I welcome everyone to the Volt-Index website. Today we will assemble a so-called “eternal” match, but maybe not quite eternal. In general, “eternal” matches are a sealed container with a flammable mixture inside, then flint, cherry, in general, a hybrid of a lighter and a match.
Obviously, they do not last forever and the flammable mixture will sooner or later run out, and the other components also become unusable over time. But since you and I, after all, are electronics engineers, therefore primitive mechanical technologies do not particularly concern us, and we will make our own eternal match.
This version is electric arc or plasma, as it is often called. It consists of a power source, a high-voltage voltage converter and a battery charging unit represented by a solar battery.
The converter increases the voltage from the battery to several thousand volts and a high-voltage, high-frequency arc is formed at the output, which is very hot and can even melt copper wires along which it flows.
For assembly, we will need any “dead” computer power supply, or other power sources that have a pulse transformer, for example from a printer or DVD player.
It is the transformer that will be the basis of everything, and on its basis we will build a step-up converter.
Our transformer was taken from a standby source from a non-working computer power supply, it is desirable that it be like the one in the picture, the elongated type will be easier to wind on it.
Next, the transformer must be disassembled; its core is ferrite and consists of two halves that are glued together. Gently heat with a soldering iron for 5-10 minutes, when the glue weakens you can separate the halves.
Please note that the halves have a gap in the center; taking into account the inverter circuit that we intend to use, such a non-magnetic gap is ideally needed, but the circuit will work without it.
After removing the core halves, you need to wind up all the factory windings, leaving only the bare frame. Next we wind the primary winding of the transformer and for these purposes a 0.5 mm wire was used and folded in half.
In principle, the wire diameter can vary from 0.2 to 0.8 mm - there is no point anymore ( optimal diameter 0.4-0.7 mm.) We wind 8 turns and bring out the end of the wire, as shown in the picture.
The winding must be insulated with several layers of fluoroplastic tape or tape.
It is very thin and its diameter is approximately 0.05 mm. You need to solder a stranded wire to it, as in our case it is a flexible high-voltage wire with fairly thick insulation. Insulate the soldering area with heat shrink, remove the wire and secure it with hot glue.
Next, we begin winding the secondary winding. Turn to turn with such a thin wire will not work, so do it carefully so as not to break the wire. Wind in rows, each row 100 - 120 turns. Then again there are several layers of insulation, where the wire is not cut, but goes along with the insulation. The winding principle is simple. If the first row went from left to right, the second row went from right to left, and so on. We wind and immediately install insulation and so on 10-12 layers. Thus, the number of turns in the secondary winding will be about 1200. After winding, the wire is cut and a stranded high-voltage wire is soldered to it, then heat shrinking, in general, everything that was done at the beginning.
Then we fix all this with several layers of transparent tape and put the transformer back together. After installing the core halves, it was additionally secured with traditional heat-resistant tape.
Now let's return to the primary winding. Ours consists of two separate wires that are wound together. They need to be phased to obtain the midpoint of the circuit. To do this, the windings just need to be connected as shown in the figure.
The resistance of the secondary winding turned out to be around 320 Ohms, and the inductance was 139 mH And the inductance of the primary winding is 2.2 μH.
And so 90% of all work has already been completed. Now we assemble everything according to the diagram and connect it to a power source, for example to lithium-ion battery at 3.7 volts.
The arc is formed at a distance of 0.5-0.8 mm and stretches up to 1.5 centimeters. These figures can be increased by increasing the supply voltage. But it's not worth the risk.
The power source, namely the Lithium-ion battery, is constantly recharged solar battery from amorphous silicon. Unlike mono and polycrystalline modules, amorphous silicon can generate electricity literally at night. Even the slightest light source is enough for the battery to produce a current, albeit miniscule.
The battery produces 5 volts, which is enough, and even if you really want to, you won’t be able to “kill” the battery by overcharging, but just in case, the charge goes through a simple stabilizer circuit and a semiconductor diode so that the current from the battery does not flow in the opposite direction to the battery. This battery is very fragile and it is recommended to fill it transparent resin or sealant.
The circuit is started by a fixed switch, but you can also use a button without fixing.
That's all. But if you think that we just wasted our time and that the game was not worth the candle, then I advise you to look at the number of likes for this article in a few days.
Kasyan Aka was with you, see you again.
Just now I decided to test a product that our Chinese colleagues declared as an “eternal match.” The device is a kind of hybrid of a flint and a gasoline lighter - the body is filled with cotton wool, and fuel is poured into it. The “match” itself is screwed into the hole - a cap with a tube in which a wick and a carbon steel blade are placed.
Apparently, the original was a similar design from Zippo.
Humanity has been solving the problem of simply and quickly starting a fire for a very long time, and a fair number of structures have been created along this path. For a long time people used steel - steel, flint and tinder. A little later, instead of flint, ferrocerium began to be used - it is from this material that what we call “lighter flint” is made. Ferrocerium is a ferroalloy containing 40-45% cerium, 18-25% lanthanum, 10-12% neodymium, 5-7% praseodymium, and no more than 15% iron. Ferrocerium is a pyrophoric alloy (it gives a spark when rubbed), this is what its use as a source of sparks for producing fire is based on.
