Why we love electric plasma arc lighters

Plasma arc lighters are the new “must have” device. They make a great gift for anyone that lights pretty much anything (you don’t need to be a smoker to appreciate it). They’ve revolutionised the way that we light fires, stoves, and everything else.

The good things about plasma arc lighters

They are windproof so they can’t blow out. Anyone that’s tried to light a stove, fire or even candle in even a slight wind knows all to well that it can be almost impossible.

You can recharge the lighter, mostly from a USB port. Not only is that super-easy because everyone’s got USB ports available somewhere in their camping set up, but it also means that you don’t have to mess around with butane or refill canisters.

Plasma arc lighters are a lot safer than gas-filled lighters, purely because they aren’t a small canister of highly flammable gas! They also don’t generate the same level of heat as a flame lighter, so are a lot cooler when you need to put it away – no more burns from hot lighters in your pockets!

The bad things about plasma arc lighters

Normally the lighting surface or prongs can be smaller than a gas lighter with a large flame. While this isn’t a big issue for some people, others will find that they don’t feel as comfortable

Plasma arc lighters normally emit a high-pitched “noise”, mainly due to the electricity buzzing between the prongs to generate the electric arc.

How does a plasma arc lighter work?

These lighters work by sending an “arc” of electricity between two (or four) electrodes. Think about it as it’s generating a very small (but still powerful) lightning bolt. This electric arc is around 1,000°C, so it’s hot enough to light anything quickly!

Any high-quality plasma arc lighter includes a safety switch to stop it activating accidentally, as well as a safety cut off that stops the arc after 10-15 seconds so that it doesn’t stay on for longer than it should.

Is a plasma arc lighter right for me?

Well, in our opinion, yes they are. We haven’t found a single situation where the old-style gas lighters have an advantage over the new electronic lighters. The benefits outweigh the (very few) draw backs and make it quick and easy to light pretty much anything.

To see more, and get your own electronic plasma arc lighters, check out our range of arc lighters from Trackz Adventure, all available now.