The Eggtimer EZ-DD Rocket/Altimeter, a Complete Dual-Deploy Package for $100

[kramer714]

Cris,

Are you going to offer the altimeter by itself?

Mike K

 

[Tractionengines]

Not at this time

Already been asked. See post #19 Post in thread... https://www.rocketryforum.com/threa...al-deploy-package-for-100.185603/post-2567564

 

[cerving]

Here's my completed EZ-DD av-bay. I added an EggTimer telemetry module that I can unscrew and remove if I need to. I'm a bit nervous about the basic 80mm stick antenna in the same compartment as the steel all-thread but Cris says it should be OK unless I'm shooting for 30,000 ft (not).View attachment 643285 The Black Aero case for the Eggtimer LCD and voice module is at the mailbox now

We have a 1" long helical antenna for the ETM, free for the asking if you've purchased an EZ-DD kit. The ETM and the helical antenna fit nicely on top of the battery cover, with a piece of good double-stick tape. All of our EZ-DD tests were done using it.

 

[augendoc]

Anyone have a recommendation for a cheap PC that x I c a n use to upload new firmware for Cris’s products? I’m a total Mac guy and my partner’s work Pc is locked as to installing new apps.

 

[BEC]

I use an inexpensive 11 inch Lenovo ThinkPad as my field PC for reading Adrel altimeters and such. I also use it for firmware updates for my Egg stuff.

 

[cerving]

I'm typing this on an old Dell Latitude E5440... I think it cost me $150. I bought two of them... gotta have a backup.

 

[bad_idea]

Saw an EZ-DD fly on a G80 at the Texas Shootout last weekend. It worked well, as expected. It had evidently flown earlier in the weekend, but I don't know on what motor. Will probably include an EZ_DD in my next Eggtimer order, to get first hand experience with a kit I expect I'll be recommending a lot.

 

[cerving]

The EZ-DD Flight Manual is (finally...) available on the web site. There are a few tips and tricks in it, so it's worth your while to read it, even if you've already flow dual-deployment rockets before.

 

[Sooner Boomer]

Saw an EZ-DD fly on a G80 at the Texas Shootout last weekend. It worked well, as expected. It had evidently flown earlier in the weekend, but I don't know on what motor. Will probably include an EZ_DD in my next Eggtimer order, to get first hand experience with a kit I expect I'll be recommending a lot.

If I don't see you before, I'll be bringing mine to Airfest. I've got some "easy" motors to test it with, and a couple of "rippers" when I'm sure all is good. I *highly* recommend the kit. The rocket is a straightforward build, no surprises. The altimeter is a good "first time" kit build.

 

[bad_idea]

If I don't see you before, I'll be bringing mine to Airfest. I've got some "easy" motors to test it with, and a couple of "rippers" when I'm sure all is good. I *highly* recommend the kit. The rocket is a straightforward build, no surprises. The altimeter is a good "first time" kit build.

Look forward to seeing yours, Dan. One of your fellow Oklahomans, from the Tulsa club, was flying his at the TXSO. So there are at least two of you in OK who speak highly of it. He'll be at Airfest too.

 

[WillMarchant]

I’m trying titebond for the first time with this kit. The internal fillets seem to be taking a long time to dry. I think I’ll use epoxy to close off the fin can to save some time.

 

[Simon Auty]

Finally got my EZ-DD.
Seriously impressed with the ease of assembly - just done dry fit so far.
Thinking about glassing the body tube to make the whole thing a bit more survivable.
Thoughts?

 

[WillMarchant]

Finally got my EZ-DD.
Seriously impressed with the ease of assembly - just done dry fit so far.
Thinking about glassing the body tube to make the whole thing a bit more survivable.
Thoughts?

I didn’t bother. But your mileage may vary, of course. The tubing feels pretty hefty to me.

 

[WillMarchant]

I got in a successful flight including getting it out of the tree with Adam’s help. Thanks, Adam! But I’m going to put shear pins in instead of the cellophane tape on the nosecone.

 

[JeffBigg]

Any chance you will offer these without the altimeter? I would like to build one for my quantum or quark.

 

[RokitFlyr]

Any chance you will offer these without the altimeter? I would like to build one for my quantum or quark.

Actually read the thread. It's been asked before a couple of times. No.

 

[WillMarchant]

Actually read the thread. It's been asked before a couple of times. No.

It’s basically the Balsa Machining 3” “school rocket” with the optional payload bay. Buy those from BMS and you’ll be pretty close. You’d need to add another bulkhead and the hardware.

You might want to look at the 3” payload bay from Binder Design and see if it’s size compatible with the BMS school rocket. Or just buy a 3” kit from Binder. They have really nice products.

 

[kjhambrick]

Any chance you will offer these without the altimeter? I would like to build one for my quantum or quark.

It’s basically the Balsa Machining 3” “school rocket” with the optional payload bay. Buy those from BMS and you’ll be pretty close. You’d need to add another bulkhead and the hardware.

You might want to look at the 3” payload bay from Binder Design and see if it’s size compatible with the BMS school rocket. Or just buy a 3” kit from Binder. They have really nice products.

Yes, or buy the Eggtimer EZ-DD rocket and use your Quantum or Quark instead of the included DD Altimeter ?

IMO, the EZ-DD Rocket is a pretty good deal, even if you don't build and fly the included Altimeter.

-- kjh

 

[bad_idea]

Finally got my EZ-DD.
Seriously impressed with the ease of assembly - just done dry fit so far.
Thinking about glassing the body tube to make the whole thing a bit more survivable.
Thoughts?

I tend to glass my cardboard midpower rockets, usually with a light sleeve from Soller. They do hold up better. There is a weight penalty of course.

