Radio Controlled Switch

  6 Apr 07 - Part List added.

I was looked for a remote controlled switch to ignite smoke pellets in-flight. I went to the local model shop and he didn't know of any and had been looked for himself, to operate some lighting on his scale helicopter. I therefore decided to make my own switch unit. I trawled the internet and found a simple design on Tony van Roon's RC Electronics page. I took his design, modified it very slightly and produced the smallest practical veroboard layout I could, which is shown below.

The IRF630 FET is rated at 9A load and a maximum power rating of 75W (both at a case temperature of 25°C). The current rating drops to 6A and the power to 30W at 100°C so it pays to keep the case cool when higher powers are required. If you intend to switch any current for a reasonable time, it advisable to fit a heatsink to the FET to keep it cool.

* Available from a local model shop

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