[ARTS] Arts 2 Wiring and Sequence Question

[Mike Roberts]

Hi 

> Thanks for all the valuable info. I have been very careful with my all my
> electronics but that doesn't mean that I didn't do it somehow.  I had this
> unit for almost a year before I flew it so during that time it could have
> gotten bumped or something sat on it.  I don't remember anything because I
> have tried to be careful.  I have flown it 5 times and one of the flights the
> main came out at apogee. (my fault).  The fiber glassed body tube was zipper
> about 2 inches so it was a mildly violent event.  But I flew it 3 times after
> that.  It has been in the ebay ever since I installed it a few month ago. I
> realize that I did it somehow but I am not sure now.  I see what you are
> saying about a screw drive or a washer.  

The other thing that might have done it. I noticed that it isnt too 
far from the scre terminals for attaching wires. Not sure from the 
angle if they are power or igniter connections. They can be a bit 
tricky to get the screwdriver on to especially if in a restricted 
ebay space. It might have happened if a screwdriver slipped while 
doing the field mod to change the battery setup over or while 
attaching an igniter.


> I still have not connected it up to the computer yet to see if I get any
> data.  I should have had an altimeter on me to see how high I jumped. Ha ha.

I feel for you with the charge going off with you right next to it. 
It is a very scary and unpleasnt thing to happen. While not having 
had it happen to myself I have been present when it has happened to 
others. It is truly a "brown trouser" experience ;)

> Should I send it to be repaired or are their any test that I can do to make
> sure it's ok. For some reason I think it still works properly.

The easiest test would be to hook it all up to the computer and use 
the ARTS software diagnostics to check to see if there is a short in 
the igniter circuit (arts reports an igniter installed when there is 
none ? bad boomer?(unlikely as a short before the igniter connection 
as it would have meant the igniter wouldn't fire)). With some 
igniters and a battery attached and carefully arming (make sure the 
igniters cant start a fire or throw sparks anywhere where they might) 
then use the diagnostics to test fire the igniters. If they don't got 
when you arm it and do go when you fire the channels you might have a 
better idea of what is going on.

> 
> Thanks again for all the info.

My pleasure :0)

Mike 8-{>

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Roberts [mailto:mike.roberts at mikerobe.org] 
> Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2008 2:42 PM
> To: Wright, Joey
> Subject: Re: [ARTS] Arts 2 Wiring and Sequence Question
> 
> The damage to the transistor (the "chip" isnt an amp I suspect it is 
> a transistor or fet ( another kind of transistor)) and tantalum 
> capacitor look more like physical damage than in-use failure damage. 
> The transistor looks like it has been chipped or perhaps crushed. The 
> marks on the capacitor also look lke tooling marks or damage. In-use 
> failure (letting the "smoke" out) usually shows up as charring / 
> blackening of the parts. Looking at the location and shape of the 
> marks I wonder if they might have been caused by a screw or a nut 
> used to hold the board in place by the mounting post? Perhaps a 
> washer? Is it possible that a screwdriver or spanner slipped while 
> doing up the retaining screw?
> 
> Mike 8-{>
> 
> > 
> > I have an ARTS 2 and I have flow it 5 times now with no problems.  This
> past
> > weekend I had a charge blow while I was arming it on the pad.
> > 
> > Let me tell you how it was wired because I think it was a sequence issue
> but
> > I am not sure.  First off I thought someone told me to use 2 switches.  1
> to
> > power the arts and the other to make the pryo battery hot.  So I wired the
> > 1st switch in line between the + side of the 9v battery and the arts unit,
> > simple enough.  I did the same thing with the pyro battery.  The + lead is
> > disconnected when the screw switch is not in.    I think the 5 previous
> > flights I armed the pyro battery and then turned on the ARTS 2.  I think
> this
> > time I did it in reverse so when I screwed in the pyro switch     BOOM.
> > Scared the crap out of me.  
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > Now having said that, when we took the ebay out and started trying to
> examine
> > what had happened some one noticed a chip in one of the CHIPS.  Someone
> > thought the chip was an amp.  I don't know but I have attached a picture of
> > it.  I never noticed it so I don't know if it happened on an earlier flight
> > or what.
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > Any thoughts?
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > My buddy who flies a ton of ARTS rewired it for me on the field.  Actually
> we
> > put another Arts 2 unit in the rocket and flew it with that unit.  I plan
> on
> > connecting the unit up when I get home today and see if there is any info
> on
> > it.
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > Thanks for any help.
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > If these photos are not hi-res enough please let me know and I can send you
> > another version.
> > 
> >  
> > 
> >  
> > 
> >  
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > Joey Wright
> > 
> > Russell Corporation
> > 
> > (256) 500-5696
> > 
> >  
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
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> 
> 
> -----------------------------------------
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> 
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