Christchurch and District Model Flying Club
Sloping Off - our newsletter

CATCH-UP #2 update at 18 March 2019 - SAFETY PLUGS

SAFETY PLUGS  - DISABLING THE FLIGHT BATTERY

Following on from Trevor’s “Why did you crash” talk last month, PETER HUDSON had a question:

“Bear with me on this one!...last summer whilst flying at  Longham, one of our members was flying a pretty yellow seaplane (who was this please? I need a picture - Ed), and it  was fitted with the above plug; even with battery attached/live when the  plug was removed all was safe, and vice versa plug in = live feed, in essence a type of switch. My question...is said plug available to buy on internet, or was it a clever piece of engineering diy from one of our members. I liked the idea and I would like one!”

First to reply was MARTIN HARDY, (under the pseudonym of his wife, Sue)

“I have been using this system for many years now.  Each flight  battery / ESC requires its own safety link, so for a four motor motor  model with four ESCs you would need four links.

The flight battery is connected up as normal but without the safety link fitted.  As there is no electrical connection between the battery and  the ESC there is no chance of the motor starting up, even with a faulty  ESC. Fitting the link should be the final action before committing  aviation.

The link should obviously positioned clear of the prop.

I published details of this a few years ago in a letter published in RCM&E, but that is probably long forgotten.

I have seen details of a commercial version, possibly by SLEC, but have not seen one in the flesh.”

Below is the diagram Martin attached to his email with details of how to  build it.

“I suggest you make more than one link, as they are easily  lost in ling (long, unless ling is a special sort of grass where lingks are usually lost - Ed) grass!”

If you have any further queries, don't hesitate to get in touch.

PETER CHALDECOTT added a comment:

I always use such a safety plug to disable the motor. I used to  make mine out of a set of Deans Connectors, but I now use a commercial  set which I think I got from Hobbyking. This set comes with a nice  holder for mounting in the fuselage side.

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