MMM Switch Replacement?
 

My MMM switch finally gave up the ghost after a year of taking it apart after almost every race to clean it. I have bypassed the switch for now but prefer running with one. The switch is the only problem I have ever had with the two MMM's that I own but it has been a persistent one on both of them. My question, does anyone know of a replacement switch that wouldn't be such a maintenance problem as the OEM or does Castle have a upgrade. I would like to have one with the same foot print so it will fit into my TRX esc mount.
Thanks, GeorgeC

Use a pair of deans connectors, use a short wire as a jumper on the male plug and connect the female end to the esc. Plug them together and its on, unplug it and it's off. I normally don't use a switch but thought this would be a good way to get my truck ready just before a race and be able to plug the deans together quick with the body already on when I get it up to the track

Thanks, I appreciate the suggestion but I would prefer to have a switch just for convenience sake.

Get a mini toggle switch from RadioShack. They are sealed so cleaning is not needed.

i used a jumper setup with 2 JST connectors.

but i'd really like to see castle put a flip flop switch in the monsters like the traxxas line of ESC's has, one tough on, one tough off.

Thanks BryanG, I'll stop by the local RadioShack and pick one up :smile:

How hard would it be to put in a decent switch, even a basic receiver switch would wire in fairly easily and certainly last a lot longer.

its as simple as hooking 2 wires to the switch, if you can't manage that you prolly shouldn't even be in the hobby:whip:

I think he is making the point that ESC makers should put in a half decent switch to begin with.

Or at least do like Novak does and put it on a replacable harness. I can change a switch just fine, but with HPI and Traxxas branded trucks with these Castle ESC's now being sold, and targeted at newbies, not everyone can.

Neat Avatar Brian. Why the no paint?

In another thread (my Losi Ten-T conversion IIRC) someone (jhautz IIRC) laughed at me because two setups I had pictured had no paint on the bodies. I told them it was because I hate spending all kinds of time painting them just to wreck them within 5 minutes. They said I should create a "no paint" avatar. Well, I instead added the no paint to the no fan.

Wow, that's pretty harsh -- FORMER castle customer, and you feel so strongly about it that you have to put it in your sig??? Why?

We recently changed to another switch manufacturer, and think the new switch will be a better choice in the long run.

We are limited to a particular size and shape of switch by our OEMs. So, we have been looking for a better quality switch almost since day one. The original switch we used was made by a Japanese company, and had reliability problems (we assumed the Japanese switch would be fairly good quality -- but the consistency of quality was poor.)

We then switched to another vendor, but the switch was only marginally better.

We are now using a new switch manufacturer, after a lot of testing, beating, soaking, etc.

When we first started building the Mamba Max (about six years ago) we initially released it with a fairly beefy toggle. We were the target of ENDLESS complaints about the switch.

We then switched to a slide (the same we use on the Monster...) and pretty much the complaints stopped. We still got the occasional complaint, but everyone was pretty happy with it.

Now, the SAME SWITCH on the Monster has generated a lot of negative comments, so we have been working constantly to find better, more rugged switches.

But still, everyone complains, and just assumes we don't care. /sigh

We try hard to make a product that works for everyone. Sometimes we miss the target - - and sometimes we just screw up. But don't just assume that we don't care. We are constantly working to improve our products, and bring people a better and better product.

Patrick

My initial reaction to that sig was the same, but then I looked at the rest and figured maybe the guy only runs Baja 5s now. Perhaps he switched over to 2 smokers only.

Why don't you spend 1 dollar more per switch and buy a descent "Made in Germany/USA/Europe/whatever" and not an cheap Chinese/Japanese/Taiwanese switch? I think they are better than Japanese, Chinese and Taiwanese switches, as most products which aren't made in China/Japan/Taiwan. Of course there's also crap made by USA/German/Europe company's, but the product mostly is cheap then too.
Hope you understand what I'm trying to say, as my English isn't the best.

I know that you have to save as much money as possible on the ESC's as you want to make profit of course, but paying 1 dollar more for a switch can't be a big problem?

I'm not trying to bash Castle Creations, I'm not a fan of your products neither a hater, just Neutral :)

Well, because there aren't any made in USA/Germany/Europe switches that are readily available, and cost less than about $15-$20 each...

If you can find one -- please let me know. I've had several distys looking for quite a while...

The switch we are buying now is made by a US company, but in China....

Seems all of the production lines were packed up, and moved lock stock and barrel to China.

Patrick

Hello Patrick
I hope you don't think I was in anyway trying to run down Castle products. Quite the opposite I have found your products to be the standard in RC. I only want a new switch.:smile:

I agree. I think our new switch is very good-- it's certainly much better than the previous switch.

I don't get why a switch, yes, just a switch, just a connection between a + and a - wire cost $20? :lol: That's just sick imo, or are they made of gold?

Can't help you with that. I don't know which switches are good enough, and I definitely don't know somewhere to buy them in huge quantities. Never had any problems with switches anyway.

Still in China... Many products which are made in China are good. (CC has all their products made in China right? For example your CC/NEU 2200kv, made in China, but it's a very nice brushless motor) But IMO things which are made in USA/Europe etc. are (mostly) of better quality, less nice about it is that they cost 5 times as much as in China.


I can't get it out of my mind why it's so hard to make a good switch lol

Patrick,

I personally think any sealed frame switch would work and be well under the $15-$20 figure. I usually use a toggle style, and pick one that has a higher current rating simply because the contact force is higher, which means there is less chance that the toggle will be "activated" via a hard impact. I also usually cut off the end of the toggle to further reduce the weight and therefore the mechanical force acting upon it. If RadioShack sells such a switch for $3, I'm sure they can be had much cheaper in bulk. AllElectronics.com has a similar switch for $1 each, and $0.70 each if ordered in 1000 piece bulk orders. Toggles are easier to mount too (at least in my opinion).

A pushbutton switch would be nice. Could make it go at a nice place on the ESC's case.

I see a Toyota issues right here:lol:

Personally I like the new switch on the MMPro.

We tried a toggle, and everybody complained. And I mean EVERYBODY.

/bleah

All the ESCs that uses it didn't have any Toyota issues yet :lol:. They are very small and can easily be places almost anywhere. The normal switches are ok, but I've seen some crazy stuff happen to then. I've seen people's car just turn off during a race and a few seconds go by when they realize the switch was at the off position because they go touched, bumped a pipe or got into a little crash :lol:.

Some type of buttonswitch is used by many devices. They are not only for turning things on/off.

Wow, that surprises me. Oh well, I guess I'll be one of the few that use them then. I just like how they make contact internally, they are sealed, easy to mount, and it's easy to tell if on or off. Again, I only use the mini-toggles.

Hey lutac
Got a link for a push button switch? I should say where I can buy just one or two :smile:

They look like an switch from an Airplane made in 1950 so damn ugly :lol:

What about don't having a switch? Just by connecting the LiPo/Nimh/A123 to the ESC it goes on. Or do people really need switches?
To me it doesn't matter if a ESC has a switch or not, it should just work OK.

Honestly I'd be happy if there was a good mount provided for the switches. I know TRX has one for their MMM, but i have a MM, SW and all sorts of other escs, and the switches are always just stuck or tied-up to whatever place I can find. Just a pain to make a mount for them.

Aww, come on! Who doesn't like the beefy look of a nice big toggle switch. They make the most satisfying snapping sound, and they just look like they do something important! :smile:

I like toggle switches. It's a man switch.

Hey Brian I bet this guy has a toggle some where :lol:

You can find some in the link Brian provided.