MIL-DTL-23659 Initiators, Electric, General Design Specification ForThis specification furnishes general requirements for design and establishes uniform methods for testing electric initiators and electric initiator subassemblies. The purpose of the testing program is to determine the electric characteristics, soundness of mechanical design, output, and resistance to deleterious service environments. For purposes of this specification the term electric initiator includes items classified in FSC 1377 such as hot wire initiators, exploding bridgewire initiators, exploding foil initiators, conductive mix initiators, etc. Electric primers are not covered in this specification. All requirements for in-line initiators used in safety sensitive, non-interrupted energetic materials train applications are contained in Appendix A. Requirements for all other initiators are in the main body of this document.

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MIL-DTL-23659F

3. REQUIREMENTS.

3.1. Approval for Use of Initiators by Service Personnel. Before any initiator or device

utilizing an initiator can be used by Service personnel, it must be approved by the cognizant

Safety Authority. Approval for Service use will be granted only after it has been demonstrated

that the initiator has met all the requirements of this specification and adequate documentation

for procurement as Government furnished equipment is completed and the release to production

form has been authenticated. Interim approval can be granted prior to availability of

documentation provided it has been demonstrated that the initiator has met all the requirements

of this specification. Interim approval shall not exceed six months.

3.2. General. The requirements for design given in this section are considered to be the

minimum requirements to which electric initiators shall be subjected.

3.3. Design.

3.3.1. General. The initiator shall be of the simplest and most efficient design (consistent

with the originally proposed use) for the widest possible variety of applications. It shall be as

simple and safe to assemble and install as practicable. All inert and explosive materials shall be

referenced by approved Government specifications where possible. Proprietary materials shall

not be used unless specifically approved in writing from the cognizant Safety Authority.

3.3.2. Internal Free Volume. The internal free volume shall be minimized consistent with

good design practice.

3.3.3. Weight. The weight of all initiators shall be minimized consistent with good

design practice.

3.3.4. Inert Materials. Selection of inert materials shall satisfy the environmental,

strength, and weight requirements set forth in the specifications for the unit of intended

application. Materials which are nutrients for fungi shall not be used unless specifically

approved by the cognizant Safety Authority.

3.3.5. Contacts. The design shall include a provision for shorting all contacts to each

other. In the case of pins, a shorting cap shall be supplied, and in the case of leads, the ends shall

be bared for purpose of twisting together. Once the initiator is assembled, the contacts shall be

shorted (with leads folded to avoid open loops) at all times except for tests of functional

purposes. Where two or more contacts are present, per initiator, coding shall be provided for

purpose of identification.

3.3.6. Sealing. The initiators shall be sealed and shall pass the leakage requirement of

3.3.14, environment requirements of 3.5 and functional requirements of 3.6 specified in 4.1.2.3,

4.6 and 4.7.

3.3.7. Bridge Material. Carbon shall not be used as bridge material unless specifically

approved by the cognizant Safety Authority.

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