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This piezo igniter can be used for all sorts of applications where you need a spark to make fun things happen. With a large red button, easy mounting, and a long detachable ignition cable, this would be a perfect fit for your next spud cannon, rocket launcher, or flamethrower.
The igniter itself is about 3.5" long, with a 0.65" diameter barrel (for mounting). The cable is just over 2 feet in length.
Check out the April Fools prank with According to Pete's Electrified Coin Prank for information about the piezo igniter and implementing it in a project.
Whether it's for assembling a kit, hacking an enclosure, or creating your own parts; the DIY skill is all about knowing how to use tools and the techniques associated with them.
Skill Level: Noob - Basic assembly is required. You may need to provide your own basic tools like a screwdriver, hammer or scissors. Power tools or custom parts are not required. Instructions will be included and easy to follow. Sewing may be required, but only with included patterns.
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Based on 2 ratings:
1 of 1 found this helpful:
Used this device to add to my weed burner torch to assist in lighting it.
Works great
Igniter replaced original part perfectly.
I'm thinking it could be used as a potato gun ignition.
maybe.... http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:114105
I would like to order this piezo igniter
Where is the other electrode on this? I only see the one on the tip. And what is the fourth picture showing?
On the side close to the metal nut (it touch the metal nut)
How much voltage does one press create?
Enough to jump about an inch, so roughly 20,000 volts if Mythbusters is anything to go by.
Mythbusters are awesome.
This is a proven fact...by Mythbusters.
I can't figure out how to use it with my potato gun. I put a screw through the hole provided and no spark was created. How do I ground it?
I think this can shock the begeezus out of you too! Use caution! or not? ;-)
I've personally shocked myself about a dozen times trying to get it to spark other things. It hurts, but not too bad.
dont know how much i can say about this topic, but for use on a spud cannon i would extend the probe more into the center of the cannon. when using traditional aerosol propellants i have had poor luck with them mixing well leaving you in a situation where it wont fire... i took a few inches of ~1/8" rod metal and bent it into a longer spark plug to get it into the center of the chamber... otherwise they work great!
warning, unless you wire up a ground from a contact on the side of the button to a couple mm gap at the electrode, this wont do anything in the way of ignition.
How could I go about that in a layman's terms? I'm new to this...
Does this spark multiple times when the button is held down, or does it only spark once per press???
Once per press. Each press strikes the piezoelectric element once which in turn creates one spark. I'm 99.9% positive that this is not one of the battery powered spark generators used in many newer grills.
You can get a continuous spark gap igniter here.
Just a warning: Piezo igniters don't work over 8,000 feet.
Uh, yeah... If you're trying to blow stuff up at over 8k feet, you might have other concerns.
That is probably fortunate, because aircraft cabins are pressurized to the equivalent of 8000 feet.
heh, the govt. is on to you
It also means a rocket or compressed-air powered line-slinger using this part as a trigger mechanism won't be reliable over 8,000 ft. That's probably a good thing to know before deciding to build such a device for use on outdoor trips, including at higher elevations (e.g. parts of the Rocky Mountains).
Is the button mechanical? Like the ones in my gas BBQ?
I'd like to find some that are battery powered/electric and pulse while button is pushed.
It uses piezoelectricity, which is created by inducing mechanical strain on a piezoelectric disk.
I'm thinking 5 of these in some kind of ignition system for pointless things that go bang really loud.
If you do that, I promise that we will do a homepage post about it :-)
Depends on whether I live through the experience of it or not. Is it possible to get extension cable for this? (Could you stock it perhaps?) Thanks.
It seems to me you could power an image converter tube with one of these. No battery, no high voltage inverter, just mash the button and see in the dark!
Just seeing a product like this is enough to get me excited! Though, I might need more than two feet to stay clear of... well, a fiery blast.
I know right! The whiteboard behind me has designs for a spud cannon with a recoil system and adjustable angle, etc, etc. I really am curious to see what people do with this one.