Issues With Aerotech Igniters That Come With G80 Single Use Motors?

[jmmome]

I continue to have them simply "pop" with my Club's 12V launch system. I have them secured so that they stay inside the propellant grain, and I do bend the head slightly in order to make contact with the propellant. Wondering if dipping them in Magnelite pyrogen would help- but I don't have a 12V launch system to test it out (I'm substituting with a homemade Magnelite igniter after the Aerotech igniter fails, but I prefer to use the Magnelites for my large motors).

I'm always running a camcorder on my rockets, so a failed igniter can mean the difference between the camcorder having enough juice or not. Thanks!

Mike Momenee
TRA#12430 L3

 

[snrkl]

I’ve had four flights on AT g-80s DMSs (they’re southern cross branded, but they are AT motors) and I haven’t had a failed ignition yet.

 

[dpower]

Hmm, weird. I’ve had AT First Fire Jrs fail to light various white lightning motors, but never a blue thunder.

When you bend the head, is this cracking the pyrogen? (You only want to bend the wire below the head.)

 

[Steve Shannon]

Are you using a red cap over the nozzle to retain the initiator? If so, how big of a vent are you cutting. Failure to cut a vent will certainly cause the motor to pop the cap and spit the igniter.
Otherwise 12 volt systems are just perfect for lighting those.

 

[BDB]

I had a similar issue with a particular Estes-Branded G80. I went through a bunch of Estes Sonic igniters before I finally got it to light with a BKNO3 starter that I bought from Crazy Jim--overkill, but it finally worked.

 

[Nytrunner]

I had a similar issue with a particular Estes-Branded G80. I went through a bunch of Estes Sonic igniters before I finally got it to light with a BKNO3 starter that I bought from Crazy Jim--overkill, but it finally worked.

I must have gotten all the good sonic igniter karma you were conversely generating. I loved those things

 

[snrkl]

Are you using a red cap over the nozzle to retain the initiator? If so, how big of a vent are you cutting. Failure to cut a vent will certainly cause the motor to pop the cap and spit the igniter.
Otherwise 12 volt systems are just perfect for lighting those.

This... x1000

good catch Steve - I didn’t think of that!

 

[jmmome]

Yup- using the cap and cutting the vent hole. Hopefully the weather will allow some more Club launches before winter sets in, and I'll give the Aerotech igniters another try.

 

[Cameron Anderson]

I had two in a row pop in my G77 (78?) Green DMS's two weekends ago. Third one popped, chugged, then lit about three seconds later. Did everything right - cap, vent, fully inserted, plenty of juice.

 

[Steve Shannon]

I would recommend contacting AT customer service. It sounds like you are doing all the right things.

 

[Anthony Claiborne]

I used to use the vented cap and had a few pop non-ignitions. Now I use masking tape to hold the igniter in. Haven't had a single failure to ignite.

 

[Nytrunner]

I used to use the vented cap and had a few pop non-ignitions. Now I use masking tape to hold the igniter in. Haven't had a single failure to ignite.

+1 for tape in place. I used to use masking/painters tape, but have switched to electrical just because it sticks to everything.

Single use don't have caps, and those rubberbands do nothing to hold the igniter, so tape it is! I try and cover 1/2 to 2/3s the nozzle to build up a little pressure