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Fireworks Igniter
by systemf92 on June 15, 2009 Table of Contents License: Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intro: Fireworks Igniter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 1: Acquire your materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 2: Tape wires to the match . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 3: Wrap the match head with steel wool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 4: Secure the steel wool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 5: Using the igniters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 7 7

http://www.instructables.com/id/Fireworks-Igniter/

License: Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa) Intro: Fireworks Igniter

These electronic igniters will reliably light any firework with a fuse on it. They are designed to use in conjunction with my Fireworks Controller , but can be used with any electronic controller that you may have built already, or even any 12v battery. They are relatively simple to construct and are made of common materials already available in your house or at a local hardware store. You don't need nichrome wire to construct these igniters. Use these igniters ONLY IF : It is legal to launch fireworks where you live You are using factory/store bought fireworks You are far away from dry grass The launching area around the fireworks is clear There are adequate safety features on your controller to reduce the chance of an accidental detonation while connecting the igniters The author (Systemf92) is not responsible for any accident, damage, or death that may occur from the use of these electronic firework igniters. Use at your own risk.

step 1: Acquire your materials

The parts you will need shouldn't be to hard to find, if you don't have them around your house, then your local hardware store should carry them. Parts Needed Any small gauge insulated hookup wire, stranded or solid, around 20-24AWG (Size doesn't matter that much, as long as the gauge is not smaller than the steel wool you will be using. You will need about 6" per igniter.) Matches, one per igniter Electrical tape Grade #3 steel wool (commonly used to remove paint and clean engines) Tools Needed Scissors (or teeth, for cutting electrical tape) Wire strippers (if you don't have any, try using scissors)

http://www.instructables.com/id/Fireworks-Igniter/

Image Notes 1. Grade #3 steel wool 2. scissors 3. wire strippers 4. small gauge hookup wire 5. electrical tape 6. standard matches

step 2: Tape wires to the match

First, cut two 3" pieces of wire for your igniter. Strip about 1/2" off of each end. Line up the wires on both sides of a match, with one end of the stripped wires lined up with the match head. Wrap electrical tape around both wires and the match to hold them in place. Make sure they have stayed on opposite sides of the match after you tape them to it. See the second picture below for the placement of these wires.

Image Notes 1. wires stripped 1/2" from ends

Image Notes 1. electrical tape

http://www.instructables.com/id/Fireworks-Igniter/

step 3: Wrap the match head with steel wool

Now that the wires are taped to the match, we can add the heating element, steel wool. Take your ball of steel wool and look for a long, thick piece. The pieces are not uniform throughout the ball, so find a good one that is about 3" long. Extra length can be cut off when we are finished, so don't worry about having a piece that is too long. First, pinch the end of the steel wool strand between one of the wires and the match, as seen in the first photo below. This will keep it from slipping off when we wrap it around the match head. Wrap the steel wool around the head, around the wire on the opposite side, and back to the wire you started on. Then, do this once more (wrap it around the match twice). When you have done this, you should have two strands of steel wool crossing each side. See photos below for more detail. The number of times you wrap the steel wool around the match head is important because if the steel wool wraps around too many times it will just conduct and not heat up. Too little, and it burns up before it can ignite the match. After wrapping the steel wool around twice, loop it around the wire you started on a bunch of times to take up the extra length and hold it in place.

Image Notes 1. pinch one end of the strand between the wire and match

Image Notes 1. wrap excess back around the wire 2. steel wool crosses match twice

http://www.instructables.com/id/Fireworks-Igniter/

Image Notes 1. an ideal piece of steel wool

Image Notes 1. steel wool crosses match twice

step 4: Secure the steel wool

After the steel wool is wrapped around the match and connected to each wire, fold the ends of the wire back over the loops in the steel wool to keep them from sliding off the end of the igniter. This is the final step, and you are ready for ignition.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Fireworks-Igniter/

Image Notes 1. fold wires over the steel wool

step 5: Using the igniters

To use the igniter, connect it to a long run of two conductor cable such as speaker wire with alligator clips on one end. Connect one alligator clip to each lead on the igniter, as seen in the picture below. Connect the opposite end of the long speaker wire to one channel on a fireworks controller . These igniters are designed to be used with 12v DC power, which is the right amount to correctly heat the steel wool. If you do not feel up to the task of constructing an entire controller, using a 12v battery will work fine too, just connect the leads of the speaker wire to the terminals when you are ready to fire. This isn't the safest option, but it works. Depending on the thickness of your speaker wire, you should be able to prop the igniters up in a way that will keep them near enough to the fuse of a firework to ignite it. Leaning the match heads right up against the fuse itself has worked well for me so far. Things to consider: Make sure that the alligator clips are not touching each other, as this would cause a short circuit Make sure the exposed wires near the match head of the igniter are not touching each other If the igniter does not ignite after 1-2 seconds of pushing on the ignition button (applying power to the circuit) stop pressing it or you will short out your controller/battery because the full current is flowing back to it, rather than having the resistance of heat in the steel wool.) When the igniter is used up, it ideally will completely break the connection between the two wires, but sometimes it doesn't, so a channel might show up on your controller as still being unfired, even if the match has already been burnt up. Keep track of what you have fired already, because there is usually at least one igniter that does this in a batch of 12 being used at once. Video of ignition

