Arc Lighter Project

tarantulataramasalata

Senior Member
I have an arc lighter that has a 3.7v 220mAh Li-ion battery, and a micro usb port on a little pcb for charging.

I would like to incorporate it into a project, and use the battery to power a picaxe circuit that activates other components eg a motor, and also the arc from the lighter. I would also like to hook up a solar cell to trickle charge the battery.

1. Can I simply hook the solar cell up to the micro usb port on the pcb?

2. Would a 5v solar cell be the correct rating for this application?

3. Do I need to somehow isolate the picaxe circuit from the arc circuit?

Thanks in advance for your help!
 

rossko57

Senior Member
I guess we're talking about one of these
http://www.arclighter.com/
or a copy?

Probably worth reading
https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinteresting/comments/2uqvdu/this_lighter_that_i_bought_from_china_operates_on/
with things you need to worry about and a lot of silliness that you don't.

Here is someone modifying one
http://www.instructables.com/id/Plasma-Cutter-From-an-Arc-Lighter/step6/Using-the-cutter/
but doesn't sound like what you are thinking

Can you charge from a 5V solar panel? Sure, its no different to any other 5V source for any other USB powered/charged device.

Can you run a Picaxe from the devices battery? I would think so - until the moment you use it as a lighter. The RFI (radio frequency interference) from the arc is probably going to upset any nearby electronics. Try out something like listening to an Ipod or phone while firing the arc lighter nearby.

Can a Picaxe control the arc? No idea, how is it controlled normally, what is the "arc circuit"?
This might help
http://www.topikpopuler.com/video-4aK1GK1KBGc.html
 

tarantulataramasalata

Senior Member
I guess we're talking about one of these
http://www.arclighter.com/
or a copy?

Probably worth reading
https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinteresting/comments/2uqvdu/this_lighter_that_i_bought_from_china_operates_on/
with things you need to worry about and a lot of silliness that you don't.

Here is someone modifying one
http://www.instructables.com/id/Plasma-Cutter-From-an-Arc-Lighter/step6/Using-the-cutter/
but doesn't sound like what you are thinking

Can you charge from a 5V solar panel? Sure, its no different to any other 5V source for any other USB powered/charged device.

Can you run a Picaxe from the devices battery? I would think so - until the moment you use it as a lighter. The RFI (radio frequency interference) from the arc is probably going to upset any nearby electronics. Try out something like listening to an Ipod or phone while firing the arc lighter nearby.

Can a Picaxe control the arc? No idea, how is it controlled normally, what is the "arc circuit"?
This might help
http://www.topikpopuler.com/video-4aK1GK1KBGc.html

Yes, the arc lighter, and yes, a cheapy from China.

I have visited your kindly-posted links with interest. So, further questions arising from further research:

1. Will the solar cell harm the battery if it is continually charging it? (Having witnessed Big Clive's analysis, I am not sure there is a circuit that governs the charging, ie. stops it when the battery is full.)

2. I can use a relay or opto-isolator to engage the switch that energises the arc. Is there any way of predicting how much the RFI will affect the PICaxe, if it will at all?
 
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