Kenyon propane stove (marine). Information Needed

[w. lawson]

I have a Kenyon Propane 3 burner stove on my boat. I suspect it is an old model 550lp or 555lp. (possible 1982)

I have always had problems lighting the pilot (takes about 15 min of constant flame while holding the bypass button as per instructions), but once lit, the stove works great. There is a "rocker style" switch on the front of the stove which must be put to the on position to light the pilot (as per instructions). Now here is the strange part. There is no electricity going to this stove. This "rocker" switch has two white wires which go to what might be some kind of a thermal mechanism where the pilot gas line comes out of the Main safety Valve. (Note that this is NOT any kind of igniter such as a Piezoelectric sparker. That part is totaly separate.) How can any kind of "rocker style" switch work if there is no electricity feeding it? Is this normal or possible? Note that the switch looks like a three pole "rocker" switch. The off position would seem to close the only two wires, but the on positions would seem to do nothing as the third pole has nothing connected to it. Before I spend a lot of money to have a propane tech to look at the stove, I would like to find out if the switch should be wired.

Note that the safety propane solenoid, etc. are wired separate from the stove and work fine.



wlawson@netcom.ca