ES236

Dual Sequential Electronic Stager™

ES236LH Dual Sequential Stager™
Price: $81.00 - Includes CAB6BC Cable/Battery Clip Assembly Kit and GP-23A battery.
Supplies Low Current or High Current. Requires External Battery only for High Current.

ES236H Dual Sequential Stager™
Price: $76.00 - Includes CAB6BC Cable/Battery Clip Assembly Kit and GP-23A battery.
Supplies Low Current or High Current. Always Requires Use of External Battery.

The ES236 Dual Sequential Electronic Stager™ is a two-event version of Adept's ES231 Electronic Stager™ (Electronic Mercury Switch™). The ES236 is used for controlling and timing the ignition of both the second stage and third stage in any three or more stage rocket. It may be used to control the ignition of the second stage in a two-stage rocket, or both the second stage and third stage in any three or more stage rocket. The Stager is used to ignite the second stage immediately after first-stage burnout, or an additional coast time delay may be added before second-stage ignition. Then if the second stage ignites and accelerates properly, the third stage will ignite after second-stage burnout. Also, as with the first-stage burnout, an additional coast time delay may be added before third-stage ignition (coast times are virtually unlimited—up to 10 minutes each).

The ES236 was inspired by Ron Dunn of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma in 1993. Ron was working on a three-stage rocket to be launched at LDRS-XII, and he was concerned about a particular failure scenario. "What if the second stage fails to ignite for some reason? A conventional dual-output timer would still ignite the third stage a little later, and possibly, the third stage would dive into the ground under full thrust!" The ES236 avoids this problem. If the second stage does not ignite and accelerate properly for at least 0.3 second, the third stage will not ignite.

The two-sequence ES236 Dual Sequential Stager™ is capable of supplying very high current to igniters or deployment charges. It arms at the first instant of liftoff, and each output fires individually in sequence. It may be used for staging multi-stage rockets, air starting motors, or for controlling parachute deployment at given times after individual motor burnouts. The Stager can also drive or furnish power to other types of electrical or electronic devices. It may be used for combinations of sequential ignition, staging, multi-event deployment (Dual Deployment™), etc.

The ES236 Stager is offered in two different configurations with different current supplying capabilities. The model designations are ES236LH and ES236H (ES236LH pictured above). The ES236H is identified by the absence of a couple of components, the large blue capacitor above the right end of the battery holder is missing, and the legend "EXTERNAL BATTERY REQUIRED" is visible. Also missing on the ES236H, the small 2-pin connector just below the red 6-pin connector. Both models are capable of supplying high current (up to 12 amps of current) when used with an external battery, to fire virtually any type of igniters or deployment charges, depending on the type of load driving battery used, alkaline, nicad, etc. The designation LH stands for low current or high current. When used for low current the ES236LH device does not need an external battery. The small on-board battery along with the large electrolytic capacitor are used to fire flashbulbs or low-current electric matches such as the Davey Fire brand 28B or 28BR electric match. When used for high current, the LH device requires use of an external battery. The ES236H device (lowest cost) always requires use of an external battery even to fire only low-current igniters or deployment charges.

A 12-volt lighter battery is used to keep the microprocessor system running glitch free during the times of heavy current demand on external load-driving batteries. Current to a low-current load is actually supplied by the large electrolytic capacitor on the ES236LH. The lighter battery is always used, even when an external battery is required. Times are programmable to values in excess of 10 minutes in increments as fine as 1/100 second. The length of time in which the outputs remain energized is also programmable. Programmed settings are nonvolatile, and they are not affected when the device is turned off or when the batteries are removed. The settings remain indefinitely until they are reprogrammed.

The outputs may be used to drive light bulbs, or electric motors for functions of a mechanical nature. They can also be used to furnish power to other electric or electronic devices, with fully programmable on-times and off-times. Programming and testing is simple and quick. The ES236 uses Adept’s patented acceleration sensing system ("A" Switch™) for simplicity and to insure safety. If acceleration and movement upward does not continue for at least 0.3 second, the timeout operations will not be enabled. The system cannot be set off accidentally by dropping, shaking, bumping, falling over, etc. Operation starts at the first moment of liftoff.

This microprocessor based device measures 1.4" wide by 0.65" thick by 3" long. It fits in a tube with a minimum ID of 1.5 inches (38 mm). It will also fit on either side of a center plate inside a 54 mm ID bay, three inches long. Its weight with battery installed is only 1.2 ounces. An Adept CAB6L-xx series Interconnect Cable Assembly (or CAB6BC) is used to control power, and for igniter (or deployment charge) connection. Included is circuitry to detect and separately indicate when the igniters have continuity. The battery life for this product is many hours, so you need not be concerned about how long your rocket sits on the launch pad after being connected to igniters and powered up.

