[Max]

This winter I am trying to repeat my FPV streak I did 2 years ago, where I flew FPV every day for 37 days. I started a new thread in the FPV section for it here:
https://www.rccanada.ca/rccforum/showthread.php?t=300458
which includes a video that uses 5 second snippets for every day that I flew.

Unfortunately, it ended when we had a day that rained from midnight right through to midnight at the end of the next day. So the streak ended because of rain. At that time, I had my 525 quad but
1) It did not have a reliable FC that had GPS position hold, nor did it have return home/Autoland
2) It was not waterproof. Flying in the rain would have been a problem with moisture getting into the electronics.

Today, my 525 uses a Naza V2, which I have flown flawlessly for over 2 seasons. Part of my routine to establish my confidence level in the FC and its features is to test them regularly. I have practiced numerous "Blind" returns, Simulated camera failures, simulated control failures, and have always had 100% success in the tests. So my confidence is there in the FC and its firmware.

The issue now is, can I make it waterproof?

My 525 has a lot of hardware hanging out in the breeze. We all know ESC's don't like moisture.

So the challenge is to keep the ESC, receiver and other hardware dry.

To fly FPV, the camera also needs to be out of the moisture. Water beading on the lens destroys the picture, making it all blurry. But if you encase the camera in a plastic housing, the picture is still reasonably clear even with droplets on the housing.

Here is the shot of the quad as it appears today.


The challenge is to have it ready for the end of the week when rain is forecast for most of the day. I need to keep my FPV streak alive!!!

[uberjay]

Max, I wonder if Rain-X would work on whatever dome/bubble you put over your camera? That'd let the water slip right out of view and make viewing much easier.

Also... as for waterproofing I wonder if you'd find any good info looking through the web for the float plane annuls. Gotta be lots of tips and ideas there for waterproofing.

Good luck... looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
J

[buffythesaint]

Corrosion X will protect the ecs's from water. Just remove the heat shrink and spray the heck out of them. Even motors will run under water with this stuff. All electronics can be sprayed.

http://www.shop.corrosiontechcorp.co...2.htm?page=all

[uberjay]

Originally Posted by buffythesaint

Corrosion X will protect the ecs's from water. Just remove the heat shrink and spray the heck out of them. Even motors will run under water with this stuff. All electronics can be sprayed.

http://www.shop.corrosiontechcorp.co...2.htm?page=all

That's the stuff I couldn't remember when I was typing the other post. Thanks .... sometimes I just can't get the right brain cells to fire.

Cheers,
J

[Max]

Originally Posted by uberjay

Max, I wonder if Rain-X would work on whatever dome/bubble you put over your camera? That'd let the water slip right out of view and make viewing much easier.
J

Funny, I was thinking the exact same thing this morning when I got up, looked out the window and saw that it was STILL MISTING!!! Grrrrr

I think I still have some of that stuff in the garage. I might try it on a side of the lens to see if it does not damage the plastic.

[Max]

Originally Posted by buffythesaint

Corrosion X will protect the ecs's from water. Just remove the heat shrink and spray the heck out of them. Even motors will run under water with this stuff. All electronics can be sprayed.

http://www.shop.corrosiontechcorp.co...2.htm?page=all

That's the stuff! I wonder if princess auto sells that?

Right now I have at home a bottle of conformal coating and a bottle of liquid electrical tape. If I can't get my hands on some corrosionX, then between the 2 I am sure I can come up with something.

My biggest problem is I need something in the interim as well (to keep my FPV streak alive- Refer to first post on this thread)

So I might come up with some "Bagging" tricks just to keep the stuff dry for 1 or 2 flights until I come up with a more permanent solution.

Given the weather conditions for this week, I think there will be one day where I wont be able to fly my planes in FPV due to rain. I can fly panes in mist with a camera dome, I can even fly when its snowing lightly; I don't even need a dome for snow, but I can't fly in continual rain. So if that day comes this week, a quad FPV flight may be my only option provided its waterproof.

[Max]

Originally Posted by buffythesaint

Corrosion X will protect the ecs's from water. Just remove the heat shrink and spray the heck out of them. Even motors will run under water with this stuff. All electronics can be sprayed.

http://www.shop.corrosiontechcorp.co...2.htm?page=all

Hey Buff- what about RX's? I am using an AR7000 with a remote. The 7000 can be hidden under a cover for the main body of the quad, but the remote is out there hanging in the breeze. Will it work on that?

What about VTX's? Mine is way out there too

[uberjay]

whatever spray on or brush on product you choose, be sure to test it's conductive properties first. Last thing you want is to short out your board . I did that to a Rx once by getting CA globbed across pins .

[buffythesaint]

Corrosion X is dielectric, won't conduct. You can spray it on everything electrical, including rx's and vtx's. Put some in a small glass and dunk them in for a day and then remove, remove excess and let dry. It will penetrate everything for great protection. I seen a video of a brushless motor running in a glass of water. They just dunked the motor into the corrosion x.

[uberjay]

Awesome! Thanks Buffy.