Piezo ignition, discuss

For all high tech electronic equipment including GPS, PLB, chargers, phones, computers, software. Discussion of simple electrical devices such as torches, belongs in the main 'Equipment' forum.

Re: Piezo ignition, discuss

Postby keithy » Wed 30 Jun, 2021 10:50 am

Ms_Mudd wrote:Had my first piezo malfunction on the weekend!!! It still worked, but didnt 'click' first go a few times each use, it was very cold, does that affect it? I don't think my gas mix was great either


That is interesting. I haven't had problems with my original Kovea igniter nor my DIY igniters below zero - but I've only used them around 0 to -5.

Was the igniter not sparking at all? Usually for not sparking, I found it could be moisture/condensation on the sparking rod or conductive metal sheath. Aside from that the only thing I could think of is damage to the hammer or spring that hits the piezo crystal.

What sort of fuel were you trying to ignite? I generally use mine with propane/butane mix canisters. If using alcohol stoves, I have had difficulty igniting trangia style alcohol stoves in cold temps with igniters.
User avatar
keithy
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 737
Joined: Tue 28 Oct, 2014 5:31 pm
Region: Other Country
Gender: Male

Re: Piezo ignition, discuss

Postby Ms_Mudd » Fri 02 Jul, 2021 1:02 am

Yes, no spark at all.

It was a cheaper cannister, will look at the mix tomorrow. Used it the following week in the snow, better cannister (jetboil) and no dramas. Also used the following week at about 2c with no problems. Weird.
User avatar
Ms_Mudd
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1033
Joined: Fri 23 Mar, 2018 11:26 am
Location: NSW
Region: New South Wales
Gender: Female

Re: Piezo ignition, discuss

Postby Orion » Thu 29 Jul, 2021 10:42 am

My first Piezo stove (a SnowPeak model) was wonderful. To reach out blindly from my sleeping bag and flick on the stove with one hand seemed like the ultimate in convenience.

But eventually it started acting up. After a while I removed it. Subsequent stoves with piezos were flaky at best. Worked sometimes, not others. Unreliable. Now I simply remove the piezo on a new stove to save weight and frustration. I carry a small Bic lighter and a second as a backup. I can't remember ever needing the backup.

If you have a piezo that works well that's wonderful. Enjoy it. Realize that it's not the norm.
Orion
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1963
Joined: Mon 02 Feb, 2009 12:33 pm
Region: Other Country

Re: Piezo ignition, discuss

Postby Lamont » Sun 08 Aug, 2021 10:05 am

Well I've now gone a few months without a Piezo and after Craig's reco went with a handful of mini-bics. Well over a hundred boils and the same mini-bic is still kicking. It means I can carry something much smaller and lighter-BRS3000 or much, much smaller and much lighter-Speedster set up. For most of the year and most of the time -Piezoisanogoandhomeitstays :D
User avatar
Lamont
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1960
Joined: Sun 21 Feb, 2016 1:27 pm
Location: Upper Kumbukta West
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: https://www.againstmalaria.com/
Region: Other Country

Re: Piezo ignition, discuss

Postby Neo » Sat 19 Feb, 2022 5:22 pm

Ahh, am now finding if I crank up the gas the piezo strikes no worries. Perhaps that was my issue before.
Neo
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1886
Joined: Wed 31 Aug, 2016 4:53 pm
Location: Port Macquarie NSW
Region: New South Wales
Gender: Male

Re: Piezo ignition, discuss

Postby Gadgetgeek » Wed 23 Feb, 2022 6:54 pm

For my way of doing things, I always have a method of fire starting that will light the stove and a fire, so a piezo isn't a factor. The piezo only does one thing, and doesn't do it well. If someone wanted to have a sparker that wasn't a lighter and still was one-handed, there are several on the market that are pretty much a flint and striker wheel in a single unit, good enough to light something like tinder-card or the good old PJCB in addition to a stove. The only stove I have that needs a little more thought is if I'm running the whisperlite on kero, I need something more than a spark to get it to prime, but that's a minor factor, and generally a field solvable one, considering it only needs about a second or so of flame.
Gadgetgeek
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1214
Joined: Sun 23 Sep, 2012 4:10 pm
Region: Queensland
Gender: Male

Previous

Return to Techno-Babble

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 9 guests