Lynx BBQ Grill Ignition Repair — Glow Plugs and Hot Surface Ignition.
Glow Plug Igniter Electrode.
Lynx gas barbecue grills started using “glo-plug” ignition electrodes in 2007. The DCS “E” models were the first gas BBQ grill I saw with glow plugs and that was over 10 years ago. The Lynx design is part of a popular movement among high-end gas grill manufacturers with companies like Alfresco, FireMagic, Solaire also experimenting with glow plug igniters. Unfortunately Lynx is moving on and we the customers are going to pay the price.
glow plug electrode repair kit
Glow plug ignition electrodes are popular in outdoor barbecue grills because a glow plug will light gas in a strong wind and rain. The glow plug lights up like a light bulb and becomes extraordinarily hot very quickly. The glow plug electrode acts like and looks like a light build without the glass bulb surrounding the mono-filament. As long as the ignitor switch is depressed the glow plug will glow a bright white.
Originally Lynx has sparking electrodes that are the ubiquitous standard in modern barbecues. From the rotary modules of 2002 through the battery powered modules used on modern barbecues everywhere Lynx has moved to an electrical outlet that plugs into the wall. There is a battery powered module for the glow plugs but that is a back-up; the grill is designed to pull 120v from the
Lynx gas bbq grill ignition electrode and collector box.
normal electrical outlets.
The 2002 – 2005 Lynx electrodes used by Lynx were like miniature spark plugs. These electrodes were over three inches long and surrounded by a heavy stainless steel collector box.
In 2006 Lynx got rid of the collector box and started using a double prong electrode that is almost identical to the double prong electrodes used by TEC, Alfresco, Solaire and Viking. The Lynx electrode is not as heavy as the other versions of the double prong electrode but it also works well and is a lot less costly than other manufacturer’s electrode.
lynx gas barbecue grill electrode 2006
The glow plug electrodes that were being used in 2007 are like the original DCS glow plug electrodes but Lynx evolved to a slightly bend electrode that has been in use for about five years. The down-side to the Lynx glow-plugs is that they are mounted to the inner firewall of the barbecue just like the 2002 electrodes instead of being installed in a static, solid mounting tube like the R.H. Peterson FireMagic and the Alfresco glow plugs. As a result the Lynx glow plugs are able to be bumped around as the grill is used and the filament is easy to pop free and break.
Lynx glow plug are easy to replace and cost effective to repair. A Lynx glow plug replacement kit costs as much as a single DCS glow plug electrode but the Lynx kit includes all the glow plugs, hardware, wiring and instructions for the entire barbecue grill.
However, last week Lynx sent all of us dealers a note that the glow plug ignition electrode replacement kits are being discontinued. Lynx is changing their ignition assembly again in favor of a hot surface ignition assembly.
Hot Surface Gas Grill Ignition.
The hot surface has been a high-priced feature on gas log fireplaces for years that has become more common because of the federal government discussions about the safety and ecology of standing pilot fireplace control valves. Gas log manufacturers are scrambling to make the hot surface ignition valve more affordable just in case the standing pilot becomes unusable. Typically the standing pilot ignites the gas as the gas valve opens and gas exits the burner. The pilot is always burning so the gas will always ignite. The customer experiences an “on — off” remote control but the remote is only turning the gas on and off.
A hot surface ignition has a sensor opposite the igniter electrode with the pilot flame in-between so the electricity from the battery travels to the electrode to ground against the pilot, spark and ignite the gas. With the sensor the electricity travels through the pilot flame and the charge returns through the sensor to tell the module to stop sparking. If the pilot blows out the circuit is interrupted so the module is automatically sparking against the pilot flame bracket until the pilot flame re-ignites and allows the electric milli-volt to return through the sensor.
Lynx is installing a hot-surface ignition on all their new barbecue grills. That is fantastic; new technology is always exciting (when it works). The problem with the latest advancement is that Lynx is getting complaints about the glow-plugs and has decided not to manufacture replacement parts any longer.
