Electric Lighters - how do they work?

[Chu]

Anyone know how electric lighters work? I took off the housing and now have a long tube, that when I press in sends a lightning bolt from the tip of the lighter to my palm. Really cool. How is such a large voltage difference generated in such a tiny device?

-Chu

 

[johnnnny5]

that's awesome

 

[Chu]

On another note, shocking my palm produces a sharp stabbing sensation for a split second, that doesn't really hurt if your expecting it, and you get the cool bolt. Shocking a tooth produces MASSIVE pain that you can still feel the throbbing aftereffects from a minute later. I really don't want to know what a root canal feels like.

 

[Geniere]

The piezoelectric effect is what powers your lighter. Striking a crystal with a tiny hammer similar to a gun?s trigger mechanism causes the crystal to produce a spark. The converse also occurs, a crystal will distort when a voltage is applied across it. If the voltage is alternating, the crystal will vibrate at a frequency determined by its thickness and can, if in a suitable circuit, control the applied voltage oscillation period. The frequency produced can be held to a high precision thus making them useful in watches and computers.

 

[EarthwormJim]

Originally posted by: Chu
On another note, shocking my palm produces a sharp stabbing sensation for a split second, that doesn't really hurt if your expecting it, and you get the cool bolt. Shocking a tooth produces MASSIVE pain that you can still feel the throbbing aftereffects from a minute later. I really don't want to know what a root canal feels like.

Wow

 

[zetter]

Theres a description of how it works at How Stuff Works.

 

[Description]

If it hurts so much, say...don't do it?

 

[HappyPuppy]

I can't believe that someone actually applied this to their tooth.

Wait, yes I can. :roll:

 

[natto fire]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
I can't believe that someone actually applied this to their tooth.

Wait, yes I can. :roll:

All in the pursuit of science...

 

[exar333]

lol....he must have lost some kind of bet wirth his friends....
"you get the honor of trying it out on your tooth"

 

[Indolent]

sneak up to someone and get them on the funny bone

 

[mrwxyz]

my friend has a trick pen like that, when you click it to open it you get shocked...and its pretty strong

Originally posted by: Captain_Howdy

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
I can't believe that someone actually applied this to their tooth.

Wait, yes I can. :roll:

All in the pursuit of science...

in the pursuit of science....he tried it on his tooth after i told him about this...

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: mrwxyz
my friend has a trick pen like that, when you click it to open it you get shocked...and its pretty strong
in the pursuit of science....he tried it on his tooth after i told him about this...

and? do tell

 

[mrwxyz]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: mrwxyz
my friend has a trick pen like that, when you click it to open it you get shocked...and its pretty strong
in the pursuit of science....he tried it on his tooth after i told him about this...

and? do tell

there were a lot of four letter words thrown out of his mouth after the pen went in
i dont think he'll ever do that again...

 

[Dulanic]

Can't be as bad as shocking yourself with a tazer... mmm fun.

 

[wkwong]

lol, i can only imagine. reminds me of my friend touching one of those electric fly swatters

 

[buleyb]

once again proving electricity can hurt people....I'd love to see the hypothesis that led to this experiment

 

[mrwxyz]

Originally posted by: buleyb
once again proving electricity can hurt people....I'd love to see the hypothesis that led to this experiment

hypothesis: The electric shock will hurt a lot and cause immense pain.
data: pain
conclusion: The electric shock does hurt a lot and cause immense pain.

 

[Bassyhead]

Originally posted by: Chu
On another note, shocking my palm produces a sharp stabbing sensation for a split second, that doesn't really hurt if your expecting it, and you get the cool bolt. Shocking a tooth produces MASSIVE pain that you can still feel the throbbing aftereffects from a minute later. I really don't want to know what a root canal feels like.

keep it away from down there. better yet, find something else to do.

 

old gas grill igniters pack an even bigger punch

and man, keep em away from the teeth

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Dulanic
Can't be as bad as shocking yourself with a tazer... mmm fun.

a couple morons in my old dorm did that.

"Dude, we got this tazer...who wants to get shocked?"

I mean honestly, who volunteers for something like that?

 

[NotSoSimple]

The best prank toy: Shocking Mouse

Hmm put that in the server room and then tell your co-worker that the servers down....Hes freaking out, then touches the mouse.. ZAP!

 

[Charles William]

It comprises of a little, spring-stacked mallet which, when a catch is squeezed, hits a precious stone of PZT or quartz gem. Quartz is piezoelectric, which implies that it makes a voltage when distorted. This sudden mighty distortion creates a high voltage and resulting electrical release, which touches off the gas.

 

[FeuerFrei]

The piezoelectric effect is what powers your lighter. Striking a crystal with a tiny hammer similar to a gun?s trigger mechanism causes the crystal to produce a spark. The converse also occurs, a crystal will distort when a voltage is applied across it. If the voltage is alternating, the crystal will vibrate at a frequency determined by its thickness and can, if in a suitable circuit, control the applied voltage oscillation period. The frequency produced can be held to a high precision thus making them useful in watches and computers.

Which somehow gave rise to false new age doctrine that crystals have some sort of mystical power to channel energy for therapeutic purposes, or enable mediums to interact with demons (I mean "spirit guides" lol).