DIY - Homemade Electric Lighter

Market these days, is flooded with variety of lighters. The lighters have become technologically advanced and useful. There are variety of lighters available like flame lighters, arc lighters and much more.

In this instructable, i decided to make an electric lighter myself that is neither a plasma lighter nor a flame lighter but still is very easy to make and useful. It has all properties of a plasma lighter, it is flameless, windproof as well as energy efficient.

Step 1: Watch the Video

A video is a wonderful tool that provides deep insight to the procedure and makes it easy to follow. However, it is also recommended to visit next steps for additional details.

Step 2: Order Parts

Ebay.com

1. 3.7v Li-Ion Batteries - https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/...
2. TP4056 charging module - https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/...
3. Solder Tabs - https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1...
4. Nichrome Wire - https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/...
5. Ice Cream Stick - https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1...
6. Switch - https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1...
7. Hot Glue Gun - https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/...
8. Soldering Iron - https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1...

Amazon.com

1. TP4056 Charging module - http://amzn.to/2qcIACn
2. Solder Tabs - http://amzn.to/2zFEqvb
3. Nichrome Wire - http://amzn.to/2At5xqk
4. Ice Cream Stick - http://amzn.to/2ul2vVK
5. Switch - http://amzn.to/2hS9uNK
6. Hot Glue Gun - https://amzn.to/2Sf7oad
7. Soldering Iron - http://amzn.to/2r3IX6g
8. 3.7v Li-Ion Battery - https://amzn.to/2qBPuSX

From Home & Local Store: Nut & Bolts (2" length), old 9v Battery and connecting wires.

Step 3: Make Solder Tabs

You can skip this step if you have commercially available solder tabs at home. However, for those who want to make solder tabs at home. Read the following steps.

1. Take an old cheap chinese dead 9v battery.
2. Check the battery voltage using multimeter to ensure it is dead.
3. Using Pliers, carefully open the battery enclosure.
4. Separate the chemicals and the battery connectors.
5. Using cutters, separate the connector form the metallic strip.
6. Remove the paper insulation from the strip.
7. Cut the metallic strip into pieces of adequate length to be used as Solder Tabs.

Step 4: Let's Begin

1. Take two 3.7v 18650 Li-ion batteries.
2. Using hot glue, paste them together in same orientation.
3. Carefully apply some solder on the battery terminals.
4. Also, apply some solder over the metal strips or solder tabs.
5. Carefully place the solder tabs over the battery terminals and connect them in parallel.
6. You can finally sand the battery terminals to make the solder smooth.

Caution: Soldering of the batteries is to be done very quickly without letting the batteries to be heated. The batteries might explode when heated to very high temperatures.

Step 5: Make the Heating Attachment

1. Take an ice cream stick and cut it about 2" length.
2. Mark holes at both the ends of the ice cream stick.
3. Using a mini Drill, make holes at the marked points.
4. Insert 2" long bolt in the holes and tightly secure them.
5. Take a piece of 26 AWG nichrome wire of about 4" length and roll the wire over another screw to make spiral coil at the center.
6. Separate the wire from the screw such that a spiral wire is formed.
7. Using few nuts, tightly place the wire between the screws on the ice cream stick.
8. Attach connecting wires to both the screws independently.

Note: Make sure to refer to the images attached above to avoid any errors. You can also watch the video to make a mini PCB drill at home.

Step 6: Connect the Batteries

1. Using hot glue, attach the heating attachment to the batteries as shown in the image above.
2. Take a PCB toggle button with a cap.
3. Using hot glue, attach the switch to the battery on the opposite side of the heating attachment.
4. Carefully, solder the battery terminal to one of the wire of heating attachment.
5. Connect the heating attachment wire to a switch terminal.
6. Make connection between the switch terminal and other wire from the heating attachment.

Caution: Make sure to only use the nichrome wire. Any other wire cannot be used for this purpose as the batteries will get short-circuited and explode. Nichrome wire has a special property because of which it acts as a high resistance load, thus gets heated up to a high temperature when the current is supplied. Nichrome wire is used in all heating appliances like heaters, toasters, sandwich makers and hair dryers.

