dkr77573 said:
Thank you for that, I was going to mount my heat sinks on the bottom but now it makes sense to mount on the top.
Water Proof Conversion
- Thread starter SanCap
- Start date
Thank you for that, I was going to mount my heat sinks on the bottom but now it makes sense to mount on the top.
I am moving slowly but deliberately, I am using M3 machine screws with locking nuts to keep the motors in place. I was able to use hemostats to get the nut on the inside of the Dex. I decided to keep the wires separate as the heat shrink almost makes a perfect seal going into the arm. Just a little bit of marine sealant is all I will need.
I got the motors soldered to wire extensions and installed. Now to fit all the electronics and heat sinks.
I did a temporary install of all the electronics and hooked it up to the Naza Assistant, all looks good. The motors spool up nicely and actually turn in the correct direction 
I should be doing a test flight tomorrow! I am going to try it with the compass and antenna in the unit. I am also going to wait on the heat sinks.
I should be doing a test flight tomorrow! I am going to try it with the compass and antenna in the unit. I am also going to wait on the heat sinks.
Still following this with great interest. I see this being a fun/challenging project for me someday.
I'm curious about a few things:
- Where/how are you mounting the receiver antenna?
- Is that the battery you're going to fly with? I imagine it'll be quite a challenge to get that in there and on the CG
- What's the total weight w/batt and no payload?
You seem to be doing great so far, I especially like the look of the Phantom's LED lens on that body
I'm curious about a few things:
- Where/how are you mounting the receiver antenna?
- Is that the battery you're going to fly with? I imagine it'll be quite a challenge to get that in there and on the CG
- What's the total weight w/batt and no payload?
You seem to be doing great so far, I especially like the look of the Phantom's LED lens on that body
OI Photography said:
Thanks, My first test flights will be with the antenna inside, if that does not work well I will have to move it outside the shell.
That is the battery I will be using, it does fit snuggly directly in the middle of the shell.
I will have to find someplace to accurately weigh it, I do not have anything that goes that high.
It actually flies! It seems a bit twitchy, any guess on which gains to adjust? http://www.jimandsusan.com/first-flight-waterproof-quadcopter.html
If you're adjusting gains, I'd start by lowering the basic gains for pitch and roll a bit and testing. However, it could be due to the compass readings, where do you have it mounted? And, did you do the "compass dance" before that flight?
OI Photography said:
I do the compass dance before every flight. I started off with the compass inside the shell, I moved it outside and it made no difference. I then realized I had the GPS module on the lid upside down!!! Dohhhh. I still did lower the basic gains from 125 to 100. I may bring them back now that the GPS is mounted properly. I will fly some more tomorrow and then do some test flights out of a heated pool before I try it in the river or Gulf of Mexico.
) said:
I will take it to a local postal place to have it weighed in the next day or to. My guess is that it might weigh more than a Phantom due to using a dozen bullet connectors to be able to connect the ESC's to the motors. I really hope it floats as that is the reason I built it
I have to get the flight characteristics set correctly before I put it in the H2O.I think you would have to really weigh it down a lot to prevent it to float. It seems to have a nice large displacement hull shape for its weight.
It floats in my sink with my go pro and floaty back on top. I would think that with the go pro and floaty on the bottom where it belongs it would float even better. Add the salinity of the Gulf of Mexico and it might not even touch the water
The proof is in the pudding! I flew my waterproof quad out of a pool for the first time today, nothing bad happened it was all good! No leaks! Here is a condensed version. I love this thing. http://www.jimandsusan.com/first-water-flight-with-dex.html
Nice job. Have you done any range tests with the antenna inside the body? Did you incorporate the heat sinks yet?
dkr77573 said:
I have not flown it past the limits I set in Naza yet ( 20 meters high and 60 meters radius). It is still a bit squirely and I think I need to set the gains down a bit. That could also have to do with not flying it in an open space or where I have the compass placed. I did mount the compass outside adjacent to #4 motor, properly sealed for water intrusion. I have not installed the heat sinks and have had it flying around (mostly hovering) for up to 8 minutes without seeing any issues. The motors are warm but not hot. It seems the fiber glass dissipates the heat well.
I'd be worried about putting the compass (a magnetometer) next to an electromagnet containing motor. Glad everything is working so far.
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