G-Wiz Partners G-Wiz LC Deluxe 800

G-Wiz Partners - G-Wiz LC Deluxe 800 {Accessory}

Contributed by Drake "Doc" Damerau

Manufacturer: G-Wiz Partners

PicConstruction:
The G-Wiz LC Deluxe has both a G-force sensor and a barometric sensor for launch detect, motor burnout and accurate altitude determination. Because of this, it is not affected by Mach transitions. Having two sensors enables it to add an additional output channel for clustering, staging or air-starts.

Pyro output 1 - Jumper select between Launch detect for clusters and Burnout detect for staging or air-starts

Pyro output 2 - Fires at Apogee detect for drogue deploy.

Pyro output 3 - Fires at a fixed low altitude for main chute deploy.

The G-Wiz comes in a pre-set main chute deployment altitude: 400 feet or 800 feet. I have both units, but this still limits your options.

Pic

Status LED shows e-match continuity before launch, and maximum altitude upon landing. It is also able to tell you how you have the unit wired and the jumpers set. Having lights instead of a beeper can be bothersome because you have to look through a hole in the altimeter bay, instead of just listening from the ground. This can be a pain when your hole is 15 feet off the ground.

It can use one or two batteries for operation. One battery will power the board and fire the e-matches. You can also use two batteries by removing a jumper wire. Using two batteries separates the board from the pyro channels. This ensures you have full power to the board during an e-match firing. There is not a battery mount on the board like some altimeters. I like this feature because it allows me to use whatever battery I want and put it wherever I want. I usually use two standard 9v batteries.

For arming and disarming [for every altimeter I use], I use the push on / push off switches that PerfectFlight sells. I like to mount all my altimeters with plastic PC board stand offs and stainless steel screws, onto a ¼" aircraft plywood board.

Flight:
I have flown both of these altimeters a few times, without fail. The "motor burn-out" channel works flawlessly for air starting my large two-stage rocket. Although I only use altimeters in big rockets, its small size allows it to fit in 29mm airframes.

Summary:
Having three output channels makes this one of my favorite altimeters. It's slightly harder to use than some of the simple two channel altimeters out there so a careful study of the directions is required.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

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    G-Wiz LC Deluxe 800 review is provided courtesy of: G-Wiz LC Product Review G-Wiz Partners manufactures rocketry electronics that can be used to collect maximum altitude, control parachute deployment and ignite the motor of a two-stage rocket. With some creative thinking the devices can probably be put to other uses, too, like camera activation upon launch. There actually are two ...

Comments:

avatar
K.L.D. (December 10, 2003)
I purchased the G-Wiz LC Deluxe 800 as my second altimeter that could also handle staging. My first altimeter was the Missile Works RRC2 and it worked flawlessly. I build my first staging rocket that would use the RRC2 for deployment and the G-Wiz LC for staging. In building the coupler that would house the G-Wiz LC I found out its limitations. First there is no way to attach a switch to arm the unit. You have to jerry rig a switch to the battery to enable the system to be armed on the pad. Secondly there is no way to verify the arming of the unit on the pad unless you have a gaping hole to see the LED. I put the rocket together at the site and all the electronics LED armed as they should. Needles to say the G-Wiz failed to light the second stage and my new rocket fell 2000 ft to its death. Looking at the G-Wiz the LED was a solid red after the crash but all wires were connected. Talking the guys at G-Wiz they informed me to send it in for a look. They failed to find any problem and wanted me to pay an additional $6.00 to get my broken altimeter back. In conclusion the G-Wiz failed along with the support I received. I later used the RRC2 with my level two certification and it worked great.

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