Just how bad is flying at the ocean for a TX?

mork · May 11, 2003, 11:50 PM

After coming back from a great day slope flying I noticed my glasses were nice and sparkly, I could taste salt on my mouth and the windscreen of my car was ik until I turned on the window washer. All this inspite of being at least 400' up from the ocean.

The thought occured to me that this may be why everone else is using cheap two channel 27Mhz and 29Mhz TX's and that maybe I should only use my Futaba Computer TX for flat field flying.

What experience have you in the group had with damage to TX by salt spray?

jonoknight · May 12, 2003, 08:47 AM

Metal parts of the TX get might get rusty and sometimes switches might stop working properly after a while. The main thing is the antenna gets stiff and corroded inside and eventually breaks or jams. I used to buy new ones every 3 months but have solved that problem now with a rubber duck antenna... new this week and testing...

I also use Aeroplate Dielectric lubricant on all the switches and exposed metal as well as the normal style antennas. I wipe some on or drop some in almost everything except the stick gimbals and the LCD screen. I have used this stuff on many different things and it works great for protecting anything electrical from salt spray and an ocean enviroment.

I also get the TX serviced on a regular basis, maybe once or twice a year to be sure and regular cleaning after every flying day helps!

Mark Wood · May 12, 2003, 08:48 AM

Not a problem here but I split my time between coastal cliffs and inland hills.

mw

rpnick · May 12, 2003, 02:35 PM

From living at the beach and working on boats for years, I can attest to the fact that all electronics show a shortened lifespan, especially tv's and computers.

jonoknight · May 12, 2003, 04:31 PM

Have you tried applying Aeroplate to your electronics rpnick?

mork · May 12, 2003, 10:41 PM

Thanks to all for replying.

Jono, does Aeroplate go on and dry or does it stay sticky

jonoknight · May 14, 2003, 05:42 AM

It is an oil so it stays a little oily. It works great on anything that can take oil and also electronics like sevos and rx's as it is dielectric, i.e. After dunking your gear in it as per Aeroplates instructions, it will let your gear function totally normally, but now it is water resistant. Do not use it on LCD's. (See http://www.aerotrend.com for details.)

I am a watersports photographer who uses normal R/C gear to fire remotely mounted cameras and I work on the beach in salt spray with my transmitter. I use Areoplate to protect it and ALL my electronics from salt. I have had my camera R/C gear (rx, switches, etc) soaked in salt water and after a dunking in the pool, yes a swiming pool with clorinated fresh water, and a very good drying out on the dash board of my car all the gear still works as good as the day I bought it or made it...

I think the stuff rules!

slopeiron · May 14, 2003, 09:17 AM

Hmmm... I never really thought about it. All the slopes I fly are coastal slopes, but I've never had a problem with my Tx. However, my Rx didn't like it too much when I splashed down one day at Fermin.

The biggest problem for a Tx at Fermin is not the salt spray, but the sand and even small gravel that blows over the edge and rains down on eveything behind the cliff on a good day. I know two guys who crashed their planes because a piece of sand jammed the stick while they were flying.

Russ.

May 11, 2003, 11:50 PM	#1
mork Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wollongong Australia Posts: 264	Just how bad is flying at the ocean for a TX? After coming back from a great day slope flying I noticed my glasses were nice and sparkly, I could taste salt on my mouth and the windscreen of my car was ik until I turned on the window washer. All this inspite of being at least 400' up from the ocean. The thought occured to me that this may be why everone else is using cheap two channel 27Mhz and 29Mhz TX's and that maybe I should only use my Futaba Computer TX for flat field flying. What experience have you in the group had with damage to TX by salt spray?

May 14, 2003, 05:42 AM	#7
jonoknight Do anything for a Mach 1 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Haiku, Hawaii Posts: 1,289	It is an oil so it stays a little oily. It works great on anything that can take oil and also electronics like sevos and rx's as it is dielectric, i.e. After dunking your gear in it as per Aeroplates instructions, it will let your gear function totally normally, but now it is water resistant. Do not use it on LCD's. (See http://www.aerotrend.com for details.) I am a watersports photographer who uses normal R/C gear to fire remotely mounted cameras and I work on the beach in salt spray with my transmitter. I use Areoplate to protect it and ALL my electronics from salt. I have had my camera R/C gear (rx, switches, etc) soaked in salt water and after a dunking in the pool, yes a swiming pool with clorinated fresh water, and a very good drying out on the dash board of my car all the gear still works as good as the day I bought it or made it... I think the stuff rules! Last edited by jonoknight; May 14, 2003 at 05:47 AM.

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May 12, 2003, 08:47 AM	#2
jonoknight Do anything for a Mach 1 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Haiku, Hawaii Posts: 1,289	Metal parts of the TX get might get rusty and sometimes switches might stop working properly after a while. The main thing is the antenna gets stiff and corroded inside and eventually breaks or jams. I used to buy new ones every 3 months but have solved that problem now with a rubber duck antenna... new this week and testing... I also use Aeroplate Dielectric lubricant on all the switches and exposed metal as well as the normal style antennas. I wipe some on or drop some in almost everything except the stick gimbals and the LCD screen. I have used this stuff on many different things and it works great for protecting anything electrical from salt spray and an ocean enviroment. I also get the TX serviced on a regular basis, maybe once or twice a year to be sure and regular cleaning after every flying day helps!

May 12, 2003, 08:48 AM	#3
Mark Wood characters welcome Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: San Diego, Calif. Posts: 18,174	Not a problem here but I split my time between coastal cliffs and inland hills. mw

May 12, 2003, 02:35 PM	#4
rpnick Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Solana Beach, CA Posts: 252	From living at the beach and working on boats for years, I can attest to the fact that all electronics show a shortened lifespan, especially tv's and computers.

May 12, 2003, 04:31 PM	#5
jonoknight Do anything for a Mach 1 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Haiku, Hawaii Posts: 1,289	Have you tried applying Aeroplate to your electronics rpnick?

May 12, 2003, 10:41 PM	#6
mork Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wollongong Australia Posts: 264	Thanks to all for replying. Jono, does Aeroplate go on and dry or does it stay sticky

May 14, 2003, 09:17 AM	#8
slopeiron No fuse too fat Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 2,524	Hmmm... I never really thought about it. All the slopes I fly are coastal slopes, but I've never had a problem with my Tx. However, my Rx didn't like it too much when I splashed down one day at Fermin. The biggest problem for a Tx at Fermin is not the salt spray, but the sand and even small gravel that blows over the edge and rains down on eveything behind the cliff on a good day. I know two guys who crashed their planes because a piece of sand jammed the stick while they were flying. Russ.