Dual Deploy Tethers

[rdbones]

I am in the process of retro fitting a small diameter rocket for DD and was wondering if anyone has experience with recovery tethers.

1) Are they simple to use?
2) Are they reliable?
3) is any one vendor better than another?
4) Are there specific do's or dont's ?

Any help would be appriciated !

[JDcluster]

I have used both the Tether by Defy Gravity & the new revised ARRD by Rattworks.

Simplicity is in the planning.
Designing the recovery system to work with it; is the key.

How small of a rocket? They run $60.00 & up.
I wouldn't want to put a 24k gold door knob on an outhouse...

The Tether on a small rocket would be a little harder to do as it needs space to separate.
The ARRD would be more suited (in my opinion) .



JD



JD

[stickershock23]

I have used Defy Gravity's tether on several flights.

It is pretty simple, You just have to think ahead. I have never done it in a small tube so I could not say for sure how you do it there.

Butto answer a couple of your questions Yes they are reliable. (mine has always released) BUT you have to make sure you have your setup correct for it to work.

Good luck

[cwbullet]

I have used mine once. It works well and easy to set up.

[rdbones]

I have used both the Tether by Defy Gravity & the new revised ARRD by Rattworks.

Simplicity is in the planning.
Designing the recovery system to work with it; is the key.

How small of a rocket? They run $60.00 & up.
I wouldn't want to put a 24k gold door knob on an outhouse...

The Tether on a small rocket would be a little harder to do as it needs space to separate.
The ARRD would be more suited (in my opinion) .

JD

It is a 54mm minimum diameter carbon fiber airframe with an Acme Fincan - estimated to 17,500. Not really an out house but something I would like to find when it lands.

I have used Defy Gravity's tether on several flights.

It is pretty simple, You just have to think ahead. I have never done it in a small tube so I could not say for sure how you do it there.

Butto answer a couple of your questions Yes they are reliable. (mine has always released) BUT you have to make sure you have your setup correct for it to work.

Good luck

this is a small tue so I will have to look things over - might have to redesing a few thing(again).

[WillMarchant]

You could probably use a "burrito" style deployment. That way the Tether would be outside of the tube when it activates. An ARRD might be a bit big for that diameter rocket...

As others have said, "tether style" mechanisms seem fairly reliable but you need to pay attention to how you rig them. It is easy, in the heat of preparing for flight, to rig them such that things get tangled or constrained and prevent full deployment. Make sure you think things through and you should be OK...

[troj]

If you use a Tether inside a small tube, the restraint on the Tether needs to allow it to pull up out of the tube before it fires. Otherwise, when the Tether separates, it can damage the tube -- I've seen 'em put dings in fiberglass tubing.

-Kevin

[Buckeyegator]

If you use a Tether inside a small tube, the restraint on the Tether needs to allow it to pull up out of the tube before it fires. Otherwise, when the Tether separates, it can damage the tube -- I've seen 'em put dings in fiberglass tubing.

-Kevin

That is probably the safest means for deployment AND not damaging your airframe. The only caveat is that when the device travels outside the tube, so do the wires for your means of igniting the charge in the Tether. So, as everyone says, plan accordingly....allow enough wire for that travel.

I allow the ignition to occur inside the airframe. I line the inside of the airframe where the Tether will reside with a coupler and a length of LOC Stiffy Tube. These absorb the dings and prevent damage to the airframe.

Terry