MSH Protos Static Issues/Solution

[fireup]

Got a MSH Protos about a week ago. Spool it up on the bench and notice my cyclic servos would twitch every 2 seconds or so. Knowing that the Trex-500 has an issue with static, I decided to do some testing also. Shot a video so you guys can see what's going on. I brought a wire that was attached to the motor mount and place it about 1/8" near the boom. Every 2 second the charge will build up then arcs to the wire from the boom.

My solution was to just scrape the anodize coating off the boom and attached a wire to it and screw the other end of the wire to the motor mount plate to bleed off the charge that gets stored in the boom so it can not arc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2rrN2OMv1U

O2rrN2OMv1U


http://www.helifreak.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=50307&d=1212632943

[EricW]

Great Fireup!,
Thanks for testing and sharing the fix.

Eric

[Ecaf]

Great video Fireup. Thanks for sharing.

Have you run a Greenlee or static detector over it at all? Was curious what your thoughts were about the main source of the static.

My testing appeared to point to the main gear.

[LITHIUMSTATIC]

I wonder if a shot of Graphite 33 on the belt would stop it too.

[stevehonn]

I coated the outside of the belt with Graphit 33 which seemed to stop any static problems but added the earth from the boom to the motor plate as well so I can't be 100% on which made the most difference.

I do know that since doing this I haven't had any static problems at all, this is using a 6200 receiver with the satellite fixed in whats considered to be the worst place, on the sade of the frame between the 4 boom mounting bolts.

[hookmaker]

Damn (sorry), Fireup, this is GREAT work man!
/Henrik

[EricW]

I crashed a couple of weeks ago, and I'm still not sure what happened...
I had my tail boom grounded like described above, no silicone or Graphite 33, AR 6200 satellite receiver on the side.
It came down as many described earlier, it tilted forward without any response on the sticks.
Now i use silicone on the belt, satellite to the rear back of the frame.
I also use a second BEC wire on my Jazz 80, on a dutch forum we measured big differences in Voltage (Scope) at the root of the BEC cable (always around 5V) and at the connector.
The voltage at the connector sometimes dropped to 3V when all servos were loaded...
The Spektrum receiver doesn't like that AFAIK.

So i hope i rulled everything out now :)

Eric

[Roadrune]

Wouldn't you be able to check for low voltage on the bench, by shakin the sticks like crazy?

[EricW]

Although you never hear negative things about the Jazz80 BEC, i was impressed by what they found out by actually measuring.
The guys on my forum even used a ordinary multimeter with two needles, while wiggling the sticks and measured a big difference.
The extra cable solves it, but will probably void warranty..
Newer model Kontronik ESC's have two cables standard, they state it's because the new internal BEC's are much stronger and need two cables to transport the higher current to the receiver, well...OK.

Eric

[Roadrune]

Although you never hear negative things about the Jazz80 BEC, i was impressed by what they found out by actually measuring.
The guys on my forum even used a ordinary multimeter with two needles, while wiggling the sticks and measured a big difference.
The extra cable solves it, but will probably void warranty..
Newer model Kontronik ESC's have two cables standard, they state it's because the new internal BEC's are much stronger and need two cables to transport the higher current to the receiver, well...OK.

Eric

Is this a Jazz problem only?

I just ordered a Protos with the Scorpion 60amp. esc, should i consider a mod?

[EricW]

They only tested the Jazz 80, and in their opinion the wires running from the bec are a bit thin..
The Jazz 80 has a wonderful Governor, and it is a great controller..
Again, many people fly the Jazz without a single problem on the internal BEC, but I trust the opinion of those guys so i wanted to be sure that I have enough volts at the end of the line.
I have no idea about the scorpion controller, and what kind of wires they use, and if there is a voltage drop etc..etc.
When I'm right that controller is rated with 4A instead of the 3A, so i guess the internal BEC will be even stronger.
I think you don't have to worry :)

Eric

[Roadrune]

I wanted the Jazz myself, but it was out of stock, and i am NOT a pacient kind a guy:D

[ktm520]

Fireup, what electronics are you running on your protos (esc, bec, rx)? Corrado posted over on rcg that a guy he knew got rid of his glitching by switching esc's. I think he switched from an Align 60 to a Jazz. Personally, I'm running a Jazz 40, CC bec, and a Lightflightrc D6 rx (fm dual conversion dsp) and I haven't had any issues in the first 5 flights.

Is the static issue more of a glitching problem or is it causing problems with the spektrum rx's?

[ktm520]

here's the thread
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=867472&page=40&pp=20
post #799 and 801.

[fireup]

Fireup, what electronics are you running on your protos (esc, bec, rx)? Corrado posted over on rcg that a guy he knew got rid of his glitching by switching esc's. I think he switched from an Align 60 to a Jazz. Personally, I'm running a Jazz 40, CC bec, and a Lightflightrc D6 rx (fm dual conversion dsp) and I haven't had any issues in the first 5 flights.

Is the static issue more of a glitching problem or is it causing problems with the spektrum rx's?

I'm running Align 60 ESC and scorpion 1000.

Static can cause spektrum rx's shut down if it arc's at the right time and place. After the grounding to motor mount, no more sign of static. I've also been lubing my belt as well.

[Cryofix]

AR7000's for me are taking shots, I modded my tail case to ground the tail spindle to the boom, use the boom as a conductor, modded the front of the boom with a wire grounded to the motor block.

I should be all set against static but in my Protos and 600E I have had AR7000 lockouts, both times i had no control of the heli for about 5-8 seconds!!!! (feels like an hour when it happens) and both time the heli went into an aileron roll with a bit of negative.

My fail safes were set to normal stick positions.

3 times now I have had this happen 2 times on my 600 and once on my Protos

[hookmaker]

Kev, how did you attach the wire to the boom, looks like a solder?

/Henrik

[EricW]

The boom is made off aluminium, IMO extremely hard to solder.
I stripped enough of the wire and removed some anodizing from the boom (fine sandpaper) where the boomservo clamp is.
Just put it between the clamp an fasten it.
Even better would be the same method but in the boomclamp, the wire can run on the inside of the frames to the motormount and your sure you do not weaken the boom in any way..

Eric

[Roadrune]

Like this.

[hookmaker]

Great tips, thanks guys!
/henrik