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Model Forum / General / Rockets / September 2007Estes Hydrogen rocket / not working
My son received one of the Estes Hydrogen rockets as a gift a while back, and we finally got around to trying it yesterday. Everything seemed to function fine, but the rocket wouldn't launch. I'm guessing that the igniter is bad, because I could never see it glow red (as the instructions state). Is the glow visible during the daytime? Anyone have any suggestions on debugging this thing? Are there replacement parts (e.g. the igniter)? Estes is shut down until the new year, so I can't ask them. >My son received one of the Estes Hydrogen rockets as a gift a while >back, and we finally got around to trying it yesterday. Everything [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > I think you'll find that you've moved the O-ring down too far at one of the connections. Slightly wet them, and make sure they are all (and I do mean ALL) seated properly. You must put the rocket itself on tightly, as well. I'm not aware of any replacement parts, but I've had some spectacular 'night' launches with them. The problems I've had (thus far) have always come from moving the O-rings out of position. David Erbas-White >My son received one of the Estes Hydrogen rockets as a gift a while >back, and we finally got around to trying it yesterday. Everything [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >parts (e.g. the igniter)? Estes is shut down until the new year, so I >can't ask them. Not personally owning one, and JOOC, how long does it take that sucker to "gas up"? It does appear to be a pretty cool concept. My middle son is doing a science fair project on utilizing renewable resources for hydrogen production through electrolyisis, and it takes a fair amount of time just to produce a weensy bit. tah -- Tod A. Hilty Hilty Information Systems Do not look in the direction of the flash... Curl up in a ball as you hit the ground... CAUTION: The Mass of This Product Contains the Energy Equivalent of 85 Million Tons of TNT per Net Ounce of Weight Please replace weinerboy dot org with adelphia dot net for reply. > > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > About a minute or so... Biggest problem is not releasing the gas prematurely (due to the nature of hydrogen), the o-rings must ALL be well in place. David Erbas-White >My middle son is doing a science fair project on utilizing renewable >resources for hydrogen production through electrolyisis, and it takes [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >Please replace weinerboy dot org with adelphia dot net for reply. > What are the pellets about ? Also, can you see the igniter glow red ? >What are the pellets about ? > > Citric acid to make the water more conductive. >Also, can you see the igniter glow red ? > > Yes, especially with new D cells, but I did it at night which might make a difference. Bear in mind that the thing will drain batteries pretty quickly. You also have to make sure that you pull the 'cord' tight as they make 'sure' you're 15 feet away when it launches. David Erbas-White Well, I'm still suspecting my igniter (or a bad electrical connection). I cannot get the igniter to glow red under any circumstance, even in near total darkness. Any suggestions at this point? > Well, I'm still suspecting my igniter (or a bad electrical connection). > I cannot get the igniter to glow red under any circumstance, even in > near total darkness. Any suggestions at this point? Have you tried using new batteries? Make sure you're using top-quality alkaline D cells, not some cheap store brand. >Well, I'm still suspecting my igniter (or a bad electrical connection). > I cannot get the igniter to glow red under any circumstance, even in >near total darkness. Any suggestions at this point? > > I reiterate that you need to make sure that you've pulled the 'safety cord' tight, or the connection isn't made. Bear in mind the igniter won't glow until that final step, but if you haven't pulled the 'cord' tight, it won't make that last connection to the igniter. David Erbas-White >> Well, I'm still suspecting my igniter (or a bad electrical connection). >> I cannot get the igniter to glow red under any circumstance, even in [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > David Erbas-White How far does He have to pull the cord, after "slack"? >>> Well, I'm still suspecting my igniter (or a bad electrical connection). >>> I cannot get the igniter to glow red under any circumstance, even in [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > How far does He have to pull the cord, after "slack"? Or, more importantly, how tight is "tight"? Yes, the cord's pulled tight, and the batteries are brand-new. I'm guessing that I've got a connection problem, since the igniter at least LOOKS perfect... > Yes, the cord's pulled tight, and the batteries are brand-new. I'm > guessing that I've got a connection problem, since the igniter at least > LOOKS perfect... your experience sounds the same as mine. I called Estes and the nice lady sent me a new base, but it made no difference. so I must suspect something in the tower, most likely the ignitor. eventually when I get a round-tu-it I will mail the entire pile of junk back to them. for the price I don't think I should have to debug the thing. by the way, the marble in the level on the top of the base is an interlock for ignition. the base must be dead flat level or no circuit to the ignitor. >your experience sounds the same as mine. I called Estes and the nice >lady sent me a new base, but it made no difference. so I must suspect [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Sounds like a real piece of crap. Sure it wasn't designed and built by Dunakin or Jerry? It has all the earmarks of their "handiwork". I'm having a similar problem with mine. I bought it second hand with no instructions but it had every thing else. Mine won't get past the generating fuel light lighting up. I'm thinking that the acid is what is wrong with mine because after over half an hour it still has only lit up the generating fuel light. >My son received one of the Estes Hydrogen rockets as a gift a while >back, and we finally got around to trying it yesterday. Everything [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >parts (e.g. the igniter)? Estes is shut down until the new year, so I >can't ask them. The launcher has to be dead level. On the launcher is a little bubble with a tiny ball inside. The ball has to rest on top of the point inside. It is quite easy for it to fall off. I had to use a few coins under one side to get it to level. >My son received one of the Estes Hydrogen rockets as a gift a while >back, and we finally got around to trying it yesterday. Everything [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >parts (e.g. the igniter)? Estes is shut down until the new year, so I >can't ask them. |
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