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 are, after all, electronics engineers, we are therefore primitive mechanical technologies We don’t really care, and we will make our 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 this thin wire It won’t 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. It 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, a 3.7-volt lithium-ion battery.
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.
Nowadays, many hunters, tourists and fishermen know such a simple device as an eternal match. All these categories of supporters active image life knows very well 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.
It may look a little different. For example, the shape can be either rectangular or cylindrical. The size is very modest - no larger than an ordinary 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 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.
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.
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, he is hers top 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 create 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.
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 the metal pin that produces the spark wears off. 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.
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 gasoline for lighters will do. As a last resort, you can also use regular gasoline sold at a gas station. But then when using it you will have to put up with an unpleasant odor. Refined gasoline for lighters produces virtually no odor when burned.
With this care, the match is guaranteed to serve you for many years.
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 little helper guaranteed to serve you for many years.
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.
Hello everyone, if you have a lathe and you want to make something interesting, master work skills, try making one like this for yourself. For others, I also recommend studying this homemade product, I especially advise you to watch a sticky video on how to make it.
Such a lighter will always work, it’s good to take with you when traveling, save it in case of an apocalypse, or you can simply give it as a souvenir. It does not require the presence of fuel; if the wick is dry, it will burn anyway, albeit for a shorter period of time. However, very little fuel is needed here; gasoline, alcohol, acetone, and indeed any flammable liquids will do. durable and almost impossible to break.
To make the lighter, the author decided to use an alloy called ferrocerium. When metal rubs against it, it forms a large number of thick sparks that ignite the wick and everything dry and flammable that is nearby. In principle, the homemade product is an improved version of the flint, which can be ordered from China. And of course, any product costs much more if you make it yourself. Making a homemade product is not difficult; a lathe is needed to make a “match” with a wick, but this spare part can be found ready-made. For example, similar threaded tubes are found in some car carburetors. As a last resort, the part can be ordered to a turner. So, let's take a closer look at how such a lighter is made.
Materials and tools used by the author:
List of materials:
- rod made of ferrocelium or magnesium ();
- nitric acid, rosin and tin for soldering;
- a piece of brass pipe;
- cogs;
- a piece of steel from hacksaw blade;
- cotton rope (for the wick).
The process of making an eternal match:
Step one. Preparing the body
To make the body you will need a piece of pipe. It can be large or square at your discretion. The metal should preferably be colored, it can be copper or brass. Such metals do not rust, look beautiful and can be soldered. Prepare plugs for the pipe immediately. After installing them, you will have a chamber in which the fuel will be located, and moisture will not pass to the wick.
Finally, solder the plugs thoroughly so that there are no gaps, and treat the soldering areas sandpaper. Don't forget to wash your lighter thoroughly before reassembling.
When everything is ready, screw the ferrocelium rod to the lighter body using screws.
The manufacturing process of this part can be seen in the photo and video; everything happens on a lathe. The author used a brass rod as the material. First, the main profile is formed, then a longitudinal hole is drilled in the rod for the wick. Well, then all that remains is to cut the thread, and also form a “head protector” for convenient unscrewing of the match.
This completes the homemade product; if you wish, you can polish the lighter, make an engraving, and so on. I hope you liked the project and found something for yourself useful information. Good luck and inspiration in making. Don't forget to share your work with us.
Many fishermen, hunters, mushroom pickers and tourists have an eternal match in their equipment. Simple and reliable, it will help you start a fire in the most extreme situation when fire is the only way to survive.
It is important that the “eternal match” keychain has the simplest operating principle. It is a small (the size of half a matchbox) metal container in which fuel is stored - usually gasoline. The container is equipped with a metal rod, on the head of which there is a flint and a wick.
Having unscrewed the rod that hermetically seals the fuel in the container, it is enough to run the top along the magnesium strip located on the side to strike a spark. It will instantly ignite the gasoline vapors. As a result, the “eternal match” lighter will burn for 20-30 seconds - quite enough to ignite kindling, birch bark or dry fuel for a fire.
Like any device, an eternal match has both certain advantages and disadvantages, which are extremely important to know about before purchasing it. First, let's list the main advantages:
Unfortunately, there are also disadvantages. The main one is price. Of course, an eternal match is inexpensive - usually about 100 rubles, give or take a few dozen. But with this money you can buy about a hundred ordinary boxes of matches - such a supply will definitely be enough for several years of active use.
You need to know how to use an eternal match correctly. It is enough to gape for the gasoline to evaporate and the wick itself to burn out, so that the device becomes unusable.
The main disadvantages of this device mentioned above include the possibility of burning the wick. This is truly a serious disadvantage that has to be taken into account. It is not always possible to concentrate on a burning match after a difficult trek that took the whole day. And no one would like to be left without the only means to make a fire - an experienced tourist knows that in some situations this is tantamount to a death sentence.
Therefore, it is worth taking measures in a timely manner, sitting at home, warm and comfortable. After all, it is enough to slightly modify a metal eternal match, thereby significantly increasing its service life and reliability.
It was already described above how an eternal match works. The wick is saturated with fuel, it quickly evaporates and the vapors ignite. When the vapor burns, the wick begins to burn. Therefore, this problem needs to be solved.
A small piece of asbestos fiber will come to the rescue. It does not burn, but is easily saturated with gasoline. If you carefully remove the standard wick and replace it with asbestos, then after the fuel vapors evaporate, the match will simply go out. It will be enough to dip it in a container of gasoline and you can light it again - the performance will not suffer at all.
Some people don't know how to use an eternal match. In fact, everything here is extremely simple. Working with it is no more difficult than with ordinary matches. Let us describe the whole process for clarity:
As you can see, working with an eternal match is no more difficult than with a regular one.
Now let's move on to the next question - how to refill an eternal match? The best option- gasoline for lighters. You can purchase it in many specialized stores. A high degree of purification allows you to almost completely get rid of impurities that cause bad smell when burning. And such fuel smokes much less than gasoline from a gas station.
Some people like to find original solutions or just make your own travel equipment, they often make eternal matches with their own hands. It's not as difficult as it might seem at first glance.
The master will need the following materials:
Now get started:
OK it's all over Now. The eternal match is ready and will certainly be able to save you in any unforeseen situation!
