{"id":582,"date":"2022-05-11T15:23:35","date_gmt":"2022-05-11T15:23:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dadstuffsite.com\/?p=582"},"modified":"2023-09-15T11:16:11","modified_gmt":"2023-09-15T11:16:11","slug":"how-to-choose-a-model-rocket-engine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dadstuffsite.com\/how-to-choose-a-model-rocket-engine\/","title":{"rendered":"Model Rocket Engines: Choosing the Right One for Your Rocket"},"content":{"rendered":"
We may receive commissions from purchases made through links in this post, at no additional cost to you.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n One of my favorite childhood memories was building and launching model rockets. There\u2019s something so cool about the idea that I can take some basic materials (mostly paper-based), glue it together, stick a rocket engine in it, and watch it soar hundreds of feet in the air. What\u2019s even cooler is knowing I can chase that rocket down, stick a new engine in it and do it again and again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fast forward a couple years (*ahem* decades\u2026 sigh), and I\u2019ve decided it\u2019s time to teach my kids how to launch model rockets. But with the greater availability of products on the internet, there are now so many more choices than just what\u2019s at the local hobby shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is especially true for choosing the right rocket engine. What once was a simple choice of the few rocket engines they had in stock at the hobby store (and a human being to help you choose), has now turned into so many possibilities. All those letters and numbers seem like gibberish and not in the least bit helpful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The question arises, how do I choose the right engine for my rocket?\u00a0The simplest answer is to follow the manufacturer\u2019s recommendation which is often placed on the outside of the package.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n New to rockets? Check out Model Rockets with Kids (What to Get and Where to Launch)<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n But even this example gives six options to choose from. Which engine should I choose? The short answer is to choose the least powerful motor, especially for your first flight. The key is to look at the letter. The lower the letter, the less powerful the engine. Therefore, an A engine will be a lower power engine than a B engine. (I\u2019ll get more into specifics in a bit). <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have \u00bd or \u00bc before the letter A, that means it will be even less powerful than an A engine. 1\/2A is generally half as powerful than A, and 1\/4A is a quarter as powerful as A. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As tempting as it is to want to go as high as possible, start with a lower power engine for your first flight. If you want to go higher, go ahead and buy a packet of B and C engines too (the ones recommended by the manufacturer) and after you\u2019ve done your first flight and know that your rocket flies nice and straight, then start going higher!<\/p>\n\n\n\n But what if they\u2019re out of the recommended motors? Can you substitute with another kind of motor? The short answer is yes, but which motor you can choose to substitute with takes a little more explanation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Related:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Make My Rocket Fly Higher (Engine Selection and Finishing)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n While there are a lot of rocket engine options (some single use, some reloadable), the typical beginner will launch a low-power rocket (more on this in a bit) using a single-use, black powder engine. All of those recommended Estes engines on the box are single-use, black powder engines. They\u2019re easy to come by, relatively cheap, and easy to use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you decide to get more into the hobby, you\u2019ll likely explore more advanced options of composite engines that can be reloadable. But that\u2019s another article for another day. Today, we\u2019re sticking with the basics and keeping it simple.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now hold on a second. It\u2019s made of black powder. That sounds dangerous. Is it safe to store and use black powder engines? <\/p>\n\n\n\n In a word, yes! Like anything, there is a danger if anything is mishandled. The most common injury though, would be a burn, but that\u2019s only from doing things the instructions on the engines and in your model rocket kit say to never <\/em>do, like taking a motor apart or lighting it with a match. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Again, to hammer that point home, never take apart a rocket engine or light it with a match or fuse. In fact, don\u2019t use it in any way except for its intended use as stated on the package. Do I need to say that again for the people in the back? Don\u2019t be stupid about how you use an engine and you\u2019ll be perfectly safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your rocket engines come with solar ignitors, and you should always use an electric ignitor from a safe distance. The good news is that many beginner rocket kits now even come with a launch pad and an ignition system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you need help picking one out, check out Best Beginner Model Rockets to Build and Launch with Your Kids<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The truth is, on average, there are more deaths attributed to skateboarding then there are reported cases of burns from rocket engines. One study has found only 18 burns reported over an 18-year period. I think the odds are in your favor that you will be safe launching a rocket (especially when you follow the rules).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article is originally from www.dadstuffsite.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a number of model rocket companies that make rocket engines, but we\u2019re going to stick with Estes engines because they are the most commonly available (you could order most of them on Amazon or find them at a lot of hobby and craft stores right now), and beginner-friendly on the market. <\/p>\n\n\n But when you first look at the numbers, they may seem like gibberish. Stick with me a little longer\u2014I promise this will all make sense, and by the end of this, you\u2019ll have no problems making any necessary substitutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Related: <\/strong>How High Did My Rocket Fly? (3 Ways to Measure Altitude)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Thrust is the propulsive force of the motor, or how much it pushes on the rocket and is measured in newton-seconds. The graph below shows the graph of an Estes A3 rocket engine. The graph shows the amount of thrust (measured in Newtons) over time (measured in seconds).<\/p>\n\n\n The Total Impulse is defined as the impulse for the entire time the engine provides thrust. The graph below is of the same Estes A3 rocket engine, but the shaded area of the graph represents the Total Impulse of the engine. <\/p>\n\n\n The first letter of a rocket engine code represents a defined range of the Total Impulse. Rocket engines are classified by their Total Impulse measured in Newton-seconds (N-s). While Newton-seconds are a more accurate measurement for power, in model rocketry a shorthand is used and letter is given to a range of power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Below is a common chart for how hobby rocket motors are classified. On the left, you see the rocket engine class (the letter on a model rocket engine), the maximum total impulse in the middle, and the category of model rocketry. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Kind of Engines are Used in Model Rockets?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Are Model Rocket Engines Explosive?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Model Rocket Engine Codes Explained<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Does the First Letter Mean? Total Impulse Explained<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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