Jeffrey Heuer
8/20/2020 6:24 PM
There is a confusing array of electric matches on the market to use for remote ejection. My Stratologger SL100 altimeter recommends using electric matches or a suitable substitute and is fired by a 9V battery (which the altimeter manual says can deliver 3 to 4 amps of current which should be plenty). So now it's a question of what to get.
I know you have to have a LEUP to buy most pre-made electric matches and I don't want to go there, but I've also seen these alternatives:
- Firewire initiator (about $3 each)
- Pyrogen mix and starter chipboards (makes 80 for $80, but must all be done at once)
- H-3 COMPOUND E-MATCH DIP and Starter chipboards (can make in smaller batches; less than $1 each eventually)
- e-match substitutes made by winding copper or nichrome wire around a twin lead and soldering
What have others in the club used, and how reliable have they turned out to be?