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Re: 40'' Seaplane Tender, new build. mods and improvements.

Hi Doug, - rats nest indeed! 😂 Thanks for the nice comment BTW, I do actually have ID tags (masking tape on wires),- you can't see most of them as they are hidden behind the felt lining and under the deck and floor boards. I also use male and female JST plugs reversed when 2 connections are close together. Main power into systems comes from each battery, and splits into a number of JST connectors which supply each particular unit. It's hard to get so many wires neat and tidy in a limited space, as they don't always exit or enter the units in a convenient direction, and some don't bend all that well. Short of cutting all the wires off and substituting my own, I just do the best to fit them as they come. Looks messy but when you are trying to fit 2 ESCs, 2 sound units,(which have to be lifted out while wired, to get at batteries) a water pump, 2 1800 mAh LiPos, 2 remote switches, a , 2 shaft oiler reservoirs and a UBEC and associated wiring (including light feed wiring to cabin top) into a space of around 200x200x100mm it's bound to get messy! A problem is finding nice quality flexible silicone wire (especially on JST plugs) which bends nicely round things. Most wire products you get on line are stiff poor quality stuff, and you don't know what type it will be till you get it. Main thing is that it all works and you can't see it with the top on😁😊 Re- the smoke,- I have 3 Heng Long smokers (one of which I've modded (see vid) and am experimenting with ways of making them compact, (been done on You Tube with a smaller fan than I used (in place of original pump) stuck directly to the side of the smoker tank. The smokers work really well, - just have to reduce the size (maybe a small motor in a tube with a propeller to replace the pump) Hard part is finding smoke which is 'waterproof' as it has to come out with the exhaust water. Usual baby oil smoke just disappears and doesn't travel well down tubes, (even without water) so the unit needs to be close to the exit with a non oily smoke. Perhaps an incense stick or cigarette in a tube?😀😊 JB

5 years ago by jbkiwi

Blog

40'' Seaplane Tender, new build. mods and improvements.

Due to rubbish weather at the moment delaying the launching, I thought I'd fit fans to the ESCs, as I noticed them getting slightly warm during testing. Fans (5v) now come on with the cooling pump through a 5v UBEC, and powered by the same 2s 1800Ma LiPo as the pump. Also made a few brass tube fittings to divert some of the cooling water to some new side outlets (vintage 'Frog' fittings from my collection). Another small refinement was to fit mahogany anchor chain/ warp rubbers at the forward fairleads. Have also fitted a /alarm which is visible for checking through the rear cabin window. If it keeps raining and the wind keeps up I might think of something else to do to it. It's already a plumber and electricians nightmare! (I want smoke but I've run out of room! (I'm working on that though.

5 years ago by jbkiwi

Forum

Batteries in a DX5e

Hi Martin, "Bloody silly they couldn't make rechargeables the same voltage as dry cells in the first place!" It's 'bloody silly' fact of life of the physics of the chemistry used in NiMH!😉 LiPo chemistry is different again, being based on Lithium instead of Nickel. Which is why there nominal cell voltage is 3.7V. All to do with number of electron shells and charge carriers I believe 😮🤓 I can assure assure you there is no charging socket on your TX inside or out👍 If your 'wee gizmo' looks like the one in attached pic it is a , in particular for LiPos. Plugged into the balancing socket of a Lipo battery it displays the cell voltages and then total voltage. It also screams it's nuts off if a cell drops to it's lowest safe voltage. ~3.0V (some say 2.7V!) So you could use it as an alarm if using a LiPo in your models.👍 Happy flying, "Straighten up and fly right" 😉 Great Glenn Miller number. Cheers, Doug 😎

5 years ago by RNinMunich