How much electricity in terms of volts is generated by a piezoelectric crystal in a butane lighter?

Question

When I was younger I just had to take on apart to see what made it tick. Bad idea:) Had a nasty suprise when I pressed the button by accident. Stun like hell.

Answer 1

Direct piezoelectricity of some substances like quartz, can generate potential differences of thousands of volts. The crystal is subjected to mechanichal stress which produces the arch (spark) to ingnite the butane.When a mechanical stress is applied, this symmetry is disturbed, and the charge asymmetry generates a voltage across the material. For example, a 1 cm cube of quartz with 500 lbf (2 kN) of correctly applied force upon it, can produce a voltage of 12,500 V.

Answer 2

I, too, removed the sparking device in a small butane lighter. And I, too, got an unpleasant surprise when I purposely clicked the thing with the little lead against my thumb.
At the time, I tried to research this piezo effect to see what just bit me - all I could come up with was the indication that when these ignition piezos were struck,"thousands of volts" were developed across the crystal.
The voltage developed was compared to the voltage for a spark plug in a gas engine.

Answer 3

Actually the voltage created by the crystal is kinda low.
It is ran thru a very small transformer and boosted up to about 5,000
volts so that it will make a spark,

It might give you a nice shock like static electricity but the current
capability is too low to cause you any harm.

Answer 4

The piezoelectric arises from compression or stretching of the crystal shape. it could be problematic to seize the fork vibration as compression of a crystal. it could needless to say damp the vibration. What may be the flexibility resource for the fork vibration? a miles better state of affairs is to seize ability from an present resource of vibration the place the flexibility is at present wasted. A highway could be a sturdy occasion. The engineering project is to layout certainly one of those equipment to (a million) stay to tell the tale, and (2) produce an financial earnings greater effective than its fee. we are nowhere close to assembly those demanding circumstances. Photovoltaics, in spite of the indisputable fact that, are turning out to be sturdy and fee-efficient, and the technologies remains recuperating.

Answer 5

I don't know the exact amount but it is in uV