Avoid Making This Fatal Mistake Youre Using Your Gas Patio Heater Regulator

Gas Patio Heater Regulator
If you're planning on cozying up in the cold outdoors with a propane patio heater, it's important to be aware of how to use this appliance. Matthew Griffith, prevention section chief of the Montreal fire department, said shoppers should look for products that have safety certifications.
The patio heater must be properly connected and there should be no fire-prone material in the vicinity.
Pressure Regulator
Gas regulators are a simple mechanical devices that we drive by every day in our vehicles and homes without giving a second thought. Their invention made 135 years ago has revolutionized how natural gas and propane are used for heating, cooking and oxyfuel welding. The fundamental function of regulators is the same, but there are numerous variations. The regulator uses an element that senses pressure, usually a dialythm made of fabric, to control a valve plug's location and limit the flow of gas.
The diaphragm is connected to the stem of the valve using rods that run down through the set spring, over the diaphragm and into the valve. This mechanism detects gas pressure inside the house or pipeline and adjusts the position of the valve plug to meet the demand. As the consumption of gas in the home decreases as does the pressure between the regulator and the house. The diaphragm expands downwards and the valve plug is moved closer to the orifice to limit the flow. As the demand in the house grows, the valve opens further, increasing the flow of gas.
When the valve plug is closed it is held in position by the spring force until the demand from the house decreases, which opens the valve to increase flow. This process is known as sizing and it is the primary function of the regulator.
When the valve is opened, pressure builds up in the main chamber which is connected to the hose's outlet port by a venturi tube. This pressure is controlled by changing the screw or handle on the outside of the regulator. When the screw is rotated counterclockwise, it increases the pressure. When it is rotated clockwise, it reduces the pressure.
When you are choosing a regulator for your pressure be aware that the minimum and maximum nominal pressures are determined by commercial standards, not the pressure at the supply line. The regulator must also be compatible with the hose. Choose a hose which is marked as whistle-free that has different sized rings that alternate to stop resonant sounds from accumulating along the length of the hose.
Thermocouple
Thermocouples operate on the premise that metals of different composition in contact with each other at their ends can produce an electric current, even when they are at very varying temperatures. They are used to identify temperatures that differ between points of the circuit and convert that information into an electronic signal that can be read by a thermocouple gauge or other instrument. Thermocouples have several advantages over more common sensors such as thermistors, which include the ability to detect extremely high temperatures and operate in environments that are corrosive.
A pair of dissimilar metals is joined at one end of the sensor to form the measuring (aka hot) junction, while the other end is kept at a fixed temperature, also known as the reference (aka cold) junction. Thermocouples produce small voltages, however, they are passive devices that don't require power to work. The voltage generated is proportional to the difference in temperature between the measuring and reference junctions. Thermocouple manufacturers and metrology standard organizations such as NIST provide reference tables of the function E (T) displaystyle scriptstyle e(T) for each specific thermocouple type.
There are three kinds of thermocouple connections: exposed grounded and welded. The exposed type of junction protrudes from the protective sheath, and has the fastest response. A grounded thermocouple is recommended for measurements in corrosive environments. A thermocouple that is welded is physically separated from the sheath with mgO powder. This prevents moisture or gas from penetrating and causing error.
A thermocouple that is welded comes with the added benefit of being more resistant to vibration. It is recommended to use in harsh environments, and with pressures of up to 3000 psi. gas or electric patio heater that is damaged is usually due to a lack in polarity. If the sheath has not been properly polarized, both ends of the thermocouple may have different voltages at their measurement junction. This can lead to an inaccurate reading, or even damage the instrument. A malfunctioning thermocouple could result from an incorrectly calibrated or installed sensor.
Thermostat
Gas patio heaters in contrast to electric heaters that are wired to the wall are portable and operate on propane or natural gas. Thermostats control the flow of energy to these cylinders so that they don't overflow but can still provide heat when required. The thermostat accomplishes this by detecting the temperature of the air that flows over it. The thermostat also detects when the room has cooled down to a comfortable temperature and switches the heating off.
Digital thermostats are the most popular. It uses a microcontroller that converts a fluctuating electrical resistance into a measurement of temperature. It is able to accomplish this more accurately than the older mercury switch thermostats which used a coil of mercury with three wires in it that would move depending on the temperature. This allowed the thermostat to tilt a mercury switch that was connected to an electrical circuit that was used to power an air conditioner or heater by turning it on and off.
Another type of thermostat is one that is mechanical. This has a small cylinder filled with wax which begins to melt when it reaches a temperature of maybe 180 degrees F (different thermostats open up at different temperatures). A rod that connects to the valve then presses into this wax and opens the valve when it's hot. As the room cools down the wax shrinks and the rod is pulled into the cylinder to close the valve.
There are also thermostats that can be programmed to alter at different times during the day. This can help you reduce energy consumption by setting your heating to come on and off when you are at work or sleeping, rather than having it on continuously. You can also set the thermostat to turn on earlier so that your home is an ideal temperature when you arrive back from work or school. Thermostats typically come with a feature known as a heat anticipator that prevents the heater from turning on too early. This is due to the fact that different areas of the home often attain the temperature set before the thermostat itself does.
Pilot Light
While many newer heating and homes have done away with pilot lights, older homes and furnaces still use these devices to light the gas in the burner chamber. It's essential to know how to safely restart the pilot light if it ever goes out.
A pilot light creates tiny flames that heat a thermocouple. The thermocouple generates electricity, and keeps the gas valve open. If the pilot flame ceases to burn the thermocouple cools and stops generating electricity, thus closing the gas valve. Pilot lights are utilized in the majority of propane and natural appliances, including water heaters, fireplaces, furnaces, ranges, barbecues and hot tubs.
To light a pilot light, it is necessary that you first turn off the gas valve on the appliance. Then, you must remove any doors or panels that may be in the way of getting to the pilot light. Follow the directions on the front of the unit to open the pilot light tube. After you've re-lit your pilot light, turn the gas valve knob to the "on" position.
The main reason for leaving the pilot light on is to ensure safety. If it's accidentally turned off the gas constantly venting out of the pilot light tube may be accumulating in your home until sparks from the smoking cigarette or static electricity ignites it and causes an explosion. The tubes designed for pilots include a built-in cutoff valve that can prevent this from happening.
In addition to the safety issues that a burning pilot light also wastes considerable energy. Numerous studies have revealed that a pilot light can burn between $7 and $18 worth of gas every month. The wasted fuel also puts more strain on the air conditioning system during summer use. Pilot lights can attract spiders which can spin webs and clog the pilot tubes. Also, a constant flame could release trace amounts the compound mercaptan, which causes the rotten egg odor that is found in natural gas. If you're concerned about these issues, you should consider purchasing a remote-controlled gas fireplace or replacing your old fireplace with a more modern efficient model.