How Does Electronic Ignition Work on a Gas Grill?

Gas Operation

Gas grills work with a propane mixture that is supplied by a propane tank, which users buy and set up separately from the grill. This propane tank uses valves to control the flow of gas to the burners. Most electrical gas grills are equipped with sensors that will automatically shut off the gas or lower the flow in case of a problem. If the grill is working as expected, then after the valve allows a certain amount of gas to flow through, the burner system will create heat to ignite it into a hot flame.

The traditional method of lighting gas is through a pilot light. These systems typically do not use any electricity and should not be confused with grills that do. Instead of creating a spark, the pilot light is a separate gas line that stays lit constantly, as long as the grill is connected to gas. This constant flame ignites the when it reaches the burner to provide the much larger, cooking flame.

Electronic ignition systems replace the pilot light is a simple spark plug device not unlike those found in engines. The gas still reaches the burner, but now a transformer conducts a high voltage current to a spark plug, which allows the voltage to jump from the tip of the igniter to a metal wall. This jump creates a large amount of heat in a small space, which ignites the surrounding gas.

Another electrical system sometimes used in gas grills is the piezoelectric crystal ignition. These crystals have the ability to produce electrical currents based on frequencies that are run through them. In this case, the crystal is turned or bent in a certain way that makes it produce enough current to light the gas in the burner.

While electrical ignition is safer than the older pilot light systems, it can still malfunction. Sometimes the transformer will fail, or not have enough voltage (preferably around 40 volts) to create the spark and operate additional systems, such as lights so the user can grill in the dark. At other times, the solenoid valve or control box may develop problems and fail to send the voltage to the spark plug.