Questions about a Piezo igniter

Fischer777 · Nov 6, 2011

Questions about a Piezo igniter......

About how many times can one strike a piezo igniter before it wears out, or before it's electrical output is severely reduced?

davenn · Nov 7, 2011

Re: Questions about a Piezo igniter......

hi there

if the constant deformation of the quartz crystal as its struck doesnt physically damage the crystal ... ie crack/shatter it, then I have no reason to believe that it would ever fail to produce a spark.
it is interesting to note tho (wiki...) that piezo igniters become unreliable at altitude...significantly so at >8000ft.

here's a page where a guy set up a test jig to test a piezo igniter. firing it 25 times a minute, at 111,000 strikes it was the mechanics that gave up, not the quartz crystal!!!!
http://www.gswagner.com/piezo/piezo.html

cheers
Dave

Fischer777 · Nov 9, 2011

Re: Questions about a Piezo igniter......

Also, does a piezo lighter/igniter have a distinct 'positive' and 'negative' terminals, or does it create and rapid 'alternating current' (a strong negative voltage followed by an equally strong positive voltage)?

davenn · Nov 9, 2011

Re: Questions about a Piezo igniter......

Fischer777 said: ↑

Also, does a piezo lighter/igniter have a distinct 'positive' and 'negative' terminals, or does it create and rapid 'alternating current' (a strong negative voltage followed by an equally strong positive voltage)?

I cant answer that, maybe one of the guru's can. I havent personally seen anything in print.

Dave

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Questions about a Piezo igniter

Fischer777

davenn

Fischer777

davenn