How does bbq igniter work

A BBQ lighter uses something called piezoelectricity to generate a nice spark that lights the grill. For example, all of these products depend on the piezoelectric effect:. Certain crystalline materials like quartz, Rochelle salt and certain ceramics have piezoelectric behavior. When you apply pressure to them, you get a charge separation within the crystal and a voltage across the crystal that is sometimes extremely high.

For example, in a BBQ lighter, the popping noise you hear is a little spring-loaded hammer hitting a crystal and generating thousands of volts across the faces of the crystal.

A voltage this high is identical to the voltage that drives a spark plug in a gasoline engine. Position a hand mirror so you can see the tip of the ignitor in the middle of the collector box. Press on the ignitor button on the grill's control panel a few times, while watching the ignitor in the mirror. If you see a spark with each click, the ignitor is functioning properly. Steps to Manually Light Your Gas Grill Open the lid of your grill and find the lighting hole on the side of the grill.

Once you see that, place a match in the curled end of the holder. Turn on the gas burner closest to the hole. After the first burner is lit, turn on adjacent burners to cross-light them. Make sure that the igniter is making a clicking noise when you press the igniter button. If it doesn't click, then the wires may not be connected properly, the battery may be dead or installed incorrectly, or the igniter module may have failed. It could be a worn-out spark module, a loose wire or other connection, a dead battery, corrosion or dirt on the igniter tip, or cracked porcelain on the igniter element.

If the grill doesn't light using the match, check for low or no gas flow. Your problem could be as simple as a low gas tank. Check the igniter for any visible cracks or breaks. If any visible cracks or breaks are present, replace the piezo igniter. The ignition ignitor is the component that is responsible for sending a signal from the key's ignition switch to the electrical system to supply power to the spark plugs and start your engine.

In some systems the igniter is also responsible for advancing and retarding the engine's timing. Make sure that the metal tip of the electrode and the ceramic body are in tact, if so then be sure that it is aligned properly by the burner holes.

If the electrode corroded, cracked or broken it may be time to replace it. Tip : wipe any grease build up off the metal tip with alcohol. What is the condition of your collector box? Has it corroded or cracked? The collector box is often first to corrode before the electrode If so, it will need replacing. Video Recap by Tracy Hollander on 23rd May Found the same item for a lower price? No problem!

The ignitor then sends this high voltage electrical charge along the wire to the ignitor electrode, located inside the collector box. First, it provides a surface for the electricity produced by the ignitor crystal to arc.

Second, it acts as a open container that "collects" gas to provide a good medium for combustion. When you push the ignitor button, electricity sent to the electrode jumps from the electrode to the top of the collector box, producing a spark which ignites the gas in the box and also in the burner. Now that you understand how the ignitor works, troubleshooting is much easier! Here are some tips to determine whether you need to replace the ignitor:.