ABSTRACT: A microcontroller-based programmable electronic switching module is designed and developed. For supplying power to this module, thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are electrically integrated to the switching module. This integrated switching module is carried out to develop a Thermoelectric-sourced Programmable Electronic Switching Module (TPESM), which has many applications in the defence, space and many other fields. This module can also be used to charge batteries and to operate some microelectronic devices. The main objective of this paper was to use the available heat sources in armament stores for some needful applications. This module was successfully developed and proved to ignite electro-explosive devices (EED) at pre-programmed timing using programmable electronic switching module, which operates by the generated voltage of TEG. This paper discusses the applications, development, operation, experiments and results of this module.

ABSTRACT: During field trials, it was observed that the delay of ignition of electro-explosive devices (EED) depends on ratings of power supplies or dynamo and also on the firing cable lengths. The change in ignition delay of EEDs due to altered supplied current will detoriate the repeatability of sequence of actions in time-critical armament applications. In order to study, supplement and analyze this observation, the measurement of electrical energy required for EEDs ignition is necessary. The electrical energy of EEDs has been determined experimentally by instrumentation and measurement setup using hall sensor and photo detector. The hall sensor is used to measure the actual current passing through EEDs when power supply is applied to them. Photo detector is used to detect the flash produced during EED ignition. By conducting repeated trials, it was observed that this method is reliable to determine the electrical energy required for EEDs ignition. With this parameter, the actual current to be supplied and the pulse width of supplied current for repeated ignition delays can be determined. Knowing the electrical energy of a particular EED by the proposed method, the required firing cable length and power supply for ignition of critical delay applications can be selected. This method also helps to design explosive-based ignition systems in defence applications.