Switch direction
 

Good day.
In the mid 70's a hobby shop told me to always mount the switch so that the OFF was facing forward. This was explained so that when the plane is out of control and plants itself vertically the switch will automatically turn itself off. Thus preventing short circuits and possible further electrical damage to the radio equipment.

The other day an Rx bat went dead and the plane went in the ground quite perfectly vertical. The switch shut off like it was supposed to, BUT, the plane locator/beeper also shut off. We found it anyway.

Does anyone have any input on switch orientation? There is talk to mount horizontally, this is understandable, but should the ON be forward? I've heard of radio systems shorting out in crashes.

Spanky

RE: Switch direction
 

I heard the same switch forward story in the 70’s and believed it. Never did see it work in the manner described. Sometime in the mid 90’s I adopted a ‘Forward = GO’ approach.

RE: Switch direction
 

I've had the embarassing experience of hand launching a friend's airplane with a "forward/off" switch and turning it off when my thumb slipped on the oily fuselage as it left my hand! It was a 1/2A Texaco model that actually flew better without his inputs and we recovered it only a couple of miles away, lol.

RE: Switch direction
 

Spanky1

I have always believed that the switch should be in the "ON" position when clicked to the rear. Not so much for verticle crashes, but due to handelers accidently moving the switch to the rear when holding the plane during run-up. As the plane has a tendency to pull forward, the handler has a tendency to turn the switch "OFF" if it is set-up to be "ON" in the forward position.

The same is true for switches operated with a push/pull set-up. The "ON" position should be when the switch is pushed in. Again for the same reason. (Never know about those handlers) :D Some will argue that is is too easy to accidently push the switch to the "ON" position and drain the battery. This is true; however, it is better to recharge the battery than to have an accidental pushing of the switch and turn it off if orientated in reverse of conventional hook-ups as described. (I use a small alligator clip attached to the push/pull wire to prevent it from being pushed in during storage and transporting.

RE: Switch direction
 

Our club,back in the 70s ended up mounting the switch vertically and I still do it. Up is on, as in a light switch.

RE: Switch direction
 

> I adopted a ‘Forward = GO’ approach. <

That is what I have done with nearly 50 planes over the past 12 years. Never, ever has there been a problem with the switch being knocked into the off position. But I am wise enough not to place the switch where my fingers will be while holding a handlaunched plane. Some things are just Old Wives' Tales.

RE: Switch direction
 

GO = Forward.

If you buy any of the aftermarket switches with built in charging jack, such as ones made by JR, ElectroDynamics, MPI, etc... , you will see that all of theme have ON as forward unless you are left handed and mount them on the left side of the plane.

http://www.whitetyphoon.com/rc/MPI_L...rge_Switch.jpg

RE: Switch direction
 

I mount my switches on the opposite side the exhaust is on. Toward tail is the on position. I saw a friend over 15 years ago dead sticking a cub in. He had impact with a sparrow (his switch was off toward tail) the sparrow shut off his RX! No kidding. It took out the wing strut too. He lost that little POS 40 size Cub.

RE: Switch direction
 

I put my switches inside with a push pull wire to activate it. Then I follow a simple speling rule IN and ON have two letters OUT and OFF have three letters. Only drawback is a swich that's bumped on while packing to go home, but I double check the positions before I put the plane in the storage rack at home.

RE: Switch direction
 

The way I see it, everyone has a preference for how and where they mount their switch, and everyone has a valid reason for mounting it that way.

To me, (As Deadeye said) the only really important thing is to mount it away from the exhaust. After that do whatever YOU feel is right.

RE: Switch direction
 

[quote]ORIGINAL: Dsegal

> I adopted a ‘Forward = GO’ approach. <

[/quote




Yup, forward or in. The most consistantly reliable method to prevent helper launcher shut offs at a bad time. Actually the only fool proof method used by pylon racers (airplanes which are vigorusly shoved on the ground at takeoff) is an internally mounted crosswise switch with a small hole drilled in the switch extension and a small string threaded through and extended out both sides of the fuse with a small knot. It is shut off pulling on one side and pulled on at the other side.

The aruguement that a switch will shut off in a crash by mounting in any specific orientation is laughable.

John

RE: Switch direction
 

What's with this "handler" issue. Unless you plan on hand-launching your aircraft, you should definetly know if you're switch is on or off when your "handler" sets the plane down before you take off. Your throttle won't work, right? The only place that would be a concern is if you're running dual batteries/switches. Now that would be a concern. In that case, you're redundant system should be able to get you through one complete flight, on only one battery, right? That's the reason for a redundant system.

As for the scenario of your switch turning off in a crash, well, if any one of my airplanes hit hard enough to flip my switch, I wouldn't worry about if the battery will be drained. In fact, that's the last thing I'd be worried about.

I really like the sparrow story. How do you know the sparrow didn't hit the plane causing damage and the switch was thrown when the plane hit the ground?

