On Off switch setup ??
 

I likes the way one of the guys at our club set up his on off switch inside the fuse. He drilled a hole in the side of the switch and hooked a wire into it. The other end came out the fuselage where he could push and pull the wire. I know they sell these but I already have a heavy duty switch I'm going to use.

My question - what would be better pull out for on or pull out for off?

Is there a "right or wrong" way to do this?


Pop

RE: On Off switch setup ??
 

Was that a can of worms I heard opening?

This topic has been very controversial in the past. Personally, I pull it out to turn it on. This way, it can't get bumped while in storage and accidentally turned on.

RE: On Off switch setup ??
 

Push in for off. I had mine set for push in for on, and when I put my plane in the car, the switch would get pushed in, then my batteries would run down on the way to the feild. I since have always had mine set so I have to pull the switch out to turn it on for this reason.

RE: On Off switch setup ??
 

I agree with Minnflyer, I set mine up so that out is on.

RE: On Off switch setup ??
 

This is one of those questions where there is no wrong answer. It's personal preference. On my planes I prefer to pull out the switch to come on, but others I know prefer to push in to turn on. Which ever you want to do is the right answer for you. The only thing I would say is that whatever you decide to do make sure you always do it. Staying consistent is the best way to avoid anything "accidentally" happening, like leaving your plane on and running the batteries down. But other than that, it's up to you.

Ken

RE: On Off switch setup ??
 

I set up my first plane with pull out for off. Thinking that if the switch button bumped something like my leg, the radio remains on. But when not flying you have to make sure it's pulled out so that it will be off and not discharge your battery. I actually made a guard that would hook on and keep it pulled out while transporting and being at home. I'm sure there maybe others who might want it the other way around. Now I just prefer to mount the switch right through the fuselage side opposite the muffler with the slide switch on when slid to the rear. Same philosophy if it should possibly brush up against something, it will be on.

RE: On Off switch setup ??
 

Yes, Mike... you heard correctly....

I've got a pull-push switch on one of my planes.. I decided I didn't like it.. It took up too much space inside the fuselage. Kind of a PITA to work around.

I was at the hobby store the other day. MPI has a switch that's also a charger plug in. Bigger surface area on the outside of the fuse, but combines the switch and the charging jack. Eliminates one wire on the inside of the fuse. Gonna try one of those next.

RE: On Off switch setup ??
 

I use those all the time with the exception on my float planes. I like it because it is easy to put the volt meter on it and it is easy to charge. A little priceysome want 16 yankee green backs and I buy mine at the Toledo show for 12 bucks.

RE: On Off switch setup ??
 

I didnt know this was one of "THOSE" topics:D.

I'm glad I asked. I was thinking in for on as it would be more likely to accidentaly be pushed in and I want to fly it that way. BUT hadnt thought about it getting bumped in during transport and draining the battery! I'm sure eventually It would happened to me!

Switch will be above the wing area on my Tiger 60 so not much chance of it getting bumped on the flightline so I'll go out for on and in for off.


Thanks

Steve

RE: On Off switch setup ??
 

I personally would rather risk having the plane turned on in the car and discharge the battery than have the plane inadvertently turned off on the flight line while moving the plane. So I set my to push in for on.

Whichever way you do, do it for all your planes. That way you don't get confused.

Brad

RE: On Off switch setup ??
 

Well since someone else brought up "that" topic... I've always mounted my switches externally (with "on" toward the tail so it is unlikely to be bumped to "off", and on the opposite side of the fuse from the exhaust) but I've noticed just about every ARF I've seen has an internal mount for a wire operated switch. So, other than less intrusion on appearance what's the benefit of an internal switch? Does the operating wire vibrate and wear the hole in the fuse larger? What else should I know about internal switches that I haven't thought of to ask?

RE: On Off switch setup ??
 

its not during flight pushing the switch in for on i was worried about but during transporting the airplane in the car.
yes during the drive to the field some how the switch was pushed in for on and i realized this only at the flight line and had to recharge again.
good i had a voltwatch voltmeter

RE: On Off switch setup ??
 

I like these:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXD665&P=7

Switch and charging jack all in one, so with the exception of a few LARGE planes that won't fit in the car, I never have to take the wings off.

RE: On Off switch setup ??
 

I use a lot of the Dubro mounts that Minnflyer listed, as well as the switch mounts from Great Planes. [link]http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJ778&P=ML[/link]

Ken

RE: On Off switch setup ??
 

I went to one of these on my second plane, and doubt that I'll ever use anything else. I had to enlarge the switch hole on the the Sig and the Skylane to fit the switch, but it makes it just SO easy to just plug in the voltmeter and check the status of the battery. To me that alone is worth the minor aggrevation of enlarging the hole and having a larger switch visible.

RE: On Off switch setup ??
 

I just cut an appropriate length of fuel tubing, sliced it down the side, and intend on using it as a safeguard so that the switch does not accidentally get pushed in while in use. You could do it the other way, and use the safeguard so the switch does not get pushed in while in storage. Next is to devise a way to attach it to the plane so it's always around when I need it.

RE: On Off switch setup ??
 

I really prefer the flat slide switches that mount on the outside of the aircraft. I set them up so that pushing them towards the rear of the aircraft turns the power on. Being flat, they can't be turned on or off by bumping or brushing the fuselage. I also use Voltwatch and put it in a visible location so that a quick glance, lit LED's mean the power is on.

And, before taking off, wagging the ailerons to verify that it is indeed turned on.. :eek: :D helps too..

CGr

RE: On Off switch setup ??
 

That is what I use on the float planes

RE: On Off switch setup ??
 

On float planes I don't externally mount the charging jack. I just use the switch portion if that

RE: On Off switch setup ??
 

On float planes, eh Irish? Hmmm... zip zap sparkle sparkle oh that's right, you guys don't have salt water out that-a-way. :D

CGr.

RE: On Off switch setup ??
 

No I don't use the one with the charging jack for the float planes. Have to take the wing or something off to charge it.

RE: On Off switch setup ??
 

Nope, we don't have medical waste in our water either [:'(]

:D

RE: On Off switch setup ??
 

where did you find that picture of me. Did you know that most of Detroit is built over a salt mine?

RE: On Off switch setup ??
 

Exactly as I do.

Whatever you do, make sure that the switch is relatively protected. At our field, I saw a mid-air in which one of the two planes seemed barely damaged in the collision, but then proceeded to dive into the ground with a concurrent loss of control. When the parts were recovered, the power switch was in the OFF position. It was switched off during the impact.

Jack

RE: On Off switch setup ??
 

check the tail number on Air Force 1