Got your drone wet???

J

Jeff Neese

Well-Known Member
Plenty of techs have put plenty of circuit boards and other electronics through a dishwasher. I think the tricky thing would be the motors but if you can flush them out well and make sure they're dry, they should be fine. Maybe relube the bearings. Cameras might be ruined if water gets inside the lens.
 
mozquito1

mozquito1

Well-Known Member
I got a waterproof quad & tested underwater. But I still don't fly over any salt water. I'm not swimming in that.
 
RENOV8R

RENOV8R

Well-Known Member
Jeff Neese said:
Plenty of techs have put plenty of circuit boards and other electronics through a dishwasher. I think the tricky thing would be the motors but if you can flush them out well and make sure they're dry, they should be fine. Maybe relube the bearings. Cameras might be ruined if water gets inside the lens.
Click to expand...
No, the motors are the least of your worries. In fact, many "break in" their brushless motors by running them for a while underwater
 
J

Jeff Neese

Well-Known Member
RENOV8R said:
No, the motors are the least of your worries. In fact, many "break in" their brushless motors by running them for a while underwater
Click to expand...

I doubt there's any data to support the idea that running them underwater is a good thing to do. In fact most of these elaborate break-in procedures that I see people talk about are probably a waste of time. I've learned to just fly it gently for a few minutes and then let her rip. My brushed motors last a long time.
 
mozquito1

mozquito1

Well-Known Member
Whatever but they work underwater.
I got seme emax RS 2205 that I been running for nearly 3 years now & just as good as the maiden. I had a spare the same time but it let out the magic smoke the other week when building my wing.
(note to self) get a spare emax.
 
ArmyVet

ArmyVet

Well-Known Member
Pure water does not conduct. Tap water, flood waters etc contain impurities that allow conductivity. Salt water being the best conductor by a lot!

In the Telecom biz, we would hose down electronic bays that were flooded. The tap water being the lesser of the other evils. Then immediately blow dry the equipment with strong fans and air compressors.
We never had an equipment failure after this, if it was done ASAP.
 
RENOV8R

RENOV8R

Well-Known Member
Jeff Neese said:
I doubt there's any data to support the idea that running them underwater is a good thing to do. In fact most of these elaborate break-in procedures that I see people talk about are probably a waste of time. I've learned to just fly it gently for a few minutes and then let her rip. My brushed motors last a long time.
Click to expand...
I agree, most good quality motors nowadays require little to no break-in period. Still the best method for brushed motors though
 
mozquito1

mozquito1

Well-Known Member
It's sea water that's the killer. You have to be quick. You can wash what you want with no effect. But you need to dry it out thoroughly. The only thing with the liquid silicone is, it stinks & its there forever mixed in with the Solder if you replace parts. It gives a seal on contact & dries quick, so a very thin coating on the lipo & pigtail connection before a flight over water will help even more.
Or I would suggest using a condomo_O around the battery as the cell connections are not waterproof but just covered by shrink wrap. You could waterproof them & then re-wrap the lipo. The Johnny is quicker & looks more :cool:.
Some micro switches like boot buttons & the like, if the silicone get in these, there is a good chance it won't work so would be best if you put a well placed blob of hot glue on these so it can be peeled off later.
 
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