Manufacturer: | QuickBurst |
I recently had t' opportunity t' evaluate igniters from QuickBurst, me hearties, a company offerin' both igniter and launch control products. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! They have an igniter product for most every rocketry application, includin' black powder motors, arrr, electronically fired ejection charges, and both mid-power and high-power composite motors. Ahoy! Arrr! I received a ‘Six Pack’ sampler, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, which included two each o' their Hot Shot electric matches, arrr, Slim Gem igniters, and Fat Boy igniters.
My Six Pack came in a sealed plastic package with their leads shunted. Arrr! I also received product information sheets, matey, me hearties, a price list, and an order form. Avast! Begad! T' instructions were comprehensive, ya bilge rat, givin' detailed descriptions o' t' products, notes on their usage, shiver me timbers, and precautions. T' followin' table summarizes t' igniter specifications:
Specification |
Hot Shot |
Slim Gem |
Fat Boy |
Intended use |
Ejection charges (and BP motors) |
Mid/High-power |
Mid/High-power with larger nozzles |
Element length (inches) |
3/8 (note 1) |
1 |
1 |
Element OD (inches) |
3/32 (note 1) |
9/64 (0. 140) |
15/64 (0. Well, blow me down! 234) |
Composition |
Dipped pyrogen |
Bridged element, me bucko, cast pyrogen |
Bridged element, cast pyrogen |
Lead length (inches) |
12 |
14 |
14 |
Burn temperature (degrees F) |
Unspecified |
3,500 |
3,500 |
Voltage |
9 - 12 |
12 |
12 |
Price (shippin' nay included) |
$12/dozen (note 2) |
$12/dozen (note 2) |
$12/dozen (note 2) |
Notes: 1. Arrr! My measurement 2. Price when samples received
T' Hot Shot is a dipped electric match that is primarily intended t' electronically fire black powder ejection charges but can also be used for Estes black powder motors. They can be used with 9 - 12 volt systems, matey, but users are cautioned t' make sure their 9-volt batteries really provide a ‘full’ 9 volts (i. Begad! e. Ya scallywag! Duracell 9. 5 volt batteries). Arrr! Ya scallywag! Other cautions include accidental ignition from continuity check circuits and handlin' care. Ya scallywag! QuickBurst wisely recommends that you test t' igniters with your ignition system before bettin' your rocket on them.
T' Slim Gems and Fat Boys are both similar devices with t' latter bein' slightly larger in diameter. Begad! Aye aye! Both include a bridged element embedded in a cast pyrogen. Well, blow me down! T' elements o' both are light gray, me bucko, smooth cylinders. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' burn temperature is advertised t' be a hot 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit. Aye aye! Accordin' t' QuickBurst, these igniters “are capable o' ignitin' anythin' that will burn. ”
I used t' QuickBurst igniters in several applications. T' followin' is a summary o' t' results:
Test Item |
Resistance |
Application |
Voltage |
Results |
Hot Shot #1 |
2. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! 1 ohms |
A10 (staged with a G-Wiz) |
9. Ahoy! Aye aye! 5 volt |
Worked |
Hot Shot #2 |
2. Begad! 4 ohms |
D12 |
12 volt |
Instant ignition |
Slim Gem #1 |
0. Begad! 5 |
G80FWL |
|
Didn’t fit |
Slim Gem #1 |
0. Avast! Avast! 5 |
H123W |
12 volt |
Worked |
Slim Gem #2 |
0. Arrr! 4 |
H123W |
12 volt |
Worked |
Fat Boy #1 |
0. Ahoy! Blimey! 4 |
I285R |
12 volt |
Worked |
Fat Boy #2 |
0. 4 |
J420R |
12 volt |
See Note 1 |
Note 1: Today I finally got a chance t' use t' second Fat Boy igniter. Avast, me proud beauty! Instead o' lighting, it popped, blowin' t' top 1/4 off and exposin' t' wires. However, arrr, I don't think I'll change me overall ratin' due t' this problem. My thanks t' QuickBurst for t' opportunity t' try these out!
Since I didn’t have a chance t' tests a cluster configuration, I thought that similarity in t' igniters’ resistance would provide some indication o' their suitability. Ya scallywag! Although two items is nay a significant sample, ya bilge rat, arrr, I decided t' document t' measurements anyway. Ya scallywag! Arrr!
A couple o' notes on t' Slim Gems: I test fit one o' these igniters in a G80 motor before t' launch. Blimey! T' fit be tight, me bucko, but I had no problem insertin' it. Begad! Ahoy! However, at t' launch site, ya bilge rat, I could nay insert it more than about an inch. Aye aye! Murphy’s Law strikes again. Begad! Therefore, I used both o' them in H123’s. In both cases, thar be a noticeable delay betwixt when t' first smoke was spotted and ignition. Aye aye! T' results, arrr, shiver me timbers, however, arrr, ya bilge rat, were successful and this comment is provided only as a side note.
Conclusion
First, ya bilge rat, I need t' provide me perspective on t' igniter market. Blimey! Arrr! I can buy reliable igniters for any motor size from local vendors. In addition, all Aerotech HPR motors now come with their FirstFire igniters, which have proven 100% reliable for me. Ya scallywag! Finally, matey, anyone with an IgniterMan kit can easily make inexpensive, matey, reliable igniters. Well, blow me down! Thus, arrr, it will be difficult t' impress me.
T' four igniters I used performed well, with t' exception that t' Slim Gems did nay fit in a G80. From me standpoint, this is a big deal. Since they failed t' meet t' intended use for mid-powered motors, me bucko, I deducted a point and a half from me score. Aye aye! As for cost, they seem comparable t' t' other igniters that I have bought at launch sites. Begad! This comparison is somewhat ‘apples and oranges’ since t' on-site igniters don’t have shippin' costs tacked on, ya bilge rat, and I only know t' cost o' t' QuickBursts before shipping. Blimey! Still, I don’t think t' difference will be significant. Arrr! If I could get QuickBurst igniters at a buck apiece from local vendors, shiver me timbers, arrr, and t' Slim Gem be a skosh smaller, then I’d certainly buy them.
Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5
The Hot Shot igniters are low current igniters. Used on the ground for black powder clusters or any other black powder applications. It has 12" leads that will reliably ignite clusters of black powder motors using the output of your launch control. The entire Hot Shot has been redesigned. They now have smaller lead wire and a smaller head. This means they will easily fit into the 13mm, 18mm, ...
( Contributed - by Art Upton - 08/28/04) This ignitor is designed for the small composite single use Aerotech and Ellis Mountain motors. The ignitors come in a 10 pack for $10. They are oval in cross section shape which is what is unique about them. As in the photo, they fit perfect in the AeroTech 24mm F21. They are a perfect fit in the Ellis Mountain 24mm G37 as well. The only CON I ...
I had the opportunity to use the Quick Burst igniters recently. I have tons of praise and one complaint. I'm not sure what the after market opportunity will be for igniters at present since Aerotech now makes and supplies a reliably igniter with each motor. For experimenters, folks with NAR certified Kosdon motors, Ellis Mountain, RATT Works, etc, these are very nice igniters. Fat Boy ...
Whether you call them igniters or ignitors...these work. I don't have a lot to add after the above reviews, however, I would like to comment on each briefly: Fat Boy igniters: You're dealing with an igniter that is 5.5mm in diameter and 25mm long. The diameter will dictate which motors it can be used in. I used one in an I161 successfully. It ignited the motor instantly. No chuffs, no ...
T.F. (November 4, 2001)