You might want to look at the 3” payload bay from Binder Design and see if it’s size compatible with the BMS school rocket.

BMS tubing as used by the EZ-DD is 3" OD whereas high power 3" tubes are 3" ID, with their couplers being 3" OD.

 

[Scott_650]

BMS tubing as used by the EZ-DD is 3" OD whereas high power 3" tubes are 3" ID, with their couplers being 3" OD.

bad_idea is spot on - BMS uses the same 3" tube as Estes does for their PSII kits. It's strong enough considering the cost but not as sturdy as HPR 3" tube, of course it doesn't weigh as much either - acceptable trade off for me, YMMV.

 

[Mward]

Any chance you will offer these without the altimeter? I would like to build one for my quantum or quark.

BMS has the rocket portion of the EX-DD

https://www.balsamachining.com/

Look under the "School Rocket" Tab for the 29mm engine 3" with payload bay option (options are in table near bottom of page)

- Matt

 

[monkeywrench76]

Just built this but i upgraded it to a 38MM motor mount. about 15 bucks for motor tube and centering rings. Cant wait to fly it.

 

[WillMarchant]

What are people using for test lamps? I’m not impressed with the Christmas tree bulbs I got.

 

[Titan II]

What are people using for test lamps? I’m not impressed with the Christmas tree bulbs I got.

Are yours incandescent (vs LED)? You want incandescent.
Here is a thread about them....
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/lightbulb-altimeter-testing.160560/

 

[Ronz Rocketz]

I got in a successful flight including getting it out of the tree with Adam’s help. Thanks, Adam! But I’m going to put shear pins in instead of the cellophane tape on the nosecone.

The NC separated after apogee? What was the altitude on the G74? 1000ft? I'm contemplated using the shear pins. I could see the NC popping off at apogee.

Check the fit of the nose cone in the payload bay tube. It will probably be a little loose. The nose cone should fit snugly, so that it won’t fall off if you shake it or hold it upside down, but it shouldn’t be difficult to remove. Wrap a little masking tape around the base, and check the fit. Add a little bit of tape at a time, until you get the right fit.

I'm thinking of flying mine at NARAM with a H motor. Hopefully I can get some ejection charges there as I'm flying in from Hawaii.
On second thought, I'll launch it locally on a G80, then try a H motor at ARLISS in September.

I've already lost one of the 6mm connectors. Other than Cris, where's a good source assuming I'll probably lose many more.

 

[WillMarchant]

The NC separated after apogee? What was the altitude on the G74? 1000ft? I'm contemplated using the shear pins. I could see the NC popping off at apogee.


I'm thinking of flying mine at NARAM with a H motor. Hopefully I can get some ejection charges there as I'm flying in from Hawaii.

View attachment 656297

I've already lost one of the 6mm connectors. Other than Cris, where's a good source assuming I'll probably lose many more.

Yeah, the RSO doing the pre-flight inspection started pulling on the nosecone before I explained about the cellophane tape shear strips. So the tape got stressed. I looked at it at the time and thought it was OK but it popped at apogee with the chute staying in the tube until main deployment. The max altitude was about 850 feet.

I bought https://a.co/d/21IsDSy for spare av-bay connectors but I see they’re out of stock. Cris can probably send you a few or PM me your snail mail address and I’ll send you a couple.

 

[WillMarchant]

Are yours incandescent (vs LED)? You want incandescent.
Here is a thread about them....
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/lightbulb-altimeter-testing.160560/

I chatted with Cris and got these https://a.co/d/3JP6w6y but my luck with them and the EZ-DD is poor. The bulbs seem to have a pass through so the string will stay lit even if the bulb fails. So checking continuity on them doesn’t tell you if the bulb will light or not. I need to start checking the questionable ones with a battery to figure out what is going on. So I was hoping for suggestions other than salvaged Christmas tree lights. I’ll try some auto bulbs and see how they do with the 3V the EZ-DD puts out.

 

[Ronz Rocketz]

I chatted with Cris and got these https://a.co/d/3JP6w6y but my luck with them and the EZ-DD is poor. The bulbs seem to have a pass through so the string will stay lit even if the bulb fails. So checking continuity on them doesn’t tell you if the bulb will light or not. I need to start checking the questionable ones with a battery to figure out what is going on. So I was hoping for suggestions other than salvaged Christmas tree lights. I’ll try some auto bulbs and see how they do with the 3V the EZ-DD puts out.

LOL. Cris should find an old string of lights and include two in each kit. I need to go through my Christmas box and see if I have any old lights that I haven't thrown away yet.

 

[cerving]

I chatted with Cris and got these https://a.co/d/3JP6w6y but my luck with them and the EZ-DD is poor. The bulbs seem to have a pass through so the string will stay lit even if the bulb fails. So checking continuity on them doesn’t tell you if the bulb will light or not. I need to start checking the questionable ones with a battery to figure out what is going on. So I was hoping for suggestions other than salvaged Christmas tree lights. I’ll try some auto bulbs and see how they do with the 3V the EZ-DD puts out.

You have to cut them off the string. There's no pass-through if you do that.

 

[kjhambrick]

Are yours incandescent (vs LED)? You want incandescent.
Here is a thread about them....
https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/lightbulb-altimeter-testing.160560/

After reading the thread above, I found a string of 6V DC battery powered incandescent bulbs at Hobby Lobby for $2.29

I ended up buying something like this:
HL > Miniature Light Bulb Garland

The one I bought had 25 -or- so lites.

Do inspect the product to make sure you're getting incandescent lights and that they're DC powered !

The one I bought had really crappy stranded aluminum leads so I soldered some spent e-match leads and they now work great.

Here is a pair wired to HEDLEY's "Space Capsule" ready for testing via a Blue Raven Simulation:


HTH

-- kjh