saberlight vs tesla coil arc lighter
I was after a reliable windproof electric lighter to use around the home and to take camping. The problem was which, out of the hundreds of designs are the best USB arc lighters. The two main electronic Arc lighter designs I was considering were the:

Each has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, so I just had to buy both to work out which is best for my needs. Well, they are cheap enough to buy heaps of them. At the end of the day, both have a pulse plasma beam. So let’s work out what’s the most useful and how they are made. 

Saberlight Sparq Review

saberlight arc lighter silver

So the Saberlight Sparq was the first Arc Lighter I tried out for a few weeks. I firstly charged it up fully to see how long it would last under normal use. We were able to get 280 uses before having to recharge it.

The Saberlight Sparq no flame lighter was used around 15 times a day for 2 weeks lighting candles and a gas stove. There were problems without needing a recharge.

Homemade fire starters were another product we tested the Saber lighter on. It does ignite them but it requires a few more seconds of burn time compared to a flame lighter. A pocket butane torch will light the fastest. But it is not always practical.

At home, I was able to light candles and start the fireplace up using paper and twigs. It was also put to the test to light incense, paper, gas oven, wicks, fireworks, and much more. No more burnt fingers using matches or flame lighters. It is a great high tech fire starter.

USB Arc Lighter Noise and Smell – Plasma

There is a slight high pitch arc noise that comes from the creation of the plasma arc. I quite like the sound. It’s not very loud and if you are a few feet away you wouldn’t even hear it.

Dont touch the plasma arc, you will get burnt and a slight electric shock.

saberlight ark taser lighter

If you turn on the plasma Lighter and hold it close to your nose as you press the button, there is a very slight burnt smell. This may be the residues of burnt paper/ wood/wax that had touched the electrodes while it was in use. It could also be the residue of ozone as it arcs across oxygen. 

Ozone is created by a high voltage electrical discharge (arc/spark) as air passes through it. As the air moves through the arc, the oxygen molecules are temporarily separated into individual oxygen atoms. As they clear the corona they start to recombine back into oxygen (O2) and ozone (O3).

 

Saberlight Teardown

sabrelight usb arc lighters tear down

So what is inside the Saberlight?

I decided to open up this USB arc lighter to see what makes these taser lighters work. I have a habit of pulling apart objects. Like my daughter’s faulty Samsung Tab3 tablet that needed its battery connection re-terminated.  But the only tool needed for this arc lighter tear down is a Philips head screwdriver.

USB arc lighter battery lithium ion open up

I actually thought it would have a 18650 battery inside, but was pleasantly surprised to see a 3.7v lithium-Ion flat pack battery, this one is rated at 280mAh.

A high voltage coil with a primary and secondary step-up transformer is all cased in a black box. Possibly pumps out between 4000v-5000v

sabrelight spark plasma usb arc lighter tear down

The circuit board has a few transistors, diodes, and a strong magnet to keep the lid closed and open. The circuit looks to be a single transistor oscillator. With an inbuilt USB charging circuit.

USB Electronic Rechargeable Flameless Lighter  

  • Light Anything – You’re no longer limited by the narrow coil of older style plasma lighters
  • Chemical/Butane Free
  • Rechargeable
  • Windproof
  • Claims to be Splash Proof 
  • Airport approved
  • 300 uses per charge (1 hour fast charge time)

What’s included with the Sabre Sparq:

  • Saberlight Sparq rechargeable dual plasma beam lighter.
  • USB charging Cable 10cm long
    saberlight usb charger whats in the box
  • All New designs, the Sparq by Saberlight is the ultimate plasma beam torch lighter. It has been completely re-designed and re-engineered with an extra arc beam so that it can be used with products that the traditional single arc lighters had trouble with. It’s the ultimate USB rechargeable electronic lighter.
  • Traditional plasma beam igniter is limited by a narrow Tesla coil electrode, so they can’t light large objects with flat surfaces. The Sparq solves this issue using free-flowing pulse plasma arc energy. This means you can now light just about anything by applying the plasma arc to the entire surface until it’s lit.
  • The Saberlight Sparq uses lightsaber technology to create an extremely hot plasma wave that is hotter than fire. You can use the Sparq for anything a traditional butane firelighter can do but better and safer.
  • The Sparq uses a rechargeable lithium-ion cell instead of fuel. This Lithium cell is charged in an hour and is good for more than 3 hours of constant use. You also get a lifetime guarantee with each Sparq purchase. This means if Sparq fails you can simply return it for a full refund.

