I’m currently running 3 X 5000mah Zippy batteries and us an XT-90 antispark switch as my “on off button”.
I plan to move to Li-ion batteries soon but wanted to know what on/off switch I can use. I want to be able to use it with my current setup along with a 10s4p battery.
In a nut shell - the XT-90 antispark is very attractive. I want a simple on off switch that can handle the power of the batteries. Like any normal board.
Recommendations welcome. I really like the Evolve Carbon GT on off button. Black, lights up a power logo when on and is a simple push button.
If you wanna go by a push button you always need a relay behind which switch the main circuit.
The problem is that the push buttons usually can handle only small currents.
You have some oportunitys
get a bms with built in e-switch (you can by any e-switch design you like from Ali and attach it as soon as the voltage match your bms switch voltage).
get a esc with a built in e-switch (same princip like with the bms, you can choose your own)
exactly what @Andy87 said. If you want it to light up you can either use a step down converter or take 5v straight from the vesc or foxbox and use that to light up your button
I meant a bit something different
The lightning up is one thing you can sure manage from step down converter or the vesc, but the most small e-switches don’t switch high currents. You use the switch just to switch on/off mosfets or relays, which than switch the main power circuit.
correctomundo, bms’ with integrated eswitches are easier than having a bms and separate eswitch IMO as it’s just another element off the list that’s bound to fail
I will go with bms, but I think it’s not really a have too.
There are alternatives to make your board safe too. A fuse does a good job too, in some ways even better if you get quality LiIon cells they shouldn’t unbalance so fast and you anyhow shouldn’t discharge the cells till 2.5v. I also just charge till 4.1v and monitor them from time to time to be sure all is good.
If you go lipo I think nothing bad in balance charge with a hobby charger. The cells will not crazy unbalanced under one discharge cycle.
Just my opinion.
And one thing that maybe somebody can explain me. I‘m always a bit curious about bms balancing. As long as it is not a smart bms with Bluetooth Modul it’s for me still just a Blackbox.
I can just trust that it works how it should, but what if not? Can it technically be possible that a faulty bms will unbalance my battery pack?
Would I need to switch on the board when charging? Sorry, I’m a little new with BMS etc. I basically want a commercially made board (Boosted, Evolve, etc) without the cost of one! And making it myself is fun
Can I change that BMS switch so that it’s a push button rather than rocker switch?
be aware, in the long run you come usually more expensive
But according your question, yes the bms need to be switched on while charging, but that shouldn’t be a problem.
Yes you can use any color or design of push button as long as it works with the switching voltage of the bms (usually it’s 12v but depends from the bms)
I’m starting to see that in regards to cost! Id rather build it myself though. It’s a project afterall.
Okay, so BMS has to be switched on. Any particular reason why that is? How come boards like the Boosted and Evolve don’t need to have it switched on to charge? It just doesn’t make much sense to me. Why have the board on to charge it?
The bms need power to work and balance your cells.
The boosted board bms also switched on while charging. You see the charging light flashing…it’s the same
And I think they are disconnected from each other. So bms and switch is separated.
The bms is somehow always switched on in this case.
You can also use a separate switch and place it after the bms. Make a bridge on the bms switch or buy one without e-switch and you ready to go.
The lightning up is one thing you can sure manage from step down converter or the vesc, but the most small e-switches don’t switch high currents. You use the switch just to switch on/off mosfets or relays, which than switch the main power circuit.
It’s built in the vesc and if you don’t use a bms or go with charge only it will save even more space 
if you get quality LiIon cells they shouldn’t unbalance so fast and you anyhow shouldn’t discharge the cells till 2.5v. I also just charge till 4.1v and monitor them from time to time to be sure all is good.
If you go lipo I think nothing bad in balance charge with a hobby charger. The cells will not crazy unbalanced under one discharge cycle.
