Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 3973
Location: ipswich QLD
Flaming beetle
Hi Guys
Been in the shed doing some experimenting.......Just wondering if it would be possible to get a spark plug to be the igniter for a flamethrower? Would it make a visible spark off a lipo, or would it need heaps more grunt?
Miles _________________ Miles Blow - Julie Pitts
www.mulesfilm.com.au www.wombokforest.com.au
-Pickasso- Vivid Sportsman champion 2015
Last edited by miles&Jules on Wed Jun 08, 2011 8:57 pm; edited 1 time in total
Sun Jun 05, 2011 10:20 pm
Valen Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Posts: 4436
Location: Sydney
spark plugs usually use a coil ignition, think 15kv or so (as in KILLER volts ;-P)
nah it wont kill you, just make your arm numb for an hour or so. _________________ Mechanical engineers build weapons, civil engineers build targets
Sun Jun 05, 2011 10:38 pm
dyrodium Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 24 Aug 2004
Posts: 6476
Location: Sydney
Sadly I think it's generally frowned upon to offer advice on the topic due to if someone comes along and reads what we say, and blows themself up... yeah. ! That said, a spark plug really isn't too ideal as jake said it needs big volts to make the jump. Nichrome wire seems to work pretty well for the Americans and it's easy to source. _________________ ( •_•)
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 3973
Location: ipswich QLD
Hi Steve
That would be cool ,sounds fun!
I used to use steel wool for mini pyrotechnics it used to glow red hot ...it must be the same principle. How is the printer going?
Miles _________________ Miles Blow - Julie Pitts
www.mulesfilm.com.au www.wombokforest.com.au
quote:
13.2.4. The ignition system must have a remotely operated shut-off that allows the operator to disable it using the radio control system.
It doesn't say you need to remotely operate the ignitionr, just need to remotly turn it off. A pen torch that is lit at the start of the fight and a servo to turn it off would be ok as a pilot light and fit in the rules.
Of course its all in red so ask the EO of the event before you turn up.
Mon Jun 06, 2011 7:16 pm
miles&Jules Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 3973
Location: ipswich QLD
Hi Daniel ...good point! But that means having to stuffing around with a lighter before the fight. A click of a button would be way more sexy? _________________ Miles Blow - Julie Pitts
www.mulesfilm.com.au www.wombokforest.com.au
-Pickasso- Vivid Sportsman champion 2015
Mon Jun 06, 2011 8:41 pm
Lemming
Joined: 21 May 2011
Posts: 73
Miles, come see me at the hackerspace, I can show you a number of much MUCH lighter ways to get a spark off a spark plug than a coil.
Also a spark plug is not ideal for lighting a flame thrower anyway.
Mon Jun 06, 2011 9:23 pm
Philip Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 18 Jun 2004
Posts: 3842
Location: Queensland near Brisbane
What is the lightest way, Lemming? _________________ So even the rain that falls isn't actually going to fill our dams and our river systems
Tue Jun 07, 2011 4:48 am
bytraper
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 195
Gutted flash from a cheap camera? would probably be the lightest way to fire off a spark plug. Personally I like the nichrome wire idea better though, wrap a small coil around a pin, remove the pin, apply power and viola! Instant ignition!
run it off your main battery and you could get fat sparks pretty regularly.
as for using nichrome to light a flame thrower... sounds problematic to me and you'd probably end up with nichrome ash pretty quickly.
Tue Jun 07, 2011 9:27 am
Nick Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 16 Jun 2004
Posts: 11802
Location: Sydney, NSW
I tried some cheap electric BBQ lighters - they generate quite a good continuous spark off 1.5V and I can't see any reason why the voltage can't be increased to get a hotter spark - 6V might make the parts a bit warm but if it is run intermittently it should survive. The internal parts are pretty small once the case is stripped off. You could control it with a relay or an R/C switch, or you could make an independent control with a 555 timer that turns on the spark briefly every couple of seconds.
EDIT: you would have to link the igniter with the fuel flow so it can be shut off and comply with the rules.
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! That said, a spark plug really isn't too ideal as jake said it needs big volts to make the jump. Nichrome wire seems to work pretty well for the Americans and it's easy to source.
