[NSRCA-discussion] Matt Finley ( Arming Plug )

[John Gayer]

An arming plug was never intended to be the cure-all for all electric 
safety issues. I consider it a baseline that is easy to comply with. All 
the anecdotal evidence in the world that each responder to this list is 
safe does not help establish a minimum set of standards. Each one of you 
has a good process that works for you. Each one of those processes could 
be easily amended to incorporate an arming plug if it doesn't already.
It isn't those with a good process that are the safety problem. It's the 
neophyte that hears the experienced pilot expound on why he is safe 
without an arming plug because he does everything else right. The 
beginner doesn't hear or doesn't understand all the issues with setting 
up failsafe, throttle cut, arming conditions, thumb on throttle stick 
that are part of that process of achieving safe operations in the pits 
and on the runway whether you have an arming plug or not.
I have seen models without arming plugs, without external receiver 
switches and canopies that require two hands to remove. Last time I 
checked failsafe operation at a contest, full throttle kill was running 
about 50%. Most of the remaining were simply going to hold which doesn't 
help at all if you already have a problem. Eventually a setup like that 
will cause a disaster.
An arming plug is a small thing to add. It can be done lightly, cheaply 
and reliably. It provides a visual indication to all that the motor/ESC 
is unpowered. It is not dependent on any other function in the model to 
operate.
John

On 2/23/2015 10:49 PM, Steve Hannah via NSRCA-discussion wrote:
> I agree 100% with Jerry.
>
> The multiple throttle kill approach is the best. I have seen the same 
> things as Jerry. The best safety approach is always a multi-pronged 
> solution.
>
> I use a slider to drop the throttle below arming level and a switch to 
> nullify the throttle stick. Then, for added security I always hold the 
> stick down with my thumb as my caller/helper retrieves the plane. They 
> usually don't turn off the receiver so I assume my plane is live until 
> I prove otherwise and shut it down.
>
> An external plug is one way, but I fail to see how it provides any 
> more safety than my method. Switching it off from my transmitter and 
> disabling the throttle stick are very secure means and I know the ESC 
> has been shut down. I don't rely on a person to pull a plug.
>
> Along with that, proving you have a failsafe is a reasonable request 
> and shouldn't be an issue for anyone.
>
>
>
> On Feb 23, 2015, at 08:50, Budd Engineering via NSRCA-discussion 
> <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org 
> <mailto:nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>> wrote:
>
>> At nearly every contest I've attended since I started flying electric 
>> in pattern (the 2004 Nats in Masters) I've seen at least one 
>> occurrence where someone retrieved a plane without removing an arming 
>> plug first.  Usually the pilot reminds the person to do it while 
>> they're carrying the plane back or as they're setting it down 
>> somewhere.  It happens with my planes too and I make sure they switch 
>> the receiver off and then I remove my canopy and disconnect the 
>> battery directly.  But before they even get that far I've taken the 
>> other steps to make sure there's virtually no chance the motor is 
>> going to run.
>>
>> My point is this.  A layered approach is the only way I've found to 
>> effectively mitigate this particular risk to the levels of safety 
>> that you claim.  Relying on someone to remove an arming plug is not a 
>> complete panacea and may lend a false sense of security that the 
>> motor system has been de-energized, when in fact it may not have 
>> been.  There's many ways to manage the risk to the desired level, the 
>> use of an arming plug is one, and may not necessarily be the best.
>>
>> Jerry
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Feb 23, 2015, at 5:29 AM, Matthew Finley via NSRCA-discussion 
>> <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org 
>> <mailto:nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>> wrote:
>>
>>> *I use the Ultra Deans stlye Arming Plug from F3A Unlimited, and It 
>>> works very well. I would gather it provides you with a 99 % dagree 
>>> of confidence that your caller , plane carrier , yourself, or anyone 
>>> else will not be harmed. Yes... I do agree that there is a miniscuel 
>>> chance that a pilot / caller could forget to unplug the safety, 
>>> however I feel most pilots that have been doing it a while is like 
>>> tying your shoes, or etc.... On all of my electrics except for 
>>> indoor ships, I have some sort of disconnect. I for one would like 
>>> to see it an inforced rule at all sanctioned meets not just pattern 
>>> meets, that any plane over a certain size or weight must have one in 
>>> order to fly. Just my three pennies
>>> *
>>>
>>> /*Matthew E. Finley*/
>>> QCI - Technology Assistant
>>> 614-557-3846 Mobile
>>> mfinley at quadcityinnovations.com 
>>> <mailto:mfinley at quadcityinnovations.com>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org 
>>> <mailto:NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
>>> http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
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>
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