Stupid NOOB Questions ...

[SacEsq]

Just bought my first mid-power SU motor (econojet F20-7W) for my Quest Big Dog. Looking over the instructions it seems fairly easy with a couple expections:

1. Cardboard spacers? Instruction No. 5 reads: "IMPORTANT - Please read the following: To safely use Econojet "f" motors to launch an AeroTech Consumer Aerospace rocket, the installation of two spacer tubes in front of the motor is required. ... " Is this only if using those rocket kits? Am I correct in assuming that frisction fitting is all that is necessary in my Big Dog as these appear to have the plastic thrust ring?

2. Copperhead Igniter Installation Up till now I have only used Estes solor igniters and they have two wires coming out of the motor, whereas it appears that the Copperhead Igniters only have a single wire coming out. How do you attach the leads from the launch controller to just a singly igniter wire?

Sorry for what is likely very obvious and noobish questions.

[chadrog]

If it (the motor) has a thrust ring, no spacers are needed. Each side of the copperhead is an individual conductor - you need to insulate one side of each of your igniter clips so each clip contacts only one side, or use the Aerotech clip.

[Grendel]

No stupid questions around here. Just ask whatever you need to ask.

[boomtube]

Just remember; there are no stupid questions, just stupid people askin. . .No, that’s not right.

Copperheads take a bit of getting used to. Big alligator clips can punch through the tape you use to insolate one side of each lead.

Try and use the small clips that have no teeth.

There is a tool sold by Aero-Tech that is specifically designed for Copperheads. Many consider it more trouble than it is worth, me included.

The instructions for the Copperhead recommends running a knife blade along each edge to remove any copper whiskers that could potentially short the opposing sides together and foul the ignition.

I suspect that many people don’t do this and I also suspect this is why many people have so much trouble with these igniters.

I’ll try this again; there are no stupid questions just questions being asked by stupid peo… Damn!!!

[Handeman]

Asking questions is how you learn. By this time next year you'll be answering this same question for the next noob! It's all good.

The spacer. The key here is to launch an AeroTech Consumer Aerospace rocket. These would be the rockets made by Aerotech like the Mustang or GForce. All the Aerotech rockets have thrust rings. These rings are deep enough in the motor tube that a G sized Hobbyline or SU motor will fit in it correctly. Just like using a spacer for a D12 Estes motor in a kit built for an Estes E motor, you have to use a spacer on the Aerotech kits if you use a motor shorter then the G size.
The alternative is to wrap 4 or 5 layers of masking tape around the nozzle end of the motor so it acts as a thrust ring against the motor tube. How much tape you put on will depend on how far out of the motor tube you want the motor to extend. That should be enough so the motor hook will hold the motor without up and down slop.

The copperhead. The copperhead does have two wires. They happen to be the copper sheet on each side of a plastic material. You can get a special tool to clip on the copperhead, make your own from a clothes pin, or take a piece of heavy paper with a hole punched in the center. Slide the paper on the copperhead and clip the leads on the paper and copperhead so each lead contacts the opposite side of the copperhead.

If you still have questions, ask at the next launch you go to. Most folks will be more then happy to help.

Good luck and fly 'em straight!

[SacEsq]

Hmmm ... may have to watch someone set one up cuz I am not really following this.

[SacEsq]

Well I follow the spacer thing and that is what I thought ... just not quite sure how to do the clips on the Copperhead igniter is all LOL

[Worsaer]

Hmmm ... may have to watch someone set one up cuz I am not really following this.

A couple of things... First, the copperhead is a two- sided strip. Aerotech makes a special clip for their Interlock Controller (their name for the launch contol box - google it...) that makes this connection. You can make your own, or buy just the clip and make a whip that you keep handy in your field box. Also, and you may already be way ahead me on this one, if you are used to the low voltage solar ignitors, you might be disappointed unless you launch with a hefty 12 volt system. If you're flying with a club they'll help you with both of these. These are not dumb questions - people will usually go out of their way to help, and you'll no doubt do the same some day.
Link to the clip:
http://www.google.com/products/catal...ed=0CFQQ8gIwBA

[SacEsq]

A couple of things... First, the copperhead is a two- sided strip. Aerotech makes a special clip for their Interlock Controller (their name for the launch contol box - google it...) that makes this connection. You can make your own, or buy just the clip and make a whip that you keep handy in your field box. Also, and you may already be way ahead me on this one, if you are used to the low voltage solar ignitors, you might be disappointed unless you launch with a hefty 12 volt system. If you're flying with a club they'll help you with both of these. These are not dumb questions - people will usually go out of their way to help, and you'll no doubt do the same some day.
Link to the clip:
http://www.google.com/products/catal...ed=0CFQQ8gIwBA

Thanks. I just recently joined SARG (Sacramento Area Rocketry Group) and they are a great bunch of people. I am certain they will share their knowledge.

[New Ocean]

So the copperhead is two thin strips of copper glued to eachother. Each strip is one side of a circuit, that meets at the black end with material that will burn. To complete the circuit, you have to have electricity going into one side and out the other. If you clip both clips to both sides, you will short the thing out and it wont work. So you have to get one alligator clip getting juice to one side of the igniter, and the other getting juice to the other side. But NOT both! That means one of the following:

You can tape the alligator clips so that only one side has metal and the other side is non-conducting tape. Then clip them so that you have a tape end and a metal end on one side of the igniter, and the same on the other.

As an alternative, that wont gum up your alligator clips as much, use two small strips of tape, one on each side of the copperhead, and then clip accordingly.

The thing that I used to do was gently heat the non-burning end of the copperhead over a lighter, candle, or stove top. Gently is the key word, just enough heat to get the glue inside to burn off and the two thin strips of copper will pull apart and become two very thin strips. Those strips now work like a normal two wire igniter, but be warned that they are fragile and can short eachother out now because they are free moving. Obviously never get the burning end near a heat source because it will probably burn!

No need to buy or use the special clip, I find it too heavy for mid power igniters and it either winds up twisting them or pulling them out on a windy day. Then when your rocket flies, you forget all about it and it gets lost.