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by technogeek-1995

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I am building a fire work igniter. I had plan from a google that said to take a 9 volt battery and speaker wire. Run the speaker wire to the fuse. Place on fuse, attach battery, and RUN! I tried that, it didn't work very well, specifically I had to use a liter. I understand this is a Tech Forum, but it has to do with electricity and I figure somebody here has some electrical experience. I need the plans by the 4th. (Makes sense...)

(and if OM is wondering, I have an adult with me before/during when I lite the fireworks)

14 replies

by older mycroft

Meanwhile, in the true tradition of TR, it would help if you posted the LINK that you are referring to from Google. Perhaps the 'circuit' is broken, along with your true spirit of the tradition.

Anyway, if you have a remote electrical fusing controller, where is the need to run? ;)

by oh smeg

But you would need some very heavy Fuse Wire. As I'm supposing that it's supposed to get hot enough to start the Firework.

It really depends if this is a [b]One Use Only[/b] device or you want to reuse it constantly without the need to replace the Fuse Wire after every use. The Pyrotechnics Operators don't actually go near the fun stuff they sit back at a computer and get that to set off the individual Fireworks and they have a whole lot of wire running to the explosives that they switch to get the effect that they want. If it is a One Use Only then wrap the fuse wire around the fireworks fuse and when you apply power the firework should ignite but you'll need to test this before you actually need it so start with some 15 Amp Fuse Wire and see if that gets hot enough to start the thing burning. You'll also need some kind of switch to start the process off. If 15 Amp Fuse Wire blows too fast go higher and if it doesn't get hot enough to start the firework use something with a lower power rating like 8 Amp.

If you want to use this constantly you will need a Trigger that doesn't blow and can remain Red Hot for a fair amount of time. So try some Stainless MIG Wire as that tends to accept a Dead Short Circuit fairly well and not disintegrate too quickly. Though you need to not leave this turned on for long as the battery will very quickly go flat.

Col

by technogeek-1995

I will do this now and see if I can get a firecracker to light, if I can't, I am still up for suggestions.

by technogeek-1995

I tried it with 2 wires, 1 wire, a different way each time and it didn't work. I don't know. I tested the firecracker and it worked fine with a regular liter...any suggestions.

by mjd420nova

I have used a 12 volt high current source for this, but like has been said, the ignition point is a one time thing. The current has to be high enough to either provide a healthy spark or high enough to turn the wire molten and provide the spark needed to light a fuze. When all else fails, use a punk or incense stick. But run fast anyway.

by oh smeg

And will last a lot longer. It can also send plain Copper Wire to Melt Down when it is part of a Short Circuit.

Col

by oh smeg

To light the fuse of the Firework. So you need to either step up the voltage & Amperage from the battery or go to a lighter Fuse Wire. If you where using 15 AMP Fuse Wire try 8 Amp Wire and see what is happening now.

If the fuse wire just blew you have too much Voltage or Amperage present so you need a heaver Fuse Wire. The Idea is to get the Fuse Wire Red Hot long enough to ignite the fuse but not long enough to Blow the Fuse Wire.

I did say that you would have to experiment didn't I? The actual Circuit is very simple it just requires a switch and a place to make a Short Circuit with the idea of where the Short Circuit occurs to get very hot, so hot that it ignites the Firecracker Fuse.

If the fuse Wire is blowing too quickly try some Electric Heater Element Wire this is much heaver and is designed to get hot. But you'll have to keep it short as this Wire is effectively a series of Resistance and the longer it is the more voltage & Amperage you need to get the same effect.

Col

by technogeek-1995

I am only using a 9 volt battery, not plugging it into a wall. A battery only exerts about what, 1/4 Amp.

by oh smeg

But as you are creating a Straight Short Circuit in a device like this the idea is to get the Trigger part hot enough to ignite the fuse.

Small batteries can only provide a small amount of continuous power but for short periods of time they can deliver a big hit. Just like a car battery it can discharge at 250 AMPS for a very short period of time to crank the motor to start it but would soon fail if this was a continuous load on it.

Col

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