Troubleshooting Nichrome Wire for Cigarette Lighter

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around troubleshooting the use of nichrome wire as a heating element for a cigarette lighter, specifically addressing issues related to heating performance when powered by a 9V battery. Participants explore the electrical characteristics and requirements for effectively heating the wire.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes experiencing rapid heating followed by cooling of the nichrome wire when connected to a 9V battery, questioning whether this is due to shorting the battery.
  • Another participant explains that drawing too much current from a battery can create a depletion zone, causing the battery to appear dead temporarily, and notes that a standard 9V battery is insufficient for this application.
  • A participant seeks clarification on whether current or voltage is more relevant for heating the nichrome wire and requests guidance on equations to determine the necessary voltage and current for achieving the desired temperature.
  • One participant provides the equation relating voltage, current, and resistance (E=IR) and mentions that power dissipated in the wire is what heats it (P=EI).
  • A later reply references a specific table indicating that the nichrome wire requires almost 1.5 amps to reach 400°F.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that a standard 9V battery is inadequate for heating the nichrome wire effectively, but there is no consensus on the specific electrical requirements or the best approach to achieve the desired heating.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying levels of familiarity with electrical concepts, which may affect the depth of technical discussion. There are unresolved questions regarding the precise calculations needed for the application.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals interested in electrical engineering, DIY electronics, or those exploring the practical applications of resistance wire in heating elements.

JamesIzzard
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Hello all...
I have been having some trouble with some nickel/chromium resistance wire I have brought to act as a heating element, it is 0.375mm dia. and I am using 100mm lengths. I had originally intended to heat it up with a standard 9V battery, but it is behaving strangely when I connect it to the +ive & -ive terminals. It seems to heat up very quickly at first, as it should, and then stop heating and cool down after the first few seconds. It is definitely not flattening the battery, because if I wait a while and try again, the same thing happens.
Is this something to do with it shorting the battery, and is it even possible to heat wire like this with a 9V battery, ideally so it glows red. (I am trying to make a cigarrette lighter)
Apologies if this is a stupid question, electricity really is not my strong point :)
 
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Welcome to PF.

When you draw too much current from a battery it can create a depletion zone and the battery will act like it is dead.
Disconnected, new carriers can migrate to the chemical interface and the battery will recover.
In general, this greatly shortens the usable life of the battery.

A standard 9V battery is far to small for your application.
The max output is about 50ma to achieve rated lifetime.
 
Ahh Ok right, that sounds like exactly what has been happening.
In terms of heat output of the nichrome wire then, is the current or the voltage more relevant, and why, and also I don't know where to start looking for equations to help me work out the nescessary voltages/amps needed to heat the wire to the nescessary temperature, could anybody point me in the right direction.
Sorry about asking for what I am sure is basic knowledge, I am more in the field of force mechanics, and am pretty new to electricity.
 
E=IR.
Or Voltage = Current times Resistance.
As you can see from that, all the values are related.

Power dissipated in the wire heats it.
P=EI.
 
According to this table: http://www.wiretron.com/nicrdat.html
Your wire requires almost 1.5 amps to reach 400 F.
 
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