231MJ Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 I did a simple on-field relocation last week and left the master switch on for a few hours. I was in a hurry. This resulted in the battery being too weak to start. Embarrassing and a pain in the butt. Have any of you installed a device to remind you that the master is on? Buzzer based master being on and no oil pressure? LED in prominent location when the master is on? I realize getting field approval might be difficult (impossible) but I'm interested to know if there is a solution - other than religious use of the shut-down check list. August Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mooneydriver805 Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 I installed a rotating beacon on my plane that is always on, that way if the master stitch is left on I see the rotating beacon flashing. Actually, now that I think about it, it came installed already when I bought the plane. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeeBee Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 My beacon is always on, to remind me of the master switch. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricJ Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 My turn coordinator makes so much noise I can't help but know when the master is on. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeeBee Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 3 minutes ago, EricJ said: My turn coordinator makes so much noise I can't help but know when the master is on. Take the clothespin and playing card out of the spokes. 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertGary1 Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 After decades of flying and never leaving the master on (my TC is also loud and my beacon is always on) I did it this summer. I positioned the plane to the wash rack. Wash, wax, wax, wax, vacuum, et al. Then noticed the master was on. Had to jump the plane to get back to parking and of course the battery was never the same. Ended up replacing it. If you've left the master on the battery may not recover. -Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlunseth Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 The gyro buzzing away in the tailcone is usually a good tip-off. Or the TC as someone mentioned, that works also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N201MKTurbo Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 My engine monitor is hooked to the master. I always look at it before I leave the hangar to see if it is lit up. I can tell from 20 feet away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carusoam Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 +1 for the beacon flashing... It is a good warning for leaving the master on... It is a good warning for bypassers that I might make some noise and wind soon... I have a similar but different challenge... anything left in the cigarette lighter socket, will run until the battery dies... for that... I have a check list... Best regards, -a- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaylw314 Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 If you have LED strobes, leaving those on will really wake you up if you forget to turn off the master switch 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve2 Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 After committing the same sin several times with Krazo's flight school aircraft at KMKC in the mid-late 90's and doing the same in my 201 at Arlington TX I always, always, always look at the fuel guages before I climb out of the cockpit. In the same vein I always, always, always tug on the baggage door handle before climbing into the cockpit and say to myself 'baggage door locked' and then during run up say to myself 'yes I remember checking baggage door'.....thread drift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragsf15e Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 Definitely leave the strobes on. Never turn that switch off. Cheap and tso’d. Never thought I’d put those two words in the same sentence. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeOH Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 I left the master on as a student back in 1977. I was in high school and was paying $15/hr wet with instructor. I was making $3/hr, so 5 hours work for one hour flight. The school charged me $25 for my mistake. Knock on wood, but I've NEVER left the master on in the intervening 43 years! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 1 hour ago, N201MKTurbo said: My engine monitor is hooked to the master. I always look at it before I leave the hangar to see if it is lit up. I can tell from 20 feet away. How's that work when you and your friends are climbing out on a sunny day to try the burgers a few counties from home? I never turn off the LED belly blinker, it's quite noticeable and stupid bright. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skates97 Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 1 hour ago, Hank said: I never turn off the LED belly blinker, it's quite noticeable and stupid bright. The flight school I trained at always left the anti-collision light on as procedure to know if the master is left on. I kept that same procedure when I got the Mooney and leave the belly strobe on, can't miss it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corn_flake Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 If you really want to stop the possibility of ever leave the master switch on, how about the boat kill switch below. https://www.boatoutfitters.com/universal-kill-switch-with-lanyard?gclid=CjwKCAiAv4n9BRA9EiwA30WNDw26BMtyYBxaois3F0iiu4OubkeOWkzkIpfFrHagbC4H_r9BSfDEGRoCaZcQAvD_BwE 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 I leave my strobes on at all times for this issue. Actually not true, at night I leave my NAV lights on at all times at shutdown so that either my strobes or nav lights (all LED) will be on if I'm outside the airplane. -Seth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertGary1 Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 1 hour ago, corn_flake said: If you really want to stop the possibility of ever leave the master switch on, how about the boat kill switch below. https://www.boatoutfitters.com/universal-kill-switch-with-lanyard?gclid=CjwKCAiAv4n9BRA9EiwA30WNDw26BMtyYBxaois3F0iiu4OubkeOWkzkIpfFrHagbC4H_r9BSfDEGRoCaZcQAvD_BwE Ha. That’s a deadman’s switch. I have one on my boat too. Maybe airplanes should have one. Not a fan of leaving the strobes on since it’s not friendly to other pilots on the ground but I do leave the beacon on -Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
231MJ Posted November 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 MS is great! You guys have provided some good ideas. In my situation, Coy Jacobs took the rotating beacon off about 20 years ago to gain 0.3 kts of speed and I don't want to put it back on at this point. The turn coordinator did help remind me about the master switch, especially when the bearings were going bad, but it's gone now with the new glass panel. Leaving the strobes on is a great idea, I'm gonna try it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldguy Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 After I put in the LED landing light, I leave it on all the time. It also helps remind me to make sure the connection to it is put back together when I have to pull the cowl off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M20F-1968 Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 I have a sure fired way of reminding myself that the master is on, kind of expensive though... Per STC the Garmin 600 is hard wired to the main bus. It is aways on when the master switch is on. May be that way with other avionics in other applications as well. John Breda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeeBee Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 11 hours ago, corn_flake said: If you really want to stop the possibility of ever leave the master switch on, how about the boat kill switch below. https://www.boatoutfitters.com/universal-kill-switch-with-lanyard?gclid=CjwKCAiAv4n9BRA9EiwA30WNDw26BMtyYBxaois3F0iiu4OubkeOWkzkIpfFrHagbC4H_r9BSfDEGRoCaZcQAvD_BwE Not conformal with the TDCS. Your IA will not look kindly upon it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertGary1 Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 10 minutes ago, M20F-1968 said: I have a sure fired way of reminding myself that the master is on, kind of expensive though... Per STC the Garmin 600 is hard wired to the main bus. It is aways on when the master switch is on. May be that way with other avionics in other applications as well. John Breda The pfd is the same. Although I have seen some fbo’s incorrectly install a g5 primary attitude on the avionics buss. -Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M20F-1968 Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 17 minutes ago, M20F-1968 said: I have a sure fired way of reminding myself that the master is on, kind of expensive though... Per STC the Garmin 600 is hard wired to the main bus. It is aways on when the master switch is on. May be that way with other avionics in other applications as well. John Breda Actually, my JPI 930 is also connected to the main bus so it and the G600 are on when the master is on. John Breda 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Pilot Posted November 5, 2020 Report Share Posted November 5, 2020 I did the same thing about a year ago. I left the master switch on for the first time after years of flying. My advice is the same as others, leave strobe on and you will see it as you walk away from the plane or leave it in the hangar. In my case, I had to replace my battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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