I have used those rotary switches for years. I haven't had one split apart
on me and I'm not sure if I have had any failures either, although I had
one in the ill fated Nibbles flight last year with it's total electronic
failure. So it could have failed. I also use screw switches alot, the
Featherweight switch as well as the Aerocon screw switch. They are, more
or less, foolproof.
Also, three hundred operating cycles would be a lot in rocketry.
Kurt
On Thu, Jan 12, 2017 at 8:13 AM, R Dierking <applerocketry@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Hum, that doesn’t sound good. I’ll have to take a look at what Mike has
designed. It would be nice if a retrofit would fit inside the existing
hole used for the 110/220 switch. Or, perhaps remove the guts from the
110/220 and replace it with something more durable/reliable.
*From: *James Dougherty <jafrado@xxxxxxxxx>
*Sent: *Thursday, January 12, 2017 8:09 AM
*To: *roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Cc: *Mike Kramer <kramer@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Subject: *[roc-chat] Re: Switch Warning with StratoLogger CF
They split in half!!
Ive also seen people turn them and they split in half.
Its designed for a wall socket!
Yes, do what Mike said - great plan; Never seen that fail ...
Sent from my iPhone
On Jan 12, 2017, at 7:22 AM, R Dierking <applerocketry@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Yes, I would like to try this out Mike, please send the file. I’ll look
into the materials available for the printer. I think I only have PLA at
the moment. How about ABS?
*From: *Mike Kramer <kramer@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Sent: *Thursday, January 12, 2017 7:09 AM
*To: *ROC Chat <roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
*Cc: *ROC Chat <roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; James Dougherty
<jafrado@xxxxxxxxx>
*Subject: *[roc-chat] Re: Switch Warning with StratoLogger CF
richard,
I use micro switches with a screw to arm them. Uses a small hole in the
side of the rocket and makes it highly unlikely that the electronics can be
in advertently armed.
Easy to 3d print the mount for it. I will send you a file tonight.
Side note, don't use PLA ( unless it is the pro spec kind) for parts, it
can't survive the temperatures on the lake bed. I'm using PETG or Nylon.
Mike K
On Jan 12, 2017, at 6:47 AM, R Dierking <applerocketry@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
I just purchased a PerfectFlite StratoLoggerCF altimeter and the
documentation came with a *Switch Warning* about failures of the 110/220
rotary switch that some people have been using for powering electronics.
High resistance and intermittent connection are noted in the document.
The document says “numerous reports” of failures, but I’m curious if this
is a problem with a group/lot of these switches or a pervasive problem to
this particular switch or rotary-type switches in general when used for
rocketry. I’ve used these switches in the past and tested the 4 I’m
currently using on two projects. I’m not detecting any problems with these
switches.
Please keep in mind that there are several variations for this make of
switches. Here’s some info on what I have:
Schurter, Voltage Selector Switch, 2 Stages, Series-Parallel, SWA1 or SWA2
Also, it’s interesting that the spec sheet says that the lifetime is 300
operating cycles (without load).
*So, does anyone have a personal experience that was bad with these
switches?*
Also, I think many people would be interested in recommendations on
arming switches both commercial and custom.
Thank you,
Richard Dierking
