Should torque be 'togglable' like RCS?

[The_Mell]

Using torque consumes electric charge.

Using RCS consumes monopropellant.

RCS is optional - you can toggle it. Want to save monopropellant? Shut it off!

Torque is always on by default. Want to save electric charge? Shut it off...in every part with torque...

So we have a workaround to handle it, but should there be an easier direct implemented option?

Possible implementations would be:

- new key and new light showing 'torque on/off' but problem: both RCS and torque off results in no control and panicing Kerbals/players

- RCS key and light transformed into 3 state control mode: only torque, only RCS and both

[vexx32]

As long as there are status lights, having both off would be okay, at least until some glitches show up in orbit and spin the craft until there's an unplanned disassembly. Torque is toggleable already, at least for command pods -- you can right click them and switch off their torque. I think you can do it in the VAB, too, so certain pods on certain craft would have pod torque off when you launch.

[aeTIos]

As long as there are status lights, having both off would be okay, at least until some glitches show up in orbit and spin the craft until there's an unplanned disassembly. Torque is toggleable already, at least for command pods -- you can right click them and switch off their torque. I think you can do it in the VAB, too, so certain pods on certain craft would have pod torque off when you launch.

The OP knows you can turn torque on/off, he just wants a button that turns all reaction wheels on or off.

[Charzy]

Why is this needed, though? Electricity is a renewable resource, unlike monopropellant, which means that you're very unlikely to run out. Use solar panels.

[Kerbart]

Why is this needed, though? Electricity is a renewable resource, unlike monopropellant, which means that you're very unlikely to run out. Use solar panels.

Eclipses, parked on the dark side of a planet, slow orbit that leaves you for hours and hours in the dark... there are plenty of scenarios where you can run out of charge (SAS gobbles up quite a lot).

The easy solution would be to turn off SAS stabilization. Unless you start monkeying around with directional controls there's no reason why it should be using power at that point.

Aside from that if there's a need to completely shut off the gyros can't you simply do so through custom groups?