


When designing a new piezo device consider the following electrode patterns: What Piezo Electrode Pattern to Use? APC offers a wide range of standard and custom electrode patterns for its lines of piezoelectric ceramics.ĭepending on your piezo application, APC has a variety of electrode patterns that can help to improve the performance the piezo ceramic and make installation easier on you or your technicians. A high flow of power will drain the device quickly. Keep in mind, piezo ceramics do not have the endurance for high amounts of currents/amps. If you need to power devices in small amounts, one watt or less, then piezo ceramics can be efficient. Overall, the desired application will determine if piezoelectric ceramics can be used to power the device. Small electronic devices, such as cell phones, can incorporate piezoelectric ceramics in this manner. – Bimorphs or stripe/ stack actuators can produce currents in the micro and milli amps range but generate a much smaller voltage. – Piezo igniters that are used in BBQ grills produce hundreds to thousands of volts but produce low amounts of currents/amps in the range of nano or micro amps. Similarly, if your piezo device requires a larger current the piezoelectric ceramic will only generate a small voltage.Įxamples of piezo devices and the amount of power generated largely depend on the application: So, if a piezoelectric ceramic is to generate a large voltage it will do so with only a very small current. Piezoelectric ceramics can be effective when used in devices that require less than one watt of power. There is no exact answer to this question, it is all dependent on the piezo device used and the application the piezo device is to be incorporated into. Then you'll show someone how you can smack two pieces of quartz together and make light (some native americans made these cool glowing maraca type things with quartz shards in them). “How many amps & volts does a piezo produce?” Beware, you'll start talking about you much you love quartz, then everyone will instantly assume something else.
