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Step 5Setting up the detonator
Warning: Make sure the battery pack isnt plugged into the detonator until the end of the setup.
Take an inch long piece of nichrome wire and tape it to whatever needs to be ignited. Connecting it to something to be ignited is a lot easier with a piece of my fuse, which can be made here http://www.instructables.com/id/E9ZBOE35P9EPA8KZXX/. If you use the fuse all you need to do is split a short section of the end of it and put the nichrome between the split strings, and tape it on, making sure that there is enough nichrome left to put the alligator clips on. If you do not use the fuse you need to make sure that the nichrome is touching what needs to be ignited.
Unravel the wire until you feel you are a safe distance from what your igniting, plug the 1/4" plug in, make sure its unarmed (Toggle set to off), plug in the battery, arm it, countdown and push the red button.
It should work, if not make sure all your connections are ok, clean the alligator clips and try again. If it still dosent work make sure you have a high enough gague of nichrome wire.
It works because the detonator is basically an elaborate on/off switch keeping the 12v from the batteries from going over the nichrome until the right moment. Nichrome is a special type of wire that increases its resistance when electricity is passed through it, and because of this it is used mostly as a heating element in hairdryers and toasters. However, the heat it produces can also be used to ignite fireworks and other things as demonstrated in this project.
Take an inch long piece of nichrome wire and tape it to whatever needs to be ignited. Connecting it to something to be ignited is a lot easier with a piece of my fuse, which can be made here http://www.instructables.com/id/E9ZBOE35P9EPA8KZXX/. If you use the fuse all you need to do is split a short section of the end of it and put the nichrome between the split strings, and tape it on, making sure that there is enough nichrome left to put the alligator clips on. If you do not use the fuse you need to make sure that the nichrome is touching what needs to be ignited.
Unravel the wire until you feel you are a safe distance from what your igniting, plug the 1/4" plug in, make sure its unarmed (Toggle set to off), plug in the battery, arm it, countdown and push the red button.
It should work, if not make sure all your connections are ok, clean the alligator clips and try again. If it still dosent work make sure you have a high enough gague of nichrome wire.
It works because the detonator is basically an elaborate on/off switch keeping the 12v from the batteries from going over the nichrome until the right moment. Nichrome is a special type of wire that increases its resistance when electricity is passed through it, and because of this it is used mostly as a heating element in hairdryers and toasters. However, the heat it produces can also be used to ignite fireworks and other things as demonstrated in this project.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nichrome
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacancy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lattice_vibration
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_mobility