Guys, as I am getting older sometimes seasonal allergies mess with my balance while walking. I still fly but would really like to have an option to shutoff on demand. I have seen were the Climb/Dive timers has an option (still being refined) to do a three-pull shut down. I don't really use all the flight setting it can do. I use a simple setup with the ESC controlling fixed rpm in control line mode (Castle Creations Talon 35 ESC), and a old Ztron timer to control the start delay and flight time. The way the Ztron works is it starts when you plug in power, I have a toggle switch that that I use after the battery is plugged in to then activate the motor start sequence. I was wondering if there is a simple circuit that could be remotely triggered (like with a car key fob) that would replace the timer altogether and send a full throttle signal to the ESC and a shutdown signal to it on demand? I have also used the toggle switch to shut down the motor during some bench test runs with no problems to the ESC or timer. Could I replace the toggle switch with a remote on/off switch? Option one would be the lightest and preferred. Any one have any circuit designs and parts lists?

Best,  DennisT

You definitely can. There's a couple ways. Easiest is to use the C&D shut off. It works with a little practice but it isn't instantaneous. You can also get a receiver to connect with a key fob. That wouldn't be legal by the current rules because they work on 433 mhz. For sport flying it totally doesn't matter. The real test is whether the receiver will work with your timer sans a relay. Not very practical but doable. I think Matt has a bluetooth device working which is an option as well. My version is not in a production status and I have stopped working that idea as the C&D works well enough.
You can PM me

The C&D is the easiest way and it's simple to configure. Just like Mark said takes some practice to make it work.
No need to complicate things.

I have been following the C&D timer with the three pull shut down. Can someone post a video of how it works?

Best, DennisT

Dennis. The way the C&D cutoff works is exactly how it's described. There's a little practice to it but that's it. I think it works based upon detecting a yaw axis detection Three yaws and it triggers. The "yank" is about like what you would do to start a lawn mower. If'n you was asking me what I would do in your case, I would make the transition. Yes, we could get the remote relay to work and that would be less expensive but the C&D has the advantage across the board and that would be my advice. The C&D has one major advantage over all others. The bluetooth UART interface. That alone is worth the price of entry.

I have and like the CD timers. I have yet to make the shut off function work reliably, not enough practice I guess.
 For sport flying I like R/C throttle control. This way you can start and stop at any time, no waiting for a count down. You can also throttle back and just slow down for a few laps, then go full throttle again! The technology exists, is already tested and in production. Why not use it? The receivers I use are about the same weight as the timers. Solves the getting dizzy problem too. No one gets dizzy doing 8 second laps
  I am comfortable with a regular R/C transmitter hanging by a neck strap. I run throttle with my left hand and fly with my right.

Quote from: Jess Walls Gresham on August 23, 2026, 07:08:36 AMI have and like the CD timers. I have yet to make the shut off function work reliably, not enough practice I guess.
 For sport flying I like R/C throttle control. This way you can start and stop at any time, no waiting for a count down. You can also throttle back and just slow down for a few laps, then go full throttle again! The technology exists, is already tested and in production. Why not use it? The receivers I use are about the same weight as the timers. Solves the getting dizzy problem too. No one gets dizzy doing 8 second laps
  I am comfortable with a regular R/C transmitter hanging by a neck strap. I run throttle with my left hand and fly with my right.

It does take a bit of practice to get the technique down getting the C&D to shut off. I flew one battery with the purpose of learning how. That was about it. Initially, I wasn't getting it but eventually it came around. RC systems are used in Carrier events to control throttle. In aerobatics they're not permitted in competition. When you begin to get proficient and "move up" the transmitter will become a liability and doesn't do a precise job of setting consistent power. That's where the "advanced" features of the C&D and other timers become desirable. Pulling into maneuvers a bit of boost is necessary to maintain velocity. And heading down some reduction. Doing that with a transmitter while attempting to fly precisely will become a huge challenge. Depending on where you're headed obviously. If scale models are your bag the RC system is certainly a way, coming from a person totally lacking in scale arena knowledge. Well, unless we're discussing 4/4 scale.

BTW, welcome to the Forum.

Carrier and scale pilots manipulate the controls and throttle separately very effectively. Stunt pilots would rapidly learn the new techniques if they were allowed to. Maybe prohibit throttle control in Classic and Old Time but allow it in PA?
  C/L has been in a rut ever since the AMA pattern/rules became dominant.
  Sport flying can get boring but can be much more interesting if throttles are used. Pilots wouldn't have to learn a pattern and fly risky maneuvers, they could do touch and go landings, spot landings, slow flight and be entertaining to spectators at the same time. With lower risk! Our group has a majority of sport fliers but few use throttle control. I think that's mainly because of the competition rule banning throttle control.
  Stunt might be more entertaining if it were to allow some innovation. Free Style would almost certainly attract more spectators than the repetitive PA pattern we currently fly.
  Paul Walker's B-17 is an example. It flies the same pattern as all the other planes but everyone stops to watch it when he flies. It is different. We should encourage different if that is what attracts attention.
  Sorry, I have wandered into a different topic
Thanks for the welcome, I like being here.

