REFLECTOR: Switch guards, switch locks, locking switches??

[John Dibble]

I have some toggle switches in my panel that must be pulled out before
they can be flipped.  That should protect against bumping.

John

Christopher Barber wrote:

> As most of y'all may know, 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 Knuckls' 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. 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 for
> twoI couldn't go too wrong...they may work for my coil switch and
> primary fuel).  The regular priced DPDT (for my contactors and
> injectors) seem to start at close to $60.00 a piece...a bit much for
> my police salary if other options will surfice. I have also considered
> 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 BarberHouston crossed posted on Reflector, FlyRotary,
> Aeroelectric Connection email list & Canard Aviation forum
>
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