Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: This is why I don't want to spend too much on a quad!

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Charleston, SC
    Posts
    2,147,489,446

    Thumbs up This is why I don't want to spend too much on a quad!

    Saw this on Reddit today. Granted, it's got a happy ending, but it could have gone bad... So very bad! Guy is damned lucky (and pretty fast too, considering how far he had to sprint once he realized the battery was dying and the thing was set to auto-land).



    Standard link just in case: http://youtu.be/5KRCc-Ly3Jo

    Adam

  2. #2
    Bradfo69's Avatar
    Bradfo69 is offline Pending BST Forum Purchases: $47,127,283.53
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Wilmington, DE
    Posts
    6,202

    Default

    Yup. Speaks volumes! A few nights ago out back of the hall I was flying the big hexacopter and lost it headed toward the highway in the wind. I thought it had cleared the building next door and had it coming down to land but, out of sight. I searched for a bit and then realized it hadn't cleared the roof! Fortunately after chasing around to the other side of the building, I still had enough battery to do a blind take off and get it clear of the roof and down. I had a couple minutes of thinking well..... there goes $130!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Dallas, TX
    Posts
    439

    Default

    I always wonder if these guys have the presence of mind to chuck their cell phones before they dive in. Quad saved, mobile waterlogged.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    East Sussex, England
    Posts
    5,248

    Default

    If I was flying a lot over water I'd be tempted to fit a physical battery disconnector that could be thrown as a final option, removing all power from the electronics before the water ingress.
    Then, providing it is recovered and rinsed out and dried, everything (apart from maybe the Lipo) would be ok to go again. Waterproof GoPro housing FTW!
    Frikkin Lasers
    http://www.frikkinlasers.co.uk

    You are using Bonetti's defense against me, ah?

    I thought it fitting, considering the rocky terrain.

  5. #5
    mixedgas's Avatar
    mixedgas is offline Creaky Old Award Winning Bastard Technologist
    Infinitus Excellentia Ion Laser Dominatus
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    A lab with some dripping water on the floor.
    Posts
    9,890

    Default

    Salt water incursion to surface mount electronics is nearly always fatal. You have about 15 minutes to strip it, flood it with fresh water with a corrosion inhibiter, and then flush it with a surfactant, then alcohol. Otherwise the salt forms conductive paths under the SMD parts and then corrodes them as it evaporates.

    I recovered a pair of expensive scanner amps from Hurricane Sandy for some one. Basically had to remelt every solder joint on the board, re-tin all the traces and replace most chips and all connectors, 10 turn potentiometers, and capacitors. To say the least, they are now backup units.

    Steve
    Qui habet Christos, habet Vitam!
    I should have rented the space under my name for advertising.
    When I still could have...

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Knoxville, TN, USA
    Posts
    3,154

    Default

    Looks like the quad was doing exactly what it was supposed to do -
    start a nice, soft automatic descent for landing prior to the minimum low-voltage cutoff.

    Setting - and paying attention to - the flight timers found on most mainstream RC transmitters goes a long way towards preventing such possible incidents...

    Good save on the part of the pilot!!
    RR

    Metrologic HeNe 3.3mw Modulated laser, 2 Radio Shack motors, and a broken mirror.
    1979.
    Sweet.....

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Preston, Lancashire UK
    Posts
    1,067

    Default

    A lucky guy in many ways.

    And for the first few seconds of hearing the music in that video I was expecting the my You Tube video of a beam show I uploaded to Pangolin show space to the exact same remix of Orinoco Flow.
    2 x Stanwax Laser 3W RGB's
    2 x OPT 10W RGB
    Pangolin FB3QS + Live Pro
    1.3W Laser Harp

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •