DIY Night Blades in progress

[moyesboy]

I timed the LEDS and the white goes dim first followed quickly by the blue. But with the 5 different LEDs with different colours on each blade they are only lasting 30 mins taking just under 90maH out of the cheap supposedly 120mah batteries. Its possible to charge them quickly of course.

I'd recommend fewer LEDS,or perhaps extra series resistors as they are very bright - maybe too bright compared to the light string on the rest of the heli - or using MCPX lipos instead (the extra weight near the root won't matter I'm sure).

Meeting up with Rapidgas and some others hopefully one evening this week so there will be some other opinions on the blades and perhaps some vid.

[moyesboy]

Had a really good fly with these blades last night but it seems the G switches were just not man enough and they have stopped working. They didn't light on the first spin up, and then briefly lit as random times - so it was a really good idea to have the alternative switch connectors.
I think it was 4 flights I got before the white and blue LEDS went out. I think the life is adequate as I could always charge them between flights.

IT really is nice to have the same flight characteristics as I am used to in the light - it really helps with the confidence so I could still do a few inverted autos and the like. Great fun.

More comprehensive "how to" write up to follow.

1st lesson is, don't build it all batteries and connectors and stuff on the underside of the blade as in my pics - put it all on the top side for easy access!

[rachel]

A really interesting post , thank you , I really want to try night flying but have no idea how to start, it's all very confusing as in which blades, rope lights etc to get.

I have seen a club mates flying wing with LEDs but it's just too bright.

I hope to find some money to do a night fly soon, my trex 600 is crying out for a go.
:-)
Rachel.

[rapidgaz]

Meeting up with Rapidgaz and some others hopefully one evening this week so there will be some other opinions on the blades and perhaps some vid.[/QUOTE]

Was a great evening, and Gordon's blades looked the business. Much better than normal align/torsion/ms composite night blades. Nice flying to Gordon. Think 1 off the lads took some vids. Will find out.




Sent from my iPhone using Internet.

[moyesboy]

For the light string I have two of these on my 600n, one on my 500:
2x 1.5m Neon EL Wire Kit (use 3-cell) for Trex 450 500 550 700 Night Flight | eBay

Each driver does two 1.5m strings, one string on the canopy and one on the tail (for redundancy). These drivers need 3 cell lipos (too dim on 2 cell). glow sticks on the skids. A 360 mah 3 cell in the canopy that lasts forever.

On my 500 I power it from 3 of the 5 cells in the flight pack, via the balance lead.

I have a set of align 600 night blades to sell, fitted with external lipos, complete with a charge lead to charge as a 2 cell with an JST XH (Align type) connector.

To night fly you also need some mates to fly with - its just too wierd flying on your own in the dark!

[moyesboy]

Here's some more detail on the build, as a cople of