Initial Commit - Copy from Altus Metrum AltOS
This commit is contained in:
82
doc/motortest-installation.inc
Normal file
82
doc/motortest-installation.inc
Normal file
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
|
||||
== Installation
|
||||
|
||||
[WARNING]
|
||||
Firmware versions prior to 1.9.13 used acceleration to detect
|
||||
launch. Starting with 1.9.13, the firmware switched to using
|
||||
pressure to trigger recording. Altus Metrum strongly recommends
|
||||
upgrading all EasyMotor boards to current firmware, the
|
||||
behavior of which is described here.
|
||||
|
||||
EasyMotor needs to be rigidly attached in the airframe, in any
|
||||
convenient orientation.
|
||||
|
||||
=== Trigger to Start Recording
|
||||
|
||||
Starting with firmware version 1.9.13, a pressure sensor must
|
||||
be attached, and pressure change is used to initiate and conclude
|
||||
data recording. Pressure and 3 axes of acceleration are recorded
|
||||
for later analysis.
|
||||
|
||||
EasyMotor looks for a 50 psi rise in pressure from ambient to
|
||||
start recording. Recording stops when the pressure drops
|
||||
below 50 psi and shows variation of less than 30 psi for at
|
||||
least 10 seconds. These conditions are intended to capture all
|
||||
actual burn data including anomalies such as "chuffs".
|
||||
|
||||
=== Power Switch and Battery
|
||||
|
||||
In addition to the circuit board itself, EasyMotor needs
|
||||
a power switch and battery to operate. Like many Altus
|
||||
Metrum products, EasyMotor requires a single-cell LiPo
|
||||
battery, and has an on-board charging circuit. The 5V
|
||||
needed for inexpensive pressure sensors is generated
|
||||
onboard using a switching regulator to boost the voltage.
|
||||
|
||||
Because he often mounts EasyMotor to the motor's forward
|
||||
bulkhead instead of to the airframe itself, Bdale often
|
||||
uses a length of “shooter wire” from an e-match or used
|
||||
motor igniter as a power switch, routing the wire out of
|
||||
the typical fin can vent hole and using “twist and tape”
|
||||
to power up the board. Whatever works!
|
||||
|
||||
=== Pressure Sensor
|
||||
|
||||
The primary motivation for designing EasyMotor was to have
|
||||
a reliable way of recording motor chamber pressure during
|
||||
flight. To that end, EasyMotor supports attachment of a
|
||||
low-cost analog pressure sensor. The board provides 5V
|
||||
to power the sensor, and an input for measuring and
|
||||
logging the output voltage from the sensor.
|
||||
|
||||
The kind of sensor EasyMotor is designed to work with
|
||||
takes 5V in and has a linear analog output that ranges
|
||||
from 0.5V at 0 to 4.5V at the maximum pressure supported
|
||||
by the sensor. Very inexpensive sensors that have a
|
||||
“1/8 NPT” threaded input, a “Buick-style” 3-pin connector,
|
||||
and typically ship with a short cable and mating
|
||||
connector, are readily available through various vendors
|
||||
including Amazon, eBay, and AliExpress.
|
||||
|
||||
These pressure sensors have three wires and sometimes a
|
||||
shield around those wires. The colors of the wires can vary,
|
||||
but typically are red for power, black for ground, and green
|
||||
for the analog output. Hook red to '+5', green to 'PRES', and
|
||||
black to one of the two 'GND' screws on the board. The other
|
||||
'GND' screw is available for connecting the shield if one is
|
||||
present. This is mostly relevant if you're using the product
|
||||
for static testing on the ground with a longer than usual
|
||||
cable.
|
||||
|
||||
To log in-flight chamber pressure, a typical approach
|
||||
might be to drill a 1/8" sampling hole all the way
|
||||
through the center of the motor's forward closure, then
|
||||
drill and tap partially through the closure with a “1/8
|
||||
NPT” pipe tap. Fill the touch hole with grease, screw in
|
||||
the pressure sensor, and attach the sensor leads to
|
||||
EasyMotor.
|
||||
|
||||
If you aren't up for machining closures yourself,
|
||||
link:http://lokiresearch.com[Loki Research] sells
|
||||
54mm and 75mm "experimental bulkheads" with threaded
|
||||
sensor ports that can be used with snap ring cases,
|
||||
and other related mechanical bits and pieces.
|
||||
Reference in New Issue
Block a user