Best USB lighter

This was my favorite USB arc lighter. No more harmful butane gasses. Studies have shown that butane can be harmful to humans. The less harmful devices I have around my home the better. The Saber Sparq uses flame-less plasma technology to completely eliminate the need for this harmful chemical gas.

If you are a smoker and are doing some air travel, the Saberlight spark is TSA approved – this is because it has no dangerous fuel or gas. The Sparq Arc Lighter is flame-less so it is unaffected by wind or water. So you can use it under any conditions, rain or shine. 

Sparq Saberlight is one of the coolest rechargeable arc lighters around. It has been completely re-engineered with modern technology so that it can be used safely with most flammable objects.

Traditional plasma beam lighters are limited by a narrow Tesla coil so they can’t light things that don’t fit inside. Sparq solves this issue completely by moving the plasma electrodes at the top of the lighter to eliminate the narrow Tesla coil. With added dual plasma beams, you have the hottest plasma arc beam around. 

Tesla Coil Lighters Review

tesla coil arc lighter

The Tesla Coil lighter is a Zippo style USB electric coil lighter. They come in two versions of the single and double plasma arc lighter.

I found them the perfect size to fit in your pocket and use every day. It’s the main reason Zippo became so popular. Like the Saberlight this Tesla Coil lighter uses high voltage to activate a high-frequency plasma beam.

The Tesla Coil Lighters, are rechargeable electric lighters that require no butane and has no flame. Only a high voltage plasma electric arc is produced.

This electric arc which is a visible plasma discharge between two electrodes, it’s usually pink or purple in color. This is due to the electrical current ionizing gasses in the air. Electric arcs often occur in nature in the form of lightning.

USB Flameless Lighter Safety features

The Tesla Coil Lighter also has a great safety feature, it will not light up when the lid is closed. So no issues with you accidentally pressing the power button when it’s in your pocket or a handbag. Thus slowly giving the plasma lighter a flat battery.
This Tesla Coil Lighter is simple, safe, reliable, long-lasting and with its sleek design, it will make a great gift for yourself or your friends.

The Saberlight Sparq has a small on-off switch on the bottom, this must be activated before pressing the arc button. Not a deal-breaker but just one more step. They will both timeout after around 10 seconds of plasma arc runtime.

About the Tesla product

  • 1 – Tesla Coil Lighters Arc Lighter
  • Size: 3” x 1.75” x 0.5” / Weight 3 oz (Arc length: 5mm)
  • USB Rechargeable
  • Safe and easy to use, lights at the click of a button
  • A full charge can last up to a week or 100-300 uses

What’s Included in the Tesla Arc Lighter Box

Tesla plasma usb Arc lighter
buy from amazon

Included in the package I received was a nice little soft velvet pouch to store the plasma lighter in, as well as a small length of micro USB cable. This is the charging cable that users can charge from your computer or a phone wall charger outlet to top up your Tesla Coil Lighter with electricity. So for a total survival experience why not take it camping and use a solar-powered phone charger.

How to Recharge a USB Tesla Lighter

Simply charge up via the included micro USB cable and you’re ready to go. It will fast charge in around 1 hour depending on the phone charger you use. 

Plug one end of the micro USB cable into your computer or wall charger, and the other end into the micro USB slot on the arc igniter.
Since the lighter uses no flame, it is not only windproof but also economical and environmentally friendly. No lighter fluid refills or throwing out those cheap plastic lighters and matches. So it’s environmentally friendly and cheaper, as all it needs is a recharge from time to time.