As of April 2012 Lynx will not manufacture replacement glow plug electrode kits or the battery back-up modules for any of the Lynx gas grill models that were designed for these parts. Any Lynx grill owners hoping to replace their igniters with an inexpensive $38. glow plug kit are going to have to purchase a hot surface retro-fi kit from Lynx. These new hot surface igniter kits range from $257. to $318. Do not be fooled by those prices because the 12v requires a 110v GFI electrical outlet added and the new wiring that has to be installed as all the old wiring is removed will take anywhere from 2 hours to 5 hours depending on the experience of a technician.
Typically a gas grill technician is not a licensed electrician and will hesitate to work on electrical components. Fortunately the Alfresco and FireMagic hot-surface kits are so well made a service call to repair these igniters is very rare — and I expect the Lynx igniters to be just as reliable.
The problem is that retro-fitting these kits on a 2009 Lynx glow-plug system can mean spending several hundred dollars for the new kit and another $180. – $475. in service fees to have the igniters installed.
All of us here at Grill-Repair.com have chosen this field of work because we love to grill, to smoke, to barbecue and to eat the food we cook outdoors (i did not gain all this weight swimming in the ocean!). As avid barbecuers we would be reticent to spend $500. and more on an igniter when a long candle lighter costs $1.
We have ordered as many glow plug replacement kits as were available at Lynx so we can continue to repair the Lynx ignition assembly for less than $50. but at some point we will have to face this poor decision by Lynx.
ignition glow plug for gas barbecue grill
We have had clients choose to retro-fit different igniters into their Lynx grills before and I think that idea is going to return. However, retro-fitting the , reelable igniters is going to cost a fraction of the new costs — and will actually light the gas grill effectively and reliably.
Although Lynx is not going to make or sell the glow plugs they made from 2007 to 2009 they will continue to make available to igniter assemblies fro 1999 to 2006 and those igniters worked.
lynx module
Using the original Lynx module with a button mounted in the control panel or allowing the switch on the control valves to continue activating the ignition circuit the electrodes can be switched to any of the electrodes shown above — and many more. Without spending several hundreds of dollars in parts and labor the new Lynx gas barbecue grills can be retro fitted with the original Lynx ignition assemblies that worked just fine.
Lynx BBQ Grill Ignition Repair — Glow Plugs and Hot Surface Ignition.
Glow Plug Igniter Electrode.
Lynx gas barbecue grills started using “glo-plug” ignition electrodes in 2007. The DCS “E” models were the first gas BBQ grill I saw with glow plugs and that was over 10 years ago. The Lynx design is part of a popular movement among high-end gas grill manufacturers with companies like Alfresco, FireMagic, Solaire also experimenting with glow plug igniters. Unfortunately Lynx is moving on and we the customers are going to pay the price.
glow plug electrode repair kit
Glow plug ignition electrodes are popular in outdoor barbecue grills because a glow plug will light gas in a strong wind and rain. The glow plug lights up like a light bulb and becomes extraordinarily hot very quickly. The glow plug electrode acts like and looks like a light build without the glass bulb surrounding the mono-filament. As long as the ignitor switch is depressed the glow plug will glow a bright white.
Originally Lynx has sparking electrodes that are the ubiquitous standard in modern barbecues. From the rotary modules of 2002 through the battery powered modules used on modern barbecues everywhere Lynx has moved to an electrical outlet that plugs into the wall. There is a battery powered module for the glow plugs but that is a back-up; the grill is designed to pull 120v from the
Lynx gas bbq grill ignition electrode and collector box.
normal electrical outlets.
The 2002 – 2005 Lynx electrodes used by Lynx were like miniature spark plugs. These electrodes were over three inches long and surrounded by a heavy stainless steel collector box.
