New Angry Spark III launch controller unit now available

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2009 Archived News by Planet News

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

BOZEMAN, Montana USA — A new launch controller has hit the market that incorporates a lot of safety features, offering more flexibility than other launch controllers currently on the market.

Simon Clemens of NichroPulse, LLC is pleased to announce the release of the Angry Spark III rocket launch controller. Preliminary calculations and tests indicate a battery life of over 20 hours.

The Angry Spark series of launch controllers take safety a step further from the typical launch controller. The separate system and output power sources provide better safety over standard battery bank controllers. A three-point output safety circuit provides the igniter with excellent protection, and an abort feature makes it very easy to stop an armed launch sequence.

NichroPulse, LLC announces the release of the Angry Spark III rocket launch controller.

Some of the many benefits that the Angry Spark III system provides:

Up to 20 minutes of count down
Push-to-Fire initiation mode
50V output voltage
Ignition over 500ft of cable
AA Battery operation bright 6-digit LED display
Mechanical output safety switch
Mechanical energy storage shunt
Key-lock power switch
Easy “any-button” abort
Hold feature
Warning beeper
Controllable count flash display
Controllable count beeper
Banana and bare-wire output binding posts
DC power jack (battery backup option)
Long battery life
Small size
Durable powder coated aluminum
-35ºC to +85ºC operation

Recommended for the following electric matches and igniters:

Quest Q2G2 igniter
Davey Fire e-match
Aerocon HotHead
Skylighter GN5040 blanks
Star Light & Magic igniter
MJG Technologies J-TEK and M-TEK
38 AWG or smaller bridge wire

The controller is designed for use with professional electric matches. As such, this system will not work on high energy igniters such as those from Estes and AeroTech. However, a smaller, less expensive version comming soon will accommodate these types of model rocket igniters.

Website: http://www.nichropulse.com/

Reader comments:

#1 Re: Article: New Angry Spark III launch controller unit now available

What is meant by 20 minutes of countdown and any button abort? What do they do?

Chrisn on 11-24-2009 10:16 PM

#2 Re: Article: New Angry Spark III launch controller unit now available

Quote:

What is meant by 20 minutes of countdown and any button abort? What do they do?

"The controller is designed for use with professional electric matches. As such, this system will not work on high energy igniters such as those from Estes and AeroTech"

So, how many folks are lighting their rockets ON THE GROUND with e-matches?

Up to 20 minute countdown and a 50v low current output????

n5wd on 11-24-2009 10:49 PM

#3 Re: Article: New Angry Spark III launch controller unit now available

The timer can be set for up to 20 minutes. Buttons pressed when counting or armed other than the Mode "Hold" button aborts and resets. The owners manual is available on the website.

NichroPulse on 11-25-2009 12:53 AM

#4 Re: Article: New Angry Spark III launch controller unit now available

404- http://nichropulse.com/doc...ners%20Manual%20Demo.pdf

Chrisn on 11-25-2009 01:06 AM

#5 Re: Article: New Angry Spark III launch controller unit now available

This system works well with the Quest Q2G2 igniter. I personally use several of the other brands listed for successful launches of my sugar/KNO3 motors. The Angry Spark III is for medium to low energy igniters as listed. Estes and Aerotech igniters require higher energy than the Angry Spark III output capacitor produces. Ignition energy of an igniter has two components; a current (or power) and an amount of time the current (or power) is applied. The Angry Spark III can apply very high currents as its output capacitor begins discharge, but the length of time is limited due to the capacitor's charge limit. The voltage across a discharging capacitor decays exponentially with time. That is why a good 12 battery can ignite an Estes igniter; the current (and power) is DC.

Another version is coming soon to accommodate the high energy igniters you may be accustom to in typical model rocketry.

NichroPulse on 11-25-2009 01:12 AM

#6 Re: Article: New Angry Spark III launch controller unit now available

20 minutes is the maximum amount of timed countdown. Typically only 10-20 seconds is needed. The user can set what ever they want between 10sec and 20min. If set to zero, the system will go into push-to-fire mode when armed.

NichroPulse on 11-25-2009 01:20 AM

#7 Re: Article: New Angry Spark III launch controller unit now available

Quote:

What r u talking about,I light 85% of my rockets on the ground with e-matches don't you??

jimzcatz on 11-25-2009 05:31 AM

#8 Re: Article: New Angry Spark III launch controller unit now available

I have this vision of Homer Simson at the panel, "Where's the anybutton?"

sandman on 11-25-2009 09:17 AM

#9 Re: Article: New Angry Spark III launch controller unit now available

This should have been listed next month, this month is vendor abuse month.

IMHO I think there are more cons than pros with this system over any other ones currently available out there.