Neato magneto (switch)

[K5DH]

I picked up this neat Square D Type B-5 mag switch at a ham radio swap meet today. I couldn't resist it for the bargain price of $2.50 (OK, so I thought it was a bargain). A quick Bing search tells me the Type B-5 is basically common as dirt, was made by numerous suppliers, and might have been used in any number of twin-engined aircraft from WW2 onward. Whatever. It'll look cool sitting on a shelf in my hamshack.

[JohnCFord]

For 2.50 I would have bought it too. ~J~

[mas]

I get the magneto switch functions for L and R engines but what's the ON/OFF toggle up at the top for?

[The Inspector]

Battery Master Switch

[T Ricketts]

For that price I would have bought it also. Cool find and will look good sitting around.

[Stoney]

Looks like its for a B-25

[AvroAvian]

The Briggs and Stratton version of the B-5 Switch has an AD (http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guida ... t=53-26-01) to disconnect and remove the master switch from the magneto switch assembly, due to the possibility of foreign matter entering the switch assembly and shorting out the mags. This is what brought the RAAF Museum's PV-1 Ventura unstuck with a double engine failure a few years back.

[CAPFlyer]

I know there were a lot of people there yesterday, but I can't believe I missed ya Dean. Didn't find much for me at the swap meet, but saw some cool stuff. Ended up spending my money on finally getting a mobile rig for the truck.

[Cvairwerks]

Ok CAP.... what did you buy? I've got an Icom V8000 for 2m in the car now, with a Elecraft KX3 for 160M thru 6M that will be moving between the car and house. I generaly hang out on the Azle repeater, but bounce over to the Denton one depending on my travels in the area.

[Jack Frost]

I get the magneto switch functions for L and R engines but what's the ON/OFF toggle up at the top for?

It's the master switch for all 4 magnetos on both engines in case of an emergency requiring a quick shutdown of both engines. Looks like the one we had on B-25's and DC-3/C-47s but was probably used on other twin engined aircraft as well. The battery master switch was a separate unit.

Jack

[CAPFlyer]

Ok CAP.... what did you buy? I've got an Icom V8000 for 2m in the car now, with a Elecraft KX3 for 160M thru 6M that will be moving between the car and house. I generaly hang out on the Azle repeater, but bounce over to the Denton one depending on my travels in the area.

I ended up getting a Yaesu 8800R. I've had several Yaesu and Vertex radios over the years, not just in Amateur Radio and been more than satisfied with them, so I ended up going back to them again.

It'll be a few weeks before I get it fully up and running as I've gotta block out some time to spend chasing wires, but I have the power poles installed on the power line, so at least I'm mainly just waiting to have time to install all the bracketry.

I've not been on any repeaters much lately, but I usually am on either the Dallas or Carrollton repeater since that's where I live and work respectively.

[Dan Jones]

I get the magneto switch functions for L and R engines but what's the ON/OFF toggle up at the top for?

It's the master switch for all 4 magnetos on both engines in case of an emergency requiring a quick shutdown of both engines. Looks like the one we had on B-25's and DC-3/C-47s but was probably used on other twin engined aircraft as well. The battery master switch was a separate unit.

Jack

A friend of mine was trying to swat a horsefly with his ballcap in the windshield of a DC-3 one sunny day while cruising along in flight. After one particular swing with his hat all the noise stopped! Guess which switch he hit!