Where to find longer Piezo Electrode Assemblies

[dmcmillen]

I want to install Piezoelectric or Battery Spark igniters for my 3 wok burners on my Brutus system. The problem is that the only electrode assemblies that I can find (almost all are sold for bbq grills) have only a 1 to 2" ceramic insulator with a 1 to 1.5" electrode (ususally Tungsten or some rigid material). The electrode is ok, but what I need is 4 - 6" ceramic insulator in order to keep the wire well away from the heat source. I've attached a pic of what I'm looking for.

 

[Stealthcruiser]

You could add on, or transfer the guts to this:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#ceramic-hollow-rods/=rvm0b1

 

[dmcmillen]

Thanks Stealthcruiser. You can't remove the electrode from the ceramic insulator. I thought about using some of the insulators like the ones you suggested at McMaster and use high temp wire as the electrode. 2 possible problems with that. One, the wire is rated to 200 C (395 F) and two, the wire 12 or 14 ga is flexible. The electrode needs to be no more that about a 1/2" from the the grounding source (one of the wok jets). I'll see if I can get a ceramic insulator into which I could insert the electrode assy I have.

I thought I'd take pot luck here since there are a lot of creative folks like yourself.

 

[Stealthcruiser]

See if there is a piece of copper tubing or a copper coupling that will slide over your ceramic, and over one on the list, ( the dimensions are listed), an use that as a splice, with a dab of high temp RTV, ( copper colored, at the auto parts store, probably Permatex brand).

That's if you're wire is long enough.

I'm guessing, that the wire is "potted" inside the existing ignitor sleeve that you have, that keeps it centered in the bore?

The RTV I spoke of will work for that as well, but it will be a messy proposition to get the tube filled and the wire centered at the same time!

You could use something like these, that are "flowable", but they are damn pricey!

http://www.mcmaster.com/#high-temperature-epoxies/=rvo1iu

 

[dmcmillen]

The above picture is just an example. I'm attaching a pic of the ones I actually have. The electrode is rigid (I believe it is tungsten) and the wire actually attaches on the other end of the ceramic insulator. I can use the wire that came with it or some high temp wire at this point. I like your idea of a splice and the high temp rtv to seal. Might even be able to use a larger bore ceramic tube as spice, but copper would be easier. Melting point of copper is over 1900 F so temp would be ok. Let me play around with this. I love it. This was supposed to be a quick project. Thanks for the ideas!

 

[Stealthcruiser]

If it's as you show, ( I didn't realize the wire was detachable!), then yes on the bigger bore tube, and make a " rigid" connection between the terminal and the far end of your splice.
With a rigid connection , you would only need a bit of RTV at the far end to keep the rigid connection centered.
Leave a "weep" hole in the RTV if you do it like this, so that moisture can escape.

A piece of solid copper wire would probably work, (14 gauge or so), but I don't know if copper will solder to Tungsten, so it will probably take a mechanical connection.

Sounds like you got it figgered' out!.........