Deployment Testing Procedure - IREC 2022

Equipment

  • Avionics Bay
    • 2x RRC3s
    • No batteries
  • Body tubes with charge wires inserted and secured in bulkheads
  • 7.4v 2S LiPo
    • XT90 male adapter
  • Payload Sabot
  • 2x ~6" ferrule to bare 18-22 AWG extender wires
  • Machine with ground software
  • Engine controller (normally used for prop)
  • Ethernet cable / adapter (if necessary)


Test

  • Place primary RRC3 into output test mode
  • Screw ferrule crimps of extenders into primary RRC3 battery connector
  • Place bare end of extenders near umbilical slot
  • Insert avionics bay into body tube, plug in deployment DE-9 cables
  • Place engine controller maximum distance away (~12 ft)
  • Plug 7.4v LiPo XT90 to 12v input of engine controller
  • Power on the Teensy in engine controller box with external USB power (since converter expects 12v)
  • Verify heartbeat received from engine controller
  • Run engine controller igniter cable to rocket
  • Use pliers to grab extender wires connected to RRC3 power input
  • Use WAGO connectors to attach extender wires to igniter output cable
  • Wire two ematches in parallel to primary RRC3 drogue charge lines (also in parallel)
  • Before handling BP,  move all personnel possible to safe distance (> 12 ft)
  • Place ematches in black powder balloon
  • Tape balloon into drogue charge cap
  • Fully assemble remaining body tubes
  • Make sure avionics bay screw switch is in disarmed position (e.g. OPEN)
  • Verify all connections
  • Arm the screw switch
  • Move all personnel to a safe distance (> 12 ft) - no exceptions
  • Power on the engine controller box with switch - at this point the test is live
  • Place the engine controller in "hot" mode
  • When ready, toggle the igniter output of the engine controller through the ground software
  • Verify the RRC3 beeped the correct continuity sequence for 1s
  • Verify that after 1s the charge is ignited and the tubes separate


Repeat for primary drogue, secondary main, and secondary drogue.