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pilot light question

Inquiry: 

Hello. Does the PowerFlamer Propane 160 with electric ignition allow for pilot light? If so, can the pilot light remain on while cooking if you need to turn the main burner off and then back on? Thank you

Outdoorstirfry: 

Pilot flame feature is only present on our manual stoves.  Electronic ignition flame on any electronic ignition stove needs to be shut off after main burner is lit to protect the ignition wire insulation. 

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Question on manual stove pilot light.

Customer (PF13x160): 

I have a question on the operation of the pilot light (manual light version) of my current burner. If I light the main burner and turn the valve to ignite the pilot light, it will simply extinguish if I turn off the main burner. I’m wondering what the purpose is for the pilot light, since I cannot ignite it without the main burner being lit.

Outdoorstirfry: 

The pilot flame needs to be maintained about ½”~1” in length.   If too long pilot flame, it becomes yellow.  If too short, it can go out easily.    Hope this helps.

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Ignition flame for Electronic ignition

Customer (PF13L160EI): 

Hi I have received and been testing the wok burner but i am having some trouble dialing the pilot burner. It seems to always be spitting a long 6 to 8 inch long flame. Is that normal ? Is there any way i can adjust the flame on the pilot ? Plus im kinda worried that the electric igniter might melt if i leave if on.

Outdoorstirfry: 

Thank you for your email and photo.  Electronic ignition is just for ignition, can’t stay on during cooking.   It needs to be shut off after the main burner flame is ignited.  The electronic ignition flame is designed to be long such that the ignition tip does not need to stay inside the wind guard.  You can arrange the tip such that the flamer shoot toward top of the main burner.

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Can I leave the pilot light burning while I’m cooking?

Customer (PF13CL160): 

Can I leave the pilot light burning while I’m cooking?

Outdoorstirfry: 

You have a manual ignition stove.  The pilot light can stay on during cooking.   The tube is a bit short.  The pilot flame will burn off paint around it.  This does not affect function of the pilot or the main burner. 

Customer: 

Thank you.   love the 160

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the pilot flame is orange

Customer (PF13L160): 

the pilot flame is orange, which doesn’t burn clean, is there a way to adjust the fuel/air ratio to maintain the pilot blue flame like one of your tutorial videos?

Outdoorstirfry: 

The pilot light flame should be adjust to about ½~1” long only.  In this length, it has a bit of yellow on its highest tip.  Most of the flame length should be blue.   If you set it too long, it does burner more yellow and interfere with main burner flame.   This is not desirable.

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Pilot light

Customer (PF13S160): 

I received the stove today. Thanks for shipping quickly. 1 question i have is regarding the pilot light. I’ve read many discussion regarding the pilot light on your website, but I’m still not clear.

While I do agree the pilot flame works the best when it’s 1-inch in length, but in order to achieve that 1-inch flame, the valve can only be cracked open very very slightly. It is very hard to control. Oftentimes, I would turn the valve too high, and the air flows too fast. As a result, the pilot light cannot be successfully lit. The second it’s lit, it will blow itself out.   

I notice on the brass nozzle of the pilot flame, there are 2 holes on the side. Are those the air inlet? If I cover up one of those holes, the pilot flame can be lit much easier. Do you think this is a good work around to cover up one of the inlet? I don’t want to use the stove not as intended, but right now, the pilot light is very finicky, and it would take me several tries to get it lit, especially, if it’s bright outside, and I can barely see the blue flame. 

Outdoorstirfry:  

If you cover up one air inlet hole and observe that the pilot flame can be more steady, please do so.  The procedure for the pilot light is to light up the main burner first.  With the main burner lit, you can light up the pilot light easily and adjust the flame by adjusting the pilot valve.  Since the valve assembly receive high pressure gas and the pilot only needs a tiny bit of gas to light, there is a fine adjustment to achieve a steady flame.

At home we usually cook a couple dishes at a time, we choose to light up the main burner by BBQ ignitor while not using the pilot at all. 

Customer:

Thanks for the reply. Pilot is important to me because I have to turn off the main burner often, to add seasoning. I think I’m gonna try turning on the main burner first before adjusting the pilot. Thanks. 

Outdoorstirfry

You have interesting cooking technique.   We actually prepare everything including seasonings before start the stove flame.   Actual cooking time is very short and we don’t need to re-light the stove.  

Customer

I like to full-power it when I’m tossing the food, but it also means the wok temperature gets really high. When I set the wok down to season and taste, if I have the flame still going ( even at medium setting), it will for sure burn the food. So instead try to turn it to the lowest setting, I might as well turn it off. Once I season, combine, and taste, then turn the fire back on to finish cooking. 
 
Also, having pilot light means I no longer have to reignite it when cooking the 2nd dish. 
 
Outdoorstirfry

You might get too much used to your previous stove of only two flame settings that you criticized in your earlier email.   PF13S160 flame power is continuous.   You can turn down to really low flame for simmer purpose.   This should give you another option beside turning the main burner fully off and then using the pilot flame to re-ignite.   I still find your way of cooking fascinating.   I hope your wok can retain heat well between your various phases of full power for one dish.  Otherwise you are heating the wok multiple times just to get back up to the same temperature.  

Customer

I use a 14-gauge 14inch wok, about 2mm, I think. it’s a little heavy.. Honestly, I find that if I keep the burner at full power, it would be too much for any dish. If I turn the burner off, and don’t add additional ingredients, it can maintain a sizzle for a long time. 
 
When I’m seasoning, I have to leave the food stationary for up to 10~30 seconds… so during that time, I can’t have the flame at high power. Yes, I could turn it to low heat, but i think it’s easier to just turn off, then turn the flame back after seasoning. 
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Refurnbished wind guard and pilot light.

Customer (Refurbished PF13L160):

We used the stove for the first time yesterday and it was amazing! We have a lot to learn but the first dishes to come out of the wok were surprisingly good. We found an old wok at the house and a big wok in the storage room for our restaurants.
The heat from cooking cracked a few of the welds but the stove works fine. I will keep an eye on the cracks and let you know if it gets worse. No need to replace it at this point.
Is there a secret to keeping the pilot light lit? The pilot flame goes away each time I shut the oven gas off. I tried low, medium and high pressure on the pilot side and it always goes out. You can hear the pilot gas but the flame disappears the minute the oven ring shuts off…

Outdoorstirfry:

Glad that you were able to find a nice wok.
I believe some of those weld points cracked even before we shipped to you.   We did the repairs and paint.  When we prepared to ship, we noticed those cracks but they did not affect the holdup of the wind guard.  So we just shipped to you.   There should not be a worry because other weld points are strong.
About the pilot,  You would want to hold its flame low during cooking.   Another trick is when you turn off the main burner, turn it off slowly (not in a sudden).   This helps most of the gas inside the burner to be consumed by the main burner and not to create a too much a disturbance to the pilot light.   Also turn the air/fuel mixer wheel more toward the burner can help as well.
Let us know if you have any questions.
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Just a quick question about this one now

Inquiry:

Just a quick question about this one now. I saw 2 gas controls in the picture. Can the pilot light remain lit while you’re using the stove? That way if you accidentally turn off the main burner you can quickly relight it of the pilot is still lit. How are the legs? Sturdy? Thanks!

Outdoorstirfry:

The purpose of the pilot light is to remain lit during cooking.   However sometimes strong wind can blow it off.  The legs are sturdy.