[Sticky] Electronics Best Practice - Please abide by best practice for the safety and enjoyment of rocketry.

SimonFryer · 2026-03-02T11:14:34Z

The use of checklists is highly recommended for fliers when using single or dual deployment electronics with Black Powder deployment charges. Checklists should be organized into sections for pre-flight preparation, pad-setup, and post flight recovery activity phases. They should also include safety tips and alerts, expected outputs from the electronics, and use “what if” scenarios for typical failures to highlight safe practice. Deployment charges with ignitors inserted in them and NOT yet connected to electronics SHALL ALWAYS have the igniters shunted/short-circuited up to the last possible moment to protect from static charge. Deployment charges with ignitors inserted in them and connected to electronics: SHALL NEVER have the electronics powered or armed behind the flight line for any reason. This includes reasons such as testing or software updates. Such testing should always be done with jumper wires. SHALL ONLY be armed on the range or at a special preparation area beyond the flight line. SHALL ALWAYS be disarmed if being removed from the pad OR collected from the range. Safe arming or testing areas (aka special preparation areas) for electronics testing activities SHALL be designated by the RSO and SHALL be under the control of the LCO as part of the range. Igniters/e-matches that have been modified from standard, for example by dipping in additional pyro materials or Black Powder, SHALL be treated in the same way as ignitors inserted into deployment charges. After raising the rocket to the launch position, staging/airstart electronics SHALL ALWAYS be armed AFTER confirmation that the deployment electronics are successfully armed. After electronics are armed, fliers SHALL NEVER adjust the airframe, motor or nose cone. Movements of these can cause false launch, and false apogee pressure signals leading to premature activation of deployment charges. If adjustment is required, dis-arm the electronics first. When arming or powering up electronics with deployment charges or ignitors connected, fliers SHALL WEAR appropriate PPE and make sure others are at least 2m away from possible ignition points. When recovering rockets that have used single or dual deployment electronics with Black Powder deployment charges, fliers SHALL ALWAYS inspect the charges to ensure all have already discharged. Fliers SHALL ALWAYS disarm deployment electronics at the landing location. If this is not possible and there are active deployment charges, the rocket shall be placed at a safe location away from people on the range and the LCO and RSO informed.

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SimonFryer

(@simonfryer)

Trusted Member QRS Committee Moderator

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Posts: 39

Topic starter March 2, 2026 9:14 pm

The use of checklists is highly recommended for fliers when using single or dual deployment electronics with Black Powder deployment charges.
Checklists should be organized into sections for pre-flight preparation, pad-setup, and post flight recovery activity phases. They should also include safety tips and alerts, expected outputs from the electronics, and use “what if” scenarios for typical failures to highlight safe practice.
Deployment charges with ignitors inserted in them and NOT yet connected to electronics SHALL ALWAYS have the igniters shunted/short-circuited up to the last possible moment to protect from static charge.
Deployment charges with ignitors inserted in them and connected to electronics:
- SHALL NEVER have the electronics powered or armed behind the flight line for any reason. This includes reasons such as testing or software updates. Such testing should always be done with jumper wires.
- SHALL ONLY be armed on the range or at a special preparation area beyond the flight line.
- SHALL ALWAYS be disarmed if being removed from the pad OR collected from the range.
Safe arming or testing areas (aka special preparation areas) for electronics testing activities SHALL be designated by the RSO and SHALL be under the control of the LCO as part of the range.
Igniters/e-matches that have been modified from standard, for example by dipping in additional pyro materials or Black Powder, SHALL be treated in the same way as ignitors inserted into deployment charges.
After raising the rocket to the launch position, staging/airstart electronics SHALL ALWAYS be armed AFTER confirmation that the deployment electronics are successfully armed.
After electronics are armed, fliers SHALL NEVER adjust the airframe, motor or nose cone. Movements of these can cause false launch, and false apogee pressure signals leading to premature activation of deployment charges. If adjustment is required, dis-arm the electronics first.
When arming or powering up electronics with deployment charges or ignitors connected, fliers SHALL WEAR appropriate PPE and make sure others are at least 2m away from possible ignition points.
When recovering rockets that have used single or dual deployment electronics with Black Powder deployment charges, fliers SHALL ALWAYS inspect the charges to ensure all have already discharged.
Fliers SHALL ALWAYS disarm deployment electronics at the landing location. If this is not possible and there are active deployment charges, the rocket shall be placed at a safe location away from people on the range and the LCO and RSO informed.

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