Author Topic: My arduino powered firework sequencer. 2018 version!  (Read 9941 times)

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Offline usagiTopic starter

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My arduino powered firework sequencer. 2018 version!
« on: July 01, 2018, 10:27:37 pm »
My previous firework controller worked great.

The 2017 show was a great success!


This year, sequencer version 2!

Offline usagiTopic starter

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Re: My arduino powered firework sequencer. 2018 version!
« Reply #1 on: July 01, 2018, 10:32:27 pm »
First, the stash!
 
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Offline usagiTopic starter

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Re: My arduino powered firework sequencer. 2018 version!
« Reply #2 on: July 01, 2018, 10:35:20 pm »
lasercut enclosures again. hardboard is great stuff for this.


Offline usagiTopic starter

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Re: My arduino powered firework sequencer. 2018 version!
« Reply #3 on: July 01, 2018, 10:38:00 pm »
used jlcpcb to design a bunch of PCBs to make assembly easier this time.


Offline usagiTopic starter

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Re: My arduino powered firework sequencer. 2018 version!
« Reply #4 on: July 01, 2018, 10:45:22 pm »
because I have to assemble 10 of them this time...

Offline rstofer

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Re: My arduino powered firework sequencer. 2018 version!
« Reply #5 on: July 01, 2018, 11:54:14 pm »
Nice project!  I like the lasercutter.
 

Offline CopperCone

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Re: My arduino powered firework sequencer. 2018 version!
« Reply #6 on: July 02, 2018, 01:08:41 am »
man I would use steel shielding at least for something connected to explosives, that's pretty ratchet as far as applications and risks, based on the lack of metal I will assume susceptibility is not considered in the design, connected to explosives. IMO incompetent.

You should also use shielded wire and RF shunts on the detonators, really they should form a conductive seal with the shield and be part of it. A small powder charge should have no problems rupturing the shielded detonator casing. This is made with speaker connectors and wood.  :palm:

This is something you want magnetic shielding for. Also interlocks. You should post a PCB so it can be likely fixed. The igniter wire should also be brazed to the conductor wire so you can't get a loose connection. A spark can set off powder geometries of a certain shape, so you can lower your initiation threshold from a heat requirement of the wire to a spark ignition (that is unreliable but possible). I hope you did not twist those initiators on, particularly when you have corrosive pyrotechnical compositions that likely use sulfur, chlorates, etc. The spark should not be remotely able to occur anywhere near the powder, so you want lead wires that leave the detonator and connect some where else.
« Last Edit: July 02, 2018, 01:25:21 am by CopperCone »
 

Offline usagiTopic starter

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Re: My arduino powered firework sequencer. 2018 version!
« Reply #7 on: July 02, 2018, 04:08:34 am »
man I would use steel shielding at least for something connected to explosives, that's pretty ratchet as far as applications and risks, based on the lack of metal I will assume susceptibility is not considered in the design, connected to explosives. IMO incompetent.

You should also use shielded wire and RF shunts on the detonators, really they should form a conductive seal with the shield and be part of it. A small powder charge should have no problems rupturing the shielded detonator casing. This is made with speaker connectors and wood.  :palm:

This is something you want magnetic shielding for. Also interlocks. You should post a PCB so it can be likely fixed. The igniter wire should also be brazed to the conductor wire so you can't get a loose connection. A spark can set off powder geometries of a certain shape, so you can lower your initiation threshold from a heat requirement of the wire to a spark ignition (that is unreliable but possible). I hope you did not twist those initiators on, particularly when you have corrosive pyrotechnical compositions that likely use sulfur, chlorates, etc. The spark should not be remotely able to occur anywhere near the powder, so you want lead wires that leave the detonator and connect some where else.

these are e-matches, not "detonators".

have a look at commercial firework controllers. speaker connectors and plastic are the norm in the industry.

these controller boxes will be away from the fireworks by several meters. it's not like the controllers are strapped directly to the fireworks.  :palm:

http://www.cobrafiringsystems.com/
www.acepyro.com/Shop/FiringSystems#starfire

nobody uses e-matches with shielded wire. this isn't quarry blasting. brazed wire igniters? seriously? even zambelli doesn't do it.

please get educated on firing systems for display fireworks.


