What about the on/off switch?

[morrisr]

I'm new to electric helis and figured out that the one main battery powers both the motor and the receiver. But do you normally still use the on/off switch on the electric helli or just use plugging/unplugging the battery to turn the receiver on and off?

I'm building a TREX 450 and am mounting the receiver in the back bottom of the frame. If I am supposed to use the on/off switch, any suggestions on where to mount it?

Tnx,
Rick

[TheBum]

The vast majority of people just plug and unplug the battery. There's enough current coming out of the battery that most switches wouldn't last very long. You have to swap batteries anyway, so omitting a switch eliminates one thing that can go wrong.

[HeliDan]

Just keep in mind that the connectors, will arc when plugged/un-plugged. this is normal...........

[Pinecone]

And you can't switch the power to the Rx since some ESCs will turn on without a signal.

Early ESCs had an on/off switch, that was wried into the circuitry to stop the ESC for arming and the Rx from getting power.

Some people (especially in planks) do put a switch in line, but it is a point of failure. The one that works well is to install a Female Deans in the Red line from the packs to the ESC. The wire from the pack goes to one leg, teh wire to the ESC goes on the other. Then using a Male Deans, make a jumper plug. So when you plug in the jumper, the circuit is connected. Simple, high amp capable, and less prone to failure than a switch.

[Fluke]

i'd like to point out that my car esc (futaba mc230cr) have a power switch connected to the esc itself

[HeliDan]

i'd like to point out that my car esc (futaba mc230cr) have a power switch connected to the esc itself

How much current does the car ESC draw? I believe that even small helis draw 20-30 amps, and a switch rated for that is kinda big......

[Pinecone]

The on off doesn't switch the battery current, it switches the ESC internally.

And the MC230R is an old ESC. I have a couple in cars, and they are about 5 years old, and they weren't a new design then.

I also have a Jeti brushless controller with a switch and a brushed ESC with switch. Again, all are pretty old designs.

[morrisr]

My BEC connects to the main battery and the BEC has a spearate lead that goes to the receiver. Maybe this is the normal setup, But I would assume the receiver will not draw any more current in this setup as it would id it was hooked to a dedicated receiver battery.

Is it still the recommendation to not use an on/off switch between teh BEC and the receiver?

[Pinecone]

Just another thing to fail. Think about the switch failing in flight.

[merlin703]

Hey if your problems is having to plug in and unplug the connectors.... what I did is to use something called the Anderson connectors. Those are really easy to plug in and out so I don't have to get a hernia trying to unplug your battery. They are a bit expensive but, to me, well worth it. Here is a link for you to see a pic of it. My LHS did the connection the first time for me but since, I'm converting all myself.

http://www.rctoys.com/rc-toys-and-parts/PP-45A/RC-PARTS-CONNECTORS-WIRING.html