With the met forecast for the next weekend talking about rain, I wonder whether flying in rain may possibly lead to an inflight motor stoppage?

Peter Germann

I cannot say in your case but I have flown one of my electric Ringmasters in the rain. Well yes, my motor stopped abruptly -- that was when I bottomed out in an outside loop.  Give yourself a little extra space if it is raining hard. 

Thank you, John, very interesting indeed. Sorry for asking, but I do not rembember if the Ringmaster is a profile?

Peter

Hello Peter ... something wrong happened with your accout?  

Ok, my solution is to use timers without any external switches and whole system is operated with only main switch of Spin regulator. Regulator is coated against water and shrink tube is sealed from both sides by neutral silicone for electronics. Therefore all low power electronic is water proof. Power lines from battery and motor is open, but I believe that it has no impact to its run. So the only danger place for short is the main switch which can be accinetally connected. So you must be sure that your switch is dry before flight and you must count that you cannot switch it off, so you must switch it off after flight and also disconnect battery (what you must do anyway) and dry it, check it and test if the system is really disconnected after soaking. It also means that flight in rain should be only in necessary case of contest flight etc.

However it is worst case, normally it is possible to shield all components from rain, and also wrap it with paper which will soak those few drops which will go thru shielding anyway. Rain makes air cold, so ESC does not need so much cooling that it must be exposed to direct stream.

So greeting to Uwe 

and regarding wrapping - be carefull with temperature, it can also cause stop in worst place of figure. I usually put only piece of toalet paper (it soaks well - that is the only reason, nothing else ... just note for Uwe, because I know what he thinks about when he reads it  ) front of components from side where can the water come from, the rest is uncovered because of cooling.