Av Bay switch access?

[Txnrcr]

Have any of you used an aux hole in your av bay for switch access other than the static ports?
Something you arm the alt through, then tape or plug over?

I am building a 3" dia av bay, 8" long.
Plans were to use one of the 110/220 rotory switches mounted to sled.
Perfectflight manual suggests a single static port of .113 or perfered multiple ports of .057.

These are really small ports, a little too small to allow a screwdriver with a large enough blade to operate the switch to pass through.

Still have the option to mount the switch external through the bay walls, but would prefer a cleaner install on the sled.

Had an idea to drill a larger hole for the switch access that would be taped over as soon as the switch is armed.
One concern is the tape over the hole may "flutter" in the airstream and cause pressure issues in the av bay, false readings with the alt.

Bad idea?

Thanks,
JW

 

[dixontj93060]

Personally I'd just drill a 1/8" hole. I use single ports often and it works fine. 1/8" is big enough to get a small blade screwdriver through and is about the right fit for the indentation in the 110/220 switch. Just make sure the switch rotary face is set back and not blocking airflow through the access hole.

 

[thobin]

I just access through a static port and hit a switch, unless you have something loose and flopping around in your AV bay (witch you shouldn't) I haven't seen the need anything more than a normal switch. So its real easy to get a small screwdriver in a static hole to turn stuff on.

This is my 2.6 dia tube AV set up, its self contained nothing attaches to the rocket so I can switch it between all my 2.6 inch rockets. All I have to do is make all my static ports in the same location to turn on and off the switch. 90% of the time I take it out of the rocket and turn it off, to disconnect the battery or switch it to a different rocket anyway so really there is no need for a hole to turn it off.

You can see where the switch is mounted and is protected by the battery case, every thing is glued or screwed down so nothing moves around. The wires all have shrink tube on them to keep them from getting tangled and out of the way. As long as I push the screw driver strait in, perpendicular with the body tube it turns right on.


TA

 

[azzie]

Rotary switches need larger screwdriver (and access hole) to operate. I use slide switches, you can turn on and off through two small (even 1/16") holes. Av-bay has three static ports, positioned so that two of them are aligned with slide switch (one ON, one OFF). Check here or here for some pictures.

 

[qquake2k]

I just access through a static port and hit a switch, unless you have something loose and flopping around in your AV bay (witch you shouldn't) I haven't seen the need anything more than a normal switch. So its real easy to get a small screwdriver in a static hole to turn stuff on.

This is my 2.6 dia tube AV set up, its self contained nothing attaches to the rocket so I can switch it between all my 2.6 inch rockets. All I have to do is make all my static ports in the same location to turn on and off the switch. 90% of the time I take it out of the rocket and turn it off, to disconnect the battery or switch it to a different rocket anyway so really there is no need for a hole to turn it off.

You can see where the switch is mounted and is protected by the battery case, every thing is glued or screwed down so nothing moves around. The wires all have shrink tube on them to keep them from getting tangled and out of the way. As long as I push the screw driver strait in, perpendicular with the body tube it turns right on.


TA

Now that is a clean av-bay setup!

 

[Txnrcr]

Rotary switches need larger screwdriver (and access hole) to operate. I use slide switches, you can turn on and off through two small (even 1/16") holes. Av-bay has three static ports, positioned so that two of them are aligned with slide switch (one ON, one OFF). Check here or here for some pictures.

Thanks for sharing those pics. Lot of good ideas there, think I might copy a few.

 

[Txnrcr]

I just access through a static port and hit a switch, unless you have something loose and flopping around in your AV bay (witch you shouldn't) I haven't seen the need anything more than a normal switch. So its real easy to get a small screwdriver in a static hole to turn stuff on.

This is my 2.6 dia tube AV set up, its self contained nothing attaches to the rocket so I can switch it between all my 2.6 inch rockets. All I have to do is make all my static ports in the same location to turn on and off the switch. 90% of the time I take it out of the rocket and turn it off, to disconnect the battery or switch it to a different rocket anyway so really there is no need for a hole to turn it off.

You can see where the switch is mounted and is protected by the battery case, every thing is glued or screwed down so nothing moves around. The wires all have shrink tube on them to keep them from getting tangled and out of the way. As long as I push the screw driver strait in, perpendicular with the body tube it turns right on.


TA

Very clean set up! I think the slide switch might be the way to go on mine. Easier set up and operation.

Do you permanently glue in your coupler to the recovery bay tube?
That is my plan. Av-bay coupler epoxied into the recovery bay tube. Forward bulkhead with threaded rods, av-bay sled and main harness dropped in from the top. Secured with the lower bulkhead.

 

[thobin]

Very clean set up! I think the slide switch might be the way to go on mine. Easier set up and operation.

Do you permanently glue in your coupler to the recovery bay tube?
That is my plan. Av-bay coupler epoxied into the recovery bay tube. Forward bulkhead with threaded rods, av-bay sled and main harness dropped in from the top. Secured with the lower bulkhead.

Yes, at first I moved the whole bay around, but to many rockets got damaged not being together because the AV bay was in another rocket now they all have their own coupler and the AV sled gets changed around.

I have a interchangeable DD sled for 2.6", 3", 4" rockets so far. My 6" all are a bit different set up and and are still modular enough that one day I will work something out for them.

This also helps with the attachment point to the nose cone. With the cable cutter system that I use setup and duel deploy are a hundred times easier to do. I will never go back to the old dual bay dual deploy.


TA

 

[CarVac]

Yes, at first I moved the whole bay around, but to many rockets got damaged not being together because the AV bay was in another rocket now they all have their own coupler and the AV sled gets changed around.

I have a interchangeable DD sled for 2.6", 3", 4" rockets so far. My 6" all are a bit different set up and and are still modular enough that one day I will work something out for them.

This also helps with the attachment point to the nose cone. With the cable cutter system that I use setup and duel deploy are a hundred times easier to do. I will never go back to the old dual bay dual deploy.


TA

You blow the charge on the "opening" side of the tube and rely on momentum to pull the burrito out of the tube?

Is the cable tie tied around the shock cord itself too?

 

[thobin]

You blow the charge on the "opening" side of the tube and rely on momentum to pull the burrito out of the tube?

Is the cable tie tied around the shock cord itself too?

Yup, hasn't failed me yet. Its a pretty loose fitting burrito. Nothing really different from any other DD all drogue chutes have to be pulled out of the tube.

Its just around the tether that attaches it to the nose cone. The shock cord that comes from the rocket to the nosecone is completely independent.

TA

 

[CarVac]

Yup, hasn't failed me yet. Its a pretty loose fitting burrito. Nothing really different from any other DD all drogue chutes have to be pulled out of the tube.

Its just around the tether that attaches it to the nose cone. The shock cord that comes from the rocket to the nosecone is completely independent.

TA

Usually, my rockets push the parachute out of the tube, and the chute fits more tightly (because I optimize relentlessly).

Interesting idea, though, using a separate tether piece to hold it to the nosecone.