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harley(at)AgelessWings.co
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 Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 4:23 am Post subject: Battery Switches |
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I noticed that Flaming River also has a 100 amps continuous (500 amp for 10 second surges) switch for $26. I would think that that should be enough for many of our craft (especially if you don't have a starter and hand prop it).
http://tinyurl.com/34my2a
They also have a combination battery/alternator kill switch, for those interested in such an animal ($84). Although being a push type and not a turning switch, it may be easy to accidentally trip it.
http://tinyurl.com/37p54u
Harley Dixon
NEMuzzy wrote: [quote] | Quote: | --> AeroElectric-List message posted by: "NEMuzzy" <list01(at)GourmetDamage.com> (list01(at)GourmetDamage.com)
The cheap Harbor Freight type battery disconnects are really cheap, and not
near the quality of the Hella disconnect switch. If the key is flexible
plastic, it is the really cheap version. The better ones are a rigid
plastic.
Side note: We used to build battlebots. When we hit the robots with the
cheap switches, the back end would pop out, and the battery was
disconnected. The Hella switches were better, but still vulnerable. The best
switches that we found were the Flaming River disconnects. Model 1003 or
similar. We replaced the metal handle with a drilled socket, so that we
could turn it on and off with an allen wrench. Similar technique would allow
you to remote mount the switch with a torque tube to actuate it.
The Flaming River switch is about a $60 switch. If you want a high quality
disconnect, this is a good one. The Hella switch is about $19. The really
cheap ones may be OK for a garage test stand.
-Norm
<<>Cheers,
| Quote: | I have read that some are substituting race-car kill switches for
battery contactors. At present I plan to start with only about 20 amps
dynamo and regret the constant load of a contactor.
If you are operating such a devise, I would admire a short
description and appreciation of its use - and perhaps a point toward a
useful source. US or UK no problem.
|
How much of a reach is it to get at a switch mounted
right next to the battery. Harbor Freight sells a
device that looks like this . . .
http://tinyurl.com/2u7wgj
. . . for about $6.00 . . . oops, strike that. They're
on sale right now for 2.99 at http://harborfreight.com
as item #92688. Marine parts dealers sell a variety of
battery switches too.
I'm working on the alternator drive stand and will
need some high current, manual switches. I think I'll
run down tomorrow and pick up a fist full.
Obviously, for use as a battery contactor replacement,
you want it to be within convenient reach of the pilot.
Bob . . .>>
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[b]
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pwmac(at)sisna.com
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 5:15 am Post subject: Battery Switches |
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Absolutely correct. Having said that, these cheap switches can be
made to work reliably. What I did after finding high resistance in
one position (1-off 2 version) was to drill out the rivets that hold
it together and fix the internals. Probably wont work on all brands,
but the Autozone version was fixable and remained operational after
my fix. My West Marine version works perfect (1-off-2-both) with
undetectable resistance. It is a make before break which is also a
desirable feature.
IMO, Go with the cheap ones and look at the internals. The low cost
is a big advantage.
Paul
==============================
At 09:36 PM 6/25/2007, you wrote:
| Quote: |
The cheap Harbor Freight type battery disconnects are really cheap, and not
near the quality of the Hella disconnect switch. If the key is flexible
plastic, it is the really cheap version. The better ones are a rigid
plastic.
Side note: We used to build battlebots. When we hit the robots with the
cheap switches, the back end would pop out, and the battery was
disconnected. The Hella switches were better, but still vulnerable. The best
switches that we found were the Flaming River disconnects. Model 1003 or
similar. We replaced the metal handle with a drilled socket, so that we
could turn it on and off with an allen wrench. Similar technique would allow
you to remote mount the switch with a torque tube to actuate it.
The Flaming River switch is about a $60 switch. If you want a high quality
disconnect, this is a good one. The Hella switch is about $19. The really
cheap ones may be OK for a garage test stand.
-Norm
<<>Cheers,
> I have read that some are substituting race-car kill switches for
>battery contactors. At present I plan to start with only about 20 amps
>dynamo and regret the constant load of a contactor.
> If you are operating such a devise, I would admire a short
>description and appreciation of its use - and perhaps a point toward a
>useful source. US or UK no problem.
How much of a reach is it to get at a switch mounted
right next to the battery. Harbor Freight sells a
device that looks like this . . .
http://tinyurl.com/2u7wgj
. . . for about $6.00 . . . oops, strike that. They're
on sale right now for 2.99 at http://harborfreight.com
as item #92688. Marine parts dealers sell a variety of
battery switches too.
I'm working on the alternator drive stand and will
need some high current, manual switches. I think I'll
run down tomorrow and pick up a fist full.
Obviously, for use as a battery contactor replacement,
you want it to be within convenient reach of the pilot.
Bob . . .>>
|
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echristley(at)nc.rr.com
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 7:11 am Post subject: Battery Switches |
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NEMuzzy wrote:
| Quote: |
The cheap Harbor Freight type battery disconnects are really cheap, and not
near the quality of the Hella disconnect switch. If the key is flexible
plastic, it is the really cheap version. The better ones are a rigid
plastic.
Side note: We used to build battlebots. When we hit the robots with the
cheap switches, the back end would pop out, and the battery was
disconnected.
Are you planning to enter your homebuilt airplane in a battlebot contest?
|
I'm sure the Hella switch is an excellent feat of engineering, but will
it make a difference for a properly installed, well supported battery
cable in a well protected area?
| | - The Matronics AeroElectric-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?AeroElectric-List |
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Bob McC
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 258
Location: Toronto, ON
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 8:40 am Post subject: Battery Switches |
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Speaking from many years of race car experience, you'll find that vibration
is the main enemy of this style of switch. The more robust the switch the
longer its life. I've had "cheap" switches last less than one race weekend,
Hella's are good for a couple of seasons or more and the $$high$$ end
switches last several seasons. Failure is almost always caused by vibration
tearing them apart.
Bob McC
| Quote: | From: Ernest Christley <echristley(at)nc.rr.com>
Reply-To: aeroelectric-list(at)matronics.com
To: aeroelectric-list(at)matronics.com
Subject: Re: Battery Switches
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2007 11:08:53 -0400
<echristley(at)nc.rr.com>
NEMuzzy wrote:
>
><list01(at)GourmetDamage.com>
>
>The cheap Harbor Freight type battery disconnects are really cheap, and
>not
>near the quality of the Hella disconnect switch. If the key is flexible
>plastic, it is the really cheap version. The better ones are a rigid
>plastic.
>
>Side note: We used to build battlebots. When we hit the robots with the
>cheap switches, the back end would pop out, and the battery was
>disconnected.
Are you planning to enter your homebuilt airplane in a battlebot contest?
I'm sure the Hella switch is an excellent feat of engineering, but will it
make a difference for a properly installed, well supported battery cable in
a well protected area?
|
| | - The Matronics AeroElectric-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?AeroElectric-List |
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_________________
Bob McC
Falco #908
(just starting) |
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