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paulz
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# Posted: 20 Oct 2018 09:56am
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The igniter for my heater isn't sparking. The Home Depot one doesn't have the cable (?) extension, can I use my old one? I popped the button off, I guess there's a crystal in there behind the spring? Can one from a lighter be used?
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paulz
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# Posted: 26 Oct 2018 12:15pm
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This thing workin'?
So I mucked around with the Piezo (bet you don't know what the word means, or how to pronounce it. Or care..). Got it working, I can see it spark in the little pilot light hole but it won't light the pilot.
I'm at the nick picking stage with my new fabulous wall heater but it would be nice not to have to unscrew the little window to stick a flame in there to light it. Anyone else got a working Piezo?
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bobrok
Member
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# Posted: 26 Oct 2018 01:14pm
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The positioning of the spark tip can be tricky. I kept repositioning mine (on my propane fridge) until it worked correctly. FWIW.
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SCSJeff
Member
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# Posted: 26 Oct 2018 04:46pm
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Mine barely worked when it was new. We actually took it out of the heater and tested it for spark. Took quite a while of pushing before it sparked. Seems once it is cold (when I actually need to use the heater), you can push that button over and over until your thumb falls off and it won't spark. I've long since given up on it and unscrew the sight glass each time to light with a lighter 
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Wilbour
Member
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# Posted: 26 Oct 2018 07:38pm
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Of course we have eliminated the possibility that there is a wait for the propane to reach the pilot after it's been off, right?
This is just an issue with the lighter not sparking
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 26 Oct 2018 08:43pm
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Quoting: Wilbour Of course we have eliminated the possibility that there is a wait for the propane to reach the pilot after it's been off, right?
Yep, I went back and forth with the lighter and Piezo. Always lights with the lighter.
Quoting: bobrok I kept repositioning mine (on my propane fridge) until it worked correctly.
Mine does look like it's too far from the pilot. I'll check into that.
Thanks guys.
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Gary O
Member
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# Posted: 27 Oct 2018 07:38am
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And I thought I was the only one.
I went thru 3 buddy heaters.
Bought 2 piezo thingies.
Fiddlyfarted around, getting them changed out.
No avail.
Then I thought, hey, if the factory can’t set ‘em right from the get-go, what am I doin’?
Bi-Mart wasn’t real happy to see me when I brought back the third unit.
Turns out, the lesser known brands work just fine, outa the box.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 29 Oct 2018 08:54am
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Hmm, my buddy heater starts first time every time.
Anyone who has one of those piezo ignited, flame adjustable hand held torches that screw onto a Coleman bottle, who has also dropped it and bent the piezo tip, will know that it depends on both the spark gap and amount of propane being shot out to effect starting. I plan to play with those things on my wall heater. In my spare time.
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Cowracer
Member
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# Posted: 29 Oct 2018 09:16am - Edited by: Cowracer
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Piezo crystals generate a burst of electricity when vibrated or impacted. The bigger the impact, the bigger the voltage. They also will vibrate when subjected to electricity. You can use piezo to make both microphones AND speakers.
All your igniter is a mechanism to strike a piezo crystal with a physical impact.
Any wire will work for the spark. If you buy a generic Home-Depot one and it's not long enough, you can either extend it with some 18 or 20 gauge wire, or if you have a specific sparking end you need to use, splice the extension wire in the middle.
Tim
p.s. useless trivia tidbit. Any spark you can see (Including when you touch a door knob) is generally gonna be above 20,000 volts.
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