Gas Log Millivolt switch question..

[thatguy]

In another topic I asked about a problem with my gas log fireplace wall switch not working.. I found a switch online and got it installed and very things is working correctly, but I am wondering something...

What is the difference between a Millivolt wall switch and a regular wall switch? Looking at the switch it says nothing about millivolt on it..

Did I just spend $20 for a 'millivolt' switch when i could have bought a regular switch?

just curious

Brian

 

[k0ua]

The millivolt switch is supposed to be a very low resistance contact switch. since you dont have much voltage to work with to begin with, you can't stand much resistance in the switch contacts. Especially if your wire run is very long. Will a regular switch work.. yep, especially if your wire run is short, but it may develop more resistance at time goes by, and the contacts may oxidize a little. Not much of a problem when your voltage is 120 and the current it will carry is probably at least a half of an amp or maybe 10 times that. But could be a problem (intermittant operation) when you are working with millivolts.

James K0UA

 

[grsthegreat]

ive used regular wall switches for millivolt operations for many years. but i agree it all depends on the length of wire. Most fireplaces are supplied with a 10-15' roll of thermostat wire and a regular wall switch. If yo end up wiring the switch 50 feet away, then a millivolt switch is the way to go.

My milivolt fireplace in my own house is wired to a millivolt thermostat about 40 foot of wire away, and works great.

 

[grsthegreat]

HAY... that last post marked my 3,000th post and the crowd went crazy:laughing:

 

[thatguy]

Congrats grsthegreat on 3000 posts...

How would/should a millivolt be marked? will it say 'millivolt' or somthing on it?

My switch is about 6' from the fireplace and about 4' up the wall - so 10' +/- in total.. Next time I may just try a regular switch - I think I can replace quite a few regular switches for the cost of his $20 allegedly millivolt switch. lol

Brian

 

[grsthegreat]

Congrats grsthegreat on 3000 posts...

How would/should a millivolt be marked? will it say 'millivolt' or somthing on it?

My switch is about 6' from the fireplace and about 4' up the wall - so 10' +/- in total.. Next time I may just try a regular switch - I think I can replace quite a few regular switches for the cost of his $20 allegedly millivolt switch. lol

Brian

im not sure how differently their marked for a wall switch, but they do sell them in the HVAC supply houses here. I know home depot sells millivolt rated thermostats. I went with the thermostat so it would cycle on an hour before we woke up in the AM.

 

[thatguy]

im not sure how differently their marked for a wall switch, but they do sell them in the HVAC supply houses here. I know home depot sells millivolt rated thermostats. I went with the thermostat so it would cycle on an hour before we woke up in the AM.

I stopped by a local supply house and they acted like they had not even heard of a millivolt switch (and i even mentioned it was even a wall switch for gas logs).. then I stopped by a propane company (that also sells/installs gas logs) and the boss just hollered out from his off 'NO' when I asked if they carried them..

My experience at both places just reinforces my desire to shop on the internet.. I was at least expecting the propane company to off a suggestion..

Our lowes didnt have the switch (not even in their special order catalog).. HD was 35 miles away so I didnt even check with them..

Thanks

b

 

[grsthegreat]

I stopped by a local supply house and they acted like they had not even heard of a millivolt switch (and i even mentioned it was even a wall switch for gas logs).. then I stopped by a propane company (that also sells/installs gas logs) and the boss just hollered out from his off 'NO' when I asked if they carried them..

My experience at both places just reinforces my desire to shop on the internet.. I was at least expecting the propane company to off a suggestion..

Our lowes didnt have the switch (not even in their special order catalog).. HD was 35 miles away so I didnt even check with them..

Thanks



b

Ive seen what they call millivolt switches at the supply house, but iu swear they look like ordinary switches. I may be wrong, but it might just be a marketing ploy...who knows. I DO know that thermostat switches are millivolt rates.
The toggle millivolt switch might be different internally, but i have really never looked into it. The come in sets with like 25' of thermostat wiring and arnt cheap. Like i said before, i have just always used regular $1.50 toggle switches and they have worked ok in the past.