[NSRCA-discussion] Arming Switch

Mon Feb 13 16:29:14 AKST 2012

Perhaps the solution is simple.  Prior to takeoff, it is the caller's
responsibility to hold the airplane once the batteries are connected and not
release the airplane until it is set down on the runway.  After landing, the
pilot does not taxi back but rather the caller retrieves the airplane and
does not let go of it until the batteries are disconnected by the pilot.
The CDs should remind the pilots of this procedure during the pilot briefing
at the beginning of each day.

I don't believe this needs to be in AMA or NSRCA rules but rather
instructions that the NSRCA passes down to the CDs.

When I started flying pattern in D4 the pilots never taxied back.
Now-a-days, it seems like pilots taxi back more often than not. I think D4
needs to get back to the practice of having the callers retrieve the
airplanes!!

Ron

From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Del
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2012 7:29 PM
To: General pattern discussion
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Arming Switch

Howdy Verne.. 

    For me to convert would cost mucho dinero 4 sure. Not sure I have enough
years left of flying to justify that.  

    We are enjoying a mild winter here..` Hope you are blessed with the
same.. 

        Del 

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Verne Koester <mailto:verne at twmi.rr.com>  

To: 'General pattern discussion' <mailto:nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>  

Sent: Monday, February 13, 2012 7:08 PM

Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Arming Switch

Hi Del. You might want to price out some glow fuel before you commit to
that!

Verne

From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Del
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2012 6:55 PM
To: General pattern discussion
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Arming Switch

I'm with you Dave.. When I killed the throttle on my glow I knew it always
stop running and stayed stopped and safe for all.. How quick some that
abandoned glow for the latest rage never discussed the tradeoffs they were
truly accepting.. I always figured if "E" power was all its was being
claimed to be it would be cheaper and more viable than glow.  After reading
all of this thread it seems the exact opposite it. When I return to
competition it will be with the safe glow go juice or not at all. 

I can enjoy all of my anatomy while wiping off that yucky glow residue. <(
;+)~~~*

    Del 

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Dave Harmon <mailto:k6xyz at sbcglobal.net>  

To: 'General pattern discussion' <mailto:nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>  

Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2012 11:55 PM

Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Arming Switch

I understand.no problem...but in the instances you mention..you just can't
fix stupid..

But yet...I have yet to see anyone have a discussion on properly setting the
failsafe throttle of a glow powered airplane.

This is kind of like some E-flyers that flew glow for years and years and
wiped the oil off without a word, then when they convert to electric, wiping
the oil off a glow plane is suddenly a big deal..and they kinda go on and on
about it.

Dave Harmon

NSRCA 586

K6XYZ[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

Sperry, Ok.

From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Keith Black
Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2012 9:24 PM
To: General pattern discussion
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Arming Switch

Dave, I wasn't saying an arming pin is mandatory, I've had planes with and
without (currently without for weight), though I much prefer with. 

My point (for everyone's consumption not only you) was to be careful
trusting the fail safe and the receiver power down behavior because
occasionally speed controls do malfunction. They are definitely better now
days, but far too often I see guys do things that open the door for disaster
(I'm not saying you're doing this), and it's pretty scary. People just don't
always appreciate the danger involved. 

For example, I've seen guys finish a flight, turn off their radio and walk
to the pits, meanwhile the caller brings back plane and sets it down in pits
while pilot walks around talking for minutes with this potentially live
plane sitting there still armed. If everything works as it should no one
will get hurt, but the potential is there for serious consequences. 

Cheers!

Keith  

On Sun, Feb 12, 2012 at 5:01 PM, Dave Harmon <k6xyz at sbcglobal.net> wrote:

Hi Keith..

Actually I DID take into account that there IS a possibility that the ESC
could fail..but I feel the odds of that happening are as I said, a lot less
than someone mishandling a transmitter.

How about just plugging the battery in and putting the canopy on within the
3 minute starting period??

The airplane should not have to just sit there plugged in and ready to go
like a fueled up glow powered airplane..

After landing someone picks up the model and turns off the radio switch..if
the helper picks up the airplane and the ESC malfunctions he has ahold of
it.

I understand your and others concerns but I just don't think the external
plug thing is necessary.  

I just don't see the need to have a battery in the plane unless it is
manually restrained and going to be flown within the next 3 minutes.

I don't mean to imply that I plug in the battery without straddling the
fuselage..I do!

Dave Harmon

NSRCA 586

K6XYZ[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

Sperry, Ok.

From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Keith Black
Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2012 4:29 PM

To: General pattern discussion
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Arming Switch

Dave, you're points are correct, but you're not taking into account a
malfunction of the speed controller itself. They have been know to
malfunction, so the safest approach, as Earl suggests, is to assume that
anytime the battery is connected to the controller the motor may go to full
throttle. Until you unplug the battery the thing is hot and dangerous
regardless of your fail safe or switches on the transmitter. 

Regarding pulling the disconnect (whether under canopy or via external
arming pin), step over the model between wings and stab (just like we used
to run up the glow models) and reach down to pull the plug. If it goes full
throttle the back of your legs will stop forward momentum.

I see far too often that people switch off their radios with the plane in a
potential dangerous position. This is putting a lot of trust in the
technology when it's not necessary. When I retrieve my model,  transmitter
in hand or not, I make sure it is pointed away from people or property.

Keith 

On Sun, Feb 12, 2012 at 2:28 PM, Dave Harmon <k6xyz at sbcglobal.net> wrote:

+1 on that.

Rather than having a disconnect, I think ensuring that the fail safe
function of the radio is set properly is the way to go.

Generally.with today's 2.4g radios...not 72mhz PCM radios..I trust the
electronics more than someone holding the transmitter. 

Besides..with a disconnect it would be my luck to rip the side of the
fuselage off and start a fire that way...or not being able to let go of a
full throttle model to pull the disconnect..in this case just turn off the
transmitter and/or have an external radio switch and turn off the receiver.

The ESC will shut off the motor when the ESC loses the pulse from the
receiver.even if the failsafe is NOT configured correctly.

Everyone already knows this..or should know it.. but it's a good thing to
mention anyway...

Dave Harmon

NSRCA 586

K6XYZ[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

Sperry, Ok.

From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Keith Hoard
Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2012 1:44 PM
To: General pattern discussion
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Arming Switch

I'd rather not cut a hole in my plane in the first place, or add another
point of failure to the system. . . .

Keith Hoard
Collierville, TN
khoard at gmail.com

On Sun, Feb 12, 2012 at 1:37 PM, Ronald Van Putte <vanputte at cox.net> wrote:

You can mount a female Deans connector in a piece of thin plywood, use Pacer
Pro Zap to glue the Deans connector to the plywood and, after cutting an
appropriate hole in the side of the fuselage, glue the assembly inside the
fuselage.  Use a male Deans connector with the leads soldered together as an
arming plug.

Or you can buy a SharpRC SafeArm
(http://www.sharprc.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=43)

Being cheap, I do the former.

Ron Van Putte

On Feb 12, 2012, at 11:55 AM, Ron Hansen wrote:

What are the available arming switch options?

Thanks

Ron

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