General Question

El_Cadejo's avatar

Why dont lighters work as well when they're cold?

Asked by El_Cadejo (34610points) January 18th, 2009

I cant figure out why this is, i mean there are still sparks coming off the flint when the wheel is spun, so thats not affected. Butane i a very cold gas, and the parts that are touching that are built to withstand extreme cold temperatures, so what part of the lighter is it, that causes it to not work that well/not at all when its cold?

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7 Answers

Harp's avatar

In order to burn, the butane must first vaporize. Butane will remain liquid at temps 31F and below (at atmospheric pressure). So if the butane is cold, even when you release its pressure by opening the lighter’s valve it won’t vaporize, and so won’t light.

Harp (19179points)“Great Answer” (8points) Flag as…
Sueanne_Tremendous's avatar

Is there anything Harpy doesn’t know?

Sueanne_Tremendous (11290points)“Great Answer” (1points) Flag as…
Harp's avatar

Well, I didn’t know the boiling point of butane til I looked it up

Harp (19179points)“Great Answer” (1points) Flag as…
shadling21's avatar

lol@tags
wow@Harp

shadling21 (6506points)“Great Answer” (0points) Flag as…
El_Cadejo's avatar

It was driving me crazy as to what it could be, and after all it was the butane. Thanks harp :)

El_Cadejo (34610points)“Great Answer” (0points) Flag as…
augustlan's avatar

I always wondered about this myself. Thanks to uber for asking, and harp for answering!

augustlan (47745points)“Great Answer” (0points) Flag as…
asmonet's avatar

I love that you asked this question. As I had reason to ponder it myself…recently. Come to think of it, I think you were there…

asmonet (21455points)“Great Answer” (0points) Flag as…

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