Thanks for covering this topic so well. So...take aways. If in doubt, postpone flight. Use altimeter backups? Redundant ejection charges? For both? I saw another video where the builder used epoxy on inside of tube, more for buildup to meet nose cone couplers diameter, but for a zipper prevention. He had a good flight tho and couldn't tell if had really helped.
So here I had redundant altimeters with separate batteries and separate charges. I make the backup charge 20% bigger than the primary. This way if the primary gets hung up, it has more pressure to separate things. I think my lesson learned here was take it off the pad even if it's a backup altimeter that loses continuity. It's not really a back up if it's not hooked up. Would a back up drogue charge have prevented the zipper? Maybe, maybe not but it wouldn't have been a bad thing.
Thanks for sharing! I'm about to test fly a similar rocket, a Wildman Competitor 5. How many grams of BP was in your drogue charge? Also, what were you using for your main parachute?
@@SeñorTortouise for successful flights I now use: Main 4.5g and drogue 6.0g. The backups are 20% larger for each. i got (2). 4-40 shear pins on drogue and (4) for main. I used a Cert-3 XL. I think fully loaded I was around 45 pounds and it came down at 22 fps. Good luck!
@@pathtouch1 interesting. I have had ematches, specifically the orange Chinese ones, indicate continuity and then not fire. Too bad about the zipper, hopefully it's an easy fix!
Yea tested twice at home and had decent separation. I think there’s a RUclips short on my channel of the ground testing. once you add in a little horizontal velocity I guess things were different. Also there’s a bit of gap around my 54mm to 75mm home made adapter and the vent hole is large so you’re spot on. Anyways I actually just flew this again today and had much better luck this time! Upped the drogue charge to 6 grams. Video coming later this week.
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Boy. That sux. Good luck with repair. Be interested to see how you do it and fix electronics. 🚀🌳
Sorry this happened. You'll fix this right up, I imagine well both be launching our L3 Projects at LDRS42 this year.
Go fever is a beast. I'm glad your L3 rocket got out relatively unscathed.
WOW ! I never have seen fiberglass zipper and I am glad it's an easy fix . I am still trying to plan a test flight with my L3 project
Yea pretty impressive the Kevlar shock cord can do all that and not shred itself too. Chute opened at like 300 fps!
Thanks for covering this topic so well. So...take aways. If in doubt, postpone flight. Use altimeter backups? Redundant ejection charges? For both?
I saw another video where the builder used epoxy on inside of tube, more for buildup to meet nose cone couplers diameter, but for a zipper prevention. He had a good flight tho and couldn't tell if had really helped.
So here I had redundant altimeters with separate batteries and separate charges. I make the backup charge 20% bigger than the primary. This way if the primary gets hung up, it has more pressure to separate things. I think my lesson learned here was take it off the pad even if it's a backup altimeter that loses continuity. It's not really a back up if it's not hooked up. Would a back up drogue charge have prevented the zipper? Maybe, maybe not but it wouldn't have been a bad thing.
Thanks for sharing! I'm about to test fly a similar rocket, a Wildman Competitor 5. How many grams of BP was in your drogue charge? Also, what were you using for your main parachute?
@@SeñorTortouise for successful flights I now use: Main 4.5g and drogue 6.0g. The backups are 20% larger for each. i got (2). 4-40 shear pins on drogue and (4) for main. I used a Cert-3 XL. I think fully loaded I was around 45 pounds and it came down at 22 fps. Good luck!
How do you just touch that fiberglass without getting diced up. Im always getting poked until I sand the parts
Ha very gingerly, like shaking hands with a porcupine.
Sorry for the zipper!!! Cool!! Wow!
What type of fuel you use kno3 sugar?
Commercially available APCP from Aerotech in the USA.
No continuity in the ematch? Or dead output on altimeter pcb?
Most likely ematch connection at the screw terminal on the bulkhead. Rewired it home and it checked out fine.
@@pathtouch1 interesting. I have had ematches, specifically the orange Chinese ones, indicate continuity and then not fire. Too bad about the zipper, hopefully it's an easy fix!
Did you ground test? Looks like the primary drogue charge popped and either vented out the after or through the coupler joint.
Yea tested twice at home and had decent separation. I think there’s a RUclips short on my channel of the ground testing. once you add in a little horizontal velocity I guess things were different. Also there’s a bit of gap around my 54mm to 75mm home made adapter and the vent hole is large so you’re spot on.
Anyways I actually just flew this again today and had much better luck this time! Upped the drogue charge to 6 grams. Video coming later this week.
Ouch