just a dumb question. but looking at pics of boats and the motor they are all exposed inside. being electrical in nature is there anything i need to do to protect them or just let them get wet, is they any maintance that has to be done after running them?
As long as you're not running in salt water, you're okay. I spray mine out with Corrosion-X or WD-40 after a battle, but that's mainly for the benefit of the bearings. Even in ponds with that Cu-based stuff in them, the motors are okay.
I would not use WD-40 on a motor. Use a proper oil on the bearings. Do not put oil any where except the bearings. Most espicaly do not spray WD-40 into a running motor. If you do, a nice fire will result.
After a battle I let mine run for awhile submerged in rubbing alcohol, then drain & let dry. This displaces any water that collects inside, & the alcohol evaporates quickly. JM
To answer you directly... There is not enough conductivity in pond water to pose a real current loss when compared to a motor. The electricity has a choice... It can travel through the water, or the motor. It chooses the motor 95% of the time because there is almost no resistance. (Especially in race motors) If you want a more technical answer, look up the resistance of pond water, compare it to your motors & then compute the current loss incurred.
note:: This only applies to motors. You get your electronic boards wet, they will need a heros send off (trash can).
Correction: When electronics get wet, a bath in rubbing alcohol (isopryl alcohol) will dry them out and salvage them. A hero's sendoff is only for when you take too long in recovering your ship, and the components actually rust. But that takes a long time, so for the most part electronics are NOT sacrificed to Davey Jones every time you sink.
I hate to burst your bubble but WD-40 isnt really a lubricant WD-40 is Water Displacement #40. It was designed to displace water. Thats why we use it to dry out coil packs and distributors and ignition modules after they have gotten wet on computer controlled cars. Not R/C cars but the real cars, those computers and systems are way more senstive than just a plain cheap DC electric motor, if WD-40 works without hurting that, it shouldnt hurt a DC electric motor. If it does then the motor obviously was cheap. I would use WD-40 on an electric motor, it will dry it well and it will also help in lubricating the system for a while atleast till it all evaporates. I would use graphite for the bearings on those motors though that seems to last atleast long as you dont get sunk lol
Here's why you shouldn't use WD-40 or similar products on dc motors. They contain a solvent that can break down the insulation varnish on the windings of the armature and cause the motor to short internally and fail. It can also penetrate the carbon brushes and damage them too.
Well then we shouldnt be using WD-40 to dry out electronic distributors then cause they have armatures and magnets instead of breaker points so basicly WD-40 will destory that which it never once has done to any distributor. If you dont want to use WD-40 dont its no big deal. But just to say you shouldn't use it isnt good enough for me to stop using it. Ive seen too many things saying "dont do this or it will damage/destory the component" and it never has. Just a way for companys to make money by selling their own special product for maintance of the item and if the motor shorts internally oh well arent we using these dc electric motors cause their cheap to replace when they go out. Im not going to argue or fight over this. Its completely pointless, if you dont want to use WD-40 great. Thats your personal preference. Just like some people dont stuff the stuffing box full of grease or anything due to the extra drag on the motors but some still do it. But I know Im planning on using a box to keep the motors dry. Shouldnt be hard to run a shaft seal to seal the box up and keep water out. Also if your lucky you can get small seals that are graphite impregnanted so they basicly are self lubricating.
Trhanks guys for the great info. anyone use electronics parts clearner or carb cleaner to clean and dry off electronics?
WD-40 will leave a wax residue on surfaces. Which may not be a problem with some uses, but on a motor commutator it can cause some problems with brush contact. I have seen many a motor catch fire after someone has used WD-40 on it. WD-40 does indeed displace water, but it is best used on mechanical devices, and it is certainly not a lubricant. If think the motor requires special care after a sink, put some lube on the bearings and just run it untill dry. Also don't spray WD-40 into cannons. The residue casuses the bbs to stick.
lol I wouldnt use WD-40 on cannons I would use gun oil that i use for oiling the barrels of real guns that stuff is great for even bb gun barrels. It might leave a wax residue but once the motor heats up the wax should melt or burn off the contacts. Either way its really up to the person if you want to use it or not. I dont think I would use carb cleaner on a DC motor that stuff is flamable cause your supposed to run the engine and spray it into the carb to clean unless you do the second route which is pull the carb. Electronic parts cleaner will work. Ive used that before. I would say WD-40 to use but thats just me cause i like taking stuff apart and fixing it. I get bored with something if it doesnt have to be taken apart atleast once in a while lol
Yes of course.... I should have said "might need a heros send off". -->With addition, water can still short electronics... rust isn't the only issue.
For Motor maintenance, see article here: http://ntxbg.org/KnowledgeBase/?category_id=45&menuaction=phpbrain.uikb.view_article&art_id=3 I found the right combination by accident, but as it turns out, the Mfg also recommended the same method. I figure if that can bring back rusted shut motors and make them run like new, it should work great for motors in reasonably good shape and keep them that way. Cheers Jeff
I have used wd-40 on motors before small and large and it does cause the motor to catch fire. Now some motors that have wd-40 sprayed on them may not heat up much at all and not ignite the WD-40. If your spraying WD-40 after a sink on your motors maybe the soaking of the motors may keep them from getting too hot to ignnite the wd-40. Or that somehow it just works better to use wd-40 after a sink but not before. If you spray it on a dry motor then go out and battle hard,your motor heats up it's more than likely it will ignite the wd-40. However if it is after a battle where the motors have water in them it may not have the same effect. My Bismarck motor stil ran the ship but lol it was like the BATMOBILE turbine engine with that flame flickering out the sides. What ever works guys but I generally don'tlube my motors very often but do air dry them and lube periodically with a very light machine oil. []