As for this design, the advantage is that it has a screw-on lid with rubber seal, due to which the fuel evaporates much more slowly. But even if the fuel has dried up and the wick has burned out, the device can be used as a regular flint - during the test, we successfully set fire to a crumpled napkin with its help.
The downside is that the wick burns out quite quickly, and there is no standard way to change it. The “arm” can be pulled out only with the help of pliers, after which the “match” is very difficult to put back together.
In general, one must understand that the “eternal match” is nothing more than beautiful name, because in order to provide open fire, something must be burning. In the design, both the burning fuel and the ferrocerium “flint” and wick are by no means eternal.
After some thought, I decided to modify the design a little - I machined a new “match” from two parts - a tube and a cap, and inserted a new arm from a scrap of high-carbon knife steel inside the tube. Before this, a wick is threaded into the tube, for which you can use various readily available materials - jute or cotton rope, a piece of non-woven fabric, cotton fabric, etc.
An additional flat gasket should be cut between the cap and the match tube (not pictured) - firstly, it will slow down the evaporation of the fuel, and secondly, it will prevent the cap from unscrewing from the match tube when you try to unscrew the match assembly. I tried to be able to change the wick of a match without using any third-party tool. The problem was partially solved - inserting a wick cut from a piece of disposable non-woven rag was possible, but it was not very convenient to do this.
From top to bottom - a wick made of a piece of non-woven fabric, a blade made of high-carbon knife steel, a cap, a match tube with a ring from the original tube.
New “match” assembly
New “match” screwed into the original case
During testing, the lighter worked perfectly with special gasoline for lighters, but refused to light with kerosene (solvent) and medical alcohol.
After production, I came across several similar designs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05sEp3CBaAM
The principle of operation is still the same, the “match” is made of copper/brass profile pipe with two plugs soldered into it.
“Eternal match” from a liquefied CO2 canister.
I am hatching cunning plans to make a “match” v2.0, already what is called “from scratch”, from the requirements - the ability to change the wick without any tools at all / using one knife, the ability to change the ferrocerium “flint” using a minimum of tools, ideally - only slotted screwdriver, the ability to use a “match” in tactical or thin winter gloves.
For now, I’m also inclined towards a design based on a CO2 canister or another ready-made one. metal vessel small in size - such a can is quite durable, allows you to cut a thread in the neck and has only one o-ring - actually on the screw-in “match”. I plan to make a “strap” on the canister from two brass rings, between which a ferrocerium rod will be fixed - I personally didn’t like the canister-based design shown above for the way the flints are secured in the welding arc and the fact that the lighter cannot be placed on a flat surface.
The “turner’s match” looks very solid, but when replacing the “flint”, the new one will need to be modified, and not with a file or grinder, but with lathe. However, with this size of the rod, it is unlikely that such a need will arise earlier than in a few years, even with regular use of such a lighter.
AND original design, and my modification for it, and both of the above options have problems with changing the wick - either it’s a long and not an easy operation, or, as in the “turner’s match”, the chair is attached to the tube only due to the elastic force. In the new product I want to try to solve this problem - by increasing the diameter of the tube, and also perhaps experimenting with the shape of the chair, I will try to make it something like sewing needle. I’ll probably increase the outer diameter of the tube to 6 or even 8 mm to make it easier to replace the wick.
PS: I did not photograph the manufacturing process or describe it in detail - if you have questions about manufacturing technology and/or any dimensions, please write in the comments or in a personal message.
Refills with regular lighter gasoline. To get fire, unscrew the flint rod from the body and strike it against the magnesium cylinder located on the side
Simple device, reliable. Will help you make a fire in any weather conditions, in rainy and cold weather. A very compact and easily portable device. Recommended for tourists, travelers, fishermen, hunters, mushroom pickers and other nature lovers (and nature can sometimes be very treacherous!). You will always have fire with you!
The flat silver bottle comes with a single match - but this “match” doesn’t wear out! It is enough to lower it into the hole, and then scratch it on the side of the “box” - and the flame will flare up brightly. It can be used endlessly. Refills with gasoline like regular lighters. Very economical consumption, that is, one refill will last for a long time. It closes hermetically, gasoline does not evaporate.
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The usefulness of this match is that it can be used anywhere. It is very useful when lighting a fire, a samovar, at home in the kitchen, and wherever fire is needed. In addition to being useful, it also looks beautiful in the form of a keychain, small, beautiful and miniature.
Well, even if the lighter keychain gets caught in the rain or falls into a puddle, then there is absolutely no reason to worry - wipe it with a rag, your sleeve, wipe it on your pants, and the flint is in order again! This is a huge advantage over other means of ignition and lighting. An absolutely fearless invention! And it is necessary for everyone - from the desperate extreme sports enthusiast to the pragmatic student: make a fire while camping, kindle kitchen stove, light a cigarette, light something else...
