Lucid Technologies RB01 User manual

ROCKET BEEPER
RB01
USER’S MANUAL
2022.01.02
Lucid Technologies
http://www.lucidtechnologies.info/
Email: [email protected]
Copyright © 2022 by Lucid Technologies
All rights reserved
The information in this manual has been carefully checked and is believed to be accurate.
However, Lucid Technologies makes no warranty for the use of its products and assumes no
responsibility for any errors which may appear in this document. Lucid Technologies reserves the
right to make changes in the products contained in this manual in order to improve design or
performance and to supply the best possible product. Lucid Technologies assumes no liability
arising out of the application or use of any product or circuit described herein; neither does it
convey any license under its patent rights, nor the rights of others.

RB01, Rocket Beeper 2
Contents
Specifications
Description
Battery requirements
Using the RB01
Attaching the RB01
Securing the battery
Turn on the RB01
Specifications
!Mass
"Approximately 8.8 grams without battery
!Dimensions
"Diameter 24.5 mm
"Length 51.6 mm
"Compatible with BT-55 or larger body tubes
!Power
"3 to 3.7 volt battery
"JST PH2 connector
!Audio output
"Approximately 3550 Hertz at 12 volt supply
"Beep rate 1 ±30% Hertz
"Sound pressure level 108 dB at 10 cm

RB01, Rocket Beeper 3
Description
The RB01 has several advantages over other acoustic rocket finders. As shown in the block diagram,
the RB01 has a DC-to-DC converter that boosts the 3.7 volts from a typical lithium battery to 12 volts.
This means that even if the battery voltage begins to fall, the beeper will still operate at its optimum
voltage and produce a loud tone. To preserve battery capacity - and avoid annoying beeping on the
launch pad - the RB01 uses a phototransistor to turn off the beeper when it is dark. This means that
after you turn the RB01 on and put it inside your rocket - where it is dark - it will cease beeping until
it sees daylight again after ejection.
Battery requirements
The RB01 is not supplied with a battery. Numerous rechargeable lithium batteries with JST PH2
connectors are available online. A 100 or 150 mAh battery will power the RB01 for several hours.
Note the polarity of the battery connector (J1 on the circuit board). Lithium batteries with JST PH2
connectors do not all have the positive and negative in the same place. Check your battery to be sure
the positive (red) and negative (black) are on the correct sides. The connectors in the battery’s JST
plastic shell can be removed and reversed by prying up the plastic retaining latches with the tip of a
sharp knife - like an Xacto knife. If you reverse the polarity on the battery’s JST connector you will
also need to reverse the polarity of the wires coming from your recharger to the battery.

RB01, Rocket Beeper 4
To keep the battery from getting scratched by
the wires on the bottom of the RB01 circuit
board you may want to glue a piece of
cardboard on one side of the battery as shown
in the picture on the left. This picture also
shows the correct location of the red and black
wires in the JST PH2 connector.
Using the RB01
Attaching the RB01. The RB01 can be attached to your rocket via the “suspension” hole in the circuit
board. A flexible cord (such as kevlar string) passed through this hole will keep the RB01's beeper
pointed at the ground during recovery.
Securing the battery. The battery can be held against the bottom of the RB01 circuit board by a rubber
band wrapped around the circuit board. Both ends of a short rubber band go in slots on the side of the
circuit board. See the pictures on the next page.
Turn on the RB01. When you are ready to launch your rocket, move the jumper on J2 from the OFF
position to the ON position. The beeper will start to sound until you put the RB01 back in the rocket
and secure the nose cone. Note that unpainted hollow plastic nose cones may allow enough light into
the rocket so that the RB01 doesn’t see total darkness and the beeper continues to operate. After
recovery move the jumper on J2 back to the OFF position.
Problems and suggestions
If you have any problems with your RB01, or have suggestions to improve it, please contact:
[email protected].
Figure 3. RB01 battery

RB01, Rocket Beeper 5
Figure 4. RB01 top view Figure 5. RB01 bottom view