K6ZVA Cutdown

There are a number of reasons why it is desirable to separate the balloon from the rest of the flight stack. This one accepts commands from the ground. The high power APRS transciever is set in repeater mode where it receives 600KHz above the 144.39 standard APRS channel. It listens for two specific DTMF tones on 144.99MHz, and closes a relay for four seconds when it hears them. This contact closure sends 5 Amps at 5 Volts through a 18 guage zip cord extending through the center of the chute.
	The business end 4" of 36ga. wire wrap wire wrapped around a nylon cord. Note the heat shrink tubing .
	Heat shrink in place .
	Mounted on the parachute .