Home >> Hobbies >> Aviation

How to Charge an RC Glow Plug Igniter

Nitro-powered R/C engines use a glow plug to burn the fuel. The glow plug has a wire that will heat to red hot when as little as 1.2 volts of electricity are applied. A battery-powered glow plug igniter is used to supply the initial voltage. Once the engine is running, the igniter is removed and the heat from burning nitro keeps the plug lit. Most glow plug igniters are powered wiith rechargeable batteries that need to be charged before you go to the flying field or RC car track.

Things You'll Need

Battery charger
Glow plug igniter

Instructions

- 1
  Check the output voltage and amperage of the charger. If the output is too high it can damage the battery. The voltage should be between 1.2 and 1.6 volts. The amperage determines how quickly the battery will be charged.
- 2
  Plug the charger into the wall first, then attach the igniter to the charger. Glow plug igniter chargers have an end that looks like the top of a glow plug.
- 3
  Read the igniters manual, it will tell you how long to leave the igniter on the charger. If the battery is rated at 1000mA and the charger supplies 500mA then expect the charge time to be three hours.
- 4
  Check the igniter while it is being charged, the battery should get warm but never hot. Remove the igniter from the charger if the battery gets too hot to be handled comfortably.
- 5
  Recondition the battery from time to time to extend its life. Reconditioning involves charging and fully discharging the battery. Use a volt meter if possible to check that the battery is fully drained.

Aviation