A lighter is a device used to create fire with the intent to ignite another substance such as a cigarette, smoking pipe, or charcoal in a grill. It consists of a metal or plastic container filled with lighter fluid (usually naphtha or liquid butane under pressure).

Lighters using naphtha have a wick which is immersed in the fluid and becomes saturated. This type usually has a fiber packing material which absorbs the liquid to keep it from leaking. They also must have an enclosed top to prevent the volatile liquid from evaporating. Butane lighters have a valved orifice that meters the butane as it escapes as a gas.

A spark is created by striking metal against a "flint", or by pressing a button that compresses a piezoelectric crystal. In naptha lighters the liquid is volatile enough that flammable gas is present as soon as the top of the lighter is opened. Butane lighters combine the striking action with the opening of the valve to release gas. The spark ignites the flammable gas causing a flame to come out of the of the lighter which continues until either the top is closed (naphtha type), or the valve is released (butane type).

Car cigarette lighters

Most cars are equipped with electric cigarette lighters. This device consists of a thin coil of nichrome wire, which has very high current (15-20 amps) passed through it when the device is activated. The heating element becomes glowing orange hot in seconds, and is capable of lighting cigarettes and tinder (among other things) on fire.

The lighter's socket doubles as a 12-volt power outlet that can be used for many purposes; for example, notebook computers, mobile phones, PDAs, USB adapters, digital audio players, or even thermoelectric coolers can be connected to a lighter socket and be powered or have their batteries (re)charged. For devices that only run on regular line voltage , an inverter will convert to AC, and transform it up to 120 or 240 volts. These inverters have become so popular that some larger vehicles (minivans and pickup trucks) come with them built-in. Some minivans also now come with several lighter sockets for various devices to be used at different seats.

See also

• match
• Zippo (naphtha type)
• BIC (butane type)