I recently had t' opportunity t' evaluate igniters from QuickBurst, a company offerin' both igniter and launch control products. They have an igniter product for most every rocketry application, includin' black powder motors, electronically fired ejection charges, and both mid-power and high-power composite motors. Ahoy! Avast! I received a ‘Six Pack’ sampler, matey, which included two each o' their Hot Shot electric matches, Slim Gem igniters, and Fat Boy igniters.

My Six Pack came in a sealed plastic package with their leads shunted. Begad! Aye aye! I also received product information sheets, arrr, arrr, a price list, me bucko, and an order form. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! T' instructions were comprehensive, givin' detailed descriptions o' t' products, notes on their usage, shiver me timbers, and precautions. Aye aye! T' followin' table summarizes t' igniter specifications:

Notes: 1. Well, blow me down! My measurement 2. Begad! 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, but users are cautioned t' make sure their 9-volt batteries really provide a ‘full’ 9 volts (i. Begad! Blimey! e. Avast! Blimey! Duracell 9. Blimey! Blimey! 5 volt batteries). Blimey! Blimey! Other cautions include accidental ignition from continuity check circuits and handlin' care. Arrr! Blimey! 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. Arrr! Both include a bridged element embedded in a cast pyrogen. Aye aye! T' elements o' both are light gray, arrr, smooth cylinders. Aye aye! T' burn temperature is advertised t' be a hot 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit. Accordin' t' QuickBurst, shiver me timbers, these igniters “are capable o' ignitin' anythin' that will burn. Ahoy! ”

I used t' QuickBurst igniters in several applications. Arrr! T' followin' is a summary o' t' results:

Note 1: Today I finally got a chance t' use t' second Fat Boy igniter. Instead o' lighting, matey, it popped, blowin' t' top 1/4 off and exposin' t' wires. However, I don't think I'll change me overall ratin' due t' this problem. Ahoy! 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. Arrr! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Although two items is nay a significant sample, me hearties, I decided t' document t' measurements anyway.  

A couple o' notes on t' Slim Gems: I test fit one o' these igniters in a G80 motor before t' launch. Begad! T' fit be tight, but I had no problem insertin' it. Blimey! However, ya bilge rat, at t' launch site, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, me hearties, I could nay insert it more than about an inch. Murphy’s Law strikes again. Avast! Therefore, I used both o' them in H123’s. In both cases, arrr, thar be a noticeable delay betwixt when t' first smoke was spotted and ignition. Avast! T' results, me hearties, however, were successful and this comment is provided only as a side note.

Conclusion

First, I need t' provide me perspective on t' igniter market. I can buy reliable igniters for any motor size from local vendors. Blimey! Blimey! In addition, ya bilge rat, arrr, all Aerotech HPR motors now come with their FirstFire igniters, matey, which have proven 100% reliable for me. Aye aye! Blimey! Finally, anyone with an IgniterMan kit can easily make inexpensive, reliable igniters. Avast, me proud beauty! Thus, me bucko, 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. Begad! From me standpoint, this is a big deal. Blimey! Since they failed t' meet t' intended use for mid-powered motors, me hearties, I deducted a point and a half from me score. Begad! As for cost, matey, me bucko, they seem comparable t' t' other igniters that I have bought at launch sites. Aye aye! Arrr! This comparison is somewhat ‘apples and oranges’ since t' on-site igniters don’t have shippin' costs tacked on, matey, me hearties, and I only know t' cost o' t' QuickBursts before shipping. Still, I don’t think t' difference will be significant. Ya scallywag! Begad! If I could get QuickBurst igniters at a buck apiece from local vendors, and t' Slim Gem was a skosh smaller, matey, then I’d certainly buy them.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5