029 Under water igniters

eZine lover (@eZine)

Published in 

Jolly Rogers Cookbook Version

 · 4 years ago

  

Under water igniters                            by The Jolly Roger 

Materials needed: 

 -Pack of 10 silicon diodes (available at Radio Shack. you will  
  know you got the right ones if they are very, very small glass  
  objects!) 
 -Pack of matches 
 -1 candle 

Procedure: 

 - Light the candle and allow a pool of molten wax to form in the  
top. 

 - Take a single match and hold the glass part of a single diode  
against the head. Bend the diode pins around the matchhead so that  
one wraps in an upward direction and thensticks out to the side.  
Do the same with the other wire, but in a downward direction. The  
diodes should now be hugging the matchhead, but its wires MUST NOT  
TOUCH EACH OTHER! 

 - Dip the matchhead in wax to give it a water-proof coat. These  
work underwater 

 - repeat to make as many as you want 

How to use them: 

When these little dudes are hooked across a 6v battery, the diode  
reaches what is called breakdown voltage. When most electrical  
components reach this voltage, they usually produce great amounts  
of heat and light, while quickly melting into a little blob. This  
heat is enough to ignite a matchhead. These are recommended for  
use underwater, where most other igniters refuse to work. ENJOY! 
                                          -Jolly Roger-