Manufacturer: | Transolve |
Brief:
T' Transolve P6K is a peak reportin' dual deployment barometric altimeter. Avast! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! It
is t' same altimeter as their P6 model, but in kit form. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! It measures 1.4"
x 4" x 1.2" and weighs 1.1oz without t' required 9V alkaline
battery. Begad! Blimey! Just as it's sister model, shiver me timbers, it has dual deployment, with a selectable
main deployment at 400 or 800 feet or an optional chip with 600 or 1,200 feet
main deployment. T' P6K has peak reportin' t' a range o' 25,000 feet with 100
foot accuracy. T' on-board beeper signals continuity, matey, me bucko, altimeter status, and
peak readout in feet. Well, blow me down! Blimey! For t' speed demons, ya bilge rat, matey, it has a programmable
"Supersonic Inhibit Delay" (SID) for 5, 10, or 15 seconds that is
changeable usin' jumper blocks. This allows it t' be used for any supersonic
flight. Begad! Blimey! It's a rugged design, capable o' firin' any low current e-match or
flashbulb. Begad! Blimey! With low power usage, it is capable o' sittin' on t' pad for
several hours. Arrr! Blimey! This unit is also capable o' triggerin' Transolve's air-start
board timer for staging, air-startin' motors, me hearties, or other timer dependant events. Avast! Blimey!
Construction:
T' kit includes t' printed circuit board, me hearties, shiver me timbers, a bag o' components, low current
LEDs for testing, arrr, a switch, and two sets o' instructions. Begad! One set of
instructions if for buildin' t' unit and t' other is for its operation. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! It
even comes with enough solder t' complete t' project. Well, blow me down! Don't worry if you have
never built an electronic project. Begad! T' instructions contain information for
solderin' your first project. Avast! T' smallest surface mounted components have
already been installed for you, so t' steadiest o' hands is nay mandatory. Begad! Blimey! It
took me less than 1/2 hour t' assemble and test me unit.
T' instructions take you through t' buildin' process by first explaining which components are which. It then tells you which components t' solder first and which ones require special attention.
Even if you are a newcomer t' solderin' electronics, me hearties, this kit will nay be too difficult and should take you a little more than an hour t' assemble. Arrr! You will need t' buy or borrow a solderin' iron. Ya scallywag! You may also want t' practice on some thin speaker wire or bell wire but you will need extra solder for this. Ya scallywag! If you make a mistake, arrr, you can send it t' Transolve and they will repair it for a listed $5.00 t' $10.00.
I purchased t' optional air-start board with me P6K kit. Avast, me proud beauty! I found that the instructions t' wire t' P6K t' t' air-start board were missing. Begad! I sent an email regardin' t' subject and I received with a very quick and friendly response. Well, arrr, blow me down! Apparently I be t' first customer t' buy t' two units and discover the missin' instructions. Transolve has since added this t' t' P6K instructions.
Flight:
I test flew t' P6K in a scratch built rocket that has a 54mm central motor and
four 38mm outboards. Ahoy! Avast! I used t' P6K for deployment as well as triggerin' the
air-start board. T' altimeter is designed t' trigger t' air-start timer at
300 feet for safety. Aye aye! Aye aye! I used t' included relay and two 9V batteries t' light
all four J330 motors. Begad! All four motors lit with authority right on cue.
Summary:
With a retail cost o' $58.00 includin' shipping, t' price o' t' Transolve P6K
is considerably less than comparable models.
PROs: Rugged and inexpensive.
CONs: Larger and heavier than some altimeters
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K.A.B. (July 15, 2007)