Aerotech EFC-1

Was just hackin' around on Google and stumbled across a reference to an Aerotech electronic forward closure kit (EFC-1). Looks sort of interesting. Uses a re-usable glow plug for ignition and apparently a timer set for after motor burn out. Looks like it went the way of the Dodo though. Anybody seen one? 2009 is the intro date. It's on their info page here: https://www.aerotech-rocketry.com/news.aspx?y=2009

I've never seen one in person.

If someone had one I'd buy it for the price of a regular forward just for the novelty value.

Apparently it wasn't a popular item..I.d still like to see one/how it works...

Others have made their own versions using a standard RC glowplug and a altimeter capable of handling the amperage (an Eggfinder Quantum would probably do the job), I have considered it but then got to thinking about introducing something complex to the firing circuit and decided it really wasn't worth it. Basically the unit was an Apogee based single deployment iirc, I have actually seen ONE but not actually seem it used for flight.

We bought two of them but we've never used them. Part of the problem is that you can't follow the requirement that you arm it from outside the rocket once it's on the pad. You have to load the ejection charge, them arm it, then screw it onto the motor casing, then put the casing into the rocket.

Earache said:

We bought two of them but we've never used them. Part of the problem is that you can't follow the requirement that you arm it from outside the rocket once it's on the pad. You have to load the ejection charge, them arm it, then screw it onto the motor casing, then put the casing into the rocket.

Click to expand...

If you want to unload one or both of them, PM me. I'm after them for my own tinkering purposes.

I always thought it was a neat concept, but I wasn't a fan of the G-switch trigger or the battery so I got hold of the case for one and replaced the circuit card with one of my own design. I designed mine with an ARM processor, a digital accelerometer for the measurement device and a 1S LiPo battery to make it all work. (Photos to follow.)

If you haven't already found it there's a patent on the original circuit card, I found it an interesting read.

They wouldn't work with the short burn of the 38mm Warp 9 motors so I am not sure about when they stopped making them but they would have needed to be revised if they kept them available.

They were for firing ejection charges with Warp -9's.
They had and issue however.......burn time on some is SO short, would not trigger the accelerometer based [G-switch] mechasmism & fire the charge.
Just a Perfect flight timer modified for use with a RC glow plug, with AT name on it.
Just used a Hobbyline 29mm case to hold guts.

https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/aerotech-electronic-forward-closure.26227/

5x7 said:

They wouldn't work with the short burn of the 38mm Warp 9 motors so I am not sure about when they stopped making them but they would have needed to be revised if they kept them available.

Click to expand...

That's part of why I wanted to make my own board for it. I really liked the concept of being able to drop in a better ejection control device into any rocket and I also really liked the idea of using a glow plug to set the charge off, but I just thought the capabilities of the original board where a little limited and that the device could be much more useful with a "tech update". Swapping the original g-switch for an accel allows me to make a more informed decision about what constitutes a launch and will allow me to use it with short-burn motors.

This would be an awesome complement for a Chute Release if AT updated it and made it baro-apogee instead of using a timer. Some kind of remote arming would be necessary, too. Too bad there are no threaded-plugged forward closures for the AT 29mm hardware, or I'd be tempted to do it myself.

I have see one flown, but have not seen one work...there were no survivors.

I have one with one successful flight. I used it as a back up for electronic deployment because I heard of the prior issues. It fired. Now it sits on a shelf. May use it again not that I have a reminder.

EFC-1 " Sold "

also another idea at the time of the EFC was Giant Leaps Slim Shot .

Just discovered John Coker modded one to act as an ignitor/staging controller...Really like the idea of building a better board for it. If anyone has a 29mm version they don't need, let me know. I'd rather just make the hardware but then it'd be considered ex correct ?

Wallace said:

Just discovered John Coker modded one to act as an ignitor/staging controller...Really like the idea of building a better board for it. If anyone has a 29mm version they don't need, let me know. I'd rather just make the hardware but then it'd be considered ex correct ?

Click to expand...

Its not EX as you are not modifying an actual motor, unless you make a new forward closure or whole new motor hardware. EX is used generally in reference to the motor hardware itself and/or the propellant and delay grains. My opinion of course.

I have one and have used it for a brief period. It will not work with the sub 1 sec motors. The electronics were made by Perfect Flight 9 says so on the board) I remember reading; that someone claimed to have given AT / RCS the idea and was pissed when they weren't included in the patent application / production run.
I did remove the glow plug and was going to try to fire a low voltage starter with it.... Never got around to doing so.