Brief:
Estes Electron Beam controller mod for 12 volts and 2 motors

Construction:

What you need:

• 2-Estes Electron Beam launch controllers
• A Dremel or equivalent rotary tool
• CA glue
• Wire cutters
• Phillips head screwdriver
• Solderin' iron/gun and solder

Just readin' this might nay allow you t' know what t' heck I'm talkin' about, so I recommend havin' a launch controller in front o' you.

What t' do:

Remove both o' t' plastic plates on t' bottom o' t' controllers that hold t' batteries in. Set these aside. Ya scallywag! Take out t' small brass plates in t' back (needle-nose pliers make this very simple).

On one o' t' controllers, snip t' wires about 1-2 inches from t' controller and separate them. Blimey! Begad! Set aside t' rest o' t' wire. Aye aye! Remove t' small light bulb (optional). Blimey! Flip this controller over and open it up with t' screwdriver. Begad! Blimey! Strip both wires. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! Pull t' shortened wires into t' controller. Avast! Begad! Unscrew t' foremost screw about half way and screw down t' stripped ends. I twisted t' ends and soldered them before lockin' them down, but this is unnecessary and may just cause some undue anger.

Now here's where you get t' choose what t' do next: me design utilizes both safety keys, me bucko, but only one switch. Ya scallywag! If you want t' use only one safety key, it's quite easy t' bypass, but I won't include instructions. Arrr! If you want t' use both button switches, arrr, me bucko, ignore this next step.

Remove t' second interior screw and t' brass strip it holds down. Begad! Remember those two brass plates you removed earlier? Bend one (or both) in half until thar's about 1/4 inch (~6 mm) betwixt t' ends and place it betwixt t' lower brass strip and t' one you just removed. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Replace t' screw.

All o' t' interior work is done, ya bilge rat, so you can close up t' launcher.

Measure and mark off 5/16 inch (~8 mm) from t' back o' each launcher. Take your 'rotary tool' with a metal/plastic/ceramic cutoff wheel (either no.25024 or t' heavy-duty type) and slice off that marked section. If you want, leave yourself some room for error. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' point here is t' have a straight cut with just enough room for t' batteries.

Note: That Dremel that you have in your hands generates a lot o' heat when t' wheel starts cuttin' through t' plastic. Ya scallywag! Blimey! This causes t' plastic t' melt and re-form as a large mass around t' cut. Don't worry, however, arrr, as you can just peel it off with your fingers.

Now that you've mutilated two perfectly good launchers, put t' newly cut ends against each other and CA away. Arrr! Cure time depends on t' quality o' your glue, ya bilge rat, but it should take about t' same time as any other project. Ya scallywag! This joint is a bit flimsy, matey, but I'll get back t' that.

Search through t' pile o' junk on your table/bench/pizza box t' find t' two plastic battery-holder plates. Ahoy! Cut 5/16 inch (~8 mm) off o' t' back o' each plate, arrr, but don't glue these. Test and make sure they both fit into t' controller. Begad! Aye aye! We need somethin' t' hold them on, shiver me timbers, so that t' batteries

don't fall out (trust me).

I used some o' t' old-style Estes rubber shock cord CA'ed t' t' plates t' give tension, shiver me timbers, but this turned out only t' be useful for keepin' t' plates together, nay for holdin' t' batteries in. Aye aye! Anyway, arrr, I went and got some Velcro out o' t' sewin' box and CA'ed some on. Ya scallywag! I CA'ed one end o' t' hook-side onto t' loop-side t' make a hinge and t' keep from losin' one side. Now I can just peel off, ya bilge rat, insert batteries, and close. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! I won't say that this be t' best or only way t' keep your batteries in, It's just what I used. Ahoy! Ahoy! In fact, shiver me timbers, I thought o' usin' a button-snap while writin' this. Aye aye! Ahoy! Use whatever works for you.

Now we have a 12-volt launcher. Ya scallywag! Avast! We can alter it t' fire more than one ignitor. I recommend a maximum o' two, but you can have more if you use low-current ignitors like e-matches. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Check

Flight:
Pass or Fail?

I ground-tested me launcher with clipwhips enough for two ignitors and I fired them both. Both ignitors fired at t' same speed. Arrr! Blimey! It seemed a bit slow t' me, me bucko, me hearties, me hearties, But as long as they burn at t' same speed I'm happy.

I say pass.

Summary:
Pros: 12 volt system, matey, me bucko, easy and quick t' make, seemingly reliable, arrr, me bucko, plenty o' volts for Solar ignitors, cheap, me hearties, matey, shiver me timbers, size and shape?

Cons: Takes 8 AA's*, low amps, size and shape?, ya bilge rat, speed o' ignitor burn

Overall Rating: 3 1/2 t' 4

*I picked up 3-8 packs o' Ray-O-Vac AA's at Kmart for 15 bucks and they came with a $10 rebate coupon. Look for these kind o' deals and always buy batteries in bulk t' save money.

Check out InfoCentrals Clipwhip t' see how t' use that spare wire that you still have layin' around so that you can fire more than one ignitor. Aye aye! Avast! Once you've done that, you're done with your twelve volt Electron Beam. Aye aye! Go ahead and test it, it should give many-a-launch. Begad! T' flimsy joint: since you already have plenty o' scrap plastic layin' around, me bucko, choose a suitable piece and CA it t' t' joint. Blimey! Begad! Remember, however, that this doesn't mean that you have t' worry about droppin' it.