Here is my super duper Christmas lights method for deployment with the MAWD. Before I get started, I would recommend Quickburst's kit. Although I've yet to have a failure using the christmas lights method, I've heard good things about his and it seems less of a hassle.
First, here are some items that I use. You can substitute where you'd think fit.
Blackpowder, pliers, wire strippers, wire cutters, hobby knife, one of those card board tubes that you get ignitors in, one of those little plastic thingies that Aerotech puts black powder in with some reloads, plumbers tape, wadding, and of course, one Christmas Light.
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Next Break the tip of the Christmas light with pliers. Wear eye protection. Glass may fly and be sure not to damage the filament. Usually after I do this step, I will use one of those Estes launch controllers to check for continuity.
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(1) Next, use wire strippers (or your teeth) to strip about 1/8 - 1/4 inch off the ends of the wires on the light. This will attach to a terminal block which is attached to a wire that will be connected to the MAWD. For that wire, I use one of the pairs from a CAT 5 cable.
(2) Then cut about 1.75 inches off of a tube that comes with ignitors in Aerotech kits. Not the skinny ones that come with Copperheads, but the quarter inch tubes.
(3) Next, place that cut piece over the light until it is snug.
(4) Then I use plumbers tape to tape it together. It may be better to use electrical tape. I haven't had a failure yet out of 20 launches using this method, but I'm concerned that a fast flight may destroy this charge, and the electrical tape would be stronger.
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(5) For this example, I will use only 1.25 grams of Black Powder. 3F (FFF) has been working fine for me. Measure out the black powder in the little plastic doohickey that Aerotech sometimes packs their BP in. If you squint real hard, you can see the measurements printed on the plastic. Be sure to verify how much BP to use. Don't want to destroy the rocket! Another tip, use scales.
(6) Pour the BP into the tube. I used a funnel that I created from an old envelope.
(7) Stuff little balls of wadding into the end to pack down the BP. BP has to be touching the filament or might not go off, just don't pack it tightly because you could break the filament. Snug is good.
(8) Tape the end of it to keep it together. Kind of looks like a little piece of candy. Isn't it cute? Even if I use electrical tape for taping the tube to the light, I'm still sticking with using plumbers tape on the ends. I want it to blow real easy and I don't know how much power is taken just to overcome the strength of the electrical tape. Maybe its not a big deal but I haven't gotten to testing it yet.
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(9) Finally, you want to label how much BP you loaded. Just in case the launch is scrubbed for some reason, or if you use different amounts for Main and Apogee, you don't want to get them mixed up or forget how much you loaded. I just use a sharpie on a piece of tape. You might even want to label it also with 'Main' or 'apogee'
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After you finish making the charge and you would like to test to see you still have continuity (in case of a broken filament), be sure you step way back when doing so. Something like 30 feet is what I'd recommend. Do not try it in your neighbors mailbox. They will not appreciate it. Get far away and warn people within earshot. This is in the event that the charge accidentally goes off, you can't be too safe..0
Thats how I make an ejection charge with christmas lights. Hope it helps. Jimmy Yawn has his method over at his
site, in case you're interested. Good luck.