Quote from: Jess Walls Gresham on August 24, 2026, 07:15:31 AMC/L has been in a rut ever since the AMA pattern/rules became dominant.

  Stunt might be more entertaining if it were to allow some innovation. Free Style would almost certainly attract more spectators than the repetitive PA pattern we currently fly.

The first I'm not so sure sure of but it would have needed to evolve to survive. The "pattern" has been the foundation ever since George published it on the Nobler plans. It is quite the challenge. That is the entire point. I personally believe that that portion is fine the way it is. PAMPA has alternate classes and pattern for less skillful participants.

Coming from a perspective of having flown in both model, RC pattern and helicopter an 4/4 (full size) aerobatic competitions, I fully agree that the format would be more interesting if there were alternatives. The full size competition format come to mind. 3 flights for each pilot. Known, free and unknown. The know would be the sequence we know now. The free would be a sequence of the pilots personal design and the final unknown each pilot gets the same sequence and flies the flight cold, no practice. This has created significant negative feedback on here for me. But it would change the interest level. It also makes putting on an event more difficult. Today we are barely able to put together an event let alone add more to it.

I think it is interesting to discuss but it hasn't much fruit to bear ultimately.

So here is the problem, taking the chance to learn the feel could cause one to miss the shut down and be in a situation where the flight is too long and boom in you and the ship go. I can see if you are stable and start as Mark said to do a full flight and keep shutting down then fly then shut down to get the tough needed to reliably shut down. For me at this point I need something that just works. The RC approach is a pain with the transmitter. The key-fob is simpler. For my set up with the ZTron timer it seems putting the shut down in the signal line will do the trick to shut off on demand, would use the normal 20 sec delay at motor start. Mark what key fob do you think will work here?

Best,   DennisT

Hi Dennis

If you have an airplane with the C&D already flying, I would suggest enabling the shut down and trying it. Set your flight time to a minute. Not a full flight. My previous post stated or I tried to state that I dedicated a full battery charge to learning. Not a full flight. A one minute flight is not long but is long enough to get a few reps in. A battery that will run 5 minutes will give you 5 one minute flights in which to practice the technique. It took me about four flights to get it. After that i could nail it. The key fob shutdown is a good way too. Possibly even more reliable in an emergency. The draw back of a relay system is they are generally only rated for 12Vdc and if you are flying a 4s battery the voltage is too high per spec. The remote relay we use for the my stooge setup is also rated for 12Vdc and couple guys are using 4s batteries with them. No guarantees though and the 4s could let the smoke out at any time.

Amazon has a simple device that you could use. Plug in between the ESC and the timer. That will turn it on when your battery is plugged in. I think there are some examples here in the forum. I would break the power input to the timer and pas it through the NO and COM pins on the relay. The latching relay configuration would initialize in the open state and when you push the button the relay will close energizing the timer. At any time during the flight pushing the button again will shut the timer off. Easy Peasy.

This one would work:
https://www.amazon.com/MANGOOD-Wireless-Switch-Latching-3-3-12V/dp/B08NBZ4RFZ/ref=pd_ci_mcx_mh_mcx_views_0_title

Mark, I looked at the system in the link and it seems it would do the job with the ZTron timer as we only need to break the signal line to effect a shut-down. While looking at that site I saw this one that is a single button version (https://www.amazon.com/DC-3-7V-Wireless-Momentary-Transmitter/dp/B08F7CTDWT).

Seems it would do the same thing but is an on/off toggle. I think if it is setup as normally closed, you would connect to the 5V BEC from the ESC and break the signal wire through the shutoff. To start it would be closed and you would just plug in the battery and in my case flip the start toggle switch, timer would beep and start delay would begin, walk to handle then fly, when ready to end flight push the key fob button and land or let the timer do its normal time out.

What do you think?

Best,   DennisT

Quote from: Dennis Toth on August 25, 2026, 11:56:47 AMMark, I looked at the system in the link and it seems it would do the job with the ZTron timer as we only need to break the signal line to effect a shut-down. While looking at that site I saw this one that is a single button version (https://www.amazon.com/DC-3-7V-Wireless-Momentary-Transmitter/dp/B08F7CTDWT).

Seems it would do the same thing but is an on/off toggle. I think if it is setup as normally closed, you would connect to the 5V BEC from the ESC and break the signal wire through the shutoff. To start it would be closed and you would just plug in the battery and in my case flip the start toggle switch, timer would beep and start delay would begin, walk to handle then fly, when ready to end flight push the key fob button and land or let the timer do its normal time out.

What do you think?

Best,   DennisT

That one is not clear to me that you will be getting a physical relay. The solid state relay can leak some current and to your device may not see it as off. As I understand the timer function you have, I would opt to use the relay on the power side. The solid state relay would work in that case, probably. I selected the one I recommended for this reason. Breaking the power lead also would allow you to not use the switch if you chose. The relay / fob would basically mirror that function. Could be a safety feature too.

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