Gas Fireplace Thermocouple Vs Thermopile

The main difference between thermocouple and thermopile is that the thermocouple is a thermoelectric device and thermopile is a device that converts thermal energy into electrical energy.

Gas fireplace thermocouple vs thermopile.

A thermocouple is heated by the pilot light but it. It is typically more sensitive than a single thermocouple. It generates about 750 mv that turns on the main gas valve to the fireplace. When turned on the pilot in a gas stove generates heat which travels through a thermocouple.

The thermocouple on your gas fireplace is a heat sensitive device that keeps the pilot gas tube open while the pilot is lit. A thermocouple is a device consisting of two different metals joined together usually by welding or brazing the voltage between the metals is dependent on the temperature. As the heat reaches the second junction of the thermocouple it generates electrical voltage. A thermopile is a series of thermocouples and are used typically when the difference in heat is hard to measure.

Gas fireplaces and fireplace inserts use thermocouples and thermopiles primarily to generate electricity.