Thread: Automated Pyrotechnics controller

lol. this is awesome. I just want to know what pyrotechnics your doing.

Originally Posted by Crzy_gtr_god3

lol. this is awesome. I just want to know what pyrotechnics your doing.

This year, just a simple fireworks show for the 4th, probably going to have to have a few test runs before then......

Last year we had over 200 mortars to shoot off. Really cut into my beer drinking, so I decided to do this. Going to have more rockets & fountains this year since i won't be able to re-load the mortars.

Plus there's the whole cool factor of my program playing [Gladiator]"At my signal, unleash hell"[/Gladiator] when i hit the start button for the fireworks show.

Yep, pretty cool! Is there a way to use one output to toggle between 2 banks of 15 relays?

Originally Posted by GadgetBandit

Yep, pretty cool! Is there a way to use one output to toggle between 2 banks of 15 relays?

That was an option, but there's no way i was fitting 30+ relays inside this little toolbox anyway (chosen after deciding to go to 1 brain). I'm actually kind of glad it got downsized from 28 outputs (v3 + v4) as crimping 4 terminals/relay + the .064mm header terminals was a major PITA.

Add to that - the terminals, switches, header connectors, box, etc added almost up the the same cost as the Brain - crazy considering the relays & wire were free.

When you consider i can fire 2-3 igniters per circuit (depends on igniter resistance) & virtually unlimited fireworks per igniter, I think I'll have enough. I can delay using fuse. I doubt this will be the ONLY fireworks shot this year, but it could make a good end to the show.

Screenshot of the software i wrote (available if somebody wants to use it)

checkboxes control activation of output, combobox controls delay (currently in 1/10 second increments, probably 1sec on final - I'm not waiting 5 minutes to make sure all my outputs fire off)

I was able to test my contraption this weekend. I didnt have many worries, but it performed flawlessly.

3 mortars (all the tubes I had)
6 rockets (1 dud)
4 candels
4 fountains of various types

I only used 8 of the 16 outputs, but tried to figure out how to use multiple electric matches & delay fusing. I had a couple failures due to the fusing, but I know what I did wrong.

People thought I was nuts before, when I hit "go" and the sky lit up, they were convinced

That is very impressive. Thanks for sharing!

Due to going out of town next weekend we fired this puppy up Saturday night

FB Pyrotechnic controlling: 1
My fireworks presentation skills: 0

Actually it worked pretty well. I half-assed the setup & one of my mortar tubes got blown over before it went off, so when it fired, it lit the rest of the mortars off. The finale came a little quickly the other display kept going though, and I parked my truck between the fireworks & the viewers, so all were safe. Glass half full: the fire spread to the other display after it was done & kept me from having to clean up any trash

No pictures & no video. I had to hurry to set this up, which is what caused the foul up.
I got quite a few promises of donations for next year to be a much bigger show.....