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I've heard and read that this non external electric source of ignition is not reliable in the mountains - high altitude. I haven't read what is meant by "high altitude" though. Yet there are plenty of items sold in the camping world that rely on this method.
So, what do others here have to say based on their experiences or other studies?
Last edited by bigwhoop; 09/02/13.
My home is the "sanctuary residence" for my firearms.
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I live at 4500 ASL this ignition method works but not the first time.. multiple clicks on most of the devices.
I do not rely on it any higher in altitude without question hit or miss and carry back-up sources.
I can't offer any reasoning why this is.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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If you're talking stoves, I don't like 'em because they add unecessary weight and I always have something handy to light a stove with. I can't imagine "reliability" ever becoming an issue since I would not rely on them.
A wise man is frequently humbled.
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Campfire Tracker
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Those Piezo electric starters don't work at any altitude. They might work when you walk out of the store, and maybe even the first time that you try to use them, but they stop working as soon as you need to count on them. They are furnished on a lot of products because the manufacturer can raise the price of the product a little and unsuspecting first-time buyers are ignorant enough to pay a little extra to get that feature.
I live at 6,400' elevation and the Piezo electric starters on my lanterns don't work. They don't even work on the propane barbeque that sits on my patio.
KC
Wind in my hair, Sun on my face, I gazed at the wide open spaces, And I was at home.
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Campfire Tracker
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Interesting. First time I've heard of this and it is valuable to know.
How about on lighters? Even the specialty Stormproof Trekker survival lighter uses Piezo electric ignition. Do those quit working at altitude? I live about 150 feet ASL and and only occasionally hunt up to 6500.
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I had several the the "survival" "backpacker" lighters with the so called reliable fool proof ignition system..
ummm yeah.. well.. I'm the fool and it's proof they don't work...
I'm back to 2 bic lighters and water proof or strike anywhere matches.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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I used my JetBoil to heat water for lunch 2 or 3 times last year, between 10,500 and 11,500. One or two flicks of the Bic, and everything fires right off. Didn't even bother with the piezo. The piezo only works about 50% of the time sitting on my kitchen counter at 800 ASL. YMMV...
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Campfire Ranger
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I just got a Snow Peak Giga Power and it worked everytime at 7,000 feet last weekend. I really dig that little stove.
Last edited by Higbean; 09/02/13.
Screw you! I'm voting for Trump again!
Ecc 10:2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but that of a fool to the 24HCF.
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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I've tried many different brands of hand held strikers. All work fine at home (4k feet) but won't work when camping at 6k or higher. I have yet to find one that works at high altitude. Does ANYONE make a good old reliable flint striker anymore other than the torch type striker? Those are too hard to get under a stove burner.
βIn a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.β β George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
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I use a "Light my Fire" steel almost exclusively at any and all elevations and couldn't be happier.
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I've used piezo's at altitudes of up to 13k with no problems on my SP stove and am not aware of any reason it would be altitude dependent. From time-to-time I find I need to adjust to gap and location of the wire to keep it working reliably. Of course I always carry a lighter and matches as well just in case. A working piezo is a great convenience IMHE.
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Campfire Tracker
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I have had poor luck with most all lighters but have never had any problem with Snow Peak or Soto stoves even at 10k.
Ed T
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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I had several the the "survival" "backpacker" lighters with the so called reliable fool proof ignition system..
ummm yeah.. well.. I'm the fool and it's proof they don't work...
I'm back to 2 bic lighters and water proof or strike anywhere matches. ^^^this^^^ The only two types of Lighters that work at altitude are Bics & Zippos! Don't wast your money on the so called "survival" lighters.
"Allways speak the truth and you will never have to remember what you said before..." Sam Houston Texans, "We say Grace, We Say Mam, If You Don't Like it, We Don't Give a Damn!"
~MolΙΜΛn LabΓ© SkΓ½la~
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Campfire Sage
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I've used piezo's at altitudes of up to 13k with no problems on my SP stove and am not aware of any reason it would be altitude dependent. From time-to-time I find I need to adjust to gap and location of the wire to keep it working reliably. Of course I always carry a lighter and matches as well just in case. A working piezo is a great convenience IMHE. Yep. Travis
Trump being classless,tasteless and clueless as usual. Sorry, trump is a no tax payin pile of shiit. My young wife decided to play the field and had moved several dudes into my house
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I just got a Snow Peak Giga Power and it worked everytime at 7,000 feet last weekend. I really dig that little stove. I recently used one for the first time, and it`s a great little stove. Mine is the manual start, it worked every time though . It`s more stable than our Pocket Rocket.
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Campfire Ranger
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Well it certainly looks like most everyone relies on redundancy so as to have reliable ignition. You pay a lot for those piezo's feature on a stove. I can only imagine that the reason for any possible failure would be the diminished amount of oxygen. You would have thought realiability would be first and foremost since most extreme activity is at altitude.
My home is the "sanctuary residence" for my firearms.
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I still carry matches, but have started using a firesteel a lot. It always works. I got a few different sizes in plain pieces no handles and strikers. They store easy, work wet, and at altitude. I don't carry stoves anymore. There are some instances it would be more convienent but have gone to carrying trioxane tabs, vasaline soaked cotton balls, and the firesteel. I can get a fire going in a matter of a few seconds even with cold fingers. Not being able to light stuff has been more of a concern to me than lots of other stuff. I carried a lighter but they are way to unreliable. Link to going gear firesteels
Last edited by BigNate; 09/02/13.
βYou never need fear a man, no matter what his size. When danger threatens, call on me, and I will equalize.β Samuel Colt.
οΏ½Common sense is genius dressed up in work clothes.οΏ½ - Ralph Waldo Emerson
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I've also found that the position and gap on piezos to be very sensitive. I'm often tweaking the wire with a pair of needle nose pliers to keep things working. Get them wet and its even more of a challenge.
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Campfire Tracker
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I have had poor luck with most all lighters but have never had any problem with Snow Peak or Soto stoves even at 10k. I'm betting you're also in the group that doesn't leave home without a Firesteel. In fact, I KNOW you don't I have a V2.0 in my Possibles, in the Fireworks bag. Then I also keep the Firesteel Mini in my Kit Bag all the time. It's redundant, I know. But it got there because it don't weight [bleep], and it does a great job lighting my stove, and I don't have to toss my pack looking for it's big brother. Oh, Ed, we should get whiskey drunk before winter rondy. I got an idea for a product that occurred to me after last winter rondy.
I'm Irish...
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It's my only experience with piezo, but my SOTO Micro has always worked, no matter the elevation or temperature. It's a handy feature, but I always carry a few options for spark as backup... Edit to add: I did leave it out in the rain one night. Starting it for breakfast required a BIC.
Last edited by Wrongside; 09/05/13.
I've seen more well-shot game lost with TSXs than any other premium bullet.
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