Battery BBQ spark igniter - earth connection ?

[dal5band]

Just bought one of these battery electric spark BBQ igniter. It has 3 outlets for connection to electrodes. I intend to replace the pizzo igniter which is a bit weak.
My question is where is the return path for the high voltage spark to work ? The unit seems to be all plastic, even where it mounts to the hole in the BBQ panel. Do these work ?

 

[Jurassicspark]

they do.

the spark completes its circuit through the air gap between the tip of the igniter electrode and the grounded metal of the burner. Just like how the spark plug ignition systems work in your car.

 

[morqthana]

Just bought one of these battery electric spark BBQ igniter. It has 3 outlets for connection to electrodes. I intend to replace the pizzo igniter which is a bit weak.

Get a charcoal BBQ

No, but seriously

My question is where is the return path for the high voltage spark to work ? The unit seems to be all plastic, even where it mounts to the hole in the BBQ panel. Do these work?

Where do you think the return path is right now for the high voltage spark generated by the Piezo crystal instead of whatever gubbins is inside that item?

As for whether it works, that depends on how well it's made.

 

[morqthana]

the spark completes its circuit through the air gap between the tip of the igniter electrode and the grounded metal of the burner. Just like how the spark plug ignition systems work in your car.

If I sit the BBQ on a dry wooden deck, where is any of it grounded?

Spark plug bodies are not "grounded", they're connected to the -ve side of the battery. Disconnect that and see if you still get a spark.

This spark generator will have its own circuit providing a path for the current making the spark.

 

[dal5band]

I guess the spark generator has metal just below the plastic or the plastic itself conducts at HT voltages to complete the return path.
The term earth is used where the return path for a circuit uses the body of the car or BBQ panels. It gets confused with proper earth grounding used in other installations for safety.

 

[Jurassicspark]

Spark plug bodies are not "grounded", they're connected to the -ve side of the battery. Disconnect that and see if you still get a spark.

Through the engine block which in turn is connected to the - of the battery.

 

[morqthana]

How is the engine block connected to the - of the battery if the - of the battery has been disconnected?

 

[Jurassicspark]

How is the engine block connected to the - of the battery if the - of the battery has been disconnected?

But why would it be disconnected?

 

[dal5band]

I tried the spark generator with surprising results. Without any wires connected the spark leapt across the terminals on the device itself indicating one is negative and the other two positive. With one electrode connected - no spark at the electrode ! But a spark leapt between the other two terminals on the back of the device. With two electrodes connected, got sparks at both electrodes. So it seems it uses the spark paths to complete a circuit.

 

[morqthana]

But why would it be disconnected?

the spark completes its circuit through the air gap between the tip of the igniter electrode and the grounded metal of the burner. Just like how the spark plug ignition systems work in your car.

Spark plug bodies are not "grounded", they're connected to the -ve side of the battery. Disconnect that and see if you still get a spark.

Through the engine block which in turn is connected to the - of the battery.

How is the engine block connected to the - of the battery if the - of the battery has been disconnected ?

 

[Jurassicspark]

Doesn't answer my question.

Why would the battery minus terminal be disconnected?

 

[morqthana]

Doesn't answer my question.

Why would the battery minus terminal be disconnected?

Because of this:

the spark completes its circuit through the air gap between the tip of the igniter electrode and the grounded metal of the burner. Just like how the spark plug ignition systems work in your car.

Spark plug bodies are not "grounded", they're connected to the -ve side of the battery. Disconnect that and see if you still get a spark.

Although why I suggested that experiment, IHNI, because even after I did you still thought that the spark plug would still be connected to the - of the battery via the engine block.

Through the engine block which in turn is connected to the - of the battery.

How is the engine block connected to the - of the battery if the - of the battery has been disconnected ?

 

[Jurassicspark]

Spark plug bodies are not "grounded", They are connected through the engine block which is then connected to the minus of the battery.

Disconnect that and see if you still get a spark.

Why would someone disconnect it though? That can go for anything, disconnect the plug for the TV and see if you get picture. Disconnect the plug for the microwave and see if it still works.

Although why I suggested that experiment, IHNI, because even after I did you still thought that the spark plug would still be connected to the - of the battery via the engine block.

No I didn't. Are you capable of mind reading? Even if you are, you're not so good at it, are you? When I said what I said above in #6 I was telling you it completes the return path through the engine block. The irrelevant information from you was disconnect it and see if you still get a spark. Disconnect it and see if you get any lights on the dashboard.

 

[morqthana]

Why would someone disconnect it though?

You can lead a horse to water.....