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HOW TO USE:
A METAL ROD IS SCREWED FROM THE TOP OF THE CYLINDER. IF YOU ROLL IT ALONG THE SIDE GROOVE, YOU WILL GET A WHOLE SHAFET OF SPARKS! AT THE END OF THE ROD THERE IS A WICK WHICH IS SOAKED WITH FUEL, AND IT IGNITES.
Nowadays, many hunters, tourists and fishermen know such a simple device as an eternal match. All these categories of supporters of an active lifestyle are well aware that in some situations the opportunity to make a fire is equivalent to salvation. That's why they don't go on a serious trip without throwing an eternal match into their backpack or pocket.
How does she look
It may look a little different. For example, the shape can be either rectangular or cylindrical. The size is very modest - no larger than usual matchbox. There is a small pin sticking out at the top. On one of the faces there is a narrow stripe-recess.
In addition, some manufacturers equip their products with small carabiners or rings, like on a key ring. This is a very convenient solution - the eternal match “Pathfinder” can be carried either in a backpack, where it will take up very little space, or in a pocket, or even just on a key ring with keys.
So putting it in a secluded place in order to be able to start a fire in any conditions would be a completely reasonable decision.
What does it consist of?
The first thing that catches your eye is the body. It may seem to some that this is an eternal match. In fact, the case is just a storage tank flammable liquid– usually high-octane gasoline.
The match itself is the same pin mentioned above. More precisely, it is its upper part. The eternal match is easily unscrewed from the body, as it is equipped with a thread. Thanks to this, a double effect is achieved. On the one hand, the thread does not allow the match to fall out of the body - no matter how you shake it or hit it against hard objects, it will be securely fixed in place. On the other hand, and this is even more important, the thread seals the hole in the liquid reservoir. Therefore, it will definitely not spill out and the eternal match will not fail.
There is cotton wool on the top of the match - it is saturated with gasoline when dipped into the container. It evaporates easily even at low temperatures, and its vapor provides a long burn.
A pin made of high-carbon iron protrudes from the cotton wool. By running it across the flint, you can easily strike a spark.
Finally, there is a stripe on the side - we have already talked about it. It has a flint coating, which, when held with a match, produces sparks that ignite gasoline.
Main advantages
Of course, the main advantage due to which the eternal match receives positive reviews is its 100% resistance to moisture. You can put it in water for several hours, days or months, and then take it out, wipe it and immediately light it easily. No matches, including hunting ones, that are resistant to moisture, without additional sealing, can boast such an important advantage.
In addition, the flame burns much longer than with a regular match - you can easily set fire to even seriously damp kindling, from which the flame will spread and engulf first small branches and then large logs.
It can be used many times. In fact, if you take proper care of it, you can wear it on hikes for many years—until metal pin, striking a spark, will not be erased. But usually, even with very active use, this does not happen.
It’s nice that despite all this, using it is no more difficult than using an ordinary match - the principle of operation is exactly the same. The main thing is to know about some operating rules. Let's talk about them in more detail.
How to use it correctly
Some owners remain dissatisfied with this simple device, accusing it of many shortcomings, unreliability, and short service life. It's not enough to buy something like this useful device like an eternal match. You also need to know how to use it in order to avoid the most common mistakes.
The fact is that when a spark is struck, gasoline vapors ignite. They should be used to light a fire. If the flame burns for too long, the gasoline will burn, and then the cotton wool that has been saturated with it will be consumed. Even if you quickly put out the fire, the amount of cotton wool will decrease; accordingly, it will absorb less gasoline, and the burning time of the match will be significantly reduced.
To prevent this from happening, you need to know how to use an eternal match.
First of all, you shouldn’t leave it burning for a long time. It was not possible to quickly ignite the damp kindling - after half a minute of contact with the fire, it only turned black and barely started smoking? It's better to dip the match into the tank again. Then the cotton wool will be saturated with gasoline again. Yes, the fire will go out. But you can light it again by striking the flint. On the second attempt, you will probably be able to light the already blackened and slightly dried kindling without any problems and, more importantly, the match will not be damaged.
Also make sure there is fuel in the tank. When actively used, it should be topped up using a syringe - regular will do gasoline for lighters. In extreme cases, you can also use regular gasoline sold at a gas station. But then when using it you will have to put up with unpleasant smell. Refined gasoline for lighters produces virtually no odor when burned.
With this care, the match is guaranteed to serve you for many years.
Can it be modified?
Unfortunately, not all people can boast of a careful attitude to things. As a result, even knowing the rules for using an eternal match, some owners may ruin it. But this will not happen if you modify it a little.
All you need to do is replace the cotton wool. Get a small scrap somewhere basalt wool– it is used as insulation. You can replace regular cotton wool on a match with basalt wool without any problems. The main advantage of this material is its complete non-flammability. That is, when the gasoline burns out, the match will simply go out and not burn. Now all you have to do is dip it in gasoline and light it again.
After such a simple modification, your little helper is guaranteed to serve you for many years.
Conclusion
This concludes the article. Now you know what the eternal Pathfinder match is, how to use it, what advantages it has and what needs to be done to make it last as long as possible. Surely this information will be useful in the future to many lovers of an active lifestyle.