Silicon Carbide Igniter For Gas Furnace

Service technicians often feel that silicon carbide igniters are too fragile to handle safely, and are concerned that hand oils could wreak havoc with them.

These ignitors are very reliable. When powered with 120 volts, they light up red hot and start the flow of gas into the furnace, lighting it up.

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Hot surface ignitors for gas furnaces use glowing red silicon carbide heated by electrical pulses to ignite gas in newer furnaces, replacing older pilot light systems. While smaller than traditional spark plugs, they still serve their function of lighting up gas. With no need for constant burning pilot lights and reduced energy usage compared to earlier models.

At home, furnaces run continuously to reach the temperature set by your thermostat and reach optimal performance throughout each heating season. As such, hot surface ignitors for gas furnaces get used hundreds of times each year–usually more than 20,000! With such intense use over time, these ignitors can become less effective over time.

If the unthinkable happens and an ignitor fails, having the correct replacement in stock will allow for rapid system recovery. One common source of failure may be improper installation; accordingly, to ensure maximum effectiveness it’s important to inspect it when taking it out from its heat exchanger and ensure you have the appropriate replacement ready.

An effective rule of thumb for selecting replacement ignitors is ensuring they meet the same voltage specifications as their originals, then testing continuity and resistance with the same testing procedure used during installation. The results should give an indication as to whether or not an ignitor has been damaged; should that be the case, replacing it may be best advised.

Find the highest quality ignitor for your gas furnace by opting for a brand made by an established manufacturer with a warranty. Many brands also provide upgrade kits that make switching out a silicon carbide igniter with silicone nitride one easier; White Rodgers provides such a Nitride Igniter Upgrade Kit (21D64-2 module system). Contractors looking to streamline this upgrade process while receiving superior ignitors should consider White Rodgers as one of their options for making upgrades easier and providing higher-quality ignitors available.

Reliable Ignition

Hot surface ignitors have quickly become the go-to choice when it comes to gas furnaces due to their reliability. These igniters replace the pilot burner in gas-fired furnaces and offer several advantages over spark ignition, such as operating much more quietly (thereby not disrupting radio or TV reception or disrupting required circuit interrupters), lasting longer without replacement costs, and costing homeowners less over time.

Ignitor technology continues to advance with each passing year. Plasma arc igniters offer faster ignition times and greater consistency compared to traditional silicon carbide hot surface igniters, leading to greater combustion system efficiency – making it the perfect solution for demanding applications.

Advanced materials, including carbon nitride and ceramics, are used to craft hot surface ignitors. These advanced materials are known for their strength, durability and resistance to thermal shock – qualities which make them suitable for lighting gas burners in harsh environments. Many manufacturers even offer composite ignitors which combine multiple material properties for maximum results.

Hot surface ignitors require direct contact between their ignition electrode and the fuel for optimal functioning, which requires careful positioning during installation and regular inspection to ensure optimal performance. Failure to do this may prevent the hot surface ignitor from initiating gas-air mixture formation, leading to poor performance and potentially hazardous conditions.

Rheem 62-22868-93 Ignitor is a flat hot surface ignitor made of silicon carbide to ensure reliable heating performance. Featuring a 5.5-inch lead for flexible installation, allowing installers to position it for ignition in its most suitable place. Crafted with precision and identified by model number for accurate compatibility information to installers. This Rheem Ignitor was intended as a direct replacement for existing silicon carbide igniters within its system, offering great upgrade possibilities when upgrading older furnaces with less reliable ignition technology.

Low Maintenance

Gas heating systems in Sacramento Valley homes must function seamlessly for comfort. While the sequence of events required to ignite the flame that shoots into tubes of the heat exchanger may look complex, one component that ensures smooth functioning is the Hot Surface Ignitor (HSI).

HSE furnaces replace older furnace’s constant pilot flame with instant heat when needed and use significantly less natural gas, saving homeowners energy costs over time while simultaneously providing reliable gas ignition.

HSIs are composed of resistance heaters fabricated from silicon carbide or silicone nitride with ceramic bases to insulate and connect them to wires. Voltages up to 240 volts are applied through these wires and then an ignitor glows orange as it heats to 2500 degrees Fahrenheit within minutes – lasting 10 years before needing replacement.

Though HSIs require maintenance, its needs are much lower than you’d anticipate given their purpose. You should still periodically inspect it for signs of damage like cracking or discoloration; furthermore it is wise to protect them from dust, dirt, drywall mud, insulation foam sealants and condensation that might accumulate inside your house – the more dirt that settles onto its ignitor means faster its replacement will become necessary.

One of the primary factors contributing to an early wearout of an HSI is an improper voltage supply. Too high of voltage levels may damage and shorten its lifespan, necessitating you request your power company reduce it. Another contributing factor may simply be age: over time, quality HSIs may lose their ability to fire quickly and reliably compared with cheaper versions.

Easy Installation

Hot surface ignitors are designed to be straightforward to install. Most kits contain all of the hardware and instructions necessary, as well as wiring diagrams and cross-references to help find parts more quickly and efficiently. This reduces any chances of error leading to damage or incorrect operation; in addition, their design provides easy access for maintenance purposes allowing for quicker diagnosis of potential issues and quicker fixes.

Silicon nitride igniters require a different installation approach than their silicon carbide predecessors; rather than simply plugging the igniter in and turning it on, a technician must now make sure that it’s placed correctly to provide the furnace with an appropriate flame signal. Some technicians may find themselves having difficulty adapting to this new configuration of an igniter.

As soon as a request for heat is made and thermostat contacts close, they send a 24-V signal to the electronic module that activates both HSI and, typically, prepurge delay relay (if present). If your system uses sensor-only type controllers instead, these delays will range between 17 and 34 sec before heating cycles begin and eventually reach temperatures of approximately 1,800AdegF/538AdegC while also maintaining constant voltage supply to sense terminals.

Silicon carbide igniters were very delicate and required special care in handling, but modern silicone nitride igniters can be managed much more easily using their ceramic holders. Over time however, a silicone oxide layer will form on their surfaces, decreasing their intensity as flame signals.

Once a HSI is plugged in and turned on, the electronic module should be checked using a voltmeter set to read in microamperes (uA). To do this, place it between the lower HSI wire and disconnected lead on the electronic module – no more than 15uA should appear (0.009mA). Note: Any time an igniter is plugged in and running, any opening of its enclosure could result in either fire or serious personal injuries.