Introduction

The goal of this project was to remotely light fireworks during my annual Halloween party. During a lighthearted conversation, my friends proposed this project. For a slew of primarily legal reasons, the initial “pumpkin explosion” joke was inadvisable. However, my desire to deliver made me decide fireworks could become a worthy alternative.

I made a device capable of remotely lighting fireworks. In many cases, low-cost firing systems operate using long detonator wires. Instead, I chose to make use of radio frequency (RF) transmission to make it safer and more convenient. I applied my skills in Arduino programming, heat transfer, and electronic design. Additionally, I met a hard deadline of October 31 with only two weeks to prepare.

Overview

The device is comprised of three major parts. This includes the controller, the receiving unit, and nichrome ignitor. The components are diagrammed in the following image:

The RF transmission was handled by a prebuilt 4 channel RF PCB. It sent an input to the receiving unit. The receiving unit processed the analog logic output through an Arduino program. My program mapped two of the RF channels to either a manual firing or automatic firing. The manual mode maintains a constant “On” if held, while the automatic mode goes through a preprogrammed firing sequence. The programmed time was designed from initial tests and adjustments based on heat transfer principles. It showed repeatable ignition.

The electronics inside the receiving unit were powered by two lithium-ion batteries. The batteries were soldered to XT60H connectors. These allowed me to safely remove and recharge the batteries. Stemming from the receiving unit was a nichrome ignitor with a length of copper wire to reach the firework’s fuse. This provided flexibility and was easy to replace as needed.

The cost of the device was $93.65. This does not include charging supplies, the fireworks, and negligible parts like wiring. Many possible methods of price reduction were apparent after the initial prototype. Changing the power supply and microcontroller is recommended for future iterations. However, its price and features were comparable to many current options.

Impact

The remote ignitor was completed in time for my party and successfully set off a fountain firework secured inside of a pumpkin. The project showcased my understanding of electronics and heat transfer while inspiring others. The completed build and video recording of the device is shown below: