Misc. Hints and Tips

[Gerry]

But how do you stop them turning into ankle pads?

You could always get the workmens trousers that have pockets in the knees to slip pads into - then take the pads out if you dont need them . . .

My tiop tip -

Before you start laying out pyro and getting gear and tools and 'stuff' everywhere - particularly if you tend to live out of your car as I do - put everything you need for the actual firing - overalls, helmet, gas torch, torch gloves etc etc all together on the front seat.

Then when you do the pre firing site clear up in the dark you know where it all is and dont end up burying it under loads of misc' clutter in the back.

[ChrisB]

If using a PyroMate (or similar centronics connector type) firing system.... Don't make the mistake of laying out the multicore cables out starting at the field modules end or you may find out like I did with 5 min to go before firing that you have the wrong gender of connector at the firing box end !!! Frantically swap round all the multicore cables whilst cursing in fluent Anglo Saxon

Start at the firing panel end first & this won't happen.

Tube cleaner: cut down road fence pin with the pointy end bent over like a hook.

Love the bit about the arrow by the way.

ChrisB

[Andy_P]

Originally posted by ChrisB@Wed 21 Nov 2007, 09:58 AM
Don't make the mistake of laying out the multicore cables out starting at the field modules end

Label the connectors on the field boxes "IN" and "OUT" or whatever? (I'm not being glib, I've done exactly the same thing on Spyrotechnics Sam Woodward system several times, and *I* made the field boxes! (but never quite got round to labelling them ))

Love the bit about the arrow by the way.

Shellscape used to have a store located on a golf course that an archery club also used!

[Zedsquared]

Even better, when designing a firing system, if there is no electrical difference between an "in" and "out" socket (as in Sam Woodward and many others where boxes are simply paralleled) don't use different genders! Then it doesn't matter which way round a cable goes!

I've been in a "five minutes before firing you go to plug the cables in to the desk and wonder why the two connectors you're trying to mate are the same gender... arrrrghhh!" situation too

Cheers,
Robin.


P.S. for labelling boxes I find the metallic type dymo tape lasts reasonably well in field conditions.

[Andy_P]

Originally posted by Zedsquared@Wed 21 Nov 2007, 02:04 PM
if there is no electrical difference between an "in" and "out" socket don't use different genders! Then it doesn't matter which way round a cable goes!

Ahh, but then you can't connect two cables together without back-to-back gender changers.
You can't win, there's no perfect answer! (except for true hermaphrodite connectors, and there aren't many of them arround!)

[blackbat]

Originally posted by ChrisB@Wed 21 Nov 2007, 09:58 AM
Don't make the mistake of laying out the multicore cables out starting at the field modules end or you may find out like I did with 5 min to go before firing that you have the wrong gender of connector at the firing box end !!!

Continuity checking aside (!), I could never remember the correct way for Pyromate cables until someone told me to remember that the "male" went into the "female" black box

I've never forgotten after that

[Andy_P]

I had to explain to our young (very) inexperienced new assistant why we kept calling connectors "male" and "female". She had no idea!
Almost as bad as when I tried to teach her to solder, and casually mentioned that often you just have to grin and bear the pain for those seconds while a joint is setting. She looked at me as if I was completely barking mad.

[RocketScientist]

Pack an old toothbrush in your kit to clean the contacts on cable connectors (esp the D-Centronics multi-pin type) when they get dirty. (And they will !) A contact cleaner spray can be useful too.

[ChrisB]

Good one !! I've always wondered what Rocket Scientists say

I usually attach a roll of gaffa to my belt loop with a re-usable cable tie. Saves hunting around for it all the time or leaving it on top of a tube to be fired into orbit. I can also slip a bundle of cable ties (with one securing the bunch together) through the hole in the roll to keep them handy when rigging.

Good idea to carry a magnet on a bit of string for getting scissors/pliers etc out of tubes when you've dropped them down inside - much better than dismantling the rack.

Chris B

[RocketScientist]

I love the magnet idea. I've never actually dropped the nips down a wired-in tube yet, but I've come soooooo close on many occasions . . .

This looks like a good one -

http://www.nauticalia.com/uk-info/tools_and_gadgets/fit_in_a_pocket/sea_searcher_recovery_magnet/3101.html