Help with grounding (pics would be awesome)

[2004sccobra]

So I am new when it comes to Protos (Accutaly helis in general- Noobie). I love my Protos but got a little upset when it crashed on my maiden flight with the BD3SX! I was in a hover about a 8 feet off the ground and then boom it was in the dirt.

After reading some of the threads I have a feeling that static was the cause. It is nice, cold and dry here in WA and the static is out in full force. I had not done any static fighting measures prior to the crash as I didn't have any when flying this summer with my AR7200BX. Now that I have upgraded to the BD I would like to get some help in grounding this heli.

Here is my first step of grounding the motor to the frame. Should I run the wire away from the BD or will this work? I will also be going to Home Depot to get some silicone for the belt.

I am looking for some quick pictures on how people are doing it to help me get it right.

[alexf1852]

Did you measure ohms between motor mount and frame? It should have been less than 100 ohms. I've never had to ground between motor and frame. Also, if you are using the conductive boom block and a recent tail boom with bare aluminum, you should be ok at that spot.

The only thing I added was a connection from frame to negative battery (lipo) with a 1k ohm 2w resistor. Never had a static problem since then. I connected one end to the screw that holds the landing gear.

[flyingw]

I would definitely apply a small amount of silicone spray to the belt - I use small paintbrush. Spray the paintbrush, then run it along the belt while I turn the rotor blades by hand.

Folk say to use "food grade" silicone spray to be sure that it will not degrade the rubber belt or the plastic parts. I never heard of it, but found it on Amazon and ordered a can that should last a few years.

This eliminated the static problems I was having in cold dry Winter NJ with my Mini Protos.

Good luck with your new heli.
.

[Dylwad]

Originally Posted by flyingw

I would definitely apply a small amount of silicone spray to the belt - I use small paintbrush. Spray the paintbrush, then run it along the belt while I turn the rotor blades by hand.

Folk say to use "food grade" silicone spray to be sure that it will not degrade the rubber belt or the plastic parts. I never heard of it, but found it on Amazon and ordered a can that should last a few years.

This eliminated the static problems I was having in cold dry Winter NJ with my Mini Protos.

Good luck with your new heli.
.

Graphite spray applied the same way works wonders too. Makes the belt conductive, and pretty much unable to generate any sort of a static charge.

[2004sccobra]

Originally Posted by alexf1852

Did you measure ohms between motor mount and frame? It should have been less than 100 ohms. I've never had to ground between motor and frame. Also, if you are using the conductive boom block and a recent tail boom with bare aluminum, you should be ok at that spot.

The only thing I added was a connection from frame to negative battery (lipo) with a 1k ohm 2w resistor. Never had a static problem since then. I connected one end to the screw that holds the landing gear.

I wil check the ohms when I get home, thanks. Yes I do have the new boom block and boom. Could you snap a picture of that setup? I assume you have it wired in like you would a BEC but only on the negative? what concerns are there with sending that back into the battery?

Originally Posted by flyingw

I would definitely apply a small amount of silicone spray to the belt - I use small paintbrush. Spray the paintbrush, then run it along the belt while I turn the rotor blades by hand.

Folk say to use "food grade" silicone spray to be sure that it will not degrade the rubber belt or the plastic parts. I never heard of it, but found it on Amazon and ordered a can that should last a few years.

This eliminated the static problems I was having in cold dry Winter NJ with my Mini Protos.

Good luck with your new heli.
.

I just picked up some silicone spray from Home Depot today, obviously not food grade. If this is all I need to do then that will be great. I never liked electrical stuff.

[BHChieftain]

The grounding usually comes from the tail boom to the frame or motor. I was having some static issues with my stretch kit (funny, never had static issues with my stock kit), I scraped off some paint on the tail boom where the servo clamps are, put a wire under the clamp and ran it to the motor bracket nut. Solved my problem.

Chief

[2004sccobra]

Originally Posted by BHChieftain

The grounding usually comes from the tail boom to the frame or motor. I was having some static issues with my stretch kit (funny, never had static issues with my stock kit), I scraped off some paint on the tail boom where the servo clamps are, put a wire under the clamp and ran it to the motor bracket nut. Solved my problem.

Chief

Thanks Chief that looks easy enough! Doing that and the silicone I should be set

[BHChieftain]

+1 on the silicon on the belt. I do that too.
Chief

[TimM]

Here is mine.

Tail to Boom:



Boom to Motor:

[2004sccobra]

Thanks this will give me a place to start

[Lozki]

Quik Q) i have a Protos 500 but i have the plasyic frame do i need to ground it at all, i see in the pics you all have the carbon frame

[2004sccobra]

From what I have read, yes. The belt is what's creating the static and the plastic frame is still conductive.

[BHChieftain]

Check out the Finless Bob build videos,

The second to last video "Final Build Thoughts and Stuff" covers grounding (to the plastic frame)

https://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=105493


Chief

[Lozki]

sweet BH that video helped alot

[Dr. M]

Detailed pictures of mine are here:
https://www.helifreak.com/showpost.p...5&postcount=21

[2004sccobra]

Awesome thanks.