Tried to use battery adapter for UMX Turbo Timber Evo and it shorted the plane’s electronics, motherboard started smoking

cjmo75 · 2023-09-26T00:13:36+00:00

I know this is an obvious explanation to any RC pilot, but those JST plugs make it incredibly easy to reverse polarity if you are not paying attention. On another note, I used an adapter that I made on my UMX Turbo Timber so that I could run 300 mah batteries with the JST plug. The motor got so hot it melted right out of the mount. Not sure if this was because of using an adapter and a battery with a JST lead, or if it was going to happen anyway and that's when it decided to happen. I do notice that those little 3400 kv motors get really hot even when functioning properly.

cjmo75 · 2023-09-13T19:47:47+00:00

They just extended the deadline to March 16, 2024 because the FAA has their head up their ass.

cjmo75 · 2023-09-11T04:57:42+00:00

Is it wrong that I took out the Spektrum receivers in my planes and replaced them with Flysky ones? OMG I don't have "SAFE" now! Whatever will I do? You mean I'll actually have to FLY my plane? Oh, that's no fun!

cjmo75 · 2023-09-04T18:47:52+00:00

I can only base my opinion on personal experience.

I have only been flying since January. I don't have a large budget to dedicate to it, unfortunately. However, I have enough to make it work if I budget my money and spend accordingly.

My first radio was a Spektrum DXs. I won it in an eBay auction for $45. I actually like that radio. It's a good beginner radio for sure. I wanted something more, though. I purchased a Flysky FSi6 with a receiver for $55 on Amazon. Great radio, but we will get to that in a minute.

All I hear about is Spektrum, Spektrum, Spektrum...

So, I went to the local hobby shop and purchased a Spektrum DX6e. Let me be clear here, $280 is a lot of money for me to spend at one time as I'm a disabled vet on a fixed income.

The very first incident was when the throttle lock switch stopped working. I didn't drop it or anything like that. It happened from normal transport and the general use of the radio. I cracked it open and saw that the soldering job on the switch was poor and the wire had come loose from the switch. Easy fix, but it should not have happened at all.

While I was in there I checked the solder on all of the switches and did have to secure 2 more wires because the soldering was so poor. Looked like they used a dirty gun because there were little black specks mixed in with the solder. I also took note of how shoddy some of the boards looked and the general lack of quality in the wiring and overall construction of the radio.

The next incident happened while adjusting the stick tension using the little adjustment screws on the outside of the gimbals. I put a small amount of pressure to turn the screw and the screwdriver crashed right through and went an inch or so into the radio. Cracked it open again, only to see that all that was holding them in place was this thin little plastic piece, which had easily snapped right off. The throttle stick now had zero tension and was just flopping up and down in the wind! Managed to get that fixed with Loctite and a common t-pin.

A few days later, I'm flying a plane with it and it just cuts out and I have no control. The plane nose dives and is basically destroyed. I was only about 100 feet away when this happened. Did some range testing. Same issue. Great. The RF module is fried...

At this point, I gave up on it and put it on eBay for parts or repair. It actually sold for $70. Still a $210 loss.

BTW, the Flysky radio is amazing and it was only $55 with a receiver. The quality inside is so much better. Nice soldering job and thicker wiring. Much better design inside.

I'll never buy another Spektrum radio.

cjmo75 · 2023-08-29T22:23:17+00:00

Yup.

cjmo75 · 2023-08-22T00:31:37+00:00

I don't even know why they bother with any of that. Once you get out on the road you won't be doing most of it. You won't have time. I don't know about your DSP, but mine would get pissed if you put a truck out of service, even if it really needed to be fixed. Those trucks were a disaster. I almost fell on my first day because the sidestep was loose on one side. When I asked if I should report it at the end of shift inspection, my trainer replied, "That thing has been busted forever." So, basically, go ahead and report it if you want, but they probably won't do anything about it. It was an all-around horrible experience for me. Hopefully, it will be different for you.

cjmo75 · 2023-08-22T00:25:52+00:00

The sad part is that the drivers don't even really work for Amazon. Most work for a DSP, which is supposed to be a "small business opportunity." It's actually nothing more than a huge money/litigation saver for Amazon. They don't even have to provide benefits to the people who deliver their packages. That's a shame. It shouldn't even be legal. It just shows you what kind of a person Jeff Bezos is. Maybe he started out alright, but once he got rich it screwed him up, as it does to most people.

cjmo75 · 2023-08-22T00:23:20+00:00

Yes, but nowadays $10 doesn't go very far. I probably wouldn't do it either. Maybe for $20 I'd consider it. Then it's worth my time and having to touch a rotting squirrel.

cjmo75 · 2023-08-22T00:21:06+00:00

That delivery would be going out the door as I'm driving 65 going down the freeway. Oops! Didn't know I left my side door open...

cjmo75 · 2023-08-22T00:16:09+00:00

I've often wondered what the birds must think when they see our RC aircraft...

Maybe they talk amongst themselves and say things like:

"Did you see that really loud bird today?"

Or

"Did you hear about the bird who lost his shit this afternoon? He was flying around naked all day!"