Note: Li-Ion batteries might explode when under charged or over charged for extended period of time. It is highly recommended to use a TP4056 charging module between the heating attachment and the battery. It is simple to connect and will prevent over charging and dis-charging of the battery, thus making it a wonderful gadget.
The only drawback will be that this module will only allow about 1A of current to flow through the coil, Therefore, it will be much more effective to use a 28 or 30 AWG wire.

Step 7: Test the Lighter

Our Homemade Electric Lighter is now ready. Press & hold the button to complete the circuit. The Nichrome wire coil will get red hot and will serve every purpose of a lighter.

Charging the Lighter: This lighter can be easily charged by adding a TP4056 charging module to the circuit & the magnetic connectors can be used to connect the Lighter to the charging module externally. Watch the Video to make these simple magnetic connectors at home.

So Friends, this here concludes the instructable, stay tuned and SUBSCRIBE to receive regular updates. In case you might have missed, watch the video and see how i made this wonderful Electric Charger at home.

SImilarly, I also made a Electric Foam cutter tool using a nichrome wire. Have a look at the instructable here or watch the video below.

Thanks For Your Support..!!

Comments

[Count Volta]

I love these kinds of simple but useful projects.

Good job!

[Techgenie]

Thanks Count Volta...I am glad you liked it..)

[Peregrine05]

This is an entry in the pocket sized contest. What if the button gets pressed in your pocket and sets your clothes ablaze?

[Techgenie]

Yes, it is an entry in pocket sized contest because of the small size. It is not advisable to keep it inside a pocket though.

[Peregrine05]

OK. Got it.

[AlfieE2]

Soldering the connections on Li-Ion cells is very, very dangerous. Buy cells with tabs already spot-welded on or extract them from laptop battery packs. Don't earn a new nickname such as Patch or Stumpy.

[brocken223]

Please explain why it is dangerous to solder Li-Ion cells?

[Peregrine05]

If Li-Ion battery is heated too much, it can explode.

[nemfield]

I have a question regarding current. The current in the element will be on the order of several instantaneous amps. Can the PB switch that you recommend handle this current inrush? If not, it may 'weld' itself in the ON position.

[Eee1997]

Safety note:

In addition to the cautionary statement regarding battery temperature, I would add to confirm that the maximum discharge current from the Li battery manufacturer is never exceeded. There should be some built in overcurrent protection in case of short circuit of coil. Also consider some sort of enclosure for the battery pack. Preferably metal.

[Techgenie]

Yes, it is true, but just using a TP4056 charging module in the circuit will prevent the batteries from overcharging as well as discharging. It will also make it simple to charge the lighter with just a 5v wall adapter.

[Largey Legros]

One cautionary comment. Lion batteries will explode or catch fire if they are discharged for extended periods of time at high output. I have been using the 18650 batteries (those shown) in my e-cigs for years and all of the e-cig devices have safety circuits that only allow you to discharge them for 10 seconds at a time, to prevent such an occurrence.

[Techgenie]

Yes, its absolutely true that if not used properly Li-ion batteries can be dangerous, that is why i have recommended to use a TP4056 charging module that will prevent the over charging and discharging of the batteries.

[JohnC430]

how much current does it take to light up?

[Techgenie]

It depends on the gauge and length of the nichrome wire. You can refer to the datasheet for the nichrome wire that shows the relationship graph between the temperature and current to the length and gauge of the wire. However, i used a 26 AWG nichrome wire of about 4" length and current source of about 2000mAh.

[CraftAndu]

Awsome! I always windered how to make one.

[Techgenie]

Its quite easy, although, i would also recommend to use a TP4056 charging module, that will protect over charging and dis-charging of the battery, making this a wonderful gadget.

[Ruzi1]

I see it like a vape :D

[colt1005]

awesome I was going to make a trench lighter but this is a lot better!!!

[Techgenie]

Yes, it is also quite simple to make.