« Last Edit: July 02, 2018, 07:21:13 am by usagi »
 
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Offline CopperCone

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Re: My arduino powered firework sequencer. 2018 version!
« Reply #8 on: July 02, 2018, 04:14:07 pm »
So what the industry is a buncha cheap incompetent fucktards what else is new?

You built cheap trash that will be connected to pyrotechnics. Its a bad example of how to build something that controls something dangerous.

I would use quick match and time fuse over that.

Someone might get the bright idea to connect it to large salutes, gasoline fireballs or other stuff that wont just hopefully shoot up in the air if it misfires.
« Last Edit: July 02, 2018, 04:21:01 pm by CopperCone »
 

Online DaJMasta

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Re: My arduino powered firework sequencer. 2018 version!
« Reply #9 on: July 02, 2018, 05:56:25 pm »
That seems awfully overblown given the small number of injuries that happen as a result of professional fireworks displays, especially due to problems with the ignition mechanism or interference with the controls.  You are absolutely welcome to use safer options, but if there are thousands of displays a year using these methods with very few injuries or damaging misfires.... the industry status quo is probably sufficient.  Also worth mentioning that the fire marshals are signing off on the whole setup before they're loaded into the tubes and it's absolutely the case that professional operations have to be insured - so it's also safe enough for the insurance companies to charge rates that still allow them to maintain these practices.


Maybe you don't think the safety measures are sufficient, but if the professionals, the fire marshals, and the insurers do..... and the available injury data corroborates that..... that's sufficient to convince me.
 
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Offline CopperCone

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Re: My arduino powered firework sequencer. 2018 version!
« Reply #10 on: July 02, 2018, 07:09:23 pm »
whatever man I just imagine one of those burning cultists from blood running around after someone skips procedure a bit hooking up a 20 gallon gasoline fireball  or 500g flash salute at an air show or something :palm:


I can't prevent you from doing anything now can I? I am just discouraging other people from trying to save a few bucks when dealing with seriously dangerous shit. I feel obligated to state my opinion.

They are one of the most dangerous things you can buy other then fire arms and commercial explosives. Some fireworks displays use similar methodology to military improvised munitions manuals.

You wanna fuck around being a cheap skate go ahead. I can tell you from experience amending anything involving fire marshals and the NFPA is like pushing diarrhea up a hill. They rarely do anything proactive and even reactive measures take forever. Try talking to someone that worked on one of their committees.
« Last Edit: July 02, 2018, 07:15:58 pm by CopperCone »
 

Offline Yansi

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Re: My arduino powered firework sequencer. 2018 version!
« Reply #11 on: July 02, 2018, 07:53:00 pm »
...just wandering if the outputs are at least shorted when idle.  :-//
 

Offline T3sl4co1l

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Re: My arduino powered firework sequencer. 2018 version!
« Reply #12 on: July 03, 2018, 01:02:03 am »
So what the industry is a buncha cheap incompetent fucktards what else is new?

^^ Don't mind CopperCone, he's just being self-referential. :)

Tim
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Offline T3sl4co1l

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Re: My arduino powered firework sequencer. 2018 version!
« Reply #13 on: July 03, 2018, 01:03:05 am »
...just wandering if the outputs are at least shorted when idle.  :-//

That, or biased to check for continuity (and no more! :) ).

IIRC from last year's thread, the design is well conceived and proven.  This is just biggermoar. ;D

Tim
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Bringing a project to life?  Send me a message!
 

