Why doesn’t it need electricity?

Each SunStar Corcho heater is equipped with a thermocouple incorporated in the ODS assembly. This is also the flame failure safety system. The heat from the pilot light warms the thermocouple and the dissimilar metals in the thermocouple react to the heat from the pilot flame and create a small amount of electricity (e.g. millivolts of electricity). This electricity from the heat is then used to energize a magnet in the gas valve to open it against the tension created by a spring in the gas valve. This allows gas to go to the burners. When the pilot flame is extinguished and is no longer generating heat on the thermocouple and, thereby, millivolts of electricity, the magnet de-energizes and the spring shuts the valve off. This is designed to turn off all the gas to the burner and pilot system. The use of this safety system and the gas fuel are the reasons that no electricity is needed to operate a SunStar Corcho heater. This product will still provide heat to your home even during power outages.