Matronics Email Lists :: View topic - Switch guards, switch locks, locking switches?

Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists

Get Email Distribution Too! FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register

Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in

Switch guards, switch locks, locking switches?

Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> AeroElectric-List

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author Message

CBarber(at)TexasAttorney.
Guest

Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 5:29 pm Post subject: Switch guards, switch locks, locking switches?

My project is an all electric bird (Velocity SE)  with a rotary engine.  Since if I loose power things get quite I am using  Bob's duel alternator/duel battery set up.  What I am curious about is the  switches in the cabin.  Currently I have all the switches up high on the  panel a bit right of center towards the co-pilot position.  I hope to not  have a passanger who would inadvertanlty flip a switch down and off, HOWEVER,  you never know what may get tangled or a stray move may flip a switch....in my  set up, if my coil switch or primary injectors get switched off I will start  sweating.  Also, I don't really mind the switches where they are, but I do  have a couple of other places I would like them, but I placed them here as to  minimize being bumped.

  

 My question is what other options do I have to  either guard against accidental deactivation.   I have purchased a  couple of aviation locking toggles from ebay, but they are kinda small and  may not be up for the task (but at $13.00 I couldn't go too wrong...they may  work for my coil switch and primary fuel).  The regulare priced DPDT (for  my contactors and injectors) seem to start at close to $60.00 a piece...a bit  much for my police salery if other options will surfice.

  

 I have also considered those installing some of the  switch guards you see in old nuclear missle bunker movies that they would open  to expose the firing buttons for the big ol' missles.  I considered  installing them upside down (which is really easy) so that they are on when the  cover is closed thus making the switch impossible to turn off by  mistake. This seems really fool proof, however, the guards, while cheap,  are pretty big and do not look all that, well, elligant.

  

  Also, I was watching the Astronaut Farmer  last night on PPV and saw the little hard wire loops that where installed next  to the switches on each side of the individual switches in his space  capsule and this reminded me of the ones NASA used to use....maybe still  do.  Donno.  These seem to be just half circles that make grabbing the  switch very deliberate and minimizes potential knocks.  Finally, it seems  as if I have seen bars held in by springs that lay across a series of switches  to keep them in place.  

  

  What say ye?  Insight?  Wisdom? Warnings?  Observations?  WAG's?

  

 Thanks.

  

 All the best,

  

 Chris Barber

 Houston



   [quote][b]

blackoaks(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 6:34 pm Post subject: Switch guards, switch locks, locking switches?

You might look at www.PerihelionDesign.com  for switch guards......

-- 

John McMahon 

Lancair Super ES, S/N 170, N9637M (Reserved)  [quote][b]

raymondj(at)frontiernet.n
Guest

Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 11:29 pm Post subject: Switch guards, switch locks, locking switches?

Saw this on eBay. Expensive but a  possibility.

  

 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-Reproduction-NASA-Space-Shuttle-Switch-Guards_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ50466QQihZ008QQitemZ180138370945QQrdZ1

  

 Raymond Julian

 Kettle River, MN

 [quote]   ---

BobsV35B(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 4:30 am Post subject: Switch guards, switch locks, locking switches?

In a message dated 7/15/2007 2:30:57 A.M. Central Daylight Time,  raymondj(at)frontiernet.net writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		     Saw this on eBay. Expensive but a    possibility.

    

   http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-Reproduction-NASA-Space-Shuttle-Switch-Guards_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ50466QQihZ008QQitemZ180138370945QQrdZ1

    

   Raymond Julian

   Kettle River,  MN

	


 



 Did you note that this is our own Eric Jones (PerihelionDesign.com)?

  

 Happy  Skies,



Old Bob

AKA

Bob Siegfried

Ancient Aviator

Stearman  N3977A

Brookeridge Air Park LL22

Downers Grove, IL 60516

630  985-8503



Get a sneak peak of the all-new AOL.com.

  [quote][b]

Eric M. Jones

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 565
Location: Massachusetts

Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 5:34 am Post subject: Re: Switch guards, switch locks, locking switches?

I  sell the half-loop and the space shuttle guards on my website. In fact NASA and millitary now buys them from me. (Perihelion Design has "parts in orbit"...when I mentioned this to a friend he said that HE had "parts that left the solar system on two Voyagers"...so you can't win).



I call the half-loop guards NASA X-plane guards, but they were also used on many aircraft.



The flip-up toogle guards (non-mil spec) in many colors are being sold almost for FREE on MPJA: 



http://www.mpja.com/prodinfo.asp?number=16100+SW



"Ring the bells that still can ring; 

Forget your perfect offering! 

There is a crack in everything; 

That's how the light gets in." 

