Static discharge sticky

[Flybar-less]

I think we need a sticky on this subject for a while.

[Taipan]

This is what I did to my tail. Attached a wire from the boom to the idler wheel bolt. Dunno if it made a difference as I changed a few other things as well. It's just in case.

Wouldn't it be better if the idler wheel was made of metal for better electrical conduction?

[Flybar-less]

I have been trying numerous solutions to eliminate static discharge on both of my Logos. Common belief is the belt generates a static charge, which when released causing the tail to kick, and sometimes damaging electronic components. Low humidity appears to be a significant factor.

Some discussion I have had with industry people say the PU belts (yellow) are more prone to static than the Neoprene belts. (Trying a Neoprene belt next)

Things I have tried that work:
Triflow, works well for about 10 flights, kind of messy.
3 x 8 or 3 x 9 idler bearings, no shell, grounded to boom.

Things I have tried with no conclusion:
Silicone dielectric spray
Aluminum Belt tension pullies
Graphite, messy

Mikado has produced some test booms without anodizing inside, and has released an idler pully shell made from an anti-static plastic.

I just installed a neoprene belt in my 599, replacing the PU belt and will report my findings

[OICU812]

A quick FYI for the time being. I used Graphit 33 spray, sprayed it onto a rag then just wiped it on exterior of belt while hand turning it. Clean and easy application. I only flew it twice after application but it appears in full tact as well no "throw mess" anywhere on the heli at all.

[TomC]

Best way to avoid static is called a 'torque tube' lol.

For problem belts the easiest thing I've done in the past is to use a very soft (HB or softer) leaded pencil (called a builders pencil at hardware stores). Turn the belt by hand and drag the pencil along the outside of the belt. This deposits a nice even layer of graphite that seems to do the trick for ~+20 fights. Only takes 1-2 minutes to do and no mess!

Cheers,
Tom C

[Ticidytoc]

Personally I think the belt swap will do the trick for this bird. Once things slow down here after this week I will give it a try also. The current weather here has been perfect to test for static, dry and windy.

[Flybar-less]

Black belt (686XL belt 690 boom) is static free so far, no lube or graphite, running in a CF boom.

[Flybar-less]

I called New England belting Co. to see if there is a 730XL available in neoprene or PU with steel strand. The closest belts by the major manufacturers, Gates, Goodyear, Bando... is either a 690XL or 736XL. I am using a 686XL (Mik #0834)neoprene in a Logo 600, but only with 600 blades.

Bando's 730XL is PU/kevlar reinforced whereas most neoprene belts have steel strands, cancelling the static charge.

Gohbee has a neoprene 720XL of unknown origin which works well with 620s.

The kevlar reinforced belts are a little easier on drive parts and a little lighter weight then the steel belts.

Maybe someone else can source a 730XL in neoprene or PU/steel.

P.S. this is my first belt drive tail heli in 20 years, I am sure others have been through this with some other recent helis. Exception:Trex 450 SE V2 metal pullies, gates neoprene belt

[Taipan]

I replaced the idler pulley with bearings of the same size. Seems ok, no twitching but did have a couple of occasions in FFF tight turns into the wind and the tail overswings all on it's own! Dunno if that's from static or the tail blowing out.

[Flybar-less]

Mikado has an antistaic tail gear part # 3046.

[Flybar-less]

Found some neoprene 730XL belts.


New England Belting Company LLC
30 Holmes Road
Newington, CT06111
Tel: 800-235-8126
Info@newenglandbelting.com (Info@newenglandbelting.com)

XL-pitch timing belts have a 0.200” trapezoidal tooth pitch. They are used in small to medium drives.
PUR means that the belt is made with a thermoset polyurethane compound. We typically reinforce our XL-pitch timing belts with steel, although we can make a special production to incorporate Kevlar or Vectran reinforcement. The use of Vectran increases flex life while maintaining the high modulus and thermal stability of Kevlar and steel. Belts listed without the PUR suffix means that they are made with a thermoset rubber reinforced with fiberglass.

Style Teeth Length
730XL 365 73


B & B Manufacturing, Inc.1712 Genesis DriveLa Porte, IN46350
Toll Free: 1-888-889-1896
Fax: 219-324-2694

http://bbman.thomasnet.com/viewitems/metric-pitch-timing-belts/5-08mm-pitch-neoprene?&bc=100|1013|1025|1159&forward=1

Item # 730XL025G 1/5" pitch (XL) - Belts - Neoprene

[OICU812]

Interesting, what will be the effectiveness of #3046 Anti Static Pulley, I wonder....?

I know on my Logo 14 they came out with a front pulley that was claimed to be "antistatic" and it actually did work.

[Flybar-less]

This came withe the Schulze controller.

I have some Graphit 33 coming from Realraptors.

[OICU812]

Yea that is the stuff I use now for winters, it is awesome. Do note though please do not spray it on. Spray it on rag, then apply while rotating, if not you will have one huge mess, lol. It applies nicely and lasts a long time to, no harm to the belts either.

[rscamp]

The application notes also indicate the coating lasts longer and is more conductive if you rub it on.

Just got some myself based on Shawn's suggestion and some more research...

Rob

[Flybar-less]

Kind of like the "Canary in the Coal Mine", the CC 85HV has been humming along since I have installed the 3046 anti-static tail pully.

Still waiting on Graphit 33 delivery, but may not need it.

[th3tick]

So I had a couple little pops today of what I can only guess might be static. Where does this pulley go? Can it work with the plastic 500 tail, or do I need to upgrade that to the CF version first?

Can you upgrade the 500's tail?

John

[Flybar-less]

The 3046 fits the 500 and probably most other Logos.

[th3tick]

OK, that makes sense. Is there a way to be sure I'm purchasing the anti-static version? That is, is this a new part number?

Thanks,
John

[Flybar-less]

I purchased mine from Aero-Model. It is the anti static part number.

[lloyd 1]

Ive done the same as TomC ...........but will look into the tail pully-M3046

lloyd

[dahld]

Looking for a local source of "graphite" for the belt, I went to a crafts and art supply store. Found there some graphite art rendering pencils. They are called "pencils", but are actually 1/4 inch (about 6mm) square, 4 inches long, and just the bare graphite, not wrapped in wood. They came in various hardnesses (or should I say softnesses). HB is what many would say is soft. These "pencils" came in 2B, 4B, 6B and even 8B, designed for making broad shading strokes on renderings.

They are the same width as the belt, and being so soft, they deposit the graphite on the belt smoothly, enough so that if you run your finger over the belt afterwards, your finger has a light black smudge on it.

For those of you who have never counted, on a stock Logo 600, you have to turn the tail rotor about 40 times to get the belt to go all the way around one time. I know, I need to get a life :roll:.

[Eyefly]

Hay fellas, I found a unit to test the tail to see if it produces static. Great way to find out what is going on.

http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=37047&d=1201649415

No really my discovery. It is from the gasser forum. But I just reied on my 500 boom and evidently, the boom is creating alot of static. I need to ground everything to everything else.

[th3tick]

I've been reading over there as well. On the Logos we (sadly?) don't have a nice big conductor in the frames. Worse yet, the non-conductive pulleys make it one step further difficult to resolve.

I wonder what made the anti-static tail drive "anti-static". Is it conductive?

I'm just not sure how to electrically connect them short of that copper belt rider that another person set up on the T-Rex, or the Graphit...

[Eyefly]

I will work on this...