Gas-Fueled Heating System Control Installation, Diagnosis & Repair Guides:
Index to free downloadable guides to diagnostic troubleshooting for heating boiler or furnace controls. This page provides links to installation & troubleshooting manuals for LP & Natural Gas heating system controls such as heating boiler aquastats and furnace fan limit controls.
We also provide contact information for heating control manufacturers & suppliers and links to installation & repair manuals for heating systems themselves.
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This page provides links to installation, operation, and repair manuals and guides for controls used on LP or natural gas fueled heating equipment. These gas control valves are commonly found on gas boilers and gas furnaces as well as on other gas-fueled heating equipment.
Separately we also provide this MANUALS & PARTS GUIDES - HVAC that includes installation & operation & repair manuals for air conditioners, boilers, furnaces, heat pumps, etc. sorted by brand name.
Ilustration: a White Rodgers 36C Cycle Pilot Gas valve - for which the instructions are given below.
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Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.
On 2022-09-14 by (mod) - RHEEM Model 3204-125HD Gas Fired Force Air Furnace gas valve & thermostat connections + Safety Warning
Thanks for that added detail. Above, excerpted from the wiring diagram on the Rheem 3204-125HD gas furnace, is the wiring diagram for the Honeywell V8243, V8280 & V8292 Gas Valve.
Watch out: The U.S. FEDERAL REGISTER / Vol. 48, N a 56 / Tuesday, March 22, 1983 / Notices pp. 11977 - 11980 [PDF] includes a US CPSC Complaint detailing in this Congressional report that many of the models of this gas valve was found to be unsafe.
Excerpts:
16. The allegations of paragraphs 1
through 15 are hereby realleged.
17. The gas cock knob may become
stuck down in the “ON” position (hiring
normal and reasonably foreseeable use
and misuse because the mechanical
stops provide to prevent such
occurrence are inadequate in their
design.
18. The design inadequacies affecting
the stop mechanisms of these controls
render them defective under section 15
of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C. 2064.
19. Honeywell's manufacturing and
quality assurance procedures were
inadequate to maintain tolerances
affecting the stop mechanisms and as a
result, controls that were out of
tolerance were manufactured,
distributed and sold.
20. The production of controls that
were out of design tolerance due to
faults, flaws and irregularities in the
manufacturing process created controls
that contain a defect as that term is used
in section 15 of the CPSA, 15 U.S.C.
2064.
21. Most consumers have no
knowledge of the presence of a safety
valve or the safety valve function within
the controls.
22. The Honeywell operating
instructions accompanying the V8280
family of combination controls were
unclear; they failed to adequately advise
the consumer how to safely operate the
gas cock knob and failed to give any
warning to the consumer of the serious
hazard created by a gas cock knob that
becomes stuck while depressed and in
the “ON” position.
23. The inadequacies of the
instructions affecting consumer
operation of the controls render them
defective under section 15 of the CPSA,
15 U.S.C. 2064.
24. The effect of the gas code knob
being stuck while it is depressed and in
the “ON” position is that while the knob
is held down the control's safety valve
is rendered inoperable.
Should the pilot
light go out while the knob is depressed
and in the “ON” position, raw fuel gas
will spill mto file furnace main burner
chamber and adjacent areas when the
thermostat calls for heat.
25. LP gas is heavier than air. Should
raw (unbumed) LP gas flow into a
furnace with no pilot light, it will
accumulate and remain in the lowest
points in the furnace or surrounding
areas and will not, of itself be vented up
through the heating flue system.
26. Should an ignition source be
introduced to a volatile LP fuel/air
mixture, an explosion and fire will
occur.
For other researchers here is the whole issue, unabridged: The U.S. Federal Register / Vol. 48, N a 56 / Tuesday, March 22, 1983 [PDF] 25.4 MB file!
The current Honeywell V8243 Gas Valve replacement is shown below:
Honeywell 24V, 3/4" x 3/4" inlet/outlet, Standing Pilot, Gas Valve Replacement w/Reducer Bushings (Two 3/4" x 1/2")
? OEM Upgraded Honeywell Gas Valve, Model: V8243
Manufactured by: Honeywell and available from HVAC plumbing & heating suppliers.
This is a standing pilot type gas furnace and control valve. Other possible modern replacements, depending on the specific furnace model, are the Resideo (Honeywell) VR8200A2116 (Upgraded replacement) or V800A1088, V8944N1020, V8944B1027 gas valves.
[Click to enlarge any image]
These are very helpful photos, John, thank you. I'll keep them with this article series and probably add this discussion at a appropriate thermostat wiring instruction page - linking also back between this page and that.
Your heating system's safety relies, almost certainly on a basic feature built into the gas valve - perhaps a standing pilot and thermocouple that will prevent a signal from the thermostat from opening the valve if the pilot isn't lit. The thermocouple tubing and connector at the valve is clear in your photos.
Working together makes us smarter. Below: Installation instructions for similar gas valves for furnaces. See instructions for Honeywell and other gas valves at:
GAS BURNER & GAS VALVE CONTROLS - our library of gas burner & gas valve controls, installation & wiring Instructions
On 2022-09-14 by John Childers IA-Council Bluff
This one is so old there is no Control Board. I think I figured it out. Looks like a wire goes from the 24 Volt to a thermostat back to the black switch on the gas valve.
[See photos above]
Hope this helps someone.
On 2022-09-14 by (mod) -
There ought to be a control board in the furnace, perhaps in the blower compartment, onto which you'll see the thermostat wire terminals, usually marked "T" and "T"
On 2022-09-14 by John Childers IA-Council Bluff
I have a RHEEM Model 3204-125HD Gas Fired Force Air Furnace. Where does the wires for the Thermostat connect at?
It's a real old furnace that is going into my garage.
On 2019-01-24 by (mod) - camp trailer gas furnace won't light past the pilot
If the pilot light stays lit but the main gas burner will not ignite the problem is probably in your gas valve itself not opening, or less likely a poor connection between the thermocouple and the gas valve - if the thermocouple doesn't sense the flame because it's not properly positioned it will shut the system down;
If the thermocouple is not securely connected at the gas valve that can look the same as a "no pilot" signal.
Details about fixing or installing thermocouples start
at THERMOCOUPLE REPAIR / REPLACEMENT
On 2019-01-23 by Dan
Gas furnace issues in my camp trailer, won't light past the pilot, why not
...
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