Rob Posted June 16, 2004 Share Posted June 16, 2004 Dear all, I was wondering if it was possible to run more than one Confetti cartridge off a single channel of a Le Maitre control system. I remember on Lincoln's course firing loads of igniters wired in series from one control channel, and IIRC the igniter inside most pyro devices is exactly the same. If it is possible, are there any additional safety issues, (I cant think of any reason why there should be anything unusual), should they be wired in series or parallel and what is the maximum number of devices that one channel could support? Ta, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted June 16, 2004 Author Share Posted June 16, 2004 I've just found the part of the Le Maitre website which tells me you can fire up to 10 devices wired in series from one channel of their systems. Sorry to have troubbled y'all! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew C Posted June 16, 2004 Share Posted June 16, 2004 Series?? Surely if one igniter fires significantly faster than another, it would behave as a fuse?? Or do the carts have something odd going on in them. Not doubting you at all Rob, just curious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lincoln Posted June 16, 2004 Share Posted June 16, 2004 ... Rob, might be worth encouraging Andrew to come on a course to see the evidence of firing 80 gerbs as one series set. (SKY TV Ice Hockey Finals.) Next ABTT course - contact ABTT office to register interest here Next PLASA course - 6th July - see hereMost courses appear on the Association of Stage Pyrotechnicians Site here also, with your multiple series wiring don't forget to factor in some loss for cable connections and cable lengths. It will always depend on the output rating of the controller and if it is a capacitance discharge system. Lincoln Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lincoln Posted June 16, 2004 Share Posted June 16, 2004 ... and Andrew, Yep ! firing of (important bit ->) "same manufacturers ignitors" and ideally, but not as crucial, "same batch numbers" of product wired in series will work successfully as long as the control system has the power to do it. What will almost certainly NOT work... is series wired mixed manufacturers devices. I.e a few confetti cartridges from manufacturer A with a few theatrical flashes from manufacturer B. Manufacturing companies tend to use the same ignitors within their range of products but not all manufacturers make/purchase or use the same supply of ignitors. Ignitors are a specialist matchhead/fusehead component which are available in many different types... variations include power ratings, burn time ratings and match chemical compositions... ... anyway, simple quick answer is "YES". and the other great benefit of wiring and firing a series circuit is that if you know the capacity of the controller you are working with it is much easier to test the circuit - "it is gonna work / it isn't gonna work!" A parallel circuit of multiple devices can also work but usually requires (me, at least !) to get out a calculator, pen and paper ! Hope this helps see you on a course ! Lincoln Hope this helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lincoln Posted June 16, 2004 Share Posted June 16, 2004 Dear all, I was wondering if it was possible to run more than one Confetti cartridge off a single channel of a Le Maitre control system. I remember on Lincoln's course firing loads of igniters wired in series from one control channel, and IIRC the igniter inside most pyro devices is exactly the same. If it is possible, are there any additional safety issues, (I cant think of any reason why there should be anything unusual), should they be wired in series or parallel and what is the maximum number of devices that one channel could support? Ta, other safety: If you are rigging these confetti cartridges at a high level, you should minimise the risks of "any" part of the device AND the holder falling. A safety chain/bond for the holder and INDEPENDANTLY a safety chain/bond cable tied around the cartridge tube will provide additional protection for those occasions when (and only very occasionally!) the force of the effect can seperate the cardboard tube from its plastic base. The small safety provided with the cartridge will probably hold on to the plastic base but better safe than sorry if you use an independant safety secured to the main body of the cartridge. Lincoln Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted June 16, 2004 Share Posted June 16, 2004 Just a practical bit on why series wiring is good... An igniter is around 1.6 Ohms, connect 32 of them (for example) in series and you will get a reading of 51.2 Ohms plus a bit for the wire. Or you will get an open circuit so you know something is broken. If you connect 32 of them in parallel then you get a reading of 0.05 Ohms plus a bit for the wire. Anyone know how to measure 0.05 Ohms reliably? If you connect 32 in parallel but one of them is broken then you get a reading of 0.0516 Ohm plus a bit for the wire. You will never know that one is broken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themadhippy Posted June 16, 2004 Share Posted June 16, 2004 err yes I doo :D something to do with mr wheatstone and bridge building Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted June 17, 2004 Share Posted June 17, 2004 err yes I doo :o something to do with mr wheatstone and bridge buildingThere's always one, isn't there ? :D :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.