Pilot Lights

A pilot light is a small gas flame, usually natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas, which serves as an ignition source for a more powerful gas burner. Originally a pilot light was kept permanently alight, but this wastes gas. Now it is more common to light a burner electrically, but gas pilot lights are still used when a high energy ignition source is necessary, as in when lighting a large burner. A United States patent was filed May 13, 1922, for a "safety gas-control system" by two employees of the Newark, New Jersey–based Public Service Gas Company, Conrad Shuck, Jr. and George Layer. The term "pilot light" is also used occasionally for an electrical indicator light that illuminates to show that electrical power is available, or that an electrical device is operating.