---Leonard Cohen

_________________
Eric M. Jones
www.PerihelionDesign.com
113 Brentwood Drive
Southbridge, MA 01550
(508) 764-2072
emjones(at)charter.net

jonlaury

Joined: 06 Nov 2006
Posts: 336

Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 8:54 am Post subject: Switch guards, switch locks, locking switches?

Aerotronics, in Montana, supplies rocker  switches that live behind transparent, springloaded doors. W-a-a-a-y  Cool!

 www.aerotronics.com , Kit Panels, New Glasair, Steve Thomas' Panel , lower left  corner.

  

  

  

   [quote][b]

raymondj(at)frontiernet.n
Guest

Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:56 am Post subject: Switch guards, switch locks, locking switches?

No, I must admit, I didn't. I got to the price and quit  reading.

  

 Raymond Julian

 Kettle River, MN.

 [quote]   ---

CBarber(at)TexasAttorney.
Guest

Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 10:14 am Post subject: Switch guards, switch locks, locking switches?

Yep, I think I am gonna go with your half loop x-plane solution.  Kinda like

the "retro-futuristic" look.  May place my online order in just a bit.

Thanks guys.



All the best,



Chris

www.LoneStarVelocity.com



Christopher Barber

Attorney and Counselor at Law

5110 Bissonnet, No 418

Bellaire, Texas 77401



Serving the Needs of Senior Texans



281-464-LAWS (5297)

281-754-4168 Fax

www.TexasAttorney.net



--

lists(at)stevet.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 10:31 am Post subject: Switch guards, switch locks, locking switches?

Slight correction to John's comment below.  The switches behind the clear plastic spring-loaded doors are push-button switches, not rocker.  They are SPST, and so have limited application.  However, I'm using them for my ignition switches, one left and one right on a Z-14 architecture.  But they are indeed way-cool!

 Best Regards,



Steve Thomas

____________________________________________________________________

 



On Jul 15, 2007, at 10:50 AM, John Burnaby wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  Aerotronics, in Montana, supplies rocker switches that live behind transparent, springloaded doors. W-a-a-a-y Cool!

www.aerotronics.com , Kit Panels, New Glasair, Steve Thomas' Panel , lower left corner.

 

 

 

 	  Quote: 	
		           - The AeroElectric-List Email  --> http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?AeroElectric-List              - NEW MATRONICS WEB FORUMS -  class="Apple-converted-space">   --> http://forums.matronics.com 	
	




 [quote][b]

kuffel(at)cyberport.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 10:39 am Post subject: Switch guards, switch locks, locking switches?

Chris,



<<aviation locking toggles from ebay, but they are kinda small 

and may not be up for the task (but at $13.00..>>



Mouser (mouser.com) has medium capacity locking toggle switches 

at reasonable cost.  For example their NKK SPST (633-S1AL-RO) is 

rated at 20 amps DC for $10.25.  I like the looks of the handle 

on this switch.  Mouser gives excellent service and they don't 

mind small orders.



Tom Kuffel

raymondj(at)frontiernet.n
Guest

Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 12:56 pm Post subject: Switch guards, switch locks, locking switches?

I'm interested in the locking toggles. I looked at Mouser and NKK and can't 

tell how they lock/unlock ( I'm guessing pull out) and if they lock in one 

or both positions.



Appreciate any info.



Raymond Julian

Kettle River, MN

do not archive

---

kuffel(at)cyberport.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 1:45 pm Post subject: Switch guards, switch locks, locking switches?

Raymond



<<locking toggles. I looked at Mouser and NKK and can't tell how 

they lock/unlock ( I'm guessing pull out) and if they lock in one 

or both positions>>



<<NKK SPST (633-S1AL-RO) is rated at 20 amps DC for $10.25>>



Pull handle out, move to desired position, release.  They lock in 

all positions (two for on-none-on or on-none-off and three for 

on-off-on).



Tom Kuffel

raymondj(at)frontiernet.n
Guest

Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 2:03 pm Post subject: Switch guards, switch locks, locking switches?

Thanks Tom.



Raymond Julian

Kettle River, MN



"Hope for the best,

but prepare for the worst"



---

jetboy

Joined: 22 Jul 2006
Posts: 233

Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 2:54 pm Post subject: Re: Switch guards, switch locks, locking switches?

You can be sure anything painted red or with obvious guards will be tested by your passengers! Mixture controls in Cessnas are a favourite target.



I would go for the purple or blue "missile switches" although the genuine MS25224-1 I used to control a turbine are nicer to look at and handle.



The flip covers referred to are probably Honeywell push switches, we have loads of them at work, they have a stack of microswitches operated by a paddlewheel from the pushbutton. Trouble is, if the illumination lights fail, its hard to tell if they are set to on or off position. 



Ralph

_________________
Ralph - CH701 / 2200a

Display posts from previous:

	Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> AeroElectric-List	All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

Jump to:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum