ELECTRIC MATCH
COMMENTS:This composition does not require the use of a bridge wire. The composition itself acts as a resistor. Comments from the poster: "The matches fire just fine on 200 ft of 16-gauge wire and a standard 12V battery two at a time. Sometimes there's a delay...I haven't tested these on the high power electric firing system so I don't know how they fare."
PREPARATION (parts by weight):
CHEMICAL | PERCENT/PARTS | AMOUNT |
Potassium chlorate (milled into a fine powder) | 0.520 | |
Conductive lampblack | 0.100 | |
Magnalium (50/50, 200 mesh) | 0.100 | |
Atomized aluminum (120 mesh) | 0.060 | |
Zirconium (200 mesh) OPTIONAL | 0.060 | |
CMC binder (carboxymethylcellulose) | 0.160 | |
Total |
- Bind in water. Make CMC and water into a mostly soupy mess. Add components into a container and mix well.
- Dip freshly stripped wire with both conductors about 1 mm or slightly less between them, evenly parallel. The longer the exposed metal on the wire, the less Ohmage the match will have. Allow to dry in a vertical hanging position. Redip as necessary (I find that two dips is just fine).
- Once the composition is dry, you will need to coat it with NC (nitrocellulose) lacquer. I find that two dips in the lacquer is enough to keep the very brittle composition from cracking or splitting while manuevering the wire into your shell, mine, or rocket motor. I normally will color the double-dippers with some iron oxide stirred into the lacquer so I have a visual that they're unsuitable for firing whistle motors (double-dipped tend to go BANG and destroy the motor).