INA 125 Instrument Amplifier
for rocket motor test stand
The Setup
Here are the four components together:
Test stand with load cell
Amplifier
Dataq 194RS
Laptop computer with serial port and WinDAQ software installed
Oh, and the rocket motor!
Rest assured that the laptop will not be sitting right
there when the motor is ignited. That's what that hank of audio cable
is for, to separate the TestStand/Amplifier from the Dataq unit/Laptop by
20 feet or more. I would also put something protective over the computer,
even at that distance. Great balls of fire have been known to fall
from the sky during these static tests.
Fortunately, the WinDAQ software allows for a long capture
time, so I can set everything up, start the computer recording, close the
lid and put something over it, and mosey on back to the firing line at a
leisurely pace. The default is 12 minutes recording time, so I can
even go for a quick coffee, search for my hearing protectors, set up the
video camera, warn the neighbors, shoo away the cats, get some more coffee,
and still capture the motor firing before serious jitters set in.
Click Here to see some test runs with this equipment, as well as a few with the larger 500lbf test stand.
