adding speed/vario switch into ASW-19 control stick grip

I installed a bycicle grip with a CNC end cap. The lifting end cap allow fairly easy installation of the ptt button and vario switch:
"Ragley Skinny Lock On Grip"

An alternative is reusing a ski pole grips. Those are the ones usually installed by the manufacturer. Leki has some nice ones and in ski resorts you can get them free because there are plenty of broken ski poles at every rental place. Installing button and switch is often not easy because you need to do it through the hole at the back for the latch. Get the smallest button and switch you can find!

Schempp-Hirth sells a foam grip with lifting cap, as installed in new SH sailplanes. Probably the easiest solution, but not the cheapest and I'm not a friend of foam grips.

Incase your stick diameter is too small you can use heat shrink tubing with glue to widen the diameter a bit.

I would definitely recommend a switch versus automatic switching. You need a good vario reading before the thermal kicks in and an automatic switch is usually to slow especially since most speed switches have a short delay even if the set speed has been reached.

Thank you Alexander. The ski pole grip might be a good idea, I will look what is available locally. I think some DH bike grips might also be interesting. However, I still would appreciate a ready-made, tested and robust solution.

If your vario has cruise, climb, and auto functions, and you plan to install
a switch in the stick grip, I would recommend a three position switch. My
partner and I did this on our LS-6 about 20 years ago and it worked just
fine.

Forward for cruise,
Back for climb,
Middle for auto mode


wrote in message
...
Thank you Alexander. The ski pole grip might be a good idea, I will look
what is available locally. I think some DH bike grips might also be
interesting. However, I still would appreciate a ready-made, tested and
robust solution.

On 20/12/2012 16:23, kirk.stant wrote:

I have to respectfully disagree with John - I've tried automatic
cruise/climb switching (SN10) and hate it with a passion - I don't
even like having it connected to the flap switch. There are times
when I want TE and I'm not in thermalling flaps (under a cloudstreet
perhaps), and if turning is used, I may not be turning enough to
trigger the climbing mode while sniffing around for a core.

I am fortunate to fly from a site where we regularly fly cross countries
in ridge and wave lift as well as thermal.

For ridge flying, "speed to fly" does not apply. You adjust your speed
to stay within the altitude band with maximum energy. So when the vario
shows lift you push harder! When it shows sink you slow down (but still
maintaining a minimum safe speed - well above normal "thermalling speeds").

I have a flap switch for vario/cruise switching and an override switch
on the panel. With ridge flying I switch the override "vario" and leave
it there. When things are going well, the vario stays close to "0", but
the glider can go many km's at speeds of 150km/h to 200km/h, without
turning :-)


Ian

On Wednesday, December 19, 2012 8:28:36 AM UTC-5, Kimmo Hytoenen wrote:
I am updating the variometer system in our club ASW-19b. I would

like to add speed/vario switch into the stick handle. Any ideas,

advice and suggestion for components welcome!

Hi Kimmo
When I had my ASW19 I went through the same search for the perfect grip with room for a PTT and a Cruise/Climb switch. The only ready made grip available as mentioned before is at,
http://www.gliderdesignparts.de/knueppel_ent.en.html
I have not seen one in person but from the web site it looks really nice.

I made a fiberglass mold of the existing rubber grip, carved out the inside at the top to make room for the switches and voila I had something I could live with. I can send you a picture if you are interested.
The other option that I have seen done with a 19 is to put the switch just in front of the trim knob. Pull into thermal reach for trim, flip the switch and climb away.
I traded my 19 for an LS6b a couple of years ago. I put in a 302 and I love the Auto Switching.

Randy

LX160 has only one contact for SC/vario switch. The Auto mode is selected from the variometer switch panel.
Randy, if you have pictures easily available I would appreciate if you could email those. There are these plastic materials you can heat up in boiling water, and place in mold. Maybe those could be the solution. Taking skipole handle, carving our the head, installing into the stick, placing the switches, and filling with abovementioned plastic?
Also I need to find a switch that is small enough to fit and robust enough to work years without maintenance.