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, ya bilge rat, 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. Ahoy! Blimey! Set these aside. Avast! Take out t' small brass plates in t' back (needle-nose pliers make this very simple).

On one o' t' controllers, matey, ya bilge rat, snip t' wires about 1-2 inches from t' controller and separate them. Set aside t' rest o' t' wire. Blimey! Remove t' small light bulb (optional). Avast! Flip this controller over and open it up with t' screwdriver. Strip both wires. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Pull t' shortened wires into t' controller. Unscrew t' foremost screw about half way and screw down t' stripped ends. Begad! Blimey! 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, shiver me timbers, but only one switch. Well, blow me down! If you want t' use only one safety key, me hearties, it's quite easy t' bypass, but I won't include instructions. Ya scallywag! Avast! If you want t' use both button switches, ignore this next step.

Remove t' second interior screw and t' brass strip it holds down. Begad! Aye aye! 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. 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. Avast! Aye aye! 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. Begad! Begad! If you want, ya bilge rat, leave yourself some room for error. 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. Avast, me proud beauty! This causes t' plastic t' melt and re-form as a large mass around t' cut. Begad! Don't worry, arrr, me bucko, however, me hearties, as you can just peel it off with your fingers.

Now that you've mutilated two perfectly good launchers, me hearties, put t' newly cut ends against each other and CA away. Avast, me proud beauty! Cure time depends on t' quality o' your glue, shiver me timbers, but it should take about t' same time as any other project. Avast! Arrr! This joint is a bit flimsy, me hearties, me bucko, 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. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! Cut 5/16 inch (~8 mm) off o' t' back o' each plate, me bucko, but don't glue these. Avast, me proud beauty! Test and make sure they both fit into t' controller. We need somethin' t' hold them on, me hearties, 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, arrr, shiver me timbers, matey, but this turned out only t' be useful for keepin' t' plates together, nay for holdin' t' batteries in. Avast! Anyway, I went and got some Velcro out o' t' sewin' box and CA'ed some on. Avast! I CA'ed one end o' t' hook-side onto t' loop-side t' make a hinge and t' keep from losin' one side. Arrr! Begad! Now I can just peel off, insert batteries, me bucko, and close. I won't say that this be t' best or only way t' keep your batteries in, It's just what I used. Avast, me proud beauty! In fact, I thought o' usin' a button-snap while writin' this. Begad! Use whatever works for you.

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

Flight:
Pass or Fail?

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

I say pass.

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

Cons: Takes 8 AA's*, low amps, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, size and shape?, matey, matey, 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. Blimey! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! 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. Once you've done that, you're done with your twelve volt Electron Beam. Blimey! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Go ahead and test it, ya bilge rat, it should give many-a-launch. T' flimsy joint: since you already have plenty o' scrap plastic layin' around, choose a suitable piece and CA it t' t' joint. Arrr! Blimey! Remember, arrr, however, matey, that this doesn't mean that you have t' worry about droppin' it.