Odd things are always going to happen. Those are the stories that goes into "Belive it or Not".

My suggestion is, no matter which direction YOU set your switches, just be sure to be consistant. That way, YOU are comfortable with the routine you set for yourself. YOU'RE the pilot. YOU'RE responsible for anything that happens. Not your handler or helper. Make sure your helper is schooled on the switch positioning.

I always set the switches on the right side of the plane. I also have the fueling dot on the right side. That way, I can always fuel and do what ever I need to do with switches from one position. I hate having to reach over or walk around the plane to do the simplest things. I'd say 98% of the switches I buy have the ON/OFF printed or intregrated on the charge/switch mount itself. Using these switches in the printed position, all of them indicate that forward is the ON position if mounted on the right side. I sure hate to have my "handler" to stand on his head to read ON/OFF if you put in in up-side-down.

In a nut shell, everyone has a position (ideas) on the "proper" switch direction. Again, my suggestion is that you install your switches consistantly on ALL your aircraft so you alone aren't ever confused on which plane and which direction.

RE: Switch direction
 

My switches are inside the fuselage mounted transversly. I have a short length of fishing line sticking out each side of the fuselage to pull the switch on or off. The switch cannot be pushed on or off accidentally.

Ed S

RE: Switch direction
 

Ed... But what happens when the infamous sparrow spots that fishing line and decides he/she really, really needs that piece of line to bed its nest?

RE: Switch direction
 

When flying in grass fields I always keep the "on" position aft so that if high grass or weeds hit the switch it does not turn it off. When possible, I mount it where it can not be inadvertently hit and then position is not important, which ever way best suits the application.

RE: Switch direction
 

J,

I have that covered. My airplanes are Pylon Racers, they fly at 170mph!!. Have to be a pretty fast sparrow.

Ed S

RE: Switch direction
 

I don't think high grass can turn the switch off as it takes some effort to do so. High grass has a better chance of stopping the prop before hitting the switch.

RE: Switch direction
 

Richard L- not to misdirect this dicussion on switch direction-but how do you like those charge switches that indicate battery capacity-think MPI is about $25-have never invested in one-just wondered if they are accurate as far as battery charge level? Have never trusted anything but a "loaded" multimeter for RX batteries. Flipstart

RE: Switch direction
 

Those charge switches are OK in terms of accuracy. It's nice to be able to tell battery capacity at a glance. However, a volt meter still gives you more accurate readings.

RE: Switch direction
 

Never in 30 years hear that the switch will turn off in a crash if mounted off forward.

Have always mounted it so on is to the rear because thats the way we did it then and it has always worked. I have in 2 instances had a problem with that, but it could have been a problem no matter how it was mounted. Once launching a glider, I accidently caught it on release and moved it forward and shut it off, could have moved it back to off just as easy if it were reversed. The other was in a dogfight, I tapped another guys switch and shut off his radio. Was funnier than heck. The plane flew better by itself! Was that ever a long walk to get it.

Doesn't really matter how you do it, but do them all the same so you never have to think about it. I prefer off forward because that is what everyone around here does and when someone is helping me, they always move it the correct direction when they move it that way.

RE: Switch direction
 

Hi!
I always mount my switches inside the fuselage, having a 0.75mm piano control the On-OFF function.
Who wants an ugly switch mounted on the fueslage;).

Regards!
Jan K
Sweden

RE: Switch direction
 

Fantastic education here!
In the many years I've flown it has never been a problem, until this came up.

To address the "Light Switch" set up. Pilots have said with a worn/old switch, and a tight loop with the normal vibration, it will shut off. Heard that more than once.

My neighbor fried many things on one of his crashes- melted wires, cooked Rx. First I've seen or heard of that. I think the best is the wire push on.

Great feedback and opinions. This is really the first plane plugged straight in at about 60 mph (modified Stick 40). ALL of the radio equipment is fine, even the battery!

It appears the general opinion is to have the on to the rear.

Spanky

RE: Switch direction
 

Well, the general opinion of everybody except for the guy whos plane I turned off launching it:).

It seems to me that a hand launch should be the only time that would happen, it's the only time you can't check the controls before it's gone. Even if you rev the thing up to full speed before your helper releases it, he's most likely holding somewhere around the rear, not in the switch area.

I guess the two most important things are consistency so you don't wind up leaving it on in the pits, and one last wiggle of the controls before you go. And don't put the switch someplace where it's easily bumped.
OK, that was three things :D

RE: Switch direction
 

See what I mean? Everyone has a valid reason why one way is better than another. Personally, I like the dubro switch/charge mount.

RE: Switch direction
 

Think I will have to go with Jan K -switches are ugly little suckers-short piece of piano wire so in is on and out is off-hope I did not start another push pull discussion. Its amazing what questions create the most controversy-have a mental contest going trying to choose the one that will win. Never would have guessed this one but certainly good info. Never hurts to "beat the bushes". Flip