Experience the Difference with our "AWES"
All Weather Electronic System for the Outdoors
Currently all the electronic ignition systems that are being offered for outdoor use by various vendors are actually electronic ignition systems that were designed for use inside appliances such as furnaces, heaters, boilers and such. What these vendors have done is house these systems inside weatherproof enclosures and have advertised them for 'outdoor use'. The inherent problems with all these systems is that the controller (microprocessors) that are used to control these systems were not designed to counter the adverse effects of wind and rain. Consequently when these systems are used in the outdoors and there is wind or light rain, they do not perform well at all. In addition, the pilot burners used with these systems were also designed for use indoors or inside appliances as well. Consequently they are prone to being clogged by either dirt, debris or rain. Once the pilot burner is clogged, the system does not work at all and requires the pilot burner to be cleaned of any obstructions prior to working correctly again.
The ALL WEATHER ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM (AWEIS) we have developed was specifically designed and built exclusively for outdoor fire features. Following is a description of the major components of the AWEIS.
Controller (Circuit Board with Microprocessor)- the "brains" behind the system, our controller was designed and programmed to compensate for the effects of wind and rain. On windy days all other systems on the market today tend to 'cycle' on and off due to the fact they are easily confused by the wind. Our controller however has no problems with cycling due to the fact it was programmed to operate under windy conditions.
Solenoid Valves with Waterproof Coils-due to the fact we have a controller that simply switches valves on and off as the operation dictates we are able too use any type of gas valve. We choose to use direct acting solenoid valves with waterproof coils due to the fact our system is always used in the outdoors. Even though our valves are contained inside a weatherproof enclosure, due to the fact it is not a waterproof enclosure the possibility exists for water to enter the enclosure. By using valves with waterproof coils we further protect the entire system from water domage. All other systems on the market today advertised for outdoor use encompass standard HVAC diaphragm valves, none of which come in a waterproof version due to the fact they are designed to be used indoors.
Thermopile " Heat " Sensing- The safety mechanism inherent in all electronic ignition systems is a device that senses the presence of a flame. In all other systems on the market today flame rectification is the means by which the flame sensing occures. The problem with flame sensing through flame rectification is the fact that the pilot flame has to be directly impinging on the flame sensing rod at all times in order for the system to continue to operate. In windy conditions however, the pilot flame is continuously being moved around by the wind often times moving the flame off the flame sensing rod. When this occures, the controller inside these systems interprets that movement of the flame to mean the flame went out and consequently it shuts itself down and restarts. This is what is referred to above as 'cycling' . Our system however uses a Thermopile that generates an electrical current when it gets heated. When our controller receives this electrical current from the thermopile it knows that a flame is present and thus will continue to operate normally. Even when the wind moves the pilot flame around, heat is still present in the immediate area and so the thermopile continues to generate that current which our controller needs to know that a flame is still present.
Important Note: Thermopiles were designed to be used in "Standing Pilot" electronic ignition systems. In these type systems you have a continual pilot flame that heats the thermopile at all times. In these systems you typically have a thermostat that acts as a 'switch' that closes the circuit between the thermopile and the valve it is providing power to during operation. Thermopiles are used to generate power to open gas valves. In our system we only use the Thermopile to let our controller know that a flame is present. Ours does not have a standing pilot at all times. Our pilot flame only comes on when the fire feature is turned on. We also do not use the power generated by the thermopile to open any valves either, that power comes directly from the controller. For those tradesman in the HVAC field, our use of the thermopile is starkly differently from how it is used in the trade mormally.
Pilot Burner Assembly-the pilot burner assembly is typically the weak link in all electronic systems used in the outdoors. As mentioned previously if the pilot burner gets clogged, the system no longer functions. Our pilot burner assembly was specifically designed to prevent water and debris from clogging it thereby ensuring the system operates after being exposed to any rain or water splashing.
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