Make a parachute ejection system

make an electronic, tilt activated latching parachute ejection system for model rockets from just a few simple components.

Finished Product:

Step 1: Parts

Here is a list of the parts you will need:

-Soldering iron
-Solder
-Thyristor
-2 different coloured standard LEDs
-2 100 ohm resistors
-2 330 ohm resistors
-1 220 ohm resistor
-Switch
-9V battery clip
-Ball bearing (tilt) switch
-Wire
-Basic electronic knowlege
-Stripboard or PCB or something to solder the components on to
-9V PP3 battery
-Hot glue gun (optional)
-Screw terminals (optional)

Comments

[admin]

This is a great Instructable, but you need to add a main image of the final project to the intro step. Please do that and leave me a message when you have so that we can publish your work. Thanks!

[izzy darlow]

 Can this be made smaller, and to utilize a smaller power source? Say for use in a paper rocket like this one?

[andy70707]

unfortunately, no it can't. I tried to make the actual circuit as small as possible, and I tried making a power supply out of 3x3v coin cell batteries, but they are only 80ma each, giving a total of 240ma, which isn't enough to run the circuit. I had to settle with a 9v PP3 battery because I couldn't find anything smaller that gives enough power. It it fairly small as it is though, it fits nicely in my 4cm PVC rockets (and about 7cm long, not including the parachute). Also, for a paper rocket like that, it would be very nose heavy, even though in my PVC KNO3+FE2O3+Sucrose rockets it is fairly light.

[izzy darlow]

Thanks for the info.

[kevincai96]

Um, I thought the negative acceleration forces right before apogee prevented tilt switches from working? Doesn't the mercury float and not make a connection?

[andy70707]

well it all depend on the type of switch. I used a ball bearing kind, in a cylinder sealed with argon to try and minimise this, and you are right it will be weightless for a second or two, but it will definately deploy the parachute before it hits the ground. I might update this soon since I have made yet another version with the servo and a prachute and a vido of it working.