Ignitor recharging

Boom! The classic potato gun harnesses the combustion of flammable vapor. Show us your combustion spud gun and discuss fuels, ratios, safety, ignition systems, tools, and more.
reapez
Private
Private
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Apr 13, 2007 7:21 pm

Sun Apr 15, 2007 11:11 am

do ignitors need to recharge after 20-30 clicks? o noticed i have to reduce the gap between the nails in order for spark to jump, the more times i click the shorter the distance has to be :(.

:roll:
User avatar
hi
Staff Sergeant 2
Staff Sergeant 2
Posts: 1619
Joined: Thu Feb 01, 2007 9:28 pm

Sun Apr 15, 2007 11:14 am

i never had that problem. is you mean like a normal bbq, then no because thats now how they work. what will cause the spark to go down is corrosion, if you are using deodorant for propellant then that may be whats causing it, so maybe replace the nails.
User avatar
FiveseveN
Specialist 3
Specialist 3
Posts: 337
Joined: Fri Oct 14, 2005 5:48 am
Location: Nowhere
Contact:

Sun Apr 15, 2007 11:16 am

Please note that there are many kinds of ignition methods you could use: http://www.spudfiles.com/spud_wiki/inde ... on_sources
If we're talking about piezoelectric BBQ igniters, then they should have consistent performance (i.e. no, they don't).
reapez
Private
Private
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Apr 13, 2007 7:21 pm

Sun Apr 15, 2007 11:26 am

i cleaned the nails, still a weak spark :( :twisted:
reapez
Private
Private
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Apr 13, 2007 7:21 pm

Sun Apr 15, 2007 11:30 am

i bought a lighter ignitor(electric, click lighter thingys) and a bbq ignitor, looks the same lol. both get weaker and weaker the more i use it
SpudBlaster15
First Sergeant 3
First Sergeant 3
Seychelles
Posts: 2400
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 11:12 pm
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 10 times

Sun Apr 15, 2007 12:51 pm

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Cras nec placerat erat. Vivamus dapibus egestas nunc, at eleifend neque. Suspendisse potenti. Sed dictum lacus eu nisl pretium vehicula. Ut faucibus hendrerit nisi. Integer ultricies orci eu ultrices malesuada. Fusce id mauris risus. Suspendisse finibus ligula et nisl rutrum efficitur. Vestibulum posuere erat pellentesque ornare venenatis. Integer commodo fermentum tortor in pharetra. Proin scelerisque consectetur posuere. Vestibulum molestie augue ac nibh feugiat scelerisque. Sed aliquet a nunc in mattis.
Last edited by SpudBlaster15 on Wed Jul 14, 2021 3:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
iPaintball
Corporal 2
Corporal 2
Posts: 695
Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2007 8:37 pm

Sun Apr 15, 2007 1:34 pm

I noticed something similar to what you are experienceing. I'm guessing when a high voltage spark is produced via the piezoelctric effect, all the charge must be drained if the next reaction is to produce the same voltage. If the spark gap is too far apart, too much energy is wasted ionizing the air in between the electrodes, so not all the power is drained. This is just a theory, but It seems to explain power loss in BBQ ignitors... One thing i noticed when the electrodes are far apart is after the electricity fails to arc across the gap, some of the carge is still stored in the ignitor.(i.e. a capacitor)
reapez
Private
Private
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Apr 13, 2007 7:21 pm

Sun Apr 15, 2007 2:13 pm

i wonder if it takes a certain amount of time for the charge to dissipate before it will work like new again? :lol:
User avatar
iPaintball
Corporal 2
Corporal 2
Posts: 695
Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2007 8:37 pm

Sun Apr 15, 2007 2:56 pm

What worked for me was just touching the hot electrode after every shot. This way the charge stored inside will be realeased instantly.
reapez
Private
Private
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Apr 13, 2007 7:21 pm

Sun Apr 15, 2007 2:57 pm

touching with your hand?
User avatar
iPaintball
Corporal 2
Corporal 2
Posts: 695
Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2007 8:37 pm

Sun Apr 15, 2007 3:08 pm

Yah. You can hardly even feel it. Quotes on after...
reapez
Private
Private
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Apr 13, 2007 7:21 pm

Sun Apr 15, 2007 3:34 pm

yh i think that helps lol.
Post Reply