This page shows how I got a piezoelectric igniter from a lighter. Piezoelectric igniters are useful wherever you need to make a spark and can do so manually. For DIYers the spark is usually used to ignite a gas, such as in a spud gun.

Make sure you get the right kind of lighter (see photo below, left.) You want the type where you simply press down on something. The type that has a wheel that you turn does not have a piezoelectric igniter inside.

To get at the insides, in most cases you just need to pry off some sort of metal or plastic cover that's in the area the flame goes through (see photo on left.)

Comparison of piezoelectric ignitor type of lighter and a striker and flint type of lighter.
Only the lighter on the left has a pizeoelectric igniter.
Prying the cover off a lighter to get at the piezoelectric igniter inside.
Prying off the cover.

The photos below show where the spark appears in the lighter. The spark is arranged in the path of the gas so that it'll ignite it. Pressing down on the igniter both creates the spark and opens a valve to let the gas flow out. The spark ignites the gas and you get a flame.

Where the spark occurs in the lighter due to the piezoelectric igniter.
The parts that create the spark.
The spark from the piezoelecrtic igniter igniting the gas in the lighter to create a flame.
The spark igniting the gas.

Once you've removed the cover, as described above, the piezoelectric igniter can usually just be pulled out easily.

Pulling a piezoelectric igniter from a lighter.
Taking out the piezoelectric igniter.
The two electricaly connection points on a piezoelectric igniter to be used if you want to make a spark, such as in a spud gun.
Anatomy of the igniter.

In the photo below I've completely exposed the piezoelectric crystal, removing it from the igniter mechanism so that I can activate the crystal by hitting it hard against the piece of aluminum foil on the table. The oscilloscope shows the resulting 320 volt spike.

Removing the crystal from the igniter mechanism like this isn't usually desired. You want the igniter mechanism because it gives you an easy way to activate the crystal, simply by pressing a trigger. I did this for experimental reasons only.

Testing the piezoelectric crystal from the lighter using an oscilloscope.
Testing the piezoelectric crystal with an oscilloscope.

Below I'm showing how you'd connect wires to this particular igniter so that the spark can be put anywhere you want, at the other ends of the two wires.

The test setup with wires connected to the piezoelectric igniter and leading to a spark gap as they would in a spud gun.
Test setup as it would be in a spud gun.
Closeup of the wires connected to the piezoelectric igniter and the spark gap.
Closeup of the connections and spark gap.

Here is a sample of igniters I've taken from various lighters over the years. The two on the right were from BBQ lighters. Notice that they all have two connection points where the high voltage spike is taken from, where you'd normally connect wires to.

Three different piezoelectric igniters, one from a cigarette lighter and two from BBQ lighters.
Different piezoelectric igniters.

Video - How to take Piezoelectric Igniter from Lighter for Spud Gun

The following is a video showing my full analysis of the igniter as used in a lighter and how I got it out and tested it.

Other piezoelectricity explorations

More topics

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