Multi-Test Point Igniter Tester

Product Details

Stand-alone multi-channel igniter and weapon circuit testers. The 1n-SQB-BTP Series of Weapon System Circuit Igniter Testers is a family of multimeters with rugged control computer for measuring the resistance and stray voltage in a weapon system’s multiple electrical circuit paths.

These fully automated igniter testers are used to test devices such as rocket igniters, fuses, explosive bolts, squibs, blasting caps, bit test lines, and electro component lines (relays, actuators, diodes, semiconductor devices) that are contained in the weapon. Our SQB Series squib igniter testers dramatically reduces the risks of accidental detonations without compromising high accuracy.

OEM Subassembly Level Testing – Verify the electrical integrity of weapon subassembly components before they are integrated into the weapon system.
OEM System Level Testing – Perform weapon-level electrical integrity testing before delivery to the customer.
Field Level Testing – Conduct field or depot-level electrical integrity tests before troop deployment or integration with a launch platform.

Description
Specifications
Literature

Our SQB Series features:

Six resistance ranges, two stray voltage ranges, and diode testing.
Fiber optic connection between control computer and igniter tester ensures safety isolation between computer power and weapon system.
Kelvin four-wire test leads/ cable arrangement automatically compensates for lead resistance.
Reading stabilizes in less than 2 seconds. Large format LCD with clear indication of measurement range and units, battery level, and calibration status.
Digitally calibrated insensitive to thermomechanical drift of calibration trim potentiometers. No requirement to open the meter, which allows in-house customer calibration.
Our modular, scalable product designs support from 8 to 1,024 test paths. Our unique matrix selector design permits measurement of any one test point relative to any other test point.
A verification module proves that the igniter tester and cabling are ready for measurement by simulating the weapons test paths.

Igniter Tester Control

The 1n-SQB-BTP Series features a unique manual measurement mode (including test cables) that allows the user to verify test circuits without the need for a separate meter. For automated use, the igniter tester can be controlled using either Space Electronics or your own measurement control software.

Safety Features

Our Multi-Channel Weapon System Circuit Testers feature a unique approach to safety: redundant circuits and mechanisms, which go beyond the single-point-failure methodology to guarantee that test current remains less than one one-thousandth of a devices firing current.

Our power system design ensures protection against power surges and inadvertent operator error, including attaching the tester to a source of voltage or current higher than allowed.

Our design incorporates multiple ground isolation barriers to ensure that there are no potential current paths to ground that could exceed the rated fail-safe current.

To prevent damage to the igniter testers current-limiting circuitry, we encapsulate and mount these fail-safe devices directly at both the testers input power and the weapons test signal connection points. This means that these barriers are after the matrix selector system, yielding an additional level of safety.

1n-SQB-BTP Series Igniter Tester Specifications

Measurement Ranges & Accuracy*

Notes:
* All accuracies have 3 sigma confidence factors.
† Up to full scale plus over-range capacity.
‡ Diode accuracy is specified as the accuracy of measuring the voltage drop accross the diode. This voltage drop is a function of the current through the diode, its forward bias voltage and the internal resistance. Once the diode’s forward voltage is exceeded, it starts conducting; once past the knee, the more current, the more voltage drop that is generated from the diode’s internal resistance. There is no nationally established test current for diode test function; different brand meters will measure different voltages. However, for any given meter’s supply current, the voltage measured across the diode is what is certified for accuracy.

Electrical Specifications

Failsafe Current: 10 mA
Number of Test Points: 8 to 128 (Expandable to 1,024)
Maximum Meter Current Draw: 0.5 @ 120 VAC (Optional 0.25A @ 220 VAC)
Input Power: 120 VAC (Optional 220 VAC) 50/60 Hz

Physical

Weight
8 to 64 Test Points: 42 to 50 lbs
72 to 128 Test Points: 52 to 100 lbs

Dimension
8 to 64 Test Points: Overall 12.25″H x 19″W x 18.5″D
7U 19″ Rack, Requires 17.5″ Minimum Rack Depth, 1.5″ Forward Clearance

72 to 128 Test Points: Overall 19.6″H x 19″W x 18.5″D
10U 19″ Rack, Requires 17.5″ Minimum Rack Depth, 1.5″ Forward Clearance

Operating Range

Temperature: 18°C to 30°C (or ±6 °C of calibration)
(In Storage): -10°C to 60°C
Humidity Maximum: 70% non-condensing
(In Storage): 90% non-condensing

Available Models

Part Number Coding: 1n-SQB-BTP-V-c

Note: All units can have the rack ears removed and feet installed for bench top use.