In 2006 Lynx got rid of the collector box and started using a double prong electrode that is almost identical to the double prong electrodes used by TEC, Alfresco, Solaire and Viking. The Lynx electrode is not as heavy as the other versions of the double prong electrode but it also works well and is a lot less costly than other manufacturer’s electrode.
lynx gas barbecue grill electrode 2006
The glow plug electrodes that were being used in 2007 are like the original DCS glow plug electrodes but Lynx evolved to a slightly bend electrode that has been in use for about five years. The down-side to the Lynx glow-plugs is that they are mounted to the inner firewall of the barbecue just like the 2002 electrodes instead of being installed in a static, solid mounting tube like the R.H. Peterson FireMagic and the Alfresco glow plugs. As a result the Lynx glow plugs are able to be bumped around as the grill is used and the filament is easy to pop free and break.
Lynx glow plug are easy to replace and cost effective to repair. A Lynx glow plug replacement kit costs as much as a single DCS glow plug electrode but the Lynx kit includes all the glow plugs, hardware, wiring and instructions for the entire barbecue grill.
However, last week Lynx sent all of us dealers a note that the glow plug ignition electrode replacement kits are being discontinued. Lynx is changing their ignition assembly again in favor of a hot surface ignition assembly.
Hot Surface Gas Grill Ignition.
The hot surface has been a high-priced feature on gas log fireplaces for years that has become more common because of the federal government discussions about the safety and ecology of standing pilot fireplace control valves. Gas log manufacturers are scrambling to make the hot surface ignition valve more affordable just in case the standing pilot becomes unusable. Typically the standing pilot ignites the gas as the gas valve opens and gas exits the burner. The pilot is always burning so the gas will always ignite. The customer experiences an “on — off” remote control but the remote is only turning the gas on and off.
A hot surface ignition has a sensor opposite the igniter electrode with the pilot flame in-between so the electricity from the battery travels to the electrode to ground against the pilot, spark and ignite the gas. With the sensor the electricity travels through the pilot flame and the charge returns through the sensor to tell the module to stop sparking. If the pilot blows out the circuit is interrupted so the module is automatically sparking against the pilot flame bracket until the pilot flame re-ignites and allows the electric milli-volt to return through the sensor.
Lynx is installing a hot-surface ignition on all their new barbecue grills. That is fantastic; new technology is always exciting (when it works). The problem with the latest advancement is that Lynx is getting complaints about the glow-plugs and has decided not to manufacture replacement parts any longer.
As of April 2012 Lynx will not manufacture replacement glow plug electrode kits or the battery back-up modules for any of the Lynx gas grill models that were designed for these parts. Any Lynx grill owners hoping to replace their igniters with an inexpensive $38. glow plug kit are going to have to purchase a hot surface retro-fi kit from Lynx. These new hot surface igniter kits range from $257. to $318. Do not be fooled by those prices because the 12v requires a 110v GFI electrical outlet added and the new wiring that has to be installed as all the old wiring is removed will take anywhere from 2 hours to 5 hours depending on the experience of a technician.
Typically a gas grill technician is not a licensed electrician and will hesitate to work on electrical components. Fortunately the Alfresco and FireMagic hot-surface kits are so well made a service call to repair these igniters is very rare — and I expect the Lynx igniters to be just as reliable.
The problem is that retro-fitting these kits on a 2009 Lynx glow-plug system can mean spending several hundred dollars for the new kit and another $180. – $475. in service fees to have the igniters installed.
All of us here at Grill-Repair.com have chosen this field of work because we love to grill, to smoke, to barbecue and to eat the food we cook outdoors (i did not gain all this weight swimming in the ocean!). As avid barbecuers we would be reticent to spend $500. and more on an igniter when a long candle lighter costs $1.
We have ordered as many glow plug replacement kits as were available at Lynx so we can continue to repair the Lynx ignition assembly for less than $50. but at some point we will have to face this poor decision by Lynx.
ignition glow plug for gas barbecue grill
We have had clients choose to retro-fit different igniters into their Lynx grills before and I think that idea is going to return. However, retro-fitting the , reelable igniters is going to cost a fraction of the new costs — and will actually light the gas grill effectively and reliably.
