Resistance of thermal switch in thermocouple - does it matte

[Jerry Peters]

In sci.electronics.repair tom <tmiller11147@verizon.net> wrote:

"Jerry Peters" <jerry@example.invalid> wrote in message
news:npfmo0$6nm$1@dont-email.me...
In sci.electronics.repair Danny D. <dannydiamico@yahoo.com> wrote:
On Sat, 20 Aug 2016 16:59:13 -0400, Tekkie? wrote:

Thank government regulation.

Just to report back, the sandpapered thermocouple has been working, so I
have time to order the correct parts, probably from AO Smith themselves
as
they have an order number for parts:

When I buy the pilot assembly, should I buy an anode?

I have hard water (calcium carbonate rich).
How often do you replace your anodes?

*If* you can remove it; there's very little of the aluminum or
magnesium rod still left, and you can see the supporting wires.

You should be checking the anode every year or two, this also keeps it
from corroding in place, so you *can* check it.



Also, IIRC, it uses a large socket (1-1/8"?) and a long 1/2 drive breaker
bar . They are usually very very tight. Just drain a little water out
(gallon or so) and still you may need an extra hand to hold on to the tank.
You will need some clearance above the tank to put the rod in.

I removed mine when the tank was about 5 years old. It took a large
pipe wrench (the hex top of the rod was above the tank) and a 3 foot
or so section of galvanized pipe on the wrench handle and lots of
effort to remove it.

 

[Jerry Peters]

In sci.electronics.repair Danny D. <dannydiamico@yahoo.com> wrote:

On Mon, 22 Aug 2016 20:19:12 -0000 (UTC), Jerry Peters wrote:

*If* you can remove it; there's very little of the aluminum or
magnesium rod still left, and you can see the supporting wires.

You should be checking the anode every year or two, this also keeps it
from corroding in place, so you *can* check it.

This makes a lot of sense to remove the anode yearly so that you can remove
it before it corrodes in place.

Unfortunately for me, the AO Smith anode (PN 9009148005) comes with the
hot-water nipple, so, they have it inline (somehow) with the hot water
pipe.

Seems silly to me that I have to basically disconnect the water pipes just
to check the anode.

Are you sure it's the hot water side? Usually if it's not a separate
rod, it's part of the cold water inlet tube which introduces the cold
water at the bottom of the tank.

 

[Danny D.]

On Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:12:50 -0000 (UTC), Jerry Peters wrote:

Are you sure it's the hot water side? Usually if it's not a separate
rod, it's part of the cold water inlet tube which introduces the cold
water at the bottom of the tank.

I'm not sure of anything but that's what the AO Smith technical support
told me on the phone.

Taking the suggestion from others, I measured the headroom to only be about
10 inches above the water heater - so I don't really think I can get the
old anode out without removing the entire water heater, which I don't
really want to do.

 

[Danny D.]

On Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:08:45 -0000 (UTC), Jerry Peters wrote:

I removed mine when the tank was about 5 years old. It took a large
pipe wrench (the hex top of the rod was above the tank) and a 3 foot
or so section of galvanized pipe on the wrench handle and lots of
effort to remove it.

I had a spare hot water tank to practice on and it was 27mm and it took a
very long pipe (about 8 feet) to twist it off.

So, those things are in there rather well if they're not removed every once
in a while!

 

[Jerry Peters]

In sci.electronics.repair Danny D. <dannydiamico@yahoo.com> wrote:

On Tue, 23 Aug 2016 20:12:50 -0000 (UTC), Jerry Peters wrote:

Are you sure it's the hot water side? Usually if it's not a separate
rod, it's part of the cold water inlet tube which introduces the cold
water at the bottom of the tank.

I'm not sure of anything but that's what the AO Smith technical support
told me on the phone.

Taking the suggestion from others, I measured the headroom to only be about
10 inches above the water heater - so I don't really think I can get the
old anode out without removing the entire water heater, which I don't
really want to do.

Doesn't seem like it, especially if it's part of the water inlet tube.
For low clearance separate anode rod applications there's a special
replacement rod that has periodic narrow sections, so you can bend
it to get it to fit.