Hi folks,
I'm gradually working my way up the LPR scale, now entering the "near MPR" zone. I've gotten away with using the standard yellow Estes Electron Beam launch controller, of recent vintage.
In a previous thread, about a year ago, I modified one to be safe for use with Q2G2 ignitors by swapping out the incandescent bulb and replacing it for an LED / resistor combo. While I was at it I upped the wiring gauge and made a clip-whip. But I stuck with the 4 AA batteries. It worked fine for up to 4 Q2G2s...
So now that I've got my first Aerotech D and E SU engines, with ignitors that take more oomph than my AA-based 6V system, I decided to kick it up a notch.
I could have built from scratch but I have a couple extra Electron Beam units laying around so I decided to use one as a hand unit. Added a 12V jump start unit from Walmart, a cigarette lighter adaptor to plug into it, and better wiring.
Presto-change-o. I built it over the weekend and tested it today on a set of 4 Estes ignitors. POP. They all ignited instantaneously. While I like the assurance of the Q2G2s, I'd have no problem using this on an Estes ignitor cluster. It should handle the copperheads fine too.
I'll document what I did in this thread. It's not rocket science (boo, hisss :dark: ) but maybe someone will find it useful if they are considering doing something similar.
Marc
I'm gradually working my way up the LPR scale, now entering the "near MPR" zone. I've gotten away with using the standard yellow Estes Electron Beam launch controller, of recent vintage.
In a previous thread, about a year ago, I modified one to be safe for use with Q2G2 ignitors by swapping out the incandescent bulb and replacing it for an LED / resistor combo. While I was at it I upped the wiring gauge and made a clip-whip. But I stuck with the 4 AA batteries. It worked fine for up to 4 Q2G2s...
So now that I've got my first Aerotech D and E SU engines, with ignitors that take more oomph than my AA-based 6V system, I decided to kick it up a notch.
I could have built from scratch but I have a couple extra Electron Beam units laying around so I decided to use one as a hand unit. Added a 12V jump start unit from Walmart, a cigarette lighter adaptor to plug into it, and better wiring.
Presto-change-o. I built it over the weekend and tested it today on a set of 4 Estes ignitors. POP. They all ignited instantaneously. While I like the assurance of the Q2G2s, I'd have no problem using this on an Estes ignitor cluster. It should handle the copperheads fine too.
I'll document what I did in this thread. It's not rocket science (boo, hisss :dark: ) but maybe someone will find it useful if they are considering doing something similar.
Marc