Ok i got a battery operated glow igniter which uses a C-type battery and it turns out that the battery lasted only for around 5 uses. It does heat up the glow plug but it's not all the bright orange.. On the other hand i think the glow plug is messed up.

The meter on a new battery on the glow igniter goes between 2 and 6 when connected. After 5 uses it only stays at 2 and I think that's make starting the engine also not soo easy.

Go for the rechargeable type which will last you a couple days of flying, then you can just recharge it...I've been using the same one for over a year. They run about $15 with charger ready to use.

Brian,
He has a rechargeable type. It's one of those with a replaceable battery.

Vegassky,
You ARE using a rechargeable NiCD in it right? If so, it sounds like you got a bad battery. Go to the hobby shop and get a Sanyo C cell, the larger capacity the better.

I've been using the same type for nearly two years, and can get a couple days of engine starting out of mine between recharges.
Dennis-

no it's not a recharable. but is it supposed to die down so fast. and are u sure it's not a faulty plug pulling out all the power ?

vegassky,

An alkaline powered glow ignitor should last a lot longer than 5 flights! How long are you leaving it connected?

Plus since the voltage is higher than a ni-cad your plug should be brighter.

John

Vegas for anybody to be able to help, you need to clear a couple of things up. First off: Does this pocket glow ignitor have a screw off cap that allows you to remove the battery?

If it does then remove the battery and post here what the label says on it.

John

sorry about not clearing that up earlier
it's an alkaline type C 1.5V battery.

Replace the battery.

yeah i did that.. but do i have to replace it after 5 flights ? .. so if i fly 5 times every day then it's a battery a day. not very efficient.

OK I have run across some of these ignitors with the alloy screw on caps brand new and they appear to come from differ-ant manufacturers even when the brand is the same, no doubt which ever is cheaper when the contract is let.

On three different occasions three different brand new ones have show up that did not work at all or barely lit the plug and in all three cases the problem turned out to be the spring in the cap that was causing a high Resistance. Now in the case of these units which were the Nicd sub C size and had no meter. There was some sort of plating on this spring that caused the Resistance and the solution turned out to be wire brushing on a bench grider both ends of the spring where the contact is made.

Whether or not this is your problem I have no idea but simple to check. As far as using anything other than a Nicd type it is the least economical and much more expensive in the long run. Same can be said for some entry level radios with battery holders, A bad plan. However the alkaline cell should last more than five starts unless it was hooked up a long time every start with a balky engine.

John

What make is this? Is it new or something someone built from scratch? A new great planes glow plug igniter is about $25 with battery and charger. I charge mine about once every 6 months. I get a heck of a lot more than 10 starts with it. I would look into that and not screw with one that doesn't work. Not worth the headaches.