I did go to youtube and concluded I could do that.
I got the burner assembly out this morning only to find that AO Smith does not use a "standard" thermocouple. The one they have is acteally as if it were in two segments joined by a capacitor about half way down the sensor tube.
ILowes does not handle any thermocouples at all. Home Depot had a couple of universal, should fit all (most) hot water heaters. None had the capacitor configuration.
So tomorrow when the world gets back to work I will ask AO Smith customer service if a universal replacement is interchangeable with their design. One could surmize that a thermocouple is a thermocouple and it will perform it's function regardless of design. Maybe not. I am concerned there may be some effect of the capacitor design that might keep the controller from recognizing the signal from the universal.
I love getting these unplanned educationsI am off to the hot tub to for at least a rinse!!
btk
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