SPECIFICATIONS

Totally Stand-Alone Device including Battery Holder, Liftoff Detection System, and Continuity Sensing of the connected loads.
Maximum Time Settings: 650 Seconds stored in Nonvolatile EEPROM Memory. Memory Size sufficient to record 100 Time Increments Per Second for 650 Seconds (>10 minutes).
Minimum Acceleration Time required to detect liftoff is 0.3 Second. Times start at the First Moment of Deceleration after valid Acceleration Times of 0.3 Second.
Piezo Beeper for indicating Operational Status, Continuity of the Igniters or Deployment Charges, and as an Aid for Programming and Testing. The programming method is simple and quick and precise. The Piezo Beeper beeps once a second (single beep) to indicate normal operation with no loads connected. Double beep indicates continuity of the first igniter only. Triple beep indicates continuity of the second igniter only. Four beeps repeating indicates that both igniters or deployment charges have continuity.
Lighter Battery powers the microprocessor system with a battery life in excess of 10 hours.
Current Driving Capability: in Low Current Mode a large integral capacitor is used to furnish a current pulse sufficient to fire flashbulbs or low-current electric matches such as the Davey Fire brand 28B or 28BR types. No external battery is required. The H version always requires use of an external battery. With the proper battery it can fire any Igniter or Deployment Charge presently available. The LH version can fire flashbulbs or low-current charges without an external battery, or high-current charges with the proper external battery. Either version can supply up to 12 Amps of Current for several seconds when used with an N-6PT 9-volt size nicad battery. The voltage of the External Battery should be in the range of 3 to 12 volts.
Measures 1.4" wide x 0.65" thick x 2.75" long. Fits in 1.496" (38 mm) ID tube. Weighs only 1.2 ounces (LH heaviest version) with the lighter battery installed.
Accessories required: one 12-volt alkaline lighter battery, one interconnect cable (Adept CAB6L-xx Series) for connecting an On-Off switch and for connecting the igniters or deployment charges, and an appropriate external battery (if used) with battery holder or battery clip. When the device is shipped from the factory, a modified CAB6L-12 cable and a high quality battery clip (Adept CAB6BC Cable / Battery Clip Assembly Kit) for a 9-volt size external battery are included.

ADDITIONAL ACCESSORIES

Additional CAB6BC Cable/Battery Clip Assembly Kit
Price: $7.50 - Connects the ES236 to an On-Off Switch, an External Battery if used, and to Igniters or Deployment Charges.

CAB6L-24 Interconnect Cable
Price: $7.50 - 24 inches long. Connects the ES236 to an On-Off Switch, an External Battery if used, and to Igniters or Deployment Charges.
CAB6L-12 Interconnect Cable
Price: $5.99 - 12 inches long.
CAB6L-36 Interconnect Cable
Price: $8.79 - 36 inches long.

CAB2-12D - 12-inch CAB2-12 Interconnect Cable with 12-inch Disconnect Leads
Price: $3.39 - 24 inches long total. Used as Disconnect between rocket stages or sections.
CAB2-24D - 24-inch CAB2-24 Interconnect Cable with 24-inch Disconnect Leads
Price: $4.25 - 48 inches long total.
CAB2-36D - 36-inch CAB2-36 Interconnect Cable with 36-inch Disconnect Leads
Price: $4.99 - 72 inches long total.

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

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

The GE/Sanyo 9 volt size nicad batteries are made with cylindrical cells and have very low internal resistance. They can supply up to 15 Amps of current for short periods, making them ideal for many rocketry uses.

N-6PT GE/Sanyo 9 Volt Size Rechargeable Nicad Battery - Price: $16.79 out of stock

BC1 Premium Battery Clip for 9 Volt Size Battery (6-inch leads) - Price: $1.15

WY-29V Charger for Two 9 Volt Size Nicad Batteries (plugs into wall socket) - Price: $14.50

Shorting Jumpers are used on some devices to program certain values or functions. One Jumper is used on the ES236LH when it is used without an External Battery in Low Current Mode.

Shorting Jumpers - Price: $1.39 per pack of 10.

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 ES236 is also available in another form as the ST236 Dual (Two-Event) Timer. Unlike a Dual Sequential Stager™ which fires the second stage when it detects deceleration of the first stage due to motor burnout, and then in sequence, fires the third stage when it detects deceleration of the second stage, a Dual Timer has two outputs that both fire based on given times after initial liftoff. The ST236 may be used for combinations of sequential ignition, staging, air starting motors, multi-event deployment (Dual Deployment™), etc.

ST236LH Dual (Two-Event) Staging / Deployment Timer
Price: $81.00 - Includes CAB6BC Cable/Battery Clip Assembly Kit and GP-23A battery.
Supplies Low Current or High Current. Requires External Battery only for High Current.

ST236H Dual (Two-Event) Staging / Deployment Timer
Price: $76.00 - Includes CAB6BC Cable/Battery Clip Assembly Kit and GP-23A battery.
Supplies Low Current or High Current. Always Requires Use of an External Battery.

www.adeptrocketry.com, 4-2-03