- Joined
- Oct 2, 2018
- Messages
- 746
- Reaction score
- 325
They're delicate, have had decent pyrogen replaced with kaka cornstarch/glue, and are overpriced. That said, they "usually" work, and oftentimes failures are due to operator error. But there are failures, product failures, too. Which is why they give extras in motor packages (some, no longer).
And they often take several seconds to fire a rocket (or not), especially with the trainer 6V junk systems (and weak batteries). As a dual model rocketry enthusiast and pyrotechnician/fireworker, guaranteed positive ignition is a critical safety factor that is deeply ingrained in me. I push a fire button and it better fly or explode, instantly. Every time.
I do not expect many on this forum (all HPR folks excluded) have such strict expectations or requirements for launch devices--who cares if it takes an extra second of button pushing to ignite your LPR/MPR? Who cares if you need to use one of Estes "extra" igniters because of a failure? I do.
I get it. I think the majority of issues people have with them is using the junk AA cells. I manage a hobby shop, so I've seen people come back with their launch system on occasion. Every time someone has had issues it was with cheap batteries from the Dollar Store. I always used decent quality cells even when I was using the basic controller and never had an issue with them igniting quickly enough. I took the family out one day and launched 25 different rockets without one failure.
Of course, now I use the ProSeries launch controller with a 3S LiPo in it, so it's immediate ignition every time on whatever kind of engine I'm flying, unless I've managed to damage the igniter (which I have done on several occasions on my composite motor igniters).