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Clip Whip to Ignite Multiple Rocket Motors

Sunward Clip Whip (2, 3 or 4 motors)

A clip whip is used to hook up multiple rocket motors so that they can be ignited simultaneously. This makes them essential for cluster-engine rockets.

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Sunward Aerospace Clip Whip

Note: cables may be made with different colored wire than shown.

 Clip Whip

Part Number # Motors in Cluster Price Place Order
03060 2 $15.49
03061 3 $19.99
03062 4 $23.99

How To Use The Clip Whip

A clip whip allows you to attach multiple igniters to your standard launch controller, so you can fire them off all at the same time.

These clip whips means that the single set of wires can be forked so that you can attached to two, three, or four motors simultaneously. It is very easy to use. You just hook each branch up to its own igniter in the rocket.

The end opposite of the motors also contains a set of alligator jaws, so that you can easily attach it to your standard launch controller wires.

The nice thing about this clip whip is that the branches of wires can be spread apart by a wide amount. That means the motors can be separated by a wide amount, like they are in the Sunward Screamer rocket kit.

 Clip Whip in use

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can the 2 fork clip-whip be used with a 3-engine cluster, like on the Sunward Sky Bender kit?

A. Yes. It does involve a little re-grouping of the igniter wires though. You'll take one wire from each rocket motor, and twist them all together.
schematic for 3 engine hook-up

Q. Can the 2 fork clip-whip be used on a four-engine cluster?

A. Yes! There are two ways to use this clip whip to hook up a cluster of four motors.
In option 1, the motors must be very close together so that you can take one igniter wire from each of the four motors and twist them into one bundle. The remaining wires from each of the motors are twisted into two bundles. The red clips each go to these two outer bundles. One black clip is attached to the central bundle of four wires. The other black clip is pulled back out of the way and is not hooked up.
 4-Engine Clip-whip hook-up
If the motors are farther apart, like in the Sunward Eruption kit, you'll twist the wires like it was to separate clusters of two motors each. It is actually easier than the diagram looks. We also recommend the Quest Q2G2 igniters since they are a low current igniter and you have longer leads to twist together.
 4-Engine Clip-whip hook-up
Then, as shown in the drawing above, you'll take a wire from two of the motors, and twist those together. At this point, you're ready to hook up the alligator clips.

Attach one of the black alligator clips to the three-twisted-wire set. Attach the two red clips to the two-twisted wire group, and the other to the single igniter wire.

The remaining black alligator clip is not hooked up. I recommend you just attach it to itself as shown in the photo to the left, just to keep it out of the way and so it can't touch any metal and cause a short.

At this point, you're ready to launch!

 3 engine hookup

Q. What advice would you give when hooking up multiple motors?

A. The clips should not touch each other, nor the metal blast deflector on the launch pad. This would cause one or more igniters to short out, and you'll end up with a misfire.

Q. Where can I get a list of all the cluster engine rocket kits?

A. See our Cluster Rocket page.
 Clip whip close-up

Q. What launch controller should I use with the clip whip?

A. We recommend a 12V launch controller hooked up to a big battery, such as a car battery. When launching clusters, you need extra power to insure that all the motors in the cluster ignite at the same time. We offer two different controllers that can be used for such rockets. The Aerotech Interlock and the Pratt Hobbies GO-BOX Controller.
Interlock Launch Controller Estes e-launch controller

Actual Customer Comment:
Thank you so much. You guys are awesome; so much info... I really have enjoyed all you have taught me. I love rockets and am totally hooked at age 57. My school kids (physical science and physics) are into it as well and next year we are starting the Berrien County Missile Agency; our own rocket club. I am trying to steer the interests of our rural agrarian kids to areas of engineering such as rocketry. I would love to attend training seminars on rocket building and how to use Rocksim even if it meant a long drive to Colorado Springs.

Thanks for all your help. You guys are the best."

-- Mark J. DiBois
Instructor of Physics and Physical Science
Berrien County High School
Nashville Georgia
This page last updated on: 12/23/11 1px Site Map 1px Contact Us 1px Website Issues?