Product Sheets

1n-SQB-BPT-Series-Multiple-Point-Igniter-Weapon-Circuit-Tester (Product Description and Specs)
“Space Electronics’ 1n-SQB-BTP Series of Weapon System Circuit Testers” (Technical White Paper)
132-SQB-BTP

Multichannel Igniter Circuit Tester Product Features

Potted Failsafe Module with redundance current limiting device. Current limit, even in the case of simultaneous failures, is typically several hundred times lower than igniter initiation current.
Safe operation in hazardous environments is achieved through the use of Explosion-Proof Enclosures, earth grounding management, intrinsically safe circuitry, etc.
- Enclosures – heavy-walled aluminium, Factory Mutual Rated
  - Class 1 – multiple groups and divisions
  - Class 2 – multiple groups and divisions
  - Employ anti-tamper methods including locking wires and lead seals
- Grounding
  - Stainless steel Bench Tops, fully welded and heavy duty
  - Copper grounding lugs
  - Operator wrist straps
- Intrinsically Safe Circuitry
  - Nema rated current limited for operator displays and controls
  - Optional Type X or Type Y air purging controls are commonly used.
- Fiber optic isolation between the computer and the main body of the tester
- Opto/Isolator Device used to separate other components from the main body of the tester
Highly Modular
- Configurable for high channel count, conducive to high throughput production goals
- Lower cost – low channel count sequential configurations are available
- Flexible and upgradable to meet the demands of new weapons systems
Types of Tests
- Resistance range from less than 1.0 ohm to greater than 100M ohm
  - Four wire Kelvin configuration for high-accuracy low-resistance measurements
  - Two-wire for high meg-ohm reliability
- Voltage range from mV to KV
- Resistance leakage
- Current Leakage
- Hipot
- Insulation resistance
- Continuity
- Pulse envelope
- Pulse timing
Power Supply
- High engineered AC power supplies with current limit featuring fuses, zener barriers, metal-film resistors, ultra-isolated transformers
Calibration and verification
- Test Part Simulators
- Calibration
  - Internal – self-calibrating
  - External
    - Annual recertification process
- Computer controlled
  - “Actual values” consistent with ISO 900X demands
  - Pass/Fail criteria evaluation and reporting
  - Network Backbone compatible
  - Database compatible
  - Self Diagnostics
- Operator Safety
  - Blast Shield made from Aluminum/Lexan or Aluminum/Aluminum construction. Includes magnetic reed switch sensor for open and closed positions – does not allow events to proceed while in-between states.
  - Blast Barrier or Silo Door position sensor to prohibit test initiation
  - Blast Barrier or Silo Door Safety electro-mechanical interlock to prevent door opening during test
  - Contact Integrity Verification – Testing the test – key aspect is to ensure the validity of the test by ensuring proper contact is made before initiating the real test.
- Electronics Safety Sequencer Control to ensure the process is followed
  - Proper power up
  - Automatic Shorting of leads during loading of UUT
  - Discharge of capacitive circuits upon test completion
- Key switch for System Power
- Manual SHoring of leads during loading of UUT
  - Shoring Plug
  - Key Switch
- Part Interface
  - Test Leads
  - Unterminated Cables
  - Fixtures – highly customized – not interchangeable – each is designed specifically for one type of test part
    - All mechanical “load/test/remove” versions
    - Electro/mechanical/pneumatic
    - Features low contact pressures to avoid UUT damage
    - Gold plated pogo pins for high reliability contact
      - Single-wire styles with multiple tip configurations
      - Coaxial versions in support of four-wire measurements