Tail grounding

[rfauske]

Hi,

Is it ok to ground the tail to the negative pole on the flight pack ? Have a FBL unit acting up a bit so want to eliminate most of the possible problems. Havent seen anyone grounding the tail on the pantera but can't do any harm I guess ?

This is an electric pantera.

--
Rasmus F

[forvols]

Hrmmmm.... don't think I've ever read a Pantera post related to static discharge. We are running a belt driven tail so I suppose an ESD situation could occur.

I know there are a good number of threads on the Logo forums related to preventing belt induced ESD. Grounding the boom by whatever means seemed to be a popular answer.

Again, I've not heard of anyone having an ESD problem with the Pantera. Doesn't mean it can't happen... just sayin...


What FBL system are you using? If you're talking an 3G FBL unit, I think there have been many posts about "glitches". Helipainter has experienced the 3G issue If I remember correctly.

VBAR seems to be very intolerant of vibrations from what I've read.

BeastX seems to be a very tolerant FBL controller, and my experience with the Skookum 360 (old school I know ) has been that it is very forgiving.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and suggest that whatever you're chasing, it's not going to be related to ESD.On the other hand, I understand having to run down every path of possibility until a resolution to a problem has been found!

Good luck and let us know what you find as you chase this ghost!

[rfauske]

I had infact problems with noice on my ESC aswell (YGE) so it was shutting down at times, but will try again tomorrow without the switching BEC (switching to unregulated LiFe) and grounding of the programming cable on the ESC (as recommended by YGE). So now I have one ground going from the tail to the negative on the flight pack and to the escs programming port.

The FBL unit is a Tarot ZYX as I am moving my BeastX to my new 7HV.

[The Dude II]

If anything, lightly sand both ends of the boom to remove anodized finish...this will put the tail case & frame at nearly the same potential.

I've metered (with Static VM) and recorded readings as high as 13KV (enough to arc) but this was under extreme dry winter conditions with less than 25% Relative humidity.
Silicon spray on the belt would help quench the build-up...as does nitro exhaust.

Since moving gyro platform to above elevator servo AND returning to stock metal booms over Carbon Fiber Booms...I've had no worries or reason to think static discharge was an issue.

Good luck.

P.S. - another point to consider on my setup...I use a metal tail output pulley...but have seen many other stock & no known issues.

[craigr]

A year ago I was testing a new P5 on a cold dry day in January with a newly painted fiberglass canopy which had a little static in it. Was using a Optic 6 receiver and it locked out during a hover at three feet. She just slowly settled to the ground and ran a full tank at high idle. I put silicone on the tail belt and anti static spray in canopy and I am still using system in my Panteras.

[rfauske]

Hi,

It definitivly was static screwing with the FBL unit (and the other parts) instead of just running the ground cable from the tail to the negative pole on the flight pack I now took away some of the covering of the cable where it passes the belt (approx 5 mm away from the belt) and after doing that I cant make it do stupid movements on any of the servos.

Tail kick went away and all irregular servo movements on the swash (at least during the 5 minute test run in the garage as it is raining allot)

So if anyone else has a problem like this it is an easy thing to try