http://www.instructables.com/id/Fireworks-Igniter/

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PYRO DETONATOR 2 igniter detonator fireworks pyrotechnics by larsjet

Fireworks Controller by systemf92

cheap, easy nichrome wire igniters by that one guy

Remote Ignition System: Camera Flash Method (video) by bballchamp1

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Comments
47 comments Add Comment

akanan says:
I had 4 9v batterie in series. And it didnt light the match. i have the exact same steel wool why?

Oct 3, 2009. 10:15 AM REPLY

thepaul1993 says:
in series it justs up's the voltage, in parallelit ups the amps. the more power it has the more chance it will work. try connect them in parallel.

Nov 3, 2009. 9:57 PM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/Fireworks-Igniter/

ktalex says:
did you check the output voltage?

Oct 13, 2009. 6:44 PM REPLY

jon_nic says:

Oct 2, 2009. 5:45 AM REPLY nice idea, but i use a 10ohm, 1/4 watt resistor stuck to the firework fuse. place 12V across, The resistors burn and the firework ignites

pyra_builder_1337 says:

Sep 30, 2009. 6:53 PM REPLY another way to do this is to take the wire setup and place it on a piece of celophane pour a SMALL amount of BP on it and cover with duct tape leaving some of the sticky part over the plastic so you can tape it to the explosive device

chelsea517 says:
good, we also have a special website for this. www.electricigniter.com

Sep 19, 2009. 5:45 PM REPLY

batman96 says:
I built this, it works great!

Sep 18, 2009. 9:15 AM REPLY

pattermon says:
ooohh ya!!

Sep 8, 2009. 9:37 PM REPLY

DeeStructables says:

Aug 31, 2009. 2:58 AM REPLY Very "Mwuhahaha" of you. Would it be possible to hook this up to a bank of capacitors to make a cleaner ignition? Thanks for this instructable, very good.

funwithfire93 says:
y uses aligator clips y not use longer wire? and im trying to rig aton of them together do u have any suggestions

Aug 22, 2009. 6:01 PM REPLY

valdspar says:

Jul 30, 2009. 12:38 PM REPLY HI i have a problem, ive been trying to put this together, and this seems like a great ignition, but when i actually try and light the ignition i only get a spark buy where i wrapped around the steal wool. Is this an issue of wrapping around it to many times or what. I appreciate the help :)

codongolev says:

Aug 13, 2009. 12:09 PM REPLY yeah- I just tested it a bunch of times, and if you use about a 2 inch long strand of small gauge that's about 1/4 inch in diameter, it will light in about 30 seconds- giving you time to run even further.

systemf92 says:

Aug 3, 2009. 9:46 AM REPLY you might try checking the steel wool to make sure that each loop around the wires is in full contact with the match. Also, I was having this problem when I first started experimenting with designing a reliable lighter, and found this no-burn spark to happen when I used a small guage of steel wool, which means that it is burning up too quickly to light the match. Make sure that the strands you use are as thick as you can find so that they spend more time heating up to light the match instead of burning up on ignition.

codongolev says:
if you use more, it's not really instant, but it still works. all I have is small gauge, and it still works.

Aug 12, 2009. 8:02 PM REPLY

codongolev says:

Aug 12, 2009. 8:01 PM REPLY got it workin' with a 12 volt ac adapter-- I added more steel wool. if you add more, it takes longer to heat up, but it's more reliable. also, in my test, the steel wool actually lit the match before it started to burn.

misanthrope13 says:

Aug 3, 2009. 4:10 PM REPLY Yo! Great ignitor! What I found which works better than the steel wool is a single strand of copper wire. It's stronger than the wool so it's easier to wrap around the match, though one loop around is enough. It also seems to take a little longer to burn than the wool.

systemf92 says:
interesting, i'll have to try this.

Aug 9, 2009. 9:43 PM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/Fireworks-Igniter/

bighead5454 says:
hey if you use this with a model rocket controller by clamping the alligator clamps to the wires then it would be awesome

Aug 8, 2009. 12:59 AM REPLY

Raydoom says:
nice Igniter , How many volts did you use ?

