Water Proof Conversion

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I purchased a waterproof shell from Dex Models. I am using all the components from one of my original Phantoms. I am wondering if I will be able to keep the DJI compass and antenna inside the glass fibre shell or will I have to get creative as to how to keep the compass dry on the outside. If the compass is inside will the electronics create interference with it? Here is a link to a photo of the shell. http://www.jimandsusan.com/waterproof-quadcopter-build.html
 
Yeah the compass will need to be mounted in the same orientation and as close to the same location (i.e. distance from the NAZA) as the stock mounting. So yeah, looks like you might have to get a little creative lol. When I used aftermarket landing gear on my phantom, I made a compass mounting post from one of the stock landing gear legs...dunno if you can try something similar with that rig.

I'm also curious about a few things after seeing that waterproof shell. How do the motors mount (and stay "waterproof")? And, how do the ESC's get adequate airflow to keep them from getting too hot?
 
The Dex Mini is 305 MM and 19.65 G, the Phantom is 350mm and 22 G. The phantom has nothing in it and no landing gear when I weighed it. From what I have read and seen the motors can take a water immersion with nothing done to them. I plan to fabricate some heat sinks to provide the ESC's to cool themselves.

9756094_orig.jpg
 
netphreak said:
I'm curious as to how you get into the shell...

The top lid comes off. It will be sealed with a very thin oring with nylon screws and nuts to keep it in place.

8116705_orig.jpg
 
Given the exposed metals....copper being the most visible.....while immersion in fresh water might have minimal impact, I would be VERY surprised if the same could be said of saltwater. If there were saltwater immersion I would flush and soak in clean, pure fresh water as immediately as possible.
 
Apparently brushless motors can work fine in water if dipped in salt water giving them a good rinse is all thats needed. Main issue with the dex when fully sealed is cooling the ESC's but some heatsinks should do a pretty good job of this.

Here are some impressive videos of DEX frames.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UALvfRTmQwM[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6jayx-b9hI[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QmGX8n5IOY[/youtube]

Here is a very impressive toughness test or actually the guy just trying his best to kill it but it somehow survives the beating, I dont think you can embed vimeo links here so follow this link you wouldn't think this was possible. :eek:

http://vimeo.com/51951048
 
jimandsue60 said:
I purchased a waterproof shell from Dex Models. I am using all the components from one of my original Phantoms. I am wondering if I will be able to keep the DJI compass and antenna inside the glass fibre shell or will I have to get creative as to how to keep the compass dry on the outside. If the compass is inside will the electronics create interference with it? Here is a link to a photo of the shell. http://www.jimandsusan.com/waterproof-quadcopter-build.html
How are you planning to deal with the barometer? I don't think it will work correctly if sealed up in an airtight shell.
 
syotr said:
jimandsue60 said:
I purchased a waterproof shell from Dex Models. I am using all the components from one of my original Phantoms. I am wondering if I will be able to keep the DJI compass and antenna inside the glass fibre shell or will I have to get creative as to how to keep the compass dry on the outside. If the compass is inside will the electronics create interference with it? Here is a link to a photo of the shell. http://www.jimandsusan.com/waterproof-quadcopter-build.html
How are you planning to deal with the barometer? I don't think it will work correctly if sealed up in an airtight shell.

I have not thought about that. What does it look like? I assume it is attached to one of the PC boards?
 
thats really cool. I was actually considering doing that so I can play with it by my pool but the only thing is the camera. No gimbal. No camera. I don't fly it just to fly it anymore. I'm always flying it to get footage now. If they could put a waterproof gimbal on it, I'm sold.
 
Miika said:

Id rather trust a tough and waterproof case like the DEX over a product that got awarded the Shonky award for misleading advertising. I dont know what sort of warranty DSLR pros provide with the treatment but Liquipel generally just provides a free treatment on your next device if the first one fails. Im pretty sure if I paid money to have something waterproofed I would expect that this would not get water damage from the same exact tests as used in their promo videos and if it failed the last thing I would do is get another device treated even if it was free. Claiming something is waterproof and then saying not to do like our promo videos because there is no guarantee it will work the same easily deserves a shonky award I think. :lol:

Our second round testing, including a shower, a brief dunking and finally submersion, found that the Liquipelled phones fared no better than untreated control phones, with one of the untreated phones surviving unharmed. The Liquipel claims, unlike the Liquelled phones, don’t hold water, making the $99 service a false reassurance and a complete waste of money.

Meanwhile, four of the five test iPhones, went to a watery grave, and the iPad sustained permanent disabilities. Speaking at the funeral, a distraught Steve Duncombe, our Head Tech-head, stated grimly, “We did not expect them to die. We looked at Liquipel’s video, we read their press release, and we believed them.”

Liquipel: it’s homeopathy for iStuff.
Update

Based on CHOICE testing that showed the manufacturer’s claims are false, NSW Fair Trading has issued a substantiation notice under the Australian Consumer Law that requires Liquipel to justify the advertised claims.

/page/liquipel.aspx

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9sZWm40Xno[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6uDfShvV8o[/youtube]

Our second round testing, including a shower, a brief dunking and finally submersion, found that the Liquipelled phones fared no better than untreated control phones, with one of the untreated phones surviving unharmed. The Liquipel claims, unlike the Liquelled phones, don’t hold water, making the $99 service a false reassurance and a complete waste of money.

Meanwhile, four of the five test iPhones, went to a watery grave, and the iPad sustained permanent disabilities. Speaking at the funeral, a distraught Steve Duncombe, our Head Tech-head, stated grimly, “We did not expect them to die. We looked at Liquipel’s video, we read their press release, and we believed them.”

Liquipel: it’s homeopathy for iStuff.
Update

Based on CHOICE testing that showed the manufacturer’s claims are false, NSW Fair Trading has issued a substantiation notice under the Australian Consumer Law that requires Liquipel to justify the advertised claims.

/page/liquipel.aspx

http://www.choice.com.au/reviews-and-te ... tment.aspx

Id rather trust a tough and waterproof case like the DEX over a product that got awarded the Shonky award for misleading advertising. I dont know what sort of warranty DSLR pros provide with the treatment but Liquipel generally just provides a free treatment on your next device if the first one fails. Im pretty sure if I paid money to have something waterproofed I would expect that this would not get water damage from the same exact tests as used in their promo videos. Claiming something is waterproof and then saying not to do like our promor videos because there is no guarantee it will work the same easily deserves a shonky award I think. :lol:
 
I received the motor mounts that a friend fabricated for me today. I am going to find some countersunk screws for the the screws holding the mount to the motor.

8955411_orig.jpg


959727_orig.jpg


9360645_orig.jpg
 
The guys at DieHardRCAddicts have done exactly what you're planning. Including the installation of heatsinks. Search YouTube for their channel... Great stuff. They posted a video of their aquacopter in action, including high altitude splash downs.
 

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