dagabu Posted June 2, 2016 Posted June 2, 2016 I just got a sale email from RFremotech, the makers of the AlphaFire little square wireless firing modules. I have a couple dozen of them as do a lot of my friends in p the pyro community. I'm not involved in any way with them but this is a really good deal. They are really small and I have used them at PGI several times myself without fault. http://www.rfremotech.com/Activities/Promotion160525.html http://www.rfremotech.com/Activities/ADSPics/Promotion201606/RF1A.jpg
Pyrophury Posted June 2, 2016 Posted June 2, 2016 I have a set of 4 of these, but 2 of them died the first time I used them. The range of the the key fob style transmitter is very poor(as you would expect) and the battery covers on the receivers are quite loose fitting and easy to lose if you don't tape them shut. I emailed them and they did get back to me quickly, they wouldn't replace the faulty units free of charge, but did send me a diagram and offered to send me replacement components "audions" with my next order. http://pyrobin.com/files/RF1A-Audions.JPG I never placed another order with them and haven't been able to figure out what these "audions" are, so don't know what to look for - If I knew I might have a go at replacing them.
dagabu Posted June 2, 2016 Author Posted June 2, 2016 Yes, that was a flaw that they had some years ago, both the C series and the M series would burn out if shorted or made to draw too much power at once (multiple matches at once or resistor matches). The new series (no markings) has short protection. Echo ( echozeng@e-madeinchn.com) is the engineer that can help you with the repair but frankly, I would juet order a few replacements for the cost.
OldMarine Posted June 2, 2016 Posted June 2, 2016 An audion was an early signal amplifier tube. That AIN'T one.
Pyrophury Posted June 2, 2016 Posted June 2, 2016 Yes, that was a flaw that they had some years ago, both the C series and the M series would burn out if shorted or made to draw too much power at once (multiple matches at once or resistor matches). The new series (no markings) has short protection. Echo ( echozeng@e-madeinchn.com) is the engineer that can help you with the repair but frankly, I would juet order a few replacements for the cost. Yes, I got these about 5 years ago now - I was using Talon igniters. An audion was an early signal amplifier tube. That AIN'T one. Yeah, I figured... something obviously got lost in translation.
MrB Posted June 2, 2016 Posted June 2, 2016 The internals are cleaner then i expected them to be, so i'm sort of impressed. But i would want something with 20-50 cue's, and could care less if it was wireless or not, so it's not quite for me.I got a nailboard, so i'm not exactly in a tight spot, and the updated tech seams to be to expensive for my taste. Yes, i know, i know, cheapskate. Anyway. A mate of mine has a few of these, and is crazy pleased with them. So if anyone is considering these, there is another vote for them.B!
dagabu Posted June 2, 2016 Author Posted June 2, 2016 From RFS.com: "Non-pyrogen clip igniters draw more amperage (around .8 amps), then real ematches and clip igniters must be hooked in parallel. The risk with firng e-match in Talon mode is if the e-match becomes a shorted circuit (a.k.a. ghost match) after firing, it will draw full current from the battery as a direct short." Many of the Chinese E-matches have a Fire current: 0.40A /0.37A and hardly ever short when fired.
dagabu Posted June 2, 2016 Author Posted June 2, 2016 The internals are cleaner then i expected them to be, so i'm sort of impressed. But i would want something with 20-50 cue's, and could care less if it was wireless or not, so it's not quite for me.I got a nailboard, so i'm not exactly in a tight spot, and the updated tech seams to be to expensive for my taste. Yes, i know, i know, cheapskate. Anyway. A mate of mine has a few of these, and is crazy pleased with them. So if anyone is considering these, there is another vote for them.B! B! I use them mostly for a wide display to save wire or for rockets a long way off. They are great for lighting the red rockets for the national anthem. Gives you a nicely wide field of division. I also used them at shows where there was 1 or 2 10" shells way in the back and the distance was prohibitive for wire or for taking up a whole 48 shot module. My wife and I did a short finale last year with them at a lake, simply taped them to the devices that were fired and collected them after the show.
