Best replacement on/off switch for Mamba X?

[BashNSlash]

So it didn't take long for the power switch to die on my Mamba X (literally a few runs), but I would still like to use a switch so I'm looking for recommendations on what to get.

Doesn't matter if it's a button style or slider - as long as it's reliable. I can waterproof it myself if it can be opened up, but if it comes waterproof already then I'll take it.

Any recommendations?

[M1tch]

I have been doing this simple mod for years after getting a switch wet and wrecking an esc. Just use the BEC plug with wire loop when out driving and keep the switch with plug on you if you need to set up the esc. Esc's that use 3 wire switchescan be done a similar way with rx plugs.

[WHITE-TRASH]

Cut. Strip. Solder. Shrink tube.

[BashNSlash]

Originally Posted by WHITE-TRASH

Cut. Strip. Solder. Shrink tube.

I would prefer to have a switch so I can turn it on/off for short periods of time with the batter plugged in.

[gottorque]

Is your battery plug hard to get to or something?

[Jim85IROC]

Be careful. I asked something similar a while back and got a lot of flack for not wanting to just plug/unplug the battery. Some people just don't seem to understand that there are times when you don't want to take the body off to plug/unplug the battery, and just reaching for a switch is a lot easier.

It's been my experience that Castle uses the cheapest on/off switches known to mankind. I have a tendency to save stuff I don't need, so I had a few burned up Hobbyking ESCs around. I pirated a switch from that one and it's been holding up just fine for a while now. If you don't have any ESCs in your RC graveyard, see if your friends do, and grab a switch from one!

[BashNSlash]

Originally Posted by gottorque

Is your battery plug hard to get to or something?

On the TRX-4 Defender/Tactical/Bronco, you have to remove the body to get to the battery no matter what. But I often run a proline body that gives you easy access to a switch, but not the battery - it's a convenience thing to have the switch.

I also find the switch handy to have when I'm doing maintenance on my truck and need to turn it on/off repeatedly.

[BashNSlash]

Originally Posted by Jim85IROC

It's been my experience that Castle uses the cheapest on/off switches known to mankind. I have a tendency to save stuff I don't need, so I had a few burned up Hobbyking ESCs around. I pirated a switch from that one and it's been holding up just fine for a while now. If you don't have any ESCs in your RC graveyard, see if your friends do, and grab a switch from one!

Unfortunately, the only spare ESC's I have are Traxxas and they have a power button built-in (which works well and is reliable).

I was hoping there'd be a really good switch (industrial or otherwise) that will last more than a few weeks.

Funny enough, I have a Mamba X in another truck and that gets way more use and the switch has been fine.

[Jim85IROC]

Digikey sells a lot of electronics parts, and they tend to be of substantially higher quality than the bottom-feeder stuff that you can find on Ebay and the like. Search for "slide switches" and filter on SPST options and you wind up with about 120 options. Pick the form factor and the price that appeals to you.

At $.73/each, this one will probably be tough to beat:
https://www.digikey.com/product-deta...332-ND/4089767

[gottorque]

You might be able to find a small marine 12v switch and wire it in to intercept the negative wire on the ESC power lead. Probably more than you want but I haven't any other good ideas short of ordering a bunch of those 2 pole switches off Amazon and just swapping them out as they go. Also look for the little silicone booties they commonly used for the RX system switches on nitro cars back in the day. Tends to keep more moisture and dust out of the switch mechanism for longer life.

[BashNSlash]

Thanks for the ideas!

[Inspector86]

Contact HeyOK and see if he has anything.

[colbynobo]

With some of the recent chatter I've recently seen about the Powershift Dead Man Switch maybe you're a good candidate for that product?

[BashNSlash]

Originally Posted by colbynobo

With some of the recent chatter I've recently seen about the Powershift Dead Man Switch maybe you're a good candidate for that product?

I just heard about that product yesterday, but it doesn't seem like it'll work well with multiple bodies or even with the body off.

[durok]

Those Powershifts work best if you have a truck bed or a caged back end on your rig.

Best switch I have ever seen is the HobbyWing 1080 ESC power button switch - easy enough to find: