Addictronics

One of my many hobbies is building and launching model rockets. The kits you buy to start shooting model rockets include: a metal rod to shoot from, a metal plate to shoot off of, and a plastic launcher. With a push of a button the plastic launcher connects a circuit that sends electricity down a wire, through an igniter and back another wire to the launcher. The igniter has a small section that is made of very thin. That thin wire is coated in black power gunk. When electricity is passing through the wire, it super heats and glows bright red, which ignites the black power, which ignites and launches the rocket.

I did not prefer the “dinky-ness” of the included launcher, so i decided to make my own with several improvements. Such as:

• Detachable wire for more organized setup and transportation.
• Capable of launching multiple rockets simultaneously.
• More cool factor.
• More voltage to sustain multiple rocket launches and longer launching leads(wires).
• Overall more heavy duty.

I first started by mounting the switches and buttons. The small low profile button is the main on/off, two military style illuminated toggle switches choose which rocket to launch, and the giant push button (which I salvaged from an old arcade pad) is the main launch button.

Here is what it looks like with the safety covers up. Now I have to decide where to mount the wire lead connections.

I chose to mount them here because it fits with holding the whole launcher like a remote. Plus I can come back and add more later.

Here is a top view of the whole project box with the connectors in place.

It is hard to see but between the bottom of the push button and the top of the relay switch attach to it (note that they are upside down) is the base of a LED that I added. Also note that the main connector on the bottom of the relay is bent down to be as low of a profile as possible. Even now it still barely touches the bottom of the case. Phew, I am glad that it fits.

now you can see where I drilled the whole and installed the LED. It illuminates the button better than I expected. I am very pleased with this compared to before.

I had to avoid the “crosshair” supports inside the button, the LED just happens to be the perfect size to squeeze between them.

I added the two battery trays which are wired in series (Positive to Negative) and added a buzzer that is active when the main power toggle is in the on position. The buzzer and all of the lights are set to go off when the launch button is pressed. That will provide more juice to the igniter(s) on the end of the leads. I had to space the trays apart to leave room for the launch button to touch the bottom of the case in the middle section.

Now that everything is wired. Here is a picture of the whole assembly off.

Both terminal switches are on and lit up, and the buzzer is starting to get annoying. Safety first.

They are independent and only light up when both they and the main switch are on. I completely forgot to add a resistor to the launch button light….soo I need to run by Radio Shack and pickup another, or two.

If the main switch is turned off, no power is allowed to go to anything.

When the launch button is pushed it kills power to the buzzer and all of the lights.

Here you can see how much light the toggle switches put out.

Check the project page for the newer rocket launcher(s)!