Why fly a HAB Bounder Balloon Cut-Down System?
The HAB Bounder is a balloon cut-down system for terminating your balloon flight. This ensures that your flight ends predictably and at the appropriate time. Some common uses for HAB Bounder are to:
- Ensure that your payload remains in a certain geographic region
- Meet flight safety requirements: FAA §101.35 Equipment and Marking
- Cut-away a lift balloon to enable float conditions on tandem balloon flights
- Avoid lost payloads on single balloon flights that float
- Cleanly separate your payload from the balloon for controlled recoveries
- Record GPS position, atmospheric pressure, and temperature during the flight
When does the HAB Bounder start to cut-down the balloon?
It is configured via a text file on a micro-SD card. It can terminate the flight based on a variety of triggers. Commonly used triggers include:
- GPS Geo-fence — to ensure your payload remains in a certain geographic region
- Vertical Speed — to prevent slow, underinflated balloon launches
- GPS Altitude — to avoid going too high
- Mission Elapsed Time — to limit the total flight time
- External Trigger — to accept a signal from a flight computer, satellite modem, or radio link
Note: the newer version 5 units support the use of any data field that is logged as a possible trigger input. Multiple data sources can be combined as a single trigger using basic logic operations (and, or, <, =, >). For example, set to trigger if the ground speed goes above 10 m/s while above 20,000 meters.
What is a good line to use with the HAB Bounder?
Below are some of the rigging line options that we have used and liked. The Green-Spot line is our preferred line due to it being widely available and how well the burn-wires cut it. The Nano cord holds knots well and comes in a wide variety of colors. The Twisted Nylon line is super stretchy and can help dampen jerks and bounces on tandem balloon flight-trains.
- Green-Spot Dacron Fishing Line, 50 lbs (24 kg) test. Some manufacturers include: Izorline or Cortland
- Atwood Rope Nano Cord: https://atwoodrope.com/collections/nano-cord
- Twisted Nylon Mason Line: Home Depot, Amazon, Erin, etc.
Electronics have a protective conformal coating applied to reduce possible moisture issues from condensation. The HAB Bounder kit ships with a protective foam enclosure and micro-SD card. Batteries and rigging line are not included.
