Questions about a Piezo igniter

[Fischer777]

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]

hi there

if the constant deformation of the quartz crystal as its struck doesn't 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]

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]

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 can't answer that, maybe one of the guru's can. I haven't personally seen anything in print.

Dave