Pyrophury Posted June 2, 2016 Posted June 2, 2016 (edited) From RFS.com: "Non-pyrogen clip igniters draw more amperage (around .8 amps), then real ematches and clip igniters must be hooked in parallel. The risk with firng e-match in Talon mode is if the e-match becomes a shorted circuit (a.k.a. ghost match) after firing, it will draw full current from the battery as a direct short." Many of the Chinese E-matches have a Fire current: 0.40A /0.37A and hardly ever short when fired. Ahh.. that was probably how I fried them then, my bad. Sometimes the Talon igniters wouldn't ignite the visco fuse (especially it it's the stuff with a waterproof coating), and I'd try to fire it a second time. There's no way that pocket size transmitter has a 200m range though, maybe 20m with a fresh battery. Edited June 2, 2016 by Pyrophury
OldMarine Posted June 2, 2016 Posted June 2, 2016 I've got a 48 cue Chinese special that's good to 250' on new batteries. Cost a whole $78 and hasn't let me down in 3 years!(Your results may vary, see your doctor if you have an ignition lasting more than 4 microseconds, please drink responsibly and don't litter)
dagabu Posted June 2, 2016 Author Posted June 2, 2016 Ahh.. that was probably how I fried them then, my bad. Sometimes the Talon igniters wouldn't ignite the visco fuse (especially it it's the stuff with a waterproof coating), and I'd try to fire it a second time. There's no way that pocket size transmitter has a 200m range though, maybe 20m with a fresh battery. I dunno, I fired a set of 10" shells yaers back with the four shot, pocket transmitter from 200m. The larger transmitter will light all 12 shots 1000m away on a lake with no issues. One thing to remember, line-of-sight. Get the receiver off the ground and you will get the 200m easy!
MrB Posted June 2, 2016 Posted June 2, 2016 I use them mostly for a wide display to save wire or for rockets a long way off. They are great for lighting the red rockets for the national anthem. Gives you a nicely wide field of division. I also used them at shows where there was 1 or 2 10" shells way in the back and the distance was prohibitive for wire or for taking up a whole 48 shot module. My wife and I did a short finale last year with them at a lake, simply taped them to the devices that were fired and collected them after the show. Makes sense. As i said, a mate pretty much only use these things, and is crazy about them. I sort of expected a somewhat different internal look, this was very clean, not covered in white residue from the flux or anything weird. Heck, it even looks like the components are stuck on there in proper alignment with the solder-pads, which i've come to expect them not to be when the item is that cheap. Anyway, thanks for sharing the info on the offer, and the experience as well.B!
Sparkles Posted June 22, 2016 Posted June 22, 2016 Old Marine can you share the model of tour 48 cue system with good results?
Ignioapathy Posted July 15, 2016 Posted July 15, 2016 (edited) Hey everyone. I'm new (just got my orange book today) and haven't posted before though I have been reading a lot. I just wanted to pass on another sale from RFRemotech that was emailed to me today. They are advertising 50% off of their new AlphaFire system that they say uses "1x 9V battery" and can "fire 10 igniters and Nichrome Wires". It might be worth a look if anyone is in the market. http://www.rfremotech.com/upimg/d_firing_system_2016071218141665.jpgThe system.http://www.rfremotech.com/New2BAlphaFire2BSeries.htmlThe sale.http://www.rfremotech.com/Activities/Promotion160714.html Edited July 15, 2016 by Ignioapathy
dagabu Posted July 15, 2016 Author Posted July 15, 2016 Nice change-up for them. I like the 9v battery idea too, I but it has a lot longer stand by time as well. 1
Ignioapathy Posted July 15, 2016 Posted July 15, 2016 Nice change-up for them. I like the 9v battery idea too, I but it has a lot longer stand by time as well. I'm sure it will have a longer stand by time and I'm happy to see the multiple igniters as well. It's going to be interesting seeing some real world data from anyone who tries then out.
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