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Post by father&son on Feb 24, 2014 2:47:37 GMT 1
Well, after a quick repair to a broken firewall and gearbox, our SC LP was up and flying today in fine form....Until a rogue gust of wind put her about 60 feet up in a tree (the ONLY tree for miles!).
I believe we'll get her back on Wednesday when we have a storm forecast here in Northern California, but who knows?
The question: Supposing we don't get her down, is there (significant) fire danger leaving a LiPo battery exposed to the elements like that?
FaS
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Post by kenninny on Feb 24, 2014 3:25:54 GMT 1
As far as I know there no fire danger, the lipo will just drain down below 3.0 or drain completely, in
which case it will be no good anymore, it will not take a charge.
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Post by kenninny on Feb 24, 2014 3:43:19 GMT 1
PS when my plane was stuck in a tree I became Robin Hood, and pulled out my bow & arrow with a line tied to
the arrow, and got it down
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Post by father&son on Feb 24, 2014 4:08:45 GMT 1
Don't think it didn't cross my mind! No bow available--though I used to be a fair shot back in the day. Spent about an hour throwing various balls at it (tennis, baseball, lacrosse) to no avail. Now we pray to the wind gods. Of course if we lose it, I'll see it as an opportunity to build another from scratch...brushless and with ailerons!  FaS |
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Post by flydiver on Feb 24, 2014 9:11:04 GMT 1
No danger. The ESC and RX continue to pull low amount of power and the battery dies, usually in a day or 2 depending on the charge state when treed.
Dead lipos are best left dead unless you fully know the proper way to attempt revival and are willing to take KNOWN risks. Fully discharged lipos have been damaged.
The stock charger will not charge them if they drop below 3.0v/cell which is the low safety limit of lipos.
If you are new enough to be crashing the way you did and losing it in a tree the effort at a brushless 4-ch may build be kind of overly optimistic. Not trying to be discouraging, just throwing in a dose of reality.
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Post by father&son on Feb 24, 2014 19:18:41 GMT 1
Thanks FD,
No intention to rush into complicated and advanced upgrades yet. That comment was more tongue-in-cheek at this point, although, while new to RC flying, I am an accomplished gear-head and tinkerer, so someday, such a project will probably come to pass in my house. For now I'm still trying to find someone to help me retrieve the SC. Hate to give up on her yet.
S
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Post by flydiver on Feb 24, 2014 19:46:10 GMT 1
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Post by Knackered Sailor on Feb 24, 2014 23:23:55 GMT 1
Bad luck F&S, someone warned me on here that trees are on the lookout for Super Cubs and their branches reach out and grab them. Fortunately mine got grabbed about 8' up.
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Post by renard80 on Feb 24, 2014 23:29:02 GMT 1
When an extremely high tree grabbed my SC, I eventually had to resort to finding a friendly tree surgeon (I don't know how you call them on that side of the big pond). He put on his tree climbing gear and climbed way up. Even then, he had to borrow my friend's Aeroloop to reach out sideways, as the plane was out on flimsy branches. He was a nice guy, saw the funny side and didn't charge much. I think he enjoyed the break from his usual workaday routine. SC member Dilzio, in Australia, flagged down a passing fire truck and the crew retrieved his plane as "a training exercise"!! I think it cost him a case of beer, delivered to the fire station.  Good luck! |
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Post by hghost on Feb 25, 2014 1:26:32 GMT 1
F&S ever see the Telescopic Tree trimmers ? Has a hook with a blade and you hook the limb and then pull the rope and cut the limb on a tree ? Also comes with a saw you can saw bigger limbs ? They sell them fairly cheap in every hardware store and other type stores. www.walmart.com/ip/Fiskars-93936935J-Incorporated-12-Wallace-Telescoping-Tree-Pruner-With-Saw/21152850Well I own one that works and one the blade had messed up on. I kept the telescopic pole and I taped a small garden Hoe to the end...and I used a ladder, climbed as high as i could and used that pole and hoe to remove my Super Cub from a tree. My first flight in that early morning fog resulted in it landing in a tall pine.... it took me awhile to get her down, but I got it and in perfect shape. The Lipo will slowly drain down, and when you do get it down check the battery, but if it takes to long and the voltage drops below the safe level...just get rid of it and get a new battery. Winds may knock it out, or you could ask as Renard stated a local fire dept or a tree trimmer....may cost you a few bucks, but it would be worth it . 60 Feet is not that high depending on the type of tree it's in you could climb half that with the right ladder. Depends also on where it sets in that tree...if it's way out on a narrow limb, I am sure the winds will knock it down...but in close to the trunk ( like mine was) It will take more than wind.... |
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Post by father&son on Feb 25, 2014 1:51:22 GMT 1
Great suggestions, all.
I'm on the lookout for an Arborist who's interested in a side project.
I'll report back. I WILL NOT give up on this SC!
F&S
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Post by father&son on Feb 26, 2014 2:46:01 GMT 1
Well,
I'm happy to report that our Cub is free! The arborist who took care of our trees last year was happy to go down to the municipal park and retrieve the cub -- sans landing gear and rear wheel, but otherwise looking completely fine.
Looking forward to more adventures in the sky soon!
F&S
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Post by Knackered Sailor on Feb 26, 2014 15:01:37 GMT 1
Nice one, pleased for you. :-)
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Post by renard80 on Feb 27, 2014 0:04:32 GMT 1
My friendly tree surgeon charged a modest fee (see above). I'm glad you found someone equally obliging. Just from interest, did he charge you? And I have now discovered that the UK 'tree surgeon' = US 'arborist' . Hope my tip helped you. |
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Post by father&son on Feb 27, 2014 6:03:54 GMT 1
Yes it did. Thank you very much. He did charge me, as he actually had one of his employees do it. But the fee was nominal and well worth it.
F&S
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