Controlling the Flame with a PID or Thermostat

[JVD_X]

NOOB Question:

Not that I am considering it but I am curious, when using a thermostat or PID with a probe how does the thermostat "turn-off" and "turn-on" a flame to an MLT/HLT? Can it do this automatically like a gas oven?

 

[5 Is Not Enough]

You'd need a solenoid valve with a pilot light or a direct spark ignition setup.

 

[Yuri_Rage]

You can get surplus furnace valves rated for NG or propane on eBay. They're pretty cheap. You'll need a 20VAC power supply to operate most of them, but those aren't hard to come by on eBay, either.

 

[kladue]

Simple way is to use a continous pilot light and solenoid valve to control burner gas flow, safer method is to use a direct spark ignition module that controls the solenoid valve. Here is typical direct spark ignition module on Ebay that uses the spark probe for flame sensing http://cgi.ebay.com/Honeywell-Direct-Spark-Ignition-Modules-S87J1034_W0QQitemZ260200757464QQihZ016QQcategoryZ20598QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[JVD_X]

So where exactly does one of these valves sit in physical relation to the flame and legs of the turkey fryer? I would assume that the pilot light has a tube that sits near the output of the fryers jets but where would an electronic one sit?

 

[kladue]

The valve can be mounted on the legs of the burner stand, the ignitor for the electronic ignition needs to spark to the burner jets and have at least 1/2" of the metal rod in the flame. Might be easier to use a pilot burner with ignitor than try to build your own, here is an example http://cgi.ebay.com/HONEYWELL-PILOT-BURNER-NATURAL-GAS-ORIFICE-Q345A1313_W0QQitemZ200183793590QQihZ010QQcategoryZ41987QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p1638.m118

 

[JVD_X]

The valve can be mounted on the legs of the burner stand, the ignitor for the electronic ignition needs to spark to the burner jets and have at least 1/2" of the metal rod in the flame. Might be easier to use a pilot burner with ignitor than try to build your own, here is an example http://cgi.ebay.com/HONEYWELL-PILOT-BURNER-NATURAL-GAS-ORIFICE-Q345A1313_W0QQitemZ200183793590QQihZ010QQcategoryZ41987QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p1638.m118

Thank all of your for your responses. I have a very clear image of what would need to happen. I don't think I need to go down that road (for now) but it's nice that it can be done.