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Safety - RC Helis are not toys > Where to stand when plugging/unplugging the battery
 
 
wlfk
Veteran
Location: uk

Something I've never seen discussed, but which seems to make sense to me, is that when I plug in the battery I make sure that I'm standing right in front of a blade so it has less room to accelerate should the ESC for whatever reason decide to fire up. The worst case scenario if you're standing right behind a blade, is that its partner has 180 degrees to turn before it whacks you in the calf, and it would turn 360.

I also make sure I'm not stradling the blade, as I imagine there would still be enough torque for the helicopter to turn on its side and continue to spin the rotor.

Comments?

K

A bit like a kite, but 500 times more expensive
03-11-2008 08:20 AM
 
 
cassat
Veteran
Location: Alberta,Canada

I would probably just try and grab the rotor hub. It would probaly hurt and bruise a bit, but not slice anything if you grab it fast enough? Not sure.
03-22-2008 04:15 PM
 
 
Pistol_Pete
Elite Veteran
Location: Tampa Bay non-Buccaneer

WHICHEVER way you feel is the safest AND it works...THATS is the best way...period.

I use the throtle hold while plugging in as it is the safest way for me.

<><>...the lunatic is in my head...<><>
03-30-2008 01:12 PM
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
Seablade
Senior Heliman
Location: floating around

Flying a maxi-joker 2 so the blades are big enough to do this. It's electric too so perhaps easier to do.

My battery connection is at the front of the heli.
So when I'm making the connection and arming the ESC I kneel in front of it and have one blade right up against my arms so that if there is a failure with the ESC I am still right there to pull the connection out if I feel that blade move. I hang on tight to the connection so that if it does happen any movement from me or the heli in opposite directions is going to pull the connection apart.

It is always a scary feeling until I hear the correct sound from the ESC to say it has armed itself.

If I make the connection quick and step back and the rotor does start to spin there is no chance of getting at the connections.

Perhaps a buddy with a blanket to throw over the rotor if there is a spool up to full speed at the start? You know...a blanket made of chain mail like the knights of old wore when they flew their heli's!

"Vini, Vidi, Velcro"
03-30-2008 02:24 PM
 
 
wlfk
Veteran
Location: uk

I always use throttle hold, and I put the TX into normal mode with the stick down. That way, even if I accidentally hit throttle-hold OR the collective stick, nothing bad should happen. I do know that when I've put the TX down, a tuft of grass pushed the TX into idle-up mode so throttle-hold has saved me at least once.

I have a theory that 2.4ghz radios should actually be switched off before unplugging the battery, because then you should need to hit 3 switches rather than 2 in order to go live (on; throttle hold off; collective up OR idle-up on) but this doesn't seem a very popular idea. Also, I have a ZGUID TX.

K

A bit like a kite, but 500 times more expensive
03-30-2008 02:27 PM
 
 
Seablade
Senior Heliman
Location: floating around

Switch off the Tx before disconnecting the power from your battery???
Maybe for a gasser it would work as the motor is not running. For a Electric I think it would be the kiss of death leaving power available to your ESC to run wild without the input commands to keep it at zero throttle. People do get away with it, but the scorecards favor the accidents that have happened.

I might add to just clarify my procedure the TX is on and the Rx battery is connected and on before I connect the main battery for the motor. Those are the battery connections at the front of the heli.
The throttle hold also sounds like a good idea to use in addition to my procedure. My Tx is only handled by me and the zero throttle is confirmed whenever I put it down to connect the battery. I want to put a simple guard over the throttle stick, even a rubber band pulling it back to zero would make me happier.

"Vini, Vidi, Velcro"
03-30-2008 07:08 PM
 
 
wlfk
Veteran
Location: uk

Quote 
For a Electric I think it would be the kiss of death leaving power available to your ESC to run wild without the input commands to keep it at zero throttle.

I absolutely agree about the older radios, but my understanding of the newer radios is that they simply don't work that way. A lack of command is a command to run at zero throttle - assuming you have the failsafe set correctly. Apart from the zguid bug, I personally think it's less likely that the failsafe will fail than that somebody will fall over the transmitter and set it all running.

I expect my opinion will remain a minority one for some time to come.

K

A bit like a kite, but 500 times more expensive
03-30-2008 08:28 PM
 
 
Seablade
Senior Heliman
Location: floating around

Perhaps your right about the newer radios. I can't say for certain as my attitude about it is not to rely on somebody else, whether they be the designers of the radio or somebody on the spur of the moment lending a helping hand. So I need to read more of the manual...Lol...I've had a new futaba 12fg since...ah...well more then 6 weeks and haven't had time to take it out of the box yet! I'm hoping in April and May I'll get to use it!

"Vini, Vidi, Velcro"
03-31-2008 01:53 AM
 
 
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Safety - RC Helis are not toys > Where to stand when plugging/unplugging the battery
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