Fllying in snow question

[jfro]

Looking for advice on do's and don'ts when flying while it's snowing out. I've been doing some short 3-5min test flights with light to moderate snow falling with no issues so far. I've just been launching from my patio, which I shovel. Covered up alexmos circuit board with some plastic (temporary) and put tape over the IMU.

Rest of electronics are under a plastic dome, with a 1" gap between down and top 8.25" plate. x8 motors and gimbal motors are exposed.

I don't really know if what I'm doing is stupid or not.

Thanks for any guidance!

 

[PeterLester]

IMHO - Even if the snowflakes do not immediately contact the electronic components and/or melt, there are condensation and lower temperature issues to consider. But I have seen a Quadrocopter USA video showing a test flight of a heavy lifter flying while heavy snowflakes were falling.... .Adding a plastic dome over MR center hub might help fend off melting snowflakes and help keep electronic components slightly warmer during the flight. Some sensors including pressure sensors may incur errors as these can rely on constant temperature to remain accurate. Best to allow the MR temperature to stabilize to outdoor temperature before taking off. While batteries should be kept warm immediately before a flight, sometimes warming components during the flight can create condensation issues that would otherwise not appear. Same issues with using cameras when skiing around 32 deg F when humidity is 100%....... a major condensation battle.

 

[jfro]

I wear glasses, film, & ski, so I'm well aware of those problems.

Outside of the electronics, is there an issue with a snowflake or two getting in the windings on the motors?

 

[gtranquilla]

For all intents and purposes consider snowflakes as water droplets since they would immediately melt upon contact with warm motor windings and moisture is a major concern with all motor and transformer windings.
In the case of larger power transformers, the windings are embedded in oil to help dissipate winding heat but that oil also has to be super dry such that moisture contents has to be way down in at the low ppm level, i.e., parts per million.
One percent works out to 1/10,000 ppm. But an occasional mist droplet might also evaporate from the motor windings so quickly that no significant damage would occur.

Consider your situation an exercise in risk management. And I know of others who have flown their Phantom up into clouds!!!!....... risky for the MR and any pilot flying in the area.

 

[sixshooterstang]

I fly in the rain and in the snow both and I use a substances called corrosion X to waterproof my escs and other components EXCEPT the flight board which I just make sure is covered up well. A sealed dome with a hole on the bottom side should keep out water but also allow for altimeter functions to continue.

Dont believe the coating method works? I have my SCX10 scale truck fully waterproofed with Corrosion X and it will go a good 2 feet under water until it loses radio link.

 

[jfro]

I was doing some quick gimbal tests today. Forgot to hook up my lipo alarm.

When I was coming into land on my shoveled off patio, it ran out of battery and dropped about 3-4 feet short of the patio into about 14-16 inches of fluffy snow.

Gimbal, gimbal motors, & camera were in the snow.

Brought it in, blew off the motors and wiped off the camera and flew 2 more test flights with no problem so far.

Someone told me that the motors weren't a big concern for snow flakes. Just keep the rest of the electronics dry and have fun. So far, I see no reason not to follow that advice.

 

[Silverburn]

Brushless motors tend to do ok in the rain/snow, as long as the cabling is water tight. Exposure to water may shorten bearing life, if the bearings aren't sealed. Any exposed circuit boards or traces will fail, as water is a conduit. Cover up all electronics, and make sure your wiring is clean and covered to prevent any chance of shorting. Batteries can claim to be 100% waterproof, but for reasons that should be obvious, the connectors are not.

Note: these rules don't apply to sea water. Land in it and you might as well chuck the entire lot in the trash.

Flying in snow has more fundamental problems though. Visibility being one. Don't try FPV (one snowflake, and youre blind), or long range. And the ambient temperature associated with snow will affect the voltage sag. You'll get less flight time, and the drop off to 3.5V is steeper. And you're really pushing the boat out and flying in a blizzard, the weight of the snow will affect handling.

 

[sixshooterstang]

Brushless doesnt have any circuitry to short out unless its sensored and you rarely see sensored motors on aircraft. Just clean and oil you bearings regularly like normal.