MrGneissGuy
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- Joined
- Jul 27, 2010
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I have been using two 6volt lantern batteries in series foro launching with no trouble at all, until I tried to launch my first cluster. Now there could have been several things wrong aside from that power source just not being enough, to the cold weather reducing their effectiveness, to me simply not making my cluster wire harness correctly (or a combination of all three), but only one engine ignited and my daughter's saucer never left the launch rod. I'm thinking the main problem was battery choice.
As I'm not an electrician or electrical engineer, I've done a lot of reading trying to figure out launch controllers and power/energy supplies appropriate for launching. It appears the general opinion is that a 12 volt gel cell, motorcycle, car battery (or similar) is the best as it will give you many, many launches and can handle just about any brand of ingitors as well as clusters. Now considering that you can get 12 volts from eight AA batteries (or two lantern batteries), I'm guessing that, in addition to wanting 12 volts, the amperage is also important when trying to launch clusters? If that is correct, what amperage, in general is required for launching clusters (of say three or four) motors? If the amperage isn't a factor, I guess I don't understand the difference between using 8 AAs to get 12 volts versus using a motorcycle battery, other than longevity. And then I have to figure out why my cluster didn't work.
I saw in Meijer Stanley 350 amp battery jump-starters on sale for $25 and figured why not, I could alway use it for its intended purpose in addition to trying to make it my launch day power supply. The picture below is of the 300 amp, as apprently the 350 amp version no longer exists, or I can't find it anywhere online except in the Meijer ads. It charges by plugging it into a regular wall outlet. In addition to having the jumper clamps, it also has a USB power port, LED light, and 12 volt DC power supply, and a 12 volt DC charging adapter.
It is supposed to have 350A instananeous, 5 seconds 225A. The battery itself is a 12 volt 9aH lead acid battery. I've already done the modifications to my launch controller (very minor modifications required) to use this, and I figure I can use it by connecting my controller directly to the clamps. Another option, that I am liking more and more, is to use the 12 volt DC power supply. I have a 12 volt DC adapter for a piece of electronics that no longer works, so I simply cut off the plug and added some connectors to the ends of the wires. So I can plug it into the 12volt DC accessory outlet on the jump starter and connect my controller to those wires. But the manual says you are not to exceed a 5amp load on the outlet. Will this be a problem and should I just attach the main clamps instead of using the accessory outlet?
Man that's a long winded way of asking "will this thing work for clusters and can I use the accessory outlet or do I use the main clamps for the extra amperage?" Guess that's what happens when you're sitting up late at night watching football and waiting for the laundry to finish so you can put it in the dryer before going to bed.
As I'm not an electrician or electrical engineer, I've done a lot of reading trying to figure out launch controllers and power/energy supplies appropriate for launching. It appears the general opinion is that a 12 volt gel cell, motorcycle, car battery (or similar) is the best as it will give you many, many launches and can handle just about any brand of ingitors as well as clusters. Now considering that you can get 12 volts from eight AA batteries (or two lantern batteries), I'm guessing that, in addition to wanting 12 volts, the amperage is also important when trying to launch clusters? If that is correct, what amperage, in general is required for launching clusters (of say three or four) motors? If the amperage isn't a factor, I guess I don't understand the difference between using 8 AAs to get 12 volts versus using a motorcycle battery, other than longevity. And then I have to figure out why my cluster didn't work.
I saw in Meijer Stanley 350 amp battery jump-starters on sale for $25 and figured why not, I could alway use it for its intended purpose in addition to trying to make it my launch day power supply. The picture below is of the 300 amp, as apprently the 350 amp version no longer exists, or I can't find it anywhere online except in the Meijer ads. It charges by plugging it into a regular wall outlet. In addition to having the jumper clamps, it also has a USB power port, LED light, and 12 volt DC power supply, and a 12 volt DC charging adapter.
It is supposed to have 350A instananeous, 5 seconds 225A. The battery itself is a 12 volt 9aH lead acid battery. I've already done the modifications to my launch controller (very minor modifications required) to use this, and I figure I can use it by connecting my controller directly to the clamps. Another option, that I am liking more and more, is to use the 12 volt DC power supply. I have a 12 volt DC adapter for a piece of electronics that no longer works, so I simply cut off the plug and added some connectors to the ends of the wires. So I can plug it into the 12volt DC accessory outlet on the jump starter and connect my controller to those wires. But the manual says you are not to exceed a 5amp load on the outlet. Will this be a problem and should I just attach the main clamps instead of using the accessory outlet?
Man that's a long winded way of asking "will this thing work for clusters and can I use the accessory outlet or do I use the main clamps for the extra amperage?" Guess that's what happens when you're sitting up late at night watching football and waiting for the laundry to finish so you can put it in the dryer before going to bed.
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