^Advantages

• ^{Compact - The entire unit fits into the palm of your hand}
• ^{Power - a single AA will fire 30+ ignitors; no heavy 12v batteries are required}
• ^{High Impedance - High voltage & low current allow long (200+ ft) small gauge (22) cabling}
• ^{Cabling - as noted above, heavy gauge cabling is not required for proper functioning.}

^Disdvantages

• ^{Non Standard - may not reliabily fire "standard" low impedance ignitors}
• ^{Non Standard - Launch site supplied equipment is not compatible - eg Tripoli launches require use if their sophisticated yet impatible low impedance  launch control equipment.}
• ^{Non Standard - you likely cannot "bum" either the ignitor controller nor the ignitors themselves if you have on-field needs.}

^{My CD Ignitor.}

^Controller

^{I have built a Capacitive Discharge (CD) ignitor for model rocket ignition. It's also useful for setting off your Class C fireworks displays.
It's based on the AFN article series and takes into account data from the Dahlquist Papers as well as data from Dan Thames and others on the Net.}

^{I had this cute little case lying around and I just had to stuff it into it. It was a three dimensional puzzle - but I eventually got all the components inside. I have pictures of the Top & inside. I am now re-working it. I am replacing the on/off/discharge switch with a locking toggle switch. This is to prevent hazardous accidental charging of the circuit. Just stuffing it into your pocket will flip the switch to charge. Safety First!}

^Ignitors

^{I strip 22 or 24 gauge wire pairs out of CAT-5 network cable. These are cut to length as required by the application. I solder on 1/8watt 2700ohm resistors, dip in a pulverone/NC lacquer slurry a couple of times and let dry. I have here a picture of two ignitors.}

^{CD Ignitor Article from AFN}

^{American Fireworks News (AFN) had a nice 3 issue article series about CD Ignitors using CD flash units from disposable cameras. An excellent series, particularly when complemented by information from the Dahlquist papers. The series is in the Best of AFN III. Here is a web link to an online copy of those articles. I have a cached copy.}

Electrical Current Requirements

Here's a great article about the Electrical Current Requirements of Model Rocket Ignitors. It's by Robert Briody. It's very informative and a must read as it points out the real load that ignitors put on the controlling circuitry and batteries. All Fire/No Fire currents aside one also needs to ensure the electronic circuitry remains operational and doesn't lose it's mind (or memory) when firing ignitors.

SMD Resistors as Ignitors

Paul Kelly has some good work has been done in the use of SMD resistors as ready-made ignitor bridgewires. This is targeted at low resistance ignitors but could also be usable for high resistance ignitors (as for my CD controller). Paul Kelly's web page is now at ERG. His SMD Resistor article is also cached here.

Lamp Filament Igniters

PerfectFlite Low Current Ejection Charges

^{Dahlquist Papers}

^{The "Dahlquist Papers" are an excellent resource on Ignitors. I have a cached copy online.}

The Carbon Resistor Igniter

• Introduction
• The Resistor Igniter
• Constant Voltage Firing Systems

Capacitor Discharge Firing Systems

Ignitor Types & Compositions

^{Books and Resources}