If you're going to start flying high power, then you need to be prepared for what that means. In other words, join a rocket club that does high power.
99.99% of the time flying high power means getting an FAA waiver. So joining a club becomes the easiest means of legally flying high power. Sure there's the 3.3 pound rule with the minimum high power motors, but no one that I've ever known was satisfied with that for more than a couple of flights. The HP itch can't be satisfied for long enough to bother with under the 3.3 rule. I mean really, if 3.3 is ok, then why not 3.4 pounds. And what's the harm in flying a motor that's just one more grain bigger? There's a reason that every high power rocketry organization that I've ever looked into has a safety code. And the safety code is there to try and keep us safe......and keep us flying without any governmental micromanaging what we are all doing.
So you want to legally fly high power rockets? Then somebody needs to stand up and tell you the simple truth that your PSII is completely inadequate for the task. For high power you are at the minimum 100 feet between you and the pad, your PSII will not get the job done unless you're pushing enough juice thru the wires to start melting insulation, including inside of your hand-held PSII. For high power you need a controller that will activate a relay at the pad to actuate the battery at the pad for the ignition of your motor. Yes, I've done it the old fashioned way stringing 100 feet of extension cord between my car battery and the pad too, but it was NOT safe, took ten times the amperage than it ought to have taken, and literally did melt insulation on the wiring. And above all, it was not safe.
So please, don't go there. I'm certain that there will be a dozen guys out there with stories of how they did it and everything was fine. Unfortunately, while it may have been "fine," it was neither safe nor legal. You want to fly high power? Do it right or you are jeopardizing the hobby for everybody.
Sorry for getting on my soapbox there, but my club lost the right to fly off of a beautiful sod farm because one idiot decided he had the right to break the rules. He was being "safe" in his own mind, but he lost us a wonderful place to fly because of his willingness to break the rules that he saw as merely an inconvenience. The rules may have been an inconvenience to him, but he lost us our flying field and that was inexcusable. He's never flown with us since then. As far as I know he no longer flight rockets at all. And that's probably a good thing as I don't know if I could speak in civil tones if he showed up wanting to fly again. And we're talking what, 20 years ago!
Yes, I know that I'm a pastor. I preach the Gospel every Sunday, even the one's where I'm at rocket launches. Get to close and you're likely to get a sermon! LOL!!!! I preach that we're saved by "Grace Alone" thru faith in the shed Blood of Jesus Christ......... (I hope I haven't broken any forum rules here. If I have, I plead ignorance) And I believe that it will be by Grace alone that I will someday get into heaven, not by works. The Ten Commandments are there to help us keep from hurting ourselves and/or those around us. Sometimes the RULES have to be the RULES. And when it comes to flying rockets, the safety code is there to try and keep us safe from as many known factors as possible.
So, go join a rocket club that flies high power.
Stay safe.
Stay legal.
Stay on my good side, because I'd hate to have to consign you to the flames. (oh dear, now I'm laughing so hard I can hardly type.....)
Brad, the "Sometimes I can't help Myself" "Rocket Rev.," Wilson
