Mid-summer firing system checkup – what do you do between shows?

[Jim Hawkins]

#5657

Now that the 4th is behind us and Ive got some time before Labor Day, Im going through my firing system and doing a full checkup.

I use a Cobra system and honestly I probably put 300+ cues on it over the last couple weeks. Gonna test every module, check all the battery terminals, clean connections, the works.

What do you guys do for mid-season maintenance on your firing systems? Any common failure points I should look for?

I found one module that was acting flaky last weekend – turned out to be a loose battery clip. Easy fix but couldve ruined a cue if I hadnt caught it.

Also what about your igniters and wiring? I usually toss any used wiring but Im curious if anyone reuses theirs with care.

[Mike Brenner]

#5661

Man this is timely. I was JUST dealing with this last week. Found a module that was giving me intermittent connection issues.

First thing I do after a big show is test every single module with a simple e-match to make sure they all fire. I label them with colored tape so I know which ones got heavy use and which ones were barely touched.

Biggest thing I found – check where your cables plug into the modules. The connectors get dirty and dusty, especially if you’re shooting in a field. I use contact cleaner on all of them before every show now.

Also +1 on the battery clips. Those spring clips lose tension over time. I replaced all mine with screw terminals this season and its been way more reliable.

Curious what module brand you’re running?

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