[NSRCA-discussion] Matt Finley ( Arming Plug )

Tue Feb 24 12:09:03 AKST 2015

Be careful, you just made WAY too much sense! LOL

John Pavlick

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From: NSRCA-discussion [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On
Behalf Of John Gayer via NSRCA-discussion
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2015 3:53 PM
To: General pattern discussion
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Matt Finley ( Arming Plug )

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> 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> 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 

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