Tear Down of a Tesla Arc Lighter

Thanks to bigclivedotcom for the teardown and disassembly of a traditional electronic Zippo style arc lighter. There is also a warning of no touching the plasma arc with a metal object. Ouch!

USB Arc Lighter FAQ

What can Plasma Lighter Set on Fire

These USB Plasma Arc Lighters can burn incense, paper, candles, portable gas and propane BBQ’s, wicks, fireworks, and much more.

How many arc lights do I get out of an electronic USB lighter?

You can get up to 300 activations per full charge depending on the time required to light your flammable materials. Or 1-3 hours of full use. The battery will last for months if not used, before requiring a recharge.

How long does it take to charge?

When the battery goes flat, it can be recharged within 1-2 hours. This is dependant on the type of wall or computer charger used. Wall chargers typically charge faster than the USB output of a computer.

How do I know when the USB Arc lighter is fully charged?

The blue light on the device will turn off. It’s wise to unplug the lighter after it’s fully charged.

How hot does the Plasma Beam Arc temperature get to?

The Electric Lighter arc will heat up to approximately 1,100 degrees Celsius or 2,012 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a super hot electric beam.

What kind of battery does Tesla and Sparq Arc Lighters use?

These Electric arc lighters use a quality rechargeable Lithium-ion battery similar to the flat lithium batteries found in smartphones and tablets. So they are very safe.

Can the battery in Tesla lighters be replaced?

In normal circumstances No. The lithium-ion battery is built-in the device and cannot be replaced. Although if you are handy with working on electronics and have a soldering iron you could, in theory, replace the battery. Just like a mobile phone, you will get many years of trouble-free use out of a Plasma Beam lighter.

Are there any issues with shipping arc lighters internationally?

No, unlike a traditional lighter, these arc lighters do not contain any flammable fuel like butane. As it does contain a lithium-Ion battery there may be a warning message on the outside of the postal package.

Can I get a shock if I stick my fingers in between the 2 electrodes at the tip?

Just like a regular flame lighter you should never play around with any type of fire starter. Both the Tesla Lighter and the Sabre lighter have exposed high voltage elements. if you do touch these you can expect to receive a mild electric shock. 

I defiantly do not recommend using a Plasma Arc lighter on anything metal. As you will receive an electric shock.

What are some of the charging characteristics of the Arc Lighter?

  • Nominal Voltage: 3.7-4.2V
  • Nominal Capacity: 150mAh – 300mah depending on the size of the USB arc lighter
  • Input: 5V (+/- 0.05V)
  • Output: 4V

What are safety features included in electric arc lighters?

Safety is high on these lighters. That’s why these Electric Arc Lighters includes safety features like:

  • Safety Cover,
  • No flame or fuel
  • Less heat at the tip of the device when not in use.
  • Extra On / Off switch at the base of the Sabre Lighter Sparq

 
Previous articleToyota Prius Jump Start and Battery Replacement Procedure
Next articlePhilips Hue vs LIFX LED Smart Light Bulb Review

4 COMMENTS

  1. Thanks for great information and review! It’s very helpful and detailed for a beginner like me. I intended to buy one as a gift for my friend. He’s an enthusiast, what is the best item I should go for? Any idea? Thanks all!

    • All depends on what he is using it for. If its a pipe, then the Saberlight Sparq is the perfect round shape. But if he likes a low profile design to carry around all day, then the Tesla Arc traditional zippo shape may be better. Or just get them both. They make great Christmas gifts.

  2. I really wish that the long one had a screw on top, and the button was far lower towards the bottom…
    If the lid came off completely, and the button was lower, it would be a lot easier to use I feel like..
    can’t find any that are like that sadly though.

    • The reason that wouldn’t work for the spark is bc of its safety feature. It has a magnet to keep the lid closed and then one to keep the lid open even when it’s upside down. As soon as the magnet keeping the lid closed is disconnected, the lighter is ready to go and the blue light around the button comes on. The button is actually perfectly placed, allowing you to have a good grip. I highly recommend buying one. I am very pleased with mine!

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here