Although Lynx is not going to make or sell the glow plugs they made from 2007 to 2009 they will continue to make available to igniter assemblies fro 1999 to 2006 and those igniters worked.
lynx module
Using the original Lynx module with a button mounted in the control panel or allowing the switch on the control valves to continue activating the ignition circuit the electrodes can be switched to any of the electrodes shown above — and many more. Without spending several hundreds of dollars in parts and labor the new Lynx gas barbecue grills can be retro fitted with the original Lynx ignition assemblies that worked just fine.
Barbecue Grill Conversion From Natural Gas to Propane And LP to NG.
hood style gas bbq grill conversion orifices with different openings
When a gas barbecue grill is being converted from natural gas to liquid propane or from liquid propane to natural gas there are 2 changes to the barbecue that have to be made. The regulators have to be changed.
Natural gas can be pressurized differently due to altitude, length of the gas line run and depending on how many appliances are on the same gas line. However, once the gas is coming into the barbecue grill the appliance regulator is usually going to regulate natural gas at two to four inches of water column. Because we are working with pressures less than one pound per square inch measuring the inches of water column displacement allows denominations of pressure.
Liquid propane can also be under different pressures but as LP gas comes into the barbecue grill it will always be pressurized to eleven inches of water column displacement.
In addition to changing the regulator when converting a barbeque grill from one gas type to another gas type the orifice on each control valve on the BBQ has to be changed. That means the side burner controls, rotisserie controls, the main BBQ valve controls, smoker controls, every control valve will have an orifice on it and every orifice has to be changed. LP gas is a solid liquid that vaporizes (boils) into a gas when it is being used in low-pressure appliances like gas fireplaces, fire pits and barbecue grills. A orifice for LP gas will be drilled with an opening determined by the BTU rating of the BBQ burner.
The image above shows hood-style orifices that screw onto a control valve. When installed into the barbecue the orifice will be inserted into the venturi tube of the gas grill burner and will spit gas into the burner to ignite. The hole in the orifice will determine how much gas flows into the burner and how hot the barbecue grill can become.
control valve to orifice to burner demonstration
In the image showing above the far left hood orifice shows a starter hole which is how a orifice comes when it is brand new. The center image shows the hole in the orifice drilled for 25,000 BTU gas grill. Most barbecues have a burner rating of 11,000 to 13,000 BTU but these orifices were taken from a barbecue that uses a “U” burner which is like having 2 straight pipe burners. The far right image is an orifice made for natural gas. Notice the opening in the natural gas orifice is twice the size of the LP orifice.
spud style orifices will screw into the control valve.
The spud-style orifice showing in this image screws IN to the control valve instead of ON to the control valve like the hood-style orifices showing above. Different manufacturers will use different sizes and styles or spud orifices. Either type of orifice works the same way. All the orifices in this image are new and have starter holes in them. The starter hole, if used would allow approximately 7,ooo BTU of LP gas and if installed in a NG grill no gas would pass through this hole.
The two orifices showing on the left side of this image are both used in different versions of the Turbo STS model gas barbecues. On our site where these Turbo bbq grill repair parts are available the far left orifice is item 31500 and the smaller orifice to the right of the far left orifice is item 31300. The smaller spud orifice is approximately 5 mm at the hex head and the 31500 is 9 mm.
Some gas barbecues will have different orifices in the control valves and other orifices in the rotisserie, side burner or smoker burner so always check to be sure of what is needed. An orifice is basically like the jet in an old carburetor. The gas flow is affected by the opening in the orifice.
viking bbq grill control valves with orifice
As an example this is a picture of a Viking control valve with a hood orifice on it. If this was in a natural gas barbecue and the barbeque needed to be converted to use LP gas this orifice just unscrews and the new one screws onto the control valve. The orifices are not usually visible in the bbq. Remove the cooking grates, the heat plates and lift the burners out of the barbecue. In the front fire wall inside the cooking area is the hole where the venturi tube of the bbq burner goes into the control panel. Using a 7/16 inch ratchet socket the orifice can be unscrewed and the new orifice screwed onto the valve.
