testing altimeters

[SCOTT EVANS]

Good points

Has anybody had 1 cup set the other cup off???

scotte

[Warren B. MusselmanModerator]

Never. You will also find folks who use a single charge with dual matches in situations with redundant altimeters. You better damn sure know your charge is sized to be absolutely reliable about kicking the laundry out though.

Warren

[Mike Bennett]

Any body have any experiance testing altimeters? The instructions says use a tube on the baro senser and draw a vacume. Joe told me some in the club, have some neet ways of testing them. ??? Food saver? 😉

Scott e

Not sure if your original question got answered but a easy way to verify altimeters with baro sensors is to place the unit into a glass or jar with the battery and Christmas tree bulbs installed and ready to go. Them place a rubber latex glove over the end of the glass/jar. With one hand hold the glove in place and with the other pull the glove away from the glass which causes a vacuum inside the glass them slowly release you should see both apogee and main deployment if it is setup that way.

[Bruce R. Schaefer]

You better be damn sure know your charge is sized to be absolutely reliable about kicking the laundry out though.

Absolutely! Had I not had an extra gram in my redundant charge for my last cert, it would have been bits and pieces on the prairie! You really don’t need redundant on an L2 cert, though I really admire that. You will need that for your L3. I used to say I was paranoid, but Art Hoag said that it’s best to say I’m cautious. Sounds better. Listen, the ground test blew that main out at 6 grams, but in flight, it required that extra gram–I credit Conway for that additional gram. Sizes may vary, and it takes time to know what different charges do based on materials used, etc. Mike Bennett is right on how to test altimeters, plus there are as many ways as there are those of us shooting our hopes and dreams up into the sky. Just isolate the altimeter and make a relative pressure change. Mike K., your way of testing your alts was very original. Don’t forget vent holes, and not just the ones in your avionics bay. Pressure changes can and do pop things off. The only time I’ve ever heard and personally witnessed two altimeters getting the same resolution was with Jason C. getting the EXACT altitude from one of Jim’s RRC2X’s and a Perfectflite MAWD. That was rare.

[Bruce R. Schaefer]

Mike, why is that center hole uncovered? Obvious question, but since your two avionics bay rods are on the outisde, why do you have a center hole? I know you know this–and it comes that way, but that will defeat the purpose of a perfect seal to protect your electronics and screw up the barometers, plus damage them?

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