When wired in series, the first match to go creates a dead-short due to the
plasma ball. This allows for maximum current to flow through to the other
matches. Series is a reliable way to wire e-matches because electrons are very,
very fast!
Allen
Sent from my iPad
On Jan 24, 2017, at 12:06 PM, Alexander Jones <uscjones@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Excuse me if I'm misunderstanding the situation, but wouldn't it be a bad
idea to wire them in series? Bc they're designed to kill their own circuit
(or at least add a LOT of resistance to it) when they blow, so if you're
trying to get more than one charge to blow, and they're not backups to each
other (i.e. you need all of them to fire), you'd have one blow, then the
current would drop drastically across the other two and they may not
fire....I would think it'd be better to wire them in parallel so they all
have current available to them at all times, then just limit the current with
a resistor, or, if your concern is destruction of your electronics, then put
some other kind of current limitation circuitry in the line.... something
like this:
http://www.instructables.com/id/World-simpliest-DC-current-limiter/ ....if ;
you don't want to drag yourself through the math to get the fixed resistor
value analytically (so you don't have a potentiometer in your rocket), you
could build the circuit first with the potentiometer in place to determine
what resistance = the current you want, then replace it with an equivalent
fixed-value resistor. It's a decent amount of work, but it's better than
destruction of your avionics board due to overcurrent or a recovery system
failure on what I assume is a pretty big project, if it has 3 parachutes.
....or just check and see if your avionics board has a current limiter or
overcurrent protection built in....some of them do.
On Tue, Jan 24, 2017 at 11:43 AM, Adrian P. Bailey <adrian@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
This may be a silly question but have you tested the resistance of the test
leads (by holding the ends together)… ;)
From: R Dierking [mailto:applerocketry@xxxxxxxxxxx] ;
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 11:41 AM
To: Adrian P. Bailey <adrian@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; Chris
J Kobel <chris.j.kobel@xxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: [roc-chat] Re: Resistance for Electric Matches
Looks like the San Marcos store for me.
Are Cat 3 test leads OK for our purposes? Perhaps I just need better test
leads with clips?
From: Adrian P. Bailey
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 11:25 AM
To: roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; Chris J Kobel
Subject: [roc-chat] Re: Resistance for Electric Matches
Fry’s in Woodland Hills has quite a selection. Check online – it will tell
you what they have in the store nearest you: http://www.frys.com/
From: roc-chat-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:roc-chat-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] ;
On Behalf Of R Dierking
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 11:20 AM
To: Chris J Kobel <chris.j.kobel@xxxxxxxx>; roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [roc-chat] Re: Resistance for Electric Matches
OK, JK, but RSO’s, if you ever see wires sticking out of one of Chris’s
rockets… 😲
He does know his igniters!!!
So, glad I asked about this before conducting my ground test. I had 2
matches with 1.6 ohms and one that was 3.2 ohms that would have invalided my
test. Particularly bad if I would have found out about this later.
Learned: When doing multiple charges in series measure each match (or
igniter), and then all together to check for problems.
Going OT a bit, but does a place like Fry’s have a good selection of meters?
I wonder if I can get a meter that reads resistance better. Maybe the
leads have to be higher quality too?
From: Chris J Kobel
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 10:53 AM
To: R Dierking; roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [roc-chat] Re: Resistance for Electric Matches
Sticks and stones….
From: R Dierking [mailto:applerocketry@xxxxxxxxxxx] ;
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 10:51 AM
To: Chris J Kobel <chris.j.kobel@xxxxxxxx>; roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [roc-chat] Re: Resistance for Electric Matches
Wow, not bad for a wire twister Chris. 😊
From: Chris J Kobel
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 10:33 AM
To: roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [roc-chat] Re: Resistance for Electric Matches
Some info on igniters that I gathered a few years back.
Chris
From: roc-chat-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:roc-chat-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] ;
On Behalf Of R Dierking
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 10:08 AM
To: Andrew Wimmer <xenonrocket@xxxxxxxxx>; roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [roc-chat] Re: Resistance for Electric Matches
To be honest, I don’t know the brand. They are not in the box. They are
however the same color lead wire (black) and appear to be the same make. A
single one is 3.2 ohms.
Richard
From: Andrew Wimmer
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 9:56 AM
To: roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [roc-chat] Re: Resistance for Electric Matches
What brand electric match?
3 in series should have 3 times the resistance of a single match.
http://www.pyromate.com/Basics-of-Electrical-Firing.htm
-Andrew
On Tue, Jan 24, 2017 at 9:45 AM, R Dierking <applerocketry@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
What’s a good range for the resistance of electric matches?
For my project, there will be 3 parachutes deployed from separate side-bays
and initiating the charges at apogee.
Connecting the matches up in series and testing today.
I know the resistance will go up with the series connections, but would like
to get an idea what the range should be.
Thank you,
Richard Dierking
