RedOctober
New Member
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2009
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 0
I have recently gotten into MPR and HPR. I have had no problems at all thus far with increasing size, weight, power etc. up into the H and I motor range. All of my rockets are doing well. I recently built a rail launch pad system and also built a new launch control. Our only problem thus far is we can not seem to build a cluster ignition system that works properly. Since we are doing this in the middle of a field, miles from the nearest 110v electrical outlet, we are stuck with using batteries. Here is the launch system I WAS using:
For A-F engines I used a 9v battery and a toggle/buton ignition which traveled from the 9v battery through speaker wire into my launch control box where the toggle is. Then the speaker wire proceeds about 50 feet to the standard launch pad where single motor ignition all day long is no problem at all, BUT cluster ignition has proven to be nearly impossible. With a 3 or 4 motor cluster, 1 or maybe 2 would light, and the rocket would shoot off course and wreck.
Here is what I recently built and have NOT tested yet:
We got a 12v, 230amp ATV/Boat battery and I rewired the launch control box with pure copper 14ga wire. So now the system is comprised of a large 12v battery, which proceeds through copper wire into the launch control box with the toggle and trigger, then out to the launch pad about 70-100ft away. Since I am now using copper wire, there should be no loss of voltage over the 70ft or so. But I am still hesitant to try a cluster motor ignition because my only cluster rocket is an E motor cluster. That would be a kind of expensive 'oops' if 1 or 2 of the 3 motors does not ignite correctly. Is 12volts enough to launch clusters?? Does the increase of amps make a difference? Over the length of copper wire I am sure the amps will reduce...
Basically, what I would really like is to hear how other people manage to launch clusters. We have tried so many times with cheaper motors. We are also building a G cluster saturn V replica, so we want to have this perfected before we go blast off $60 in motors and crash. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I have read about some other people's launch control systems and some look very impressive but i see a lot of people mentioning 110volts. Anyways, thanks for any replies!!
-RedOctober
Chico, CA
For A-F engines I used a 9v battery and a toggle/buton ignition which traveled from the 9v battery through speaker wire into my launch control box where the toggle is. Then the speaker wire proceeds about 50 feet to the standard launch pad where single motor ignition all day long is no problem at all, BUT cluster ignition has proven to be nearly impossible. With a 3 or 4 motor cluster, 1 or maybe 2 would light, and the rocket would shoot off course and wreck.
Here is what I recently built and have NOT tested yet:
We got a 12v, 230amp ATV/Boat battery and I rewired the launch control box with pure copper 14ga wire. So now the system is comprised of a large 12v battery, which proceeds through copper wire into the launch control box with the toggle and trigger, then out to the launch pad about 70-100ft away. Since I am now using copper wire, there should be no loss of voltage over the 70ft or so. But I am still hesitant to try a cluster motor ignition because my only cluster rocket is an E motor cluster. That would be a kind of expensive 'oops' if 1 or 2 of the 3 motors does not ignite correctly. Is 12volts enough to launch clusters?? Does the increase of amps make a difference? Over the length of copper wire I am sure the amps will reduce...
Basically, what I would really like is to hear how other people manage to launch clusters. We have tried so many times with cheaper motors. We are also building a G cluster saturn V replica, so we want to have this perfected before we go blast off $60 in motors and crash. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I have read about some other people's launch control systems and some look very impressive but i see a lot of people mentioning 110volts. Anyways, thanks for any replies!!
-RedOctober
Chico, CA