Majestic Grill Parts
4 Feburary 2012.
Service@Grill-Repair.com
954.247.4552.
Barbecue Grill Conversion From Natural Gas to Propane And LP to NG.
hood style gas bbq grill conversion orifices with different openings
When a gas barbecue grill is being converted from natural gas to liquid propane or from liquid propane to natural gas there are 2 changes to the barbecue that have to be made. The regulators have to be changed.
Natural gas can be pressurized differently due to altitude, length of the gas line run and depending on how many appliances are on the same gas line. However, once the gas is coming into the barbecue grill the appliance regulator is usually going to regulate natural gas at two to four inches of water column. Because we are working with pressures less than one pound per square inch measuring the inches of water column displacement allows denominations of pressure.
Liquid propane can also be under different pressures but as LP gas comes into the barbecue grill it will always be pressurized to eleven inches of water column displacement.
In addition to changing the regulator when converting a barbeque grill from one gas type to another gas type the orifice on each control valve on the BBQ has to be changed. That means the side burner controls, rotisserie controls, the main BBQ valve controls, smoker controls, every control valve will have an orifice on it and every orifice has to be changed. LP gas is a solid liquid that vaporizes (boils) into a gas when it is being used in low-pressure appliances like gas fireplaces, fire pits and barbecue grills. A orifice for LP gas will be drilled with an opening determined by the BTU rating of the BBQ burner.
The image above shows hood-style orifices that screw onto a control valve. When installed into the barbecue the orifice will be inserted into the venturi tube of the gas grill burner and will spit gas into the burner to ignite. The hole in the orifice will determine how much gas flows into the burner and how hot the barbecue grill can become.
control valve to orifice to burner demonstration
In the image showing above the far left hood orifice shows a starter hole which is how a orifice comes when it is brand new. The center image shows the hole in the orifice drilled for 25,000 BTU gas grill. Most barbecues have a burner rating of 11,000 to 13,000 BTU but these orifices were taken from a barbecue that uses a “U” burner which is like having 2 straight pipe burners. The far right image is an orifice made for natural gas. Notice the opening in the natural gas orifice is twice the size of the LP orifice.
spud style orifices will screw into the control valve.
The spud-style orifice showing in this image screws IN to the control valve instead of ON to the control valve like the hood-style orifices showing above. Different manufacturers will use different sizes and styles or spud orifices. Either type of orifice works the same way. All the orifices in this image are new and have starter holes in them. The starter hole, if used would allow approximately 7,ooo BTU of LP gas and if installed in a NG grill no gas would pass through this hole.
The two orifices showing on the left side of this image are both used in different versions of the Turbo STS model gas barbecues. On our site where these Turbo bbq grill repair parts are available the far left orifice is item 31500 and the smaller orifice to the right of the far left orifice is item 31300. The smaller spud orifice is approximately 5 mm at the hex head and the 31500 is 9 mm.
Some gas barbecues will have different orifices in the control valves and other orifices in the rotisserie, side burner or smoker burner so always check to be sure of what is needed. An orifice is basically like the jet in an old carburetor. The gas flow is affected by the opening in the orifice.
viking bbq grill control valves with orifice
As an example this is a picture of a Viking control valve with a hood orifice on it. If this was in a natural gas barbecue and the barbeque needed to be converted to use LP gas this orifice just unscrews and the new one screws onto the control valve. The orifices are not usually visible in the bbq. Remove the cooking grates, the heat plates and lift the burners out of the barbecue. In the front fire wall inside the cooking area is the hole where the venturi tube of the bbq burner goes into the control panel. Using a 7/16 inch ratchet socket the orifice can be unscrewed and the new orifice screwed onto the valve.