Aug 3, 2009. 2:34 AM REPLY

systemf92 says:
12v

Aug 3, 2009. 9:43 AM REPLY

cdousley says:
coul you tape this to the fuse or would it be better to take the fuse out and put this insude

Jul 25, 2009. 10:02 AM REPLY

systemf92 says:

Jul 25, 2009. 11:02 AM REPLY only use these igniters by attaching them to an existing fuse on the firework. Do Not modify the firework, doing so could be very hazardous and potentially fatal, and don't just stick the igniter inside somewhere. Be safe.

Jerimiah40 says:
How would you recommend attaching this to the actual firework?

Jul 5, 2009. 8:21 PM REPLY

systemf92 says:

Jul 6, 2009. 3:29 PM REPLY I dont have a very secure way of doing this right now, but what has always worked for me is to just lean the match head directly on the fuse or slightly below it. The ignition wire I have running from the board to the ignitor is also thick enough to bend roughly into a position and stay there to ignite the fuse. I have also thought of using something like a paperclip to hold the ignitor to the fuse, you might try that.

bowmaster says:
Have a bit (~1 inch) of steel wool hanging off. Then wrap it around the fuse.

Jul 8, 2009. 7:39 AM REPLY

systemf92 says:
ahh, now we're talking. good idea

Jul 8, 2009. 4:06 PM REPLY

pontiacking says:

Jul 16, 2009. 1:38 PM REPLY If you wrap a 1in. pice of fuse to the match win you wrap the match head with steel wool you can tape the fuses together

ARA-GhOstKrieg says:
Very useful!

Jul 5, 2009. 10:37 AM REPLY

systemf92 says:
thanks.

Jul 6, 2009. 3:25 PM REPLY

barry_allen7 says:
Sweet! I love this. Great job!

Jul 4, 2009. 4:36 PM REPLY

systemf92 says:
awesome, glad you like it.

Jul 6, 2009. 3:25 PM REPLY

scienceboy63 says:
can I use a 9V ignitor

Jul 4, 2009. 8:54 AM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/Fireworks-Igniter/

systemf92 says:
I'm not sure, haven't tried it yet. Use a 9V battery and try it out!

Jul 6, 2009. 3:25 PM REPLY

Mr. Stealth says:

Could I stick a fuse, to a fountain or something, in the middle instead of a match?

Jul 2, 2009. 2:18 PM REPLY

systemf92 says:

Jul 6, 2009. 3:24 PM REPLY No, the spark that might jump between the two wires will not ignite a firework fuse. Sure would be easier if it could though, but that's why we have to go through the trouble of doing all this with a match that will burn long enough to light the fuse.

Proud American Pyro says:

That is pretty dang cool.

Jun 26, 2009. 9:18 PM REPLY

systemf92 says:
thank you!

Jun 26, 2009. 11:15 PM REPLY

edfel01 says:
thx this is all i needed to test my controller

Jun 23, 2009. 1:09 PM REPLY

systemf92 says:
awesome, hope it works well for you. stay safe on July 4th

Jun 25, 2009. 6:22 PM REPLY

edfel01 says:
ya were testing it tommorrow

Jun 26, 2009. 7:01 AM REPLY

I_am_Canadian says:
Great work! I really like these... I will certainly try them out. Brilliant instructable too.

Jun 20, 2009. 9:16 AM REPLY

systemf92 says:
thank you, I'm glad you do. Let me know if you have any questions.

Jun 21, 2009. 5:26 PM REPLY

Spiff73 says:

Jun 17, 2009. 4:46 AM REPLY What is the reusability of the igniter? I know the match and steel wool get used up, but can the wires be reused or are you going through an entire roll of wire for a show?

systemf92 says:

Jun 17, 2009. 8:37 AM REPLY Yes, the wires may be reused if you want to. They are thick enough to not melt, and there usually isn't much insulation that melts off. When you do, flip the wires around because black soot is left on the folded over ends of the wire. The steel wool will make better contact with clean ends, but the alligator clips will easily get through the soot on the folded over end when reusing them.

The Ideanator says:

Jun 17, 2009. 6:58 AM REPLY After watching the video, the wire seems reusable enough, but who would want to reuse them while they're doing the show?

systemf92 says:

Jun 17, 2009. 8:44 AM REPLY I believe spiff means that they can be reused after a show for another show at a later time. He means that you would go through lots of wire to be using 6" of it per igniter, per show. By reusing the igniter wires, you could use one roll for two shows, basically.

lieuwe says:
wires will stay ok for re-use, the plastic insulation might melt/burn but that shouldn't be a problem...

Jun 17, 2009. 5:47 AM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/Fireworks-Igniter/