failsafe/removable link rules

hi guys
im reading the rules now befor i build anything and im getting really confused(dislexcia not helping probably) im building a featherweight and i understand the removable link but i do not understand ware the switches and the leds come into it i thought the removable link was the switch and also i have no idea how to make a failsafe do you get them as a little box that fits into the radio gear or area they built in.
help!!

You don't need a switch on a Featherweight just a removable link, LED's are used to indicate whether the robot has power or not, you wire them into your system so that when the robot is powered up the LED lights up and vice versa. Failsafe's are electronic cutouts that activate upon signal loss, I.e when the Transmitter loses signal with the receiver the failsafe will kick in and the robot will stop. They will either be built in to you receiver or speed controllers or you can buy external failsafes that you plug into your receiver and wire into your system.

So you know, a 'Removable Link' isn't a part you can 'buy', you couldn't go into an engineering shop and get one for instance. It is simply a connector like an EC5 or TX60 where you wire it so one section, usually the male section, can be pulled out, breaking the circuit.

Here is an example from a beetleweight:

Attachment 5047

Here, the power goes straight out the positive side of the battery and into a connector, TX60, only when the other half of the link is instered is the circut complete. Note: there is no fuse in this loom but you just need to solder it in directly after the link.


Given you do need a fuse, some people use their fuse as their link in combination with a fuse holder like this:

http://www.technobotsonline.com/maxi...der-30430.html

with a fuse like this, rated below your batteries maximum current draw as described in the rules, like this:

http://www.technobotsonline.com/60a-maxi-fuse.html

And then pull out the fuse to break the circuit

thanks and i wasent aware about the removable link does it matter what i use aslong as its easly removable and no tools are required

As long as it can handle the current from your machine and it can be pulled out by hand you should be fine, most people use Deans, easy to get hold of and you just solder a loop of wire between the two connectors.

You are better off using the same connector type as is on your batteries, which will either be EC5 or TX60. More connector types just makes things trickier and costs more money.

I have started using these Maxi fuse units for the removable link

http://www.technobotsonline.com/50a-maxi-fuse.html

and the fuse holder

http://www.technobotsonline.com/maxi...der-30430.html

You have a removable link, and the fuse for LiPo batteries.

"Finally, lighting. The easiest way to do this is to add a LED or light strip to your receiver. When your receiver gets power then the LED will activate too. Here are 2 examples:"

Nope, your led must be wired to your batteries no through a receiver. The reason is if the Rx fails the LEDs could go out and the robot will still be live.