Offline CopperCone

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Re: My arduino powered firework sequencer. 2018 version!
« Reply #14 on: July 03, 2018, 01:30:06 am »
 :palm:

now that I think about it, it should be heavily sealed because it might be placed on humid grass or stored near pyrotechnical compositions. What if that sulfur is not distilled right?

the thing is built with what looks to be the same materials you would put in a disposable twine tied shell as star separators lol

 I can actually see it happening, someone is gonna coil up a buncha sulfur oxide encrusted wires that still smells bad from the close proximity to the display, throw the box and the wires in the back of a poorly sealed box truck and its gonna be outside in the july and august humidity.
« Last Edit: July 03, 2018, 01:39:46 am by CopperCone »
 

Offline CopperCone

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Re: My arduino powered firework sequencer. 2018 version!
« Reply #15 on: July 03, 2018, 01:40:54 am »
So what the industry is a buncha cheap incompetent fucktards what else is new?

Based on your recent post, I think you are what you have said.
You are paranoid and egoistic.
If all you care is NASA or MIL-STD quality, then don't spam on a forum with most users making consumer/industrial stuff for a living.

have you ever seen a large gasoline fire ball go off? Or a 15 inch shell explode? Or maybe some high explosives someone had laying around to add some ground boom to a show?

You can connect this thing to a fused blasting cap if you want.

What do you think I am complaining about a fucking alarm clock? It's a detonator circuit.

Do you think someone is gonna give a shit about class D restrictions at a private party or something?  :palm: :palm: :palm:

I think its just people that never experienced a close up explosion or real heat in their life talking a buncha idiotic shit in this thread.
« Last Edit: July 03, 2018, 01:46:56 am by CopperCone »
 

Offline usagiTopic starter

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Re: My arduino powered firework sequencer. 2018 version!
« Reply #16 on: July 03, 2018, 04:40:39 am »
...just wandering if the outputs are at least shorted when idle.  :-//

That, or biased to check for continuity (and no more! :) ).

IIRC from last year's thread, the design is well conceived and proven.  This is just biggermoar. ;D

Tim

yes, outputs are shunted when idle.

last year's design worked very well, this is version 2.

Offline CopperCone

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Re: My arduino powered firework sequencer. 2018 version!
« Reply #17 on: July 03, 2018, 06:39:36 pm »
have you ever seen a large gasoline fire ball go off? Or a 15 inch shell explode? Or maybe some high explosives someone had laying around to add some ground boom to a show?
You can connect this thing to a fused blasting cap if you want.
What do you think I am complaining about a fucking alarm clock?

That's not a lamp filament blasting cap (FBI, don't knock on my door). Those are professional detonators designed for field application.
Let the legislation done by UL, and just buy UL certified products. There's no need to reinvent the wheels or to add paranoia.
Of course, if you buy non certified detonators for use with large quantity of explosives, Darwin gets you, sooner or later.

FYI, I had a good interest in energetic materials, and for the record, I've made black powder, NI3, TNT, picric acid, nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin during my primary school to college days.
I've also dived into theoretical calculation of synthesis of RDX and HMX.
Furthermore, I had fun with strong acids and TMAl, t-BuLi and some other nasty stuffs.
I currently have some strong acid blend for decapping chips within arms reach, and I'm only wearing a boxer and a shirt.

To date, I still have 10 fingers and 10 toes plus 2 functioning eyes.

you can put a pound of black powder in the bottom of a pale, stick a light bulb igniter in it, then put a 20 gallon bag of gasoline on top of it to make a show firework or possibly thermal weapon if you aim at at a convoy passing by, regardless they are a popular finisher for fireworks show because it looks like a stereotypical atom bomb. Also popular for movie effects where they don't want to get high explosives license etc.

I don't care what compounds you made, have you ever been close to a powerful explosion or fire ? I made plenty of compounds but manufacture or small chemistry lab test burn or detonating some matchhead sized pile of crap with a hammer won't give you the same sensibilities as experiencing a thermal burn from far away or getting nailed with a shock wave.
« Last Edit: July 03, 2018, 06:41:18 pm by CopperCone »
 

Offline usagiTopic starter

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Re: My arduino powered firework sequencer. 2018 version!
« Reply #18 on: July 04, 2018, 03:18:21 am »
So what the industry is a buncha cheap incompetent fucktards what else is new?

