Hi,
I have a G-wiz LC Delux and would eventually like to use it to ignite clusters, as well as a PET2 for airstarts.
How many motors is it possible to ignite by using one chanel on a timer or altimeter (specifically the two mentioned if anyone knows) depending on the ignigters used, and how is this usually done?
I know how to wire clusters on the ground but I was not sure if it is done the same way for the use of electronics.
Thanks a lot,
Tom Sak
Good luck with that PET2, and use a core motor that has a LOT of kick. Love Jim and his other products but I have not had any luck with the PET.
I have done 6 Daveyfires with a Gwiz.
Dunno...depends on how you wire your clusters. For me, it is the same.
If possible, do a ground fire test, I'm sure the cost of a bunch of igniters is far less than the cost of a spacked rocket! I think the favourite method is to use dipped e-matches, that way the initial firing current required is lower than bridge-wire type igniters, but watch out for plasma conduction afterwards. There is a paper looking into peak current requirements of igniters on the G-Wiz site. It may also be a good idea to use a second battery to provide firing current.
I like to use a small (few ohms) in series with an e-match on a 9 volt source - limit the current to maybe 2 or 3 amps max... plenty to pop an e-match properly, but cuts the current surge during that moment when the e-match looks like a short circuit... since that period is longer than the initial time-to-fire, BTW, it seems that e-matches ought to be quite reliable firing in series... don't the pyro folks use them that way? You would be able to get a really valid continuity check on a cluster that way...
-dave w
I think you mean a small resistor :-)
plenty to pop an
I remember Paul Birch (who has a lot to do with the UKRA/KLOB firework shows, which are somewhat legendary) saying that with good quality (now I can't remember if Chinese=good or Eastern European=good, one was good and the other was bad anyhow) e-matches you could wire many of them in series, I think the application was for lighting a pyro display that spelled out 'UKRA', albeit so brightly it was hard to tell ;-)
I think there's two approaches - brute force (i.e. maximise available/peak current) or current limiting - the second seems more elegant, but I wonder if it wouldn't be better to use a lower voltage, but lower impedance supply, perhaps NiMH cells, rather than 'wasting' power across a resistor.
If the goal is to blast a rocket into the air in a cloud of fire and smoke, why would you go with the elegant approach?
:-)
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