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+# What's the maximum current a pyro channel can handle?
+
+Older Altus Metrum products used Vishay Si7232DN FETs as switches. They are
+rated for 25A continuous, 40A pulsed. Newer products use Taiwan Semiconductor
+TSM200N03D FETs which are rated for 20A continuous, 80A pulsed. In pyro use,
+we're closer to the pulsed rating than continuous. However...
+
+Please note that Ohms law applies. Whatever your battery voltage is and
+whatever your e-match or other device's resistance are will limit the
+actual deliverable current. With a single-cell LiPo battery, the fully
+charged voltage is 4.2 volts, and a feature of LiPo batteries is that
+they have very low source resistance, so we can mostly ignore it. A
+typical e-match has 1.0-1.7 ohms depending on the wire length. The FET
+on resistance is less than 20 milliOhms, so we can basically ignore
+that, too. Only the resistance through wiring and the match matters.
+So, by Ohms law, E = IR, I = E/R or 4.2/1, meaning the most current you
+can deliver to the pyro element is 4.2 A.
+
+A typical commercial e-match fires in about 13 microseconds under these
+conditions, which is why we think 50 milliseconds is .. a very long time!
+
+You'd think moving to a 9V alkaline would allow you to deliver 9A, but
+it doesn't really work that way. Unlike LiPo batteries, Alkaline cells
+have a very high source resistance and their current producing ability
+is nowhere near linear.
+
+If you're using a programmable pyro channel on Altus Metrum products that
+include that capability (TeleMega, EasyMega, EasyTimer) to do something like
+turn on other electronics, there is an additional consideration. The screw
+terminal strips we use can handle large peak currents, but are only rated
+for a maximum of 6A continuous current per screw. This means the best plan
+if you need to switch something power hungry is to include a high-current
+FET switch in your electronics, and use our FET to switch just enough current
+to control it.
+