Based on your recent post, I think you are what you have said.
You are paranoid and egoistic.
If all you care is NASA or MIL-STD quality, then don't spam on a forum with most users making consumer/industrial stuff for a living.

have you ever seen a large gasoline fire ball go off? Or a 15 inch shell explode? Or maybe some high explosives someone had laying around to add some ground boom to a show?

You can connect this thing to a fused blasting cap if you want.

What do you think I am complaining about a fucking alarm clock? It's a detonator circuit.

Do you think someone is gonna give a shit about class D restrictions at a private party or something?  :palm: :palm: :palm:

I think its just people that never experienced a close up explosion or real heat in their life talking a buncha idiotic shit in this thread.

"class d"? "15 inch shell"? gasoline? high explosives? 500g flash salute? quick match with time fuse? what in the world are you blathering on about? you're just making shit up. no pyro talks like that. you have already proven you know nothing about the industry.

this is 1.4g you idiot. i'm not hooking it up to blasting caps and i am not doing any of those things you are drivelling on about.

stop posting, you have a terminal case of stupid. the only idiotic shit being posted in this thread is from you.
« Last Edit: July 04, 2018, 03:22:13 am by usagi »
 
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Offline Nusa

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Re: My arduino powered firework sequencer. 2018 version!
« Reply #19 on: July 04, 2018, 06:35:05 am »
Things can always go wrong, even for the professionals. In 2012 I saw the San Diego barge fireworks intended for a 17 minute show turn into a very energetic 30 second show. ALL the fireworks went off at once!
 

Offline mikerj

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Re: My arduino powered firework sequencer. 2018 version!
« Reply #20 on: July 04, 2018, 07:02:27 am »
So what the industry is a buncha cheap incompetent fucktards what else is new?

Based on your recent post, I think you are what you have said.
You are paranoid and egoistic.
If all you care is NASA or MIL-STD quality, then don't spam on a forum with most users making consumer/industrial stuff for a living.

Agreed.  Sadly every forum on the internet has their share of people that are compelled to denigrate others to make themselves feel important. 

I'm looking forward to seeing the OP's display this year, that amount of fireworks must be a pretty big investment.
 

Offline CopperCone

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Re: My arduino powered firework sequencer. 2018 version!
« Reply #21 on: July 04, 2018, 01:50:54 pm »
NOTE: This message has been deleted by the forum moderator Simon for being against the forum rules and/or at the discretion of the moderator as being in the best interests of the forum community and the nature of the thread.
If you believe this to be in error, please contact the moderator involved.
An optional additional explanation is:
« Last Edit: July 04, 2018, 02:52:39 pm by Simon »
 

Offline NivagSwerdna

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Re: My arduino powered firework sequencer. 2018 version!
« Reply #22 on: July 04, 2018, 02:19:49 pm »
I'm looking forward to seeing the OP's display this year, that amount of fireworks must be a pretty big investment.
Me too.

IMHO it is a shame this thread has got out of hand with lots of shouty stuff.  The OP is evolving their design and assuming they aren't incinerated today they are likely to be able to incorporate some of the suggestions next year.
 

Offline Simon

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Re: My arduino powered firework sequencer. 2018 version!
« Reply #23 on: July 04, 2018, 02:53:04 pm »
Calm down coppercone!
 

Offline Zero999

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Re: My arduino powered firework sequencer. 2018 version!
« Reply #24 on: July 04, 2018, 03:27:29 pm »
Things can always go wrong, even for the professionals. In 2012 I saw the San Diego barge fireworks intended for a 17 minute show turn into a very energetic 30 second show. ALL the fireworks went off at once!
Who was killed or injured, due to that incident?

This isn't safety critical. As long as the area is clear, before the power is connected, there's no risk of anyone being hurt, due to it misfiring.
 


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