I took a different path then DDSrocdoc on seeing what I could do differently with a chute release. I used two rocket builds for this experiment. A 3 inch MAC rayzor, and a Madcow Adventurer 3. One canvas phenolic and the other fiberglass. Both 3 inch rockets.
With only one parachute, either the booster section or the payload bay would be empty. I decided to put the main chute in the booster section. That gave me the option of using motor eject as a backup if available. So now the payload bay was empty! What if we move all the electronics out of the AVbay coupler and into the payload bay? So I built a payload bay cage. I had (plenty of) room to include a tracker in the cage with an altimeter. The cage is made out of wood so it won't effect the tracker. And the cage fits in the payload bay of both rockets!
The AV bay coupler is now empty except for the wires running through it to connect the altimeter to a charge well.
Installing the cage in the payload bay gave me pause. I didn't want to have to align screw holes in both rockets payload bay tubes with the cage. I took inspiration from an Aerotech reload adapter system. Use spacers. Amazon sells pool noodles and physical therapy foam tubes in 3, 3.5, and 4 inch diameters. I ordered several to try out. After some testing, I ended up with foam spacers to fit the cage into payload bay of both rockets. The foam is dense and the fit is very tight. Also, I used an Eggtimer Quantum so I don't need an external switch to turn anything on. The tracker is a teleGPS by Altus Metrum.
Here is the layout of how the cage fits into the MAC rayzor payload bay.
AV-bay coupler | blue foam spacer | cage | black foam spacer | nosecone.
View attachment 330569
I put a shelf in the nose cone, so the black foam spacer sits against the top of the cage and the shelf in the nose cone.
I can fly the Rayzor, pull the cage out, slide it into the Adventurer, and it's ready to fly. Modular electronics. Thanks to the chute release and a wifi altimeter, I'm able to burn through motors faster then ever. $$$
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