How can I launch a rocket from 200 feet away?

[negitron]

Am I doing something wrong?

Probably. What is the voltage at the batteries as measured from the terminals your long wire is connected to? It should be around 26 volts, assuming good, fully-charged batteries. When you say the batteries are in series, do you have the (+) terminal of one battery connected to the (-) terminal of the other, with your wires connected to the remaining (+) and (-) terminals? They should NOT be connected (+) to (+) or (-) to (-).

 

[rcgldr]

What about a two stage relay system? The car battery and the large relay are close to the rocket, and a lower stage relay and lower power source are located some distance away.

You could use a radio control transmitter, a receiver, receiver battery, and strong servo to throw the relay hooked up to the car battery + igniter circuit, or to the equivalent of a starter switch (note some cars use buttons to engage starter circuits these days).

 

[negitron]

I think he needs to solve his fundamental circuit issues before going with anything more complex.

 

[Max CR]

Great news! I found that the voltage of the battery was at a high level without the 200 feet of wire. When I added the 200 feet of wire into the circuit, the voltage dropped to 0.50 volts. There are two reasons for this. Reason one: One of the batteries were dead and not working correctly. Reason two: There was a RIP in the wire!

This is why I was getting such a low voltage reading. Today, I tested the voltage over the 200 feet of wire, and the voltage dropped by 0.01 volts. I tested the circuit with four igniters and they all ignited simultaneously!

I have figured out how to launch the rocket from 200 feet away. It turns out that I do not need any starter relays or anything else. All I am using is a 13 volt car battery and 200 feet of wire.

Thanks to everyone for their help.