| Manufacturer: | Scratch |
This page describes t' how t' build a very small (1.5"x1.5", me bucko, me bucko, ~1 oz.) rocket ejection timer. Ahoy! I have tired t' give as complete o' instructions as possible, me hearties, but you still might encounter problems. Ahoy! Blimey! While it is possible t' build this timer without printin' a custom circuit board, I don't recomend it. Avast! In t' past I have used t' pre-printed circuit boards that mimic t' layout o' a breadboard, me bucko, and trust me, ya bilge rat, they are much more trouble than they are worth. Well, blow me down! T' ease construction o' this timer, shiver me timbers, I am offerin' t' followin' products:1. Well, blow me down! Pre-printed and drilled circuit board
All you need be t' components and a solderin' iron ................................................US$122. Begad! Well, blow me down! Pre-printed and drilled circuit board with all electronic components
All you need is a solderin' iron .................................................................................US$20If you are interested contact me at sspacepyro@aol.com.
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Components:
This is a very simple, me hearties, yet effective timer based on a basic RC chargin' circuit. It will time for an interval o' about 3 seconds up t' about 20 seconds based on battery voltage used and components used. R1 sets how long t' timer runs. For longer times, a larger capacitor can be substituted for C1. Well, blow me down! Any voltage up t' about 12 volts should work fine with this circuit, arrr, although I have only tested it up t' 9 volts. S1 be t' trigger for t' timer t' start. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! T' timer will start when S1 opens (it is normally closed). I use a reed switch on t' body o' t' rocket that matches up with a small magnet on t' launch tower/rod. Avast! When t' rocket moves away, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, t' reed switch opens, startin' t' timer. Begad! As long as S1 is closed, Q1 is saturated, reverse biasin' Q2 and turnin' it off. Ahoy! When S1 opens, C1 begins chargin' through R1 and Q1. Begad! Blimey! When it is fully charged, arrr, thar will be no more base-emmiter current and Q1 will turn off. This will allow current t' flow through R2 t' t' base o' Q2, matey, saturatin' it and turnin' SC1 on. This fires t' ejection charge. Note that t' load out on t' PCB goes t' ground when t' circuti fires, so t' ejection charge should be hooked up t' t' positive o' t' battery and t' load output o' t' timer. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Also note t' oritentaion o' C1 on t' PCB and t' orientation o' t' transistors. |
As an interestin' side note, I have been experimentin' with low extremely lightweight ejection electronics and as such I am usin' a 3volt voltage source (as is shown in t' schematic). Arrr! Aye aye! I have found that t' low voltage christmas tree lights, if broken open, matey, will reliably light a BP charge on 3volts. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! This is how I plan t' do ejection for Flogiston due t' space and weight limitations.
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