G-WIZ ALTIMETER

G-WIZ LC / LC DELUXE 3-CHANNEL PEAK ALTITUDE ALTIMETER / ACCELEROMETER

The G-Wiz LC and G-Wiz LC Deluxe are currently two small altimeter/accelerometers commercially available, capable of fitting in airframe diameters as small as 24mm.

The G-Wiz LC uses an accelerometer only, for inertial detection of apogee, and inertial logging of the peak altitude.

The G-Wiz LC Deluxe uses an accelerometer and a barometric pressure sensor, for inertial detection of apogee, and barometric logging of the peak altitude, and barometric detection of the altitude to fire the main parachute at, if used for 2-stage recovery (i.e. a drogue parachute at apogee, and a main parachute at low altitude).

The G-Wiz LC / LC Deluxe is very simple to use, literally plug the battery in and go, and can even have a second battery wired in just for ejection charge firing. The G-Wiz LC and G-Wiz LC Deluxe are peak altitude logging altimeters only, rather than recording data over the whole flight. They output the peak altitude in a series of flashes from an onboard LED.

E.g. if the altimeter/accelerometer was recovered after a flight, and an apogee altitude of 1345 feet was noted, the G-Wiz LC / LC Deluxe would display one flash, short pause, 3 flashes, short pause, 4 flashes, short pause, 5 flashes, long pause, then repeating the pattern.

Very simple, but very effective.


G-WIZ Pros

G-WIZ Cons


G-WIZ TIPS.

The G-Wiz LC and G-Wiz LC Deluxe can be run from a 12 volt lighter battery, if they are not being used to fire ejection charges (i.e. motor ejection is being used instead). This is useful when the G-Wiz LC or G-Wiz LC Deluxe is being used for logging the peak altitude of a flight only, and given the smaller diameter of a 12 volt lighter battery, it means the G-Wiz LC or G-Wiz LC Deluxe can be fitted in a smaller diameter airframe, thus reducing drag, and increasing the potential altitude the rocket could reach.



See Also

Hybrid Rocket Science, Hybrid Rocket Help Clinic, Amateur Hybrid Motors, Amateur Liquid Rockets, Guidance, Gimballed Motors, Launch Controller, UK Rocketry Vendors, UK Rocket Groups, UK Space Organisations