I've been using these Chinese ematches for 5 years now, multiple batches. About a 2% continuity failure rate upon initial check and a very disturbing 5% failure rate in actual flight. That's 8/100 failing COMPLETELY....and you never really know when you're going get 'that one' that ruins an otherwise perfect day.I use bulk electronic matches for deployment charges with BP. Only 25 cents each and very reliable. Make sure you continuity check them and test them with your altimeter battery. I also use these for motor ignitors, but I dip them in CA glue then in BP or left over propellant.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/324252073852
ebay firework starters.
Something like this?ebay firework starters. You dont need to waste money for igniters for deployment, all you need is ematches
Those are the ones.Something like this?
With every single pre-inspection failure, I put it on a battery = none fired.I only use the Chinese orange ones. Never had one fail resistance test that I can remember.
I hope that when you have one fail continuity, you stick a battery to it and see what happens.
Sorry you've had such trouble. Maybe they are sending me all the good ones and you the bad ones.With every single pre-inspection failure, I put it on a battery = none fired.
With every single post-flight crash, I put a battery on it = only 1 ever fired, but it took several attempts.
When the ones who make the laws (make no mistake, due deference means BATFE makes law) don't know their own area of "expertise"............
Worst -- Terry
Not sure what you mean by this. I worked for a federal agency (I am not sure what the difference between an agency and a bureau is, but I don't think it matters here.) We did not make the laws, the legislative branch did. I expect legislators probably consult both the private sector (lobbyist) and professionals within the agency (bureau). Our experts in USDA ranged from part time farmers to academics. I don't know if BAFE has technical expertise. Except for the unlikely rocketeer or the more likely occasional black powered enthusiast, the informed opinion is nowhere near the floor of the legislator.due deference means BATFE makes law
The powers that be at BATFE decide what goes in the Orange Book (list of explosives). If they deem that Sensodyne toothpaste is explosive because it contains potassium nitrate...it is then legally an explosive and must be stored in a proper magazine. That is what happened with APCP. It was added to the list because they decided that it was an explosive. No testing necessary, and that pronouncement certainly had the force of law. It took over ten years and roughly three-quarters of a million dollars to get them to remove it from the list.Not sure what you mean by this. I worked for a federal agency (I am not sure what the difference between an agency and a bureau is, but I don't think it matters here.) We did not make the laws, the legislative branch did. I expect legislators probably consult both the private sector (lobbyist) and professionals within the agency (bureau). Our experts in USDA ranged from part time farmers to academics. I don't know if BAFE has technical expertise. Except for the unlikely rocketeer or the more likely occasional black powered enthusiast, the informed opinion is nowhere near the floor of the legislator.
Just trying is understand what you mean. Sorry I was off topic.
As a former Federal Employee, DoD, I stand with you....higher ups (Congress, Washington, Lobbyist) become mis-informed and sometimes overreact. After last 25 years of terroristic activity, it is understandable some poor decision may have been in terms of national security/safety.I guess I was just picking nits. I still stand by what I said. BAFTE does not make laws. The law may says something like the BAFTE shall have the power to regulate explosives. The bureau then has authority to write a regulation the includes the definition of what an explosives is. Your are correct to have a beef with BATFE who wrote the regulation, not the legislature who wrote the law. I expect that you would want some government oversight of "significant" explosives. I will grant you that is hard to change an established regulation or one one that an agency is headstrong in changing. But, I believe, what you sought was a change in regulation, not law. To further murk the already murky waters, a good strategy to change a regulation is to get legislatures (yes, law makers) to put pressure on the bureau to change its regulation. Still, no laws are made or changed. Sorry, once a bureaucrat, always a bureaucrat. I just want it be right.
Several years ago I bought a box of the MJG firewires. I had 100% failure rate even though they tested fine. Fortunately, I had redundancy for both drogue and main that were fired with Quest Q2's. I contacted MJG and when I told them the lot number they said that they had gotten a bad raw material. Apparently, when customers started complaining about the firewires failing their examination found that a raw material was out of spec. So they replaced my box at no charge. Since then, I've used another box and a half with no problems. I still use Quests as a backup but my supply of those is really low. (I had bought a bunch of bulk packs of the Quest motors just to get the igniters.)
I couldn't agree more. The right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. I get calls from them asking if some things are regulated. I have a standard answer, and Ill not go into that.When the ones who make the laws (make no mistake, due deference means BATFE makes law) don't know their own area of "expertise"............
Worst -- Terry
I couldn't agree more. The right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. I get calls from them asking if some things are regulated. I have a standard answer, and Ill not go into that.
BATFE in Dallas Tx says e-matches are not regulated. They called and asked me, not being one to argue, I told them no they are not regulated.
Their boss says go out and find out what's regulated, since they have no reference as what is and what isn't they get on the phone and ask questions.
Has any one ever seen the BATFE's definition of an "igniter". If so would you please send me a link so I can read it? I've never been able to find it.
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