I am replacing the wire in a couple of old Estes 12V Launch Controllers.

Does anyone know what gauge the wire was? Itried 18 ga. which was the best guess from the wire left, but 18 ga. won't fit in the channel. I don't know if it's because of thicker insulation or if the original was 20 ga.

Thanks for the help.

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Bernard J. Herman Ohio RLS

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All you really have to worry about is using wire with less resistance than the igniter wire. In other words, 18 or 20 ga should work.

Chris

I used speaker wires from Radio Shack. I believe it was 18ga. It fits pretty tight where it comes out of the controller. I even did the knot like how it was inside.

I didn't do the knot, but it was a tight fit. The problem came when I snugged the halves together, the extra thickness was making the copper pieces short and with a 12v battery, the safety key became very hot, very fast.

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Bernard J. Herman Ohio RLS

Starport Sagitta Rockets
email bherman@sagittarockets.com

NAR # 97971 SR

What's your idea on the best way to change Washington D.C.?
Let us know at the Cantina
Sagitta Cantina

We're looking for a few good Catos, please tell us about any you may have had. Survey of Anecdotal Malfunctioning Engines or S.A.M.E.

Enlarge the slot with a hobby knife... that's what I did when I put speaker wire in mine...

I had to cut a new slot at the bottom to run speaker wire out to an external 12 volt battery...

If you have a choice, always go with thicker wire... heavier wire= more current carrying capability, less resistance, more power at the ignitor...

Later! OL JR: )

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I have always rewired my Astron controllers with Lamp-Cord wire. Think it's 18ga.

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It's true that heavier wire has more current carrying capacity. But heavier wire actually means more resistance and less current will flow through the circuit. Also power, expressed as V(squared)/R, goes down.

Chris

Uh, not true. A thicker wire is like a larger pipe. Try blowing through a 1/8" launch lug, then a 3/16" one and then a 1/4" one...which one has less resistance?


Bill

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Here is the inside of my controller. This is used as my back up controller and I still love it after the modifications.

That doesn't make any sense and is completely contrary to everything I've ever read, heard, or learned about electricity... the larger the conductor, the less resistance, (speaking of guage here, not length... assuming the same length, a larger conductor (especially a multistrand conductor) will have LESS resistance than a smaller one... ) It's the reason we don't use bell wire between the starter and the battery on a car... the "00" guage cable can carry a LOT more current due to lower resistance than say 28 guage bell wire...

Unless I'm misunderstanding what you're trying to say...

Later! OL JR

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