ALTS2 / ALTS2-50K

Maximum Altitude Altimeter with Dual Deployment™

ALTS2 - Price: $121.00 - Includes CAB5/6-24 Interconnect Cable and GP-23A Battery.

ALTS2-50K - Price: $134.00 - Includes CAB5/6-24 Interconnect Cable and GP-23A Battery.

The ALTS2 Altimeter with Dual-Deployment™ is a maximum altitude altimeter that precisely measures and reports the maximum above-ground altitude value obtained during a rocket’s flight. The ALTS2 also has two altitude controlled deployment switches that are typically used to fire deployment charges, based on altitude. The first charge fires when the rocket reaches its maximum altitude (apogee), and the second charge fires when the rocket descends to 750 feet or 250 feet above ground (user selectable) for both the ALTS2 standard version and the ALTS2-50K extended version. One common usage is to deploy a main parachute at apogee by using only the first output. However, the most typical usage is to deploy a drogue chute or streamer first, then to deploy a main parachute when the rocket descends to 750 feet or 250 feet above ground, in order to avoid significant drifting due to wind.

This device is used in rockets that will reach at least 300 feet altitude. Either or both deployment switches may be used, or the device may be used as a maximum altitude altimeter only. The ALTS2 may be used in any rocket configuration including multistage rockets, in which case maximum altitude information about a particular stage can be obtained by placing the device in the particular stage of interest. Or individual ALTS2 units (or other altimeter devices) may be placed in each stage of interest to report maximum altitudes obtained by each stage, and/or to handle deployment for each stage.

The ALTS2 precisely captures the highest altitude obtained during a flight to a maximum of 15,000 feet above sea level for the standard version (50,000 feet above sea level for the ALTS2-50K extended version). The maximum value obtained above the local ground-zero altitude is precisely measured and reported in one-foot increments (one-foot resolution).

The ALTS2 measures 0.9” wide by 0.65” thick by 4.25” long. It fits inside a tube with a minimum ID of 24 mm, or 0.95 inch. The device weighs only 25 grams (less than 0.9 ounce), including the battery. It uses a 12-volt alkaline lighter battery with a battery life up to 6 hours, so you need not be concerned about how long your rocket sits on the launchpad after the unit is powered up. The ALTS2 is a totally stand-alone device including the battery holder, the arming mechanism, and the current source for firing deployment charges. Nothing more is required except for the wires (Adept CAB5-xx series or CAB5/6-xx interconnect cable) that connect to the deployment charges and to an On-Off switch.

The altimeter uses a custom absolute pressure device to precisely measure altitude values up to 15,000 (or 50,000) feet in one-foot increments. It uses a logarithmic amplifier along with a 16-bit analog to digital converter to precisely (one-foot resolution) measure the nonlinear pressure versus altitude relationship over this large altitude range. Once powered up, the ALTS2 reports that neither, or one or both deployment charges has continuity. It also constantly measures the ground-level altitude and waits for a quick 300-foot change upward. It then precisely captures the maximum altitude obtained above ground zero. The first deployment switch fires at the very moment when the rocket reaches the maximum altitude. The second switch fires when the descending altitude reaches 750 feet or 250 feet above the ground (user selectable). The ALTS2 then begins to report the maximum altitude value. The ALTS2 uses the copyrighted and patented technique of beeping out (blinking on some models) a value to report the maximum altitude value. The beeps can be heard even when the unit is still inside the rocket. The rocketeer knows the maximum altitude as soon as he/she picks it up, or just gets close to it. Note: the ALTS2 cannot be used for, and will not function for, maximum altitudes less than 300 feet.

SPECIFICATIONS

Altitude Capability: to 15,000 feet Above Ground Level (AGL), to limit of 15,000 feet Above Sea Level (ASL) for the standard version (50,000 feet for the ALTS2-50K extended version).
Lowest Maximum Altitude Readable: 300 feet above ground. Liftoff is detected when the altitude quickly increases by 300 feet.
Mach Compatible; the ALTS2 uses Adept's proprietary Real Time Dynamic Lockout™ system that tracks speed in real time to ignore pressure glitches that occur when transitioning through the sound barrier, both in and out. This system is possible due to the extreme precision of one-foot resolution measurements.
Resolution of Measurement: one foot; system uses a logarithmic 16-bit A-to-D converter.
Calibration Accuracy Over Full Range: +/- 1%, typical.
Uses 12-volt lighter battery and has large integral capacitor to fire flashbulb or low-current electric match charges.
Battery Life: up to 6 hours.
Piezo beeper reports altitude and operational status including the continuity of the deployment devices. One repeating beep if neither device has continuity, two beeps repeating if only device #1 has continuity, three beeps if only device #2 has continuity, and four beeps if both devices have continuity.
Switch #1 fires when the altitude reaches maximum; Switch #2 fires during descent at 750 or at 250 feet above ground, as selected by the user, or 1 second after Switch #1 fires, whichever occurs last.
Measures 0.9” wide by .65” thick by 4.25” long and fits inside a tube with a minimum ID of 24 mm, or 0.95 inch, or on either side of a center plate inside a 38 mm ID tube. Also, it may be mounted to plates, or flat against a bulkhead in larger diameter tubes. Avoid mounting it vertically with the battery holder spring toward the bottom.
Weighs only 25 grams (less than 0.9 ounce) with battery installed.
Accessories Required: one 12-volt alkaline lighter battery, and one cable (Adept CAB5-xx series or CAB5/6-xx series) to connect an On-Off switch and deployment charges.

ADDITIONAL ACCESSORIES

Additional CAB5/6-24 Interconnect Cable
Price: $6.89 - 24 inches long. Connects ALTS2 to On-Off Switch and to Deployment Charges.
CAB5/6-12 Interconnect Cable
Price: $5.49 - 12 inches long.
CAB5/6-36 Interconnect Cable
Price: $7.99 - 36 inches long.

CAB5-24 Interconnect Cable
Price: $6.25 - 24 inches long. Connects ALTS2 to On-Off Switch and to Deployment Charges.
CAB5-12 Interconnect Cable
Price: $4.99 - 12 inches long.
CAB5-36 Interconnect Cable
Price: $7.29 - 36 inches long.

Additional GP-23A Alkaline Lighter Battery; Price: $2.25.

GP-23A50 Alkaline Lighter Batteries (box of 50 at 50% Discount); Price: $56.25.

Shorting Jumpers are used to connect two connecter pins together in order to turn on the power for some of the Adept devices. Shorting Jumpers are also used on some devices to program certain values or functions. One jumper is used on the ALTS2 to program the value for the Second Output Function, the output that fires the Deployment Charge for the Main Parachute.

Shorting Jumpers
Price: $1.39 per pack of 10.

VCK2 Vacuum Chamber, Complete with Bottle.
Price: $16.79. Use for simulating flights, and for testing Altimeters with or without deployment.

Electronic Instrumentation is not compatible with the fumes and residue created by rocket motors and deployment charges. Seal holes and gaps in bulkheads and such with epoxy or removable putty.

Tac'N Stik Removable and Reusable Putty
Price: $1.99 per 2 ounce pack.

The perfect mate for the ALTS2 or ALTS2-50K when used in a dual redundancy backup system is the DDCS2. The ALTS2 or ALTS2-50K would function as the primary device to measure altitude and to control Dual Deployment™. The DDCS2 would function as the redundant backup device to also control Dual Deployment™.

DDCS2 Dual Deployment™ Controller
Price: $96.00 - Includes CAB5/6-24 Interconnect Cable and GP-23A Battery.

www.adeptrocketry.com, 11-18-05