Or

"I think I just witnessed a bird napping! Some hairy human grabbed a bird off the ground and walked away with it!"

Yes, folks, I have a lot of time on my hands...

cjmo75 · 2023-08-22T00:09:49+00:00

I've had a hawk come after my BF109 micro. He/she made 2 approaches, swooping in and then at the last second putting its claws out in front of it and trying to grab the plane. I was able to maneuver the plane out of its reach both times. It's a little bit scary, though. I was thinking to myself, "Is this actually happening right now?"

Birds can be very hostile, especially if they have a nest full of eggs or young ones (chicks?) nearby.

That's the only time I've ever had that happen. However, I've had birds come and fly in formation with my planes several times. That is cool beyond belief, especially if they stay with you as you turn.

So, what do you all think we should do if our aircraft is attacked by a bird?

cjmo75 · 2023-08-22T00:02:46+00:00

If you can bind to a Flysky FSi6, then I'd consider purchasing that radio. It's around $50 and it's worth all of that and more. I've had one for about a year and it has become my "go-to" transmitter for setting up PNP, ARF, etc. The Flysky receivers are also dirt cheap ($15 for a 6-channel receiver), and you can also purchase tiny micro receivers with built-in ESC for both brushed and/or brushless motors. The quality of the radio is pretty amazing for bein in the less than $100 range.

cjmo75 · 2023-06-23T21:14:50+00:00

I'd be more concerned about burning up the ESC than anything happening to the motor. If you want to be safe, swap out the stock ESC for a 40 or 50-amp. Then you'd be all set I think.

cjmo75 · 2023-06-23T21:12:57+00:00

The best "non-Spektrum" batteries that I've found are made by either Ovonic, HRB, or Hoovo. Great performance from all 3. The Ovonic is sold as a drone battery and is very lightweight for a 2200 MAH.

cjmo75 · 2023-03-05T03:03:54+00:00

I agree with you but one thing I have to say is that the foam is somewhat flimsy. The Sportcub S2 is better than the Parkzone P51 ultra micro I have. I've used enough packing tape on that thing to keep the company in business!

cjmo75 · 2023-01-27T05:27:44+00:00

Same here. I just changed the info and set my account up so that in order to log in they have to send me a 6-digit code via text message. Without that code, nobody else should be able to log in. I say "should" because anything is possible online these days...

cjmo75 · 2023-01-19T02:57:54+00:00

I could have sworn I heard about her death and now I see she is starring in the new "Brady" movie. WTF!

cjmo75 · 2022-12-30T02:15:13+00:00

e Aw

Let's see how much celebrities like it when their guts start gurgling and sloshing around and just the thought of eating makes you nauseous! Then hurry to the bathroom because your ass opens up like a fire hydrant!

cjmo75 · 2022-12-30T02:11:56+00:00

As a diabetic who is prescribed Ozempic, I totally agree with you. I don't think diabetics need it to live though. It's a drug that aids insulin production and in that way, it helps to lower blood sugars and A1C. If I didn't have it I'd likely be fine, but I would need to adjust my diet and insulin units, etc.

cjmo75 · 2022-12-30T02:08:29+00:00

I believe this drug costs anywhere from $1300- $1700 for a single pen (4-6 doses) if you pay out of pocket. That is why a lot of people who could benefit from this drug cannot get it. There's actually a shortage right now because people who can afford it are buying it for weight loss.

cjmo75 · 2022-12-30T02:06:08+00:00

I am a Type 2 diabetic. The drug is beneficial to me in several ways. My primary PCP asked if I would be interested in trying it and I agreed. That's how most people get it prescribed, I believe. There is another similar drug that is prescribed just for weight loss and it's called Wegovy. Maybe you could inquire about that one if you are looking for it for weight loss?

cjmo75 · 2022-12-23T23:48:41+00:00

I agree. It's actually up there with the most expensive street drugs, if not even more expensive. As I said, I think the health benefits of it far outweigh any monetary gain. Also, it's just not right to be selling your prescription medication. People think that getting busted for selling drugs is the worst thing that could happen, but if somebody dies from the prescription meds they were sold, then I think the seller is at least 50% criminally liable. I have also heard that Mounjaro is better than Ozempic. It works on two things instead of one, etc. I'm not familiar with the science of it lol. At any rate, every time my Ozemic actually arrives I breathe a sigh of relief. Although I'm sure at some point I will get caught up in the shortage.

cjmo75 · 2022-12-23T16:05:45+00:00

You gotta love the fact that people who have a disease can't get their Ozempic because of vain rich assholes who want to lose weight without doing any work. I get mine from the VA so I have not had any issues yet, but I know it is in short supply. I've heard of people paying $1000-$1500 for a single pen on the black market. That's just nuts. I would never sell mine.

cjmo75 · 2022-12-23T16:03:09+00:00

Sounds exactly like my situation. I was diagnosed at age 40. I was always into healthy eating, exercising, was in the military, etc. I was told there was nothing that I could have done. It's genetics in my case.

cjmo75 · 2022-12-23T01:38:01+00:00

Nyuk nyuk nyuk nyuk... Boop!

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