Digital Zeus™ HVAC Tool & Instruments Journal

We are interested in talking to technicans that have experience with this instrument in a field setting. As the name of our Journal indicates, we are pro-digital, actually not even necessarily pro-digial - we like to talk about the instruments that are available to the technician to make him a better, more effective - efficient technician. Unfortunately most often the only resource for information on instruments come from their respective OEM’s. At least that has been true up until HVAC PROTech.com® introduced the Exclusive FieldTest Evaluation Boards.

We have industry recognized authorities with published documents and Articles relevant to the subject of the troubleshooting procedures and techinques that are unique and specific to the Honeywell® SmartValve™ we are currently in the process of scanning and uploading such a publication from Timmie McElwain - we will make it available exclusively to our members. The oustanding issue however, remains -  is the SmarTester™ a legitimate instrument? Will it tell you anything that the valve itself will not tell you.

We have a SmarTester™ currently in use on the boards but it has yet to achieve the status of a FieldTest. A single use proved the instrument capable of troubleshooting an ignition circuit quicker than conventional techniques - but - single use is not adequate to prove the instrument worthy of inclusion in our, “Gotta Get-It” category. So we would like additional input from the readers of the Zeus Journal. You have one - you use it - useful or useless, please let me know at digital.zeus@yahoo.com   

Smart Valve Gas Ignition System Overview

• All Smart Valves eliminate the need for a separate device, remotely mounted, that contains the electronics necessary to control the sequencing of the pilot, the main gas burner and flame sensing circuit. All of these functions take place in the valve’s operating head.

• Each of the many varieties of this Smart Valve system use flame rectification for flame proving .

• All of the system’s electrical wiring occurs on the valve’s top using Amp-type electrical connectors to plug in to receptacles on the valve (except on Generation I systems, which have the 4-pin power receptacle located on the valve’s gas outlet face).

• All of the different low voltage systems use Norton’s 24 VAC type silicon nitride igniter. This igniter has a low starting resistance to current flow and it heats to the temperatures needed in +/- 2 seconds. As its temperature rises its resistance increases.

Learn More About the SmartValve™ at HVAC PROTech.com®

Operating Principles and Troubleshooting of Honeywell® SmartValve™

Operating Principles and Troubleshooting of Honeywell Smart Valve gas control systems for residential type gas burning equipment.

Let’s start with the Operating Sequence.

The operating sequence of Smart Valve gas ignition and control systems is very similar to the older style, intermittent ignition systems which incorporate remotely mounted spark ignition modules. Those older systems use a 12,000 to18, 000 DC voltage source for ignition of the pilot gas. The Smart Valve system uses a 24 VAC powered hot surface pilot gas igniter to ignite the pilot gas. The main gas is ignited in both instances by a pilot gas burner.

The Smart Valve system is self-contained, thus eliminating the need for a separately mounted ignition source, usually in the furnace or boiler vestibule.

Starting with a call for heat from the thermostat, the circuit usually (not always) will be completed to the R and W terminals located on an Electronic Fan Timer (EFT).

Read This Article and More on the SmartValve™ and the Supco® SmarTester™ at HVAC PROTech.com® http://hvacprotech.forumwise.com/hvacprotech-thread4542.html