Majestic Grill Parts
4 Feburary 2012.
Service@Grill-Repair.com
954.247.4552.
Firemagic Built In Grill and Accessories In New Custom Outdoor Kitchen 2012
If you are on this page you know we build custom outdoor kitchens on-site, for perfectly fabricated backyard grill islands and bars in South Florida. This is our latest backyard and we did a lot of work here. This custom outdoor kitchen is built for a beautiful Firemagic gas grill with infrared burners, cast stainless convection burners, glow-plug ignition electrodes and all the solid features that make R.H. Peterson one of the best backyard accessory fabricators in the world.
custom firemagic outdoor kitchen with blue granite
The Firemagic OCBE is an insert that can be used to install a gas fire pit burner in to any custom designed fire pit structure. This fire pit structure was designed by the homeowner and it was finished using the same granite and stone work to match the house and columns and the outdoor kitchen we built. The gas firepit is controlled with a on/off remote transmitter. The fire pit has natural lava rock stones in the center to radiate heat and allow the flames to move and shift naturally. We also install a stainless ring in our gas fire pits so the heat is shielded from the edge of the custom fabricated granite.
When any gas flame touches a solid object carbon is created and the flame carbon will leave marks on this beautiful blue and gold granite slab. Carbon is usually very easy to wipe-off but most people are not cleaning their built in barbeque grill and gas fire pit every day. We use a stainless ring to push the flame a little bit higher and this saves the granite color. If they choose to hide the ring it can be made slightly smaller and lava rock will rest on the outside of the ring to camouflage the stainless inside the lava rocks.
Custom fire pit with blue granite and natural stone bricks
This gas fire pit is also remote controlled. Instead of natural lava rocks this fire pit has crushed fireglass. The fire glass is crushed black but we also used orange and green fire glass to put a logo for the University of Miami in the fireglass. When the gas fire pit is burning the flames will move across and around the crushed fire glass for a sparkling and colorful effect.
custom fire pit with crushed fire glass university of Miami
Firemagic Built In Grill and Accessories In New Custom Outdoor Kitchen 2012
If you are on this page you know we build custom outdoor kitchens on-site, for perfectly fabricated backyard grill islands and bars in South Florida. This is our latest backyard and we did a lot of work here. This custom outdoor kitchen is built for a beautiful Firemagic gas grill with infrared burners, cast stainless convection burners, glow-plug ignition electrodes and all the solid features that make R.H. Peterson one of the best backyard accessory fabricators in the world.
custom firemagic outdoor kitchen with blue granite
The Firemagic OCBE is an insert that can be used to install a gas fire pit burner in to any custom designed fire pit structure. This fire pit structure was designed by the homeowner and it was finished using the same granite and stone work to match the house and columns and the outdoor kitchen we built. The gas firepit is controlled with a on/off remote transmitter. The fire pit has natural lava rock stones in the center to radiate heat and allow the flames to move and shift naturally. We also install a stainless ring in our gas fire pits so the heat is shielded from the edge of the custom fabricated granite.
When any gas flame touches a solid object carbon is created and the flame carbon will leave marks on this beautiful blue and gold granite slab. Carbon is usually very easy to wipe-off but most people are not cleaning their built in barbeque grill and gas fire pit every day. We use a stainless ring to push the flame a little bit higher and this saves the granite color. If they choose to hide the ring it can be made slightly smaller and lava rock will rest on the outside of the ring to camouflage the stainless inside the lava rocks.
Custom fire pit with blue granite and natural stone bricks
This gas fire pit is also remote controlled. Instead of natural lava rocks this fire pit has crushed fireglass. The fire glass is crushed black but we also used orange and green fire glass to put a logo for the University of Miami in the fireglass. When the gas fire pit is burning the flames will move across and around the crushed fire glass for a sparkling and colorful effect.
custom fire pit with crushed fire glass university of Miami