How Do Lightsabers Know To Switch OFF?

Kristy Kistic · 01-24-2007, 02:06 PM

Ok, this may seem like a noobish question, but in the movies, how do lightsabers know to switch off when the owner drops it?

I assume a lightsaber would work by a switch rather than by a button that you had to keep held while you want to use it. This method would really limit what you could do. In the games, for example, flourish would never work if this was the case. A lightsaber throw would never work like this either.

So my question is, how does it know to switch off if you drop it?

Jabner · 01-24-2007, 02:14 PM

I think that the Jedi do hold the button up in order to have the lightsaber switched on, and then they hold it up with the force. When they die, the force is no longer being controlled by them, making the lightsaber switch off.

Yep.

**JediMaster12** · 01-24-2007, 02:28 PM

Easy, there is a button that you press to turn it on and it is grip activated.

I know that it is stupid but hey. I never give it that much thought.

Ztalker · 01-24-2007, 03:05 PM

Well...according to some official sites, it's indeed controlled by the Force.

Fotr example, Luke made a saber once that didn't have a switch on the outside. He just controlled it by the Force.

That doesn't explain how non-Force user can wield it though

SithRevan · 01-24-2007, 03:49 PM

Yeah I would have to go with what Ztalker said about this subject. Most sabers would be controlled by the flow of the force through the user into the lightsaber.

Darth InSidious · 01-24-2007, 03:55 PM

It is by a brilliant application of the Five Laws of Bisonomy.

**JediMaster12** · 01-24-2007, 04:02 PM

Can you elaborate Darth Insidious because I am afraid I don't quite follow.

Darth InSidious · 01-24-2007, 04:05 PM

No.

Either one knows of the arts of Exitonic Allectosis or one does not.

Their is no elaboration.

Inyri · 01-24-2007, 04:08 PM

There are dozens of "sources" pertaining to how lighstabers work. Some are controlled with the force, others with a typical switch, and others with more elaborate switches (IE. ones that have to be held for the blade to stay on). I know I've read somewhere that some lightsaber had dead-man's-switches, in that they were somehow designed to shut off if the grip was released. I assume it worked either with a switch that needed to stay pressed, or some kind of pressure sensors.

Really, though, if you can imagine it, it's probably plausible.

HerbieZ · 01-24-2007, 04:10 PM

I had always believed it was a dead-man's-switch although it can vary from saber to saber.

Kas'!m · 01-24-2007, 05:31 PM

The switch turns the lightsaber on but the Force keeps it on.

zadi · 01-24-2007, 05:42 PM

The lightsaber's hilt could be pressure sensitive. If there is nothing gripping the hilt then it turns off - that would explain why non-Force users and even Grievous are able to weild lightsabers.

KotO[REvan] · 01-24-2007, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zadi

The lightsaber's hilt could be pressure sensitive. If there is nothing gripping the hilt then it turns off - that would explain why non-Force users and even Grievous are able to weild lightsabers.

Well, no, this can't be.
In many games, and even in Episode III, the lightsabers are thrown out of the weilder's hands. For example, Yoda in Episode III throws his lightsaber which impales into a clone trooper when he and Obi-Wan go back to the Jedi Temple.

Unless they pressure the handle by useing the Force, but I'd much rather believe that they keep the lightsaber ignited through the Force. As Jerrod, and many others, have said. (useing the force to hold the button as it's released from their hands)

Phantom Joker · 01-24-2007, 06:30 PM

^^^^
No, that wouldn't work. Otherwise Han Solo could not have used Luke's lightsaber to slit open the Tauntaun on Hoth.

How 'bout this? The hilt is pressure sensitive and when Jedi throw the things, they have to use the Force to maintain the pressure or off it goes. That's why it takes some practice.

Maybe. Or maybe not. Definitely one of the two...

KotO[REvan] · 01-24-2007, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phantom Joker

^^^^
No, that wouldn't work. Otherwise Han Solo could not have used Luke's lightsaber to slit open the Tauntaun on Hoth.

How 'bout this? The hilt is pressure sensitive and when Jedi throw the things, they have to use the Force to maintain the pressure or off it goes. That's why it takes some practice.

Maybe. Or maybe not. Definitely one of the two...

Ah I didn't mean it by that, I meant with the button.
So when the lightsaber is released from the weilder's hands, they hold the button with the Force, leaving it on.

And that's how Han Solo / Anyone else that's non Force sensitive could ignite a lightsaber. And that's that.

Emperor Devon · 01-24-2007, 07:34 PM

Probably for look - a lit lightsaber lying on the ground on the ground would be weird. But movies violate the laws of physics all the time.

SithRevan · 01-24-2007, 08:00 PM

Maybe it is touch sensitive. The Jedi (supposedly) use the force as an extention of thier own bodies so in a sense if a Jedi threw his/her lightsaber and used the force as an extention of thier bodies it would still feel the touch of thier hand and that would allow it to stay lit.

Also another theory would be when they drop thier saber it turns off because they manipulate the controls to make it shut off. Which would make sense because if you have ever seen a lightsabers controls there is control to turn on the lightsaber and calculate it's density then there is another to shorten or legthen the blade.

**Jae Onasi** · 01-24-2007, 08:56 PM

Because George said so.

The Doctor · 01-24-2007, 09:27 PM

Movie magic.

SithRevan · 01-24-2007, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jae Onasi & The Doctor

Because George said so.

Movie magic.

That is the most sensible thing I have heard on this thread. I agree with you both!

TSR · 01-25-2007, 09:58 AM

QFTFE on the movie magic...

...do we really need to know?

*lukeiamyourdad* · 01-25-2007, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TSR

...do we really need to know?

Yes. What kind of geek are you?

Kristy Kistic · 01-25-2007, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jae Onasi

Because George said so.

So far thats the best answer I've heard

**JediMaster12** · 01-25-2007, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth InSidious

No.

Either one knows of the arts of Exitonic Allectosis or one does not.

Their is no elaboration.

Then that implies that you have little or no knowledge in the subject yourself.
BTW you mispelled a word. It is there

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jae Onasi

Because George said so.

I would agree with you there. Unfortunately to put it into one of my analysis modes, the Star Wars gods said so.

Darth InSidious · 01-25-2007, 02:59 PM

Nope.

I understand it, but I'm obligated not to tell anyone due to the Laws of Time

SilentScope001 · 01-25-2007, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Ok, this may seem like a noobish question, but in the movies, how do lightsabers know to switch off when the owner drops it?

Simple. Lightsabers got a brain. That's how it is able to think and able to know.

When its owner drop a lightsaber, it thinks, "Oh no! My master has dropped me. If my laser is on the ground, who knows who could get hurt? And I could waste valuable energy that would be better used by my Master. I must turn off, for the good of My Master!" And then the lightsaber turns off.

The lightsaber is a very seitnent being and should be treated as such. Respect for all life, even mechincal AI life.

**JediMaster12** · 01-26-2007, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth InSidious

Nope.

I understand it, but I'm obligated not to tell anyone due to the Laws of Time

So you are playing a selfish little man now? You forget there are people with a brain.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilentScope001

Simple. Lightsabers got a brain. That's how it is able to think and able to know.

If it has a brain, can it tell if its true master is holding it or not?

Darth InSidious · 01-26-2007, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JediMaster12

So you are playing a selfish little man now? You forget there are people with a brain.

Nope, I'm being a responsible Time Lord, and not polluting lesser species' timestreams by interfering

The Doctor · 01-26-2007, 06:15 PM

Darth InSidious is right. Laws of Time strictly prohibit us from revealing anything to do with Exitonic Allectosis. Sorry. Discover it yourselves.

SilentScope001 · 01-26-2007, 08:06 PM

Quote:

If it has a brain, can it tell if its true master is holding it or not?

The Lightsaber is its own master.

Kreia got it right when it knows that someone is manlipuating us. But it is not the Force. It is the lightsaber.

The Lightsaber contorls the Jedi and the Sith, forcing them into an addiction of dependence. The Jedi and the Sith worship the Lightsaber, and is reliant on it, using it to kill enemies, when a simple, non-intelligent vibroblade would do. But, in reality, the LightSabers work together in a secret cartel, in an goal of manliputing world events to prepare for the takeover of AIs.

and...aaggh! The truth cannot be hidde-

***CARRIER LOST***

Kristy Kistic · 01-26-2007, 10:01 PM

^^^

Might make a good fic...

**RedHawke** · 01-27-2007, 01:02 AM

It is because of the Insidious-ness of the Lightsaber that I switched to the Goa'uld Hand Weapon... it is a more elegant weapon of a more civilised era. And it has a built-in energy shield too!

Sabretooth · 01-27-2007, 06:33 AM

It's all in the Force, baby.

IMO, it's one of the crystal's mysteries. Remember, the crystals make a sort of bond with their user.

**Char Ell** · 01-27-2007, 08:24 PM

Sorry Kristy. I guess Jae's response is the best anyone has come up with. I checked out the lightsaber article on howstuffworks.com but alas nothing in the article addressed your question. If you haven't read that article though I do recommend it as I found it an entertaining read.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Doctor

Darth InSidious is right. Laws of Time strictly prohibit us from revealing anything to do with Exitonic Allectosis.

Eh? What's this you and Darth InSidious are going on about? Something about Exitonic Halitosis? Heh, I'm fairly certain I don't want to know about that anyway, as that sounds like something best kept between you and your dental hygienist, Laws of Time or not.

Dark_Lady · 01-27-2007, 08:56 PM

InSidious is a Time Lord? This has become incredibly fascinating. And Exitonic Allectosis? I think I discovered that around the time I used the Force to merge tritium, electrum, and an unknown substance I've been studying for some time. Unfortunately, the results of that experiment completely destroyed the lab I was working in, and I lost my job because a bunch of blundering idiots couldn't see the true potential of my work.

Anyway, I thought most lightsabers turned off because of a dead-man's-switch. But most lightsabers are unique of course, excluding some which were mass-produced by the foolish. Some require the Force to activate, some poorly made ones are little more than a flashlight with a powerful energy source and a focusing crystal. There are multitudes of different reasons that lightsabers turn off, just as there are multitudes of different reasons that they turn on.

The Seeker · 01-28-2007, 02:14 AM

Erm, am I the only one who has read EU material. I can't point where, but one of the books described how a lightsaber has a pressure sensitive deadman switch where when released, it is shut off. It also said that the switch can be locked on so that it will stay on even when dropped. I know it's cooler to say the jedi are channeling the force and all, but the answer really lies in earth bound flashlights. (Hold down a button to turn it on, flip the toggle switch if you want it to stay on when you set it down) easy.

Phantom Knight · 01-28-2007, 07:06 AM

Have no fear! Mohunas is here! I have the perfect answer for this troubling question!

Well, every Lightsaber has a button that turns it on and off. So, it is quite probable that when a Lightsaber is dropped on the floor, the button lands face first on the ground, and pushes the button. Resulting the lightsaber to be turned OFF.

Ztalker · 01-28-2007, 08:00 AM

Or it's just thtis simple:

It has a switch that you push, which will hold itself 'in' as well.
When you push it again, it springs back.

Explains why you can throw it, why Han Solo could use it, blablabla...

Quote:

Originally posted by SilentScope001
The Lightsaber is its own master.

Kreia got it right when it knows that someone is manlipuating us. But it is not the Force. It is the lightsaber.

*Snip*

***CARRIER LOST***

I bet those sabers run on Microsoft then

Phantom Knight · 01-28-2007, 06:46 PM

Sure. I guess that'll work. Why not?

illuzion69 · 01-28-2007, 10:09 PM

Here is something that you might find intersting http://www.winds-of-hoth.de/potw/arc...89ca49584fa307
It shows an ignited lightsaber on the ground next to fallen Jedi Andur Sunrider and his wife Nomi (before she trained to be a Jedi) and their daughter. This picture is also in "Star Wars The Ultimate Visual Guide" on page 24.