Professional Pyrotechnic Operator/Fireworks Crew Training
The Basics of Electrical Firing - Slave Modules

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Created by Michael Tockstein © 2006 Pyrotechnic Innovations
Slave Modules
There are different type of slave modules, however, the most common are "box" type and "rail" type. Box type is pretty self explanitory, being a small box with cue terminals. See pictures below. The box is good for groups of mortars, or a group of low level devices such as cakes. A rail type can be a hardwood or fiberglass rail, with cue terminals a measured distance apart. Another "rail" type is a "slave cable". A standard rail has hardmounted cue terminals that might make it difficult when spacing between different size mortars varies. A slave cable will have extreme flexibility when it comes to placement of fireworks, and will potentially save a whole lot of "zip" wire used to extend electric match leads to a cue terminal.

A typical slave module will consist of these main parts:


Cue Terminals
Each slave module will have a number of cue terminals, the number depending on the firing system design. Each terminal is typically a stereo speaker type of connector with a red and black terminal. There are a few other variations of cue terminals; however, this also depends on the firing system design. The electric match attached to the firework plugs directly into these terminals.

Firing Cable Interface
The interface can consist of just a loose cable end hanging out of the firing control module, or more commonly, a connector which sits flush on the slave module, very similar to the firing module. See picture below.

Ground Terminals
You will typically have a simple screw terminal which a ground wire will attach. Some firing systems are internally grounded through the firing cables and do not require this extra ground line.

Next--> (firing cables)
Right: A "cable" type slave ready for shells to be wired in.
Top: Closeup of connectors on a slave cable.  Notice how each connector is numbered with it's corresponding cue. 
Right: Close up of a "box" type slave.
TopRight: A group of mortars wired into a box type slave.
Top: A "rail" type slave wired to a few mortars. 
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