Fixed it! (Then broke it again.)
Added 2022-10-22 04:42:43 +0000 UTCThose of you who watched that bit of the Patreon live stream will know that I was demonstrating this whoofle igniter by swiping it back and forth in the air to disturb the arc, when suddenly it stopped working.
The good news is that I fixed it. The LED staying on was a weird and complex effect initiated by a damaged component.
The bad news is that I then abused the thing again and it appears the arc length was probably already a bit too long for the tiny transformer, as it arced internally and is no more. To fix it now would require a new transformer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drUYueP0pNg
Comments
Yes, the resistor can be useful for gate drive too, it can regain the vbe one loses when driving like this. And yes, a lone PNP on the low side (with resistor for rising edge) is useful for exactly what you said!
Consolidated Catlifter
2022-10-24 15:45:43 +0000 UTCI've ended up using gate drivers (which are cheap enough these days) for sharper edges but should have tried this old trick. I've fiddled about with it as an opamp booster and found a resistance from bases to emitters smooths out crossover distortion. (Works a bit like power steering.) I wonder if the same might be handy to make sure today's low Vgs-th FETs are really off when they're meant to be.
Mike Page
2022-10-23 20:23:13 +0000 UTCEmitter follower gate drive (which is what you have there) is pretty much a standard trick. I have used it may times. It is great when you need more gate current (=more speed) but don't want to have to change driving IC. There are even special high pulse current transistor pairs made for the purpose.
Consolidated Catlifter
2022-10-23 11:20:15 +0000 UTCMine gets wax on it and fails to ignite as I use it for tea lights. Need one with wider jaws to stop this.
Mick Spanner
2022-10-22 19:42:45 +0000 UTCWe have an arc lighter very similar to the blue one at 0:20. Purchased March 2019 and in regular use to light firelighters in our stove, birthday candles, instead of a document shredder, etc. The tip needs cleaning roughly every 2-3 months as it stops zapping once it gets sooty. Makes me wonder how many throw out their arc lighter due to soot build-up.
Seán Byrne
2022-10-22 17:46:29 +0000 UTCTry Ralfy's van - it might be a Transformer in disguise.
Ymir the Frost Giant
2022-10-22 11:26:47 +0000 UTCPoor little igniter. We hardly knew ye.
Curtis Hoffmann
2022-10-22 10:56:42 +0000 UTCI use one of those ebay cattle prod/stun-gun modules as an oven lighter. The spark is quite pleasantly aggressive. :)
Wim
2022-10-22 08:20:02 +0000 UTCIt lived by the Clive and died by the Clive.
Mark Trombley
2022-10-22 05:05:36 +0000 UTCThe look on your face during the live stream when you realised it had packed up was brilliant. Broke it. Fixed it. Broke it. It's the cycle of life of budget electronics...
Rupert Kent
2022-10-22 04:47:33 +0000 UTC
