TM 1-1500-204-23-1 CHAPTER 12 PYROTECHNICS 12-1.      General.      The   following   paragraphs   explain pyrotechnics  used  on  Army  aircraft.    Refer  to  TM  9- 1377200-20&P   for   descriptive   information,   care   and handling of stock class 1377 cartridges. WARNING Electrically activated cartridges shall be protectively wrapped in aluminum foil  or  electrically  shunted  whenever removed from the aircraft installation to preclude "STRAY" electrical voltage activation and resulting personal injury. 12-2.  Ejection Seats.  Ejection seats use pyrotechnics for seat ejection, automatic parachute deployment, and separation of seat from occupant after ejection. WARNING Electrically activated cartridges shall be protectively wrapped in aluminum foil  or  electrically  shunted  whenever removed from the aircraft installation to preclude "STRAY" electrical voltage activation and resulting personal injury. 12-3.        Fire    Bottle    Cartridges.        Fire    bottles    use cartridges    to    discharge    extinguishing    agents    when activated by aircraft crewmember or automatic detecting device. 12-4.    External  Stores  Cartridges.      External   stores cartridges are used to release external stores from racks CAUTION Do    not    use    damaged    cartridges. Damaged    cartridges    may    function erratically    and    cause    damage    to equipment. NOTE ·    Shelf   life   (storage   life)   for   the cartridge     is     established     at     8 years,    beginning    from    date    of manufacture stamped on cartridge or on hermetically sealed  metal  container,  of  which not   more   than   12   months   shall have elapsed after opening container. Cartridges are overage   if   either   of   these   time limits is exceeded. When a container  is  opened,  the  service life   expiration   date   (month   and year) shall be marked with indelible  ink  on  the  side  of  the cartridge. ·    Cartridge is considered unserviceable after ten insertions and  removals  from  ejector  rack, or after the expiration date marked     on     the     side     of     the cartridge.    Each  time  a  cartridge is  removed,  place  a  radial  mark on   the   base   of   cartridge   with indelible ink.  Monitor service life by  record  of  inked  markings  and expiration date. WARNING Electrically activated cartridges shall be protectively wrapped in aluminum foil  or  electrically  shunted  whenever removed from the aircraft installation to preclude "STRAY" electrical voltage activation and resulting personal injury. 12-5.  Cable Cutter Cartridges.  The cargo hoist cable cutter  is  a  mechanical  cable  shearing  device  mounted on the hoist cable guide.  It is actuated by an electrically fired   cartridge.      When   the   pilot   throws   the   CABLE SHEAR switch or the aft pilot throws the HOIST CABLE SHEAR switch, electrical power, supplied by the 28 vdc primary  bus  through  the  HOIST  CABLE  SHEAR  circuit breaker on the overhead circuit breaker panel, fires the cartridge,  actuating  the  cable  cutter,  and  shearing  the cable.    After  firing,  the  cable  cutter  assembly  must  be replaced. Change 1  12-1