Looking For Advice From the Hybrid Gods

[CannonCreations]

Hello, I will be building a piston valve hybrid cannon this December when I get some time off from college, and I am looking for some advice. I have no problem with anything but the ignition. I have seen many other guns use stun guns to ignite the fuel mixture, but unfortunately my state doesn't allow them. I have been looking for other ways to create a spark with enough voltage to ignite the fuel to air mixture and I am unsure how high that will need to be. I ran across this http://ultimatespudgun.com/30kv-igniter-p-219.html, but I don't know if 30,000 volts is enough for a reliable ignition with a 6x or 7x mixture. I am proficient with circuits and can solder pretty well so I am not against building an ignition circuit myself, but I haven't had the opportunity to work with voltages above 240V so if I can avoid it I will. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

[PeteS]

The one that you linked to has been working flawlessly for me, but I have not gone beyond 5x.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

I have used ordinary piezo ignitors from disposable cigarette lighters to ignite mixtures up to 16x reliably. The key is to make the spark gap very small (0.5mm or less).

[CannonCreations]

Really? a piezo? what kind of voltage does that put out? and thanks for the quick feedback. Are you using a spark plug for your spark gap, or did you find another way that is better?

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

This is one of my first successful hybrids, take a patient look through this thread: http://www.spudfiles.com/hybrid-cannons/topic21655.html



You can use a commercial spark plug but they typically have a 1-2mm gap, you might have to adjust it slightly for higher mixes.

[CannonCreations]

Thank you for your advice, I really appreciate your input. I am also a big fan of all the work you have done

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Thank you for your advice, I really appreciate your input.

That's what the forum is for be careful though, it's not all wins: http://www.spudfiles.com/hybrid-cannons/topic21645.html

[SpudBlaster15]

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[advancedspuds]

To be honest, once a stun gun is out of it's case, its no longer a stun gun, only a generic potato gun ignition. They just work so well and can be modular to use in multiple launchers too. IANAL but If you can buy one already converted into a ignition, it shouldn't be a stun gun as there is no effective way to harm anyone with it. It's just a black box with some hookups on it at that point. I have heard of luck with piezo electric, but never tried it myself.

[CannonCreations]

It would be really nice if I could find something like that, but I have decided to just go with the ignition source I linked at the top. It is supposed to put out 30Kv and I think that will be enough for my needs.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

More than enough, though as I said if you're on a budget a simple piezo is sufficient

This looks interesting: http://www.ebay.com/itm/XRS-Original-6v ... 3cd9429823

[PeteS]

More than enough, though as I said if you're on a budget a simple piezo is sufficient

True. I will mention that the Vipertek stun gun (under $10) can actually be found for cheaper than I have been paying for piezo igniters.

To the OP. The one you linked should be fine, but if you want to tinker with the vipertek someone here could probably buy one for you, remove the prongs and/or otherwise disable it as a stun gun and mail you the "no longer a stun gun device".

[Zeus]

FYI, a piezo is around the 10kV mark tops, but incredibly low current.