Its been close to 25 years since I last launched a model rocket....getting back into it with my 11 yr old son. We have a few small rockets to launch and are in the process of making our own launch control system (I made one myself when I was about 14).
My main question is: What is the ideal voltage to ignite the engines. I am using the basic estes engines with the little black ignitors. It seems to me that when I was a kid, we used a 6 volt lantern battery. I am planning to use a small Marine battery (12V, deep cycle) and about 30 feet of speaker wire...This seems like it should work, there does not seem to be any voltage drop over this distance.
Second question: The engines now come with plugs that I assume go in to hold the ignitor in, I don't remember these in the old days. Am I correct in assuming that the ignitor goes in, then the plugs goes in behind that? I assume the ignitor and plug are left behind on the ground...
Last question: Can any recommend a good online source for engines and rocket kits. (apologies if this is not allowed in the forum).
Thanks in advance for your answers.
D in Mtl
My main question is: What is the ideal voltage to ignite the engines. I am using the basic estes engines with the little black ignitors. It seems to me that when I was a kid, we used a 6 volt lantern battery. I am planning to use a small Marine battery (12V, deep cycle) and about 30 feet of speaker wire...This seems like it should work, there does not seem to be any voltage drop over this distance.
Second question: The engines now come with plugs that I assume go in to hold the ignitor in, I don't remember these in the old days. Am I correct in assuming that the ignitor goes in, then the plugs goes in behind that? I assume the ignitor and plug are left behind on the ground...
Last question: Can any recommend a good online source for engines and rocket kits. (apologies if this is not allowed in the forum).
Thanks in advance for your answers.
D in Mtl