Well, I've made my own from a Deans Ultra connectors too. I actually like that Maxx Products unit better. It makes for a nicer looking finished product or at least nicer than the arming switches that I make. I use a switch like this for one simple reason. I can install and connect the main batteries in my own sweet time.... up on a stand or whatever and put it all back together again and not worry about the power system becomming live until I'm ready to fly. Then I plug in my arming switch and go. Usually, I'll show up to the field with one set of home charged batteries already installed and ready to go. I then just pop on the wings, do a range check and go fly.
I do also use a BEC but that's a different issue all together. My BEC is not part of the ESC. In fact, my latest plane has 2 BECs installed. The likelyhood of both failing at the same time is next to nothing. If the ESC fails I still have control. If I wanted to run an RX battery I'd just use an old fashoned switch harness in addition to the arming switch. If my motor batteries failed I'd be up a creek. Of course, if my RX battery failed, I'd still be up a creek. I suppose the very safest system would be to run redundent RX batteries but I just don't think that's necessary.
I'm not following what using a 2.4 radio system has to do with the use of an arming switch. Can you elaborate on that point a little?
Wiz
ORIGINAL: patternflyer1
Mike,
There is no good reason not to use it IMO! Many of us make our own. I currently do not use one since I went 2.4ghz. But I may put one back in my next plane as I just don't feel right not having it even though I feel the chance for a failure with my radio setup is 0 or close to zero. I have a friend that hopefully is asking one of his other EE techs at work about the possibility of an esc having an opening failure from an off position. With my setup, you would have to bind to the receiver to turn on the esc, so I have a hard time seeing how it could fail. Not saying it can't though. I just haven't been shown how yet. My friend is also an EE btw. So hopefully they can figure out if it can fail from an off position, with no signal from the radio, and with 0 power as the caps on the esc would bleed down pretty quick.
I used the Deans Ultras for years with good success. Well, unless you count when I lost them. I always made plenty so that I could lose a few at the field. hehe Friends of mine use the Astro Flight Zero Loss as it's a little easier to get in and out. Others use the wire with a 4mm bullet. I don't like how any of them look really, but you can't see that in the air.
Chris