:29 AM
    darthvader
    It's ok, it's good to keep Hearthman on his toes
  • 07-16-2013, 09:18 AM
    waterdawg
    Sorry about the pricing thing . It was more of a "what the parts worth on ebay". Not pricing but I'll never do it again, opps!!!
  • 07-15-2013, 11:17 PM
    darthvader
    I hear you can heat a house by taking a propane bottle turn it on and light a match, true or false?
  • 07-15-2013, 07:47 PM
    hearthman
    Bypassing a primary safety control is both illegal and dangerous. It voids the warranty and listing so it cannot be condoned here on this site. You either get parts approved by the mfr. to maintain the warranty and listing or shut it down. Having a homeowner sign off on such a modification does nothing to protect them from the hazard, does nothing to protect the contractor from liability but does everything to prove prima facie evidence of the illegal modification with knowledge and forethought. This makes proving a case of gross negligence with the potential for criminal prosecution in the event of injuries or fire a piece of cake. FYI, just having a homeowner sign off on an improper, illegal repair constitutes a "failure to warn" so that liability attaches to the contractor.

    jwgagnon, please review my comments here before offering similar advice here again. Thank you.

    Waterdawg please, no pricing.
  • 07-15-2013, 07:12 AM
    small change
    Quote Originally Posted by jwgagnon View Post
    I've ran into these several times. I have not been able to find mercury switches new (i don't think anyone has them anymore).

    Right now Napoleon has a retro kit to switch their units to a thermocouple system.

    That advise doesn't fly around here.

    No Way, Not ever
  • 07-15-2013, 06:54 AM
    waterdawg
    [QUOTE]That advise doesn't fly around here./QUOTE]
    Are you saying that you bypass the pilot safety curcuit. I would be very careful about modifying any operating system. I would hate to be the defendent in that suit :O. The reason there are no kits is because they have not been approved for that particular model. I have found a few murcury switches online but they are in the $ range . I have done a couple of the Napoleon conversions but have had more luck selling new units as they are older models and really not worth the effort or cost to retrofit.
  • 06-26-2013, 10:37 AM
    vanheating
    Jut for your information, I contacted Napoleon and got such reply:

    The only fireplaces which have the retrofit available are the GD22 and the GD3200. The GD22 uses part number W010-2489 and the GD3200 uses part number W010-2488. Please contact your distributor for pricing.
  • 06-07-2013, 03:25 PM
    jwgagnon
    I've ran into these several times. I have not been able to find mercury switches new (i don't think anyone has them anymore).

    Right now Napoleon has a retro kit to switch their units to a thermocouple system.

    That advise doesn't fly around here.
  • 06-06-2013, 11:15 AM
    vanheating
    I guess the answer is no.
  • 06-01-2013, 01:19 PM
    vanheating

    Autopilot switch / mercury switch retrofit

    Personally I haven't run into this switch myself, but thinking about adding it to my parts box, I don't feel comfortable putting hazardous products into people's homes, so I won't even buy the mercury switch if it's still available.

    Last time I checked the manufactures didn't bother to make a retrofit kit for it yet, any progresses?

Posting Permissions

  • You may post new threads
  • You may post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •