Electrical Kill Switch

The kill switch technology ensures an instantaneous, safe shutdown without restarting the system by using a relay that is operated by both a physical emergency button and an RC-based failsafe to instantaneously stop propulsion power while maintaining control electronics.

Safety System

Bench testing kill switch

Relays are electrically operated switches that regulate higher power circuits using low power signals. It contains three switch pins (COM (common), NC (normally closed), and NO (normally open)) and two coil pins that power an internal electromagnetic coil. An internal armature is moved by a magnetic field when voltage is delivered to the coil, opening or shutting the high power circuit. The Arduino's 5V (VCC) and GND power a 2-module relay, which serves as a death switch in this setup. IN1 and IN2 regulate activation. A multiplexer chooses the control source for the ESCs when a Turnigy receiver receives signals from the controller. This configuration guarantees a safe, instantaneous shutdown of propulsion when paired with an external kill button and circuit breaker and on the boat we currently have 3 kill switches.

Electrical Diagram for kill switch

With the XT30 shown, we were able to also distribute power and ground into another 5V PDB

PDB for ESCs, we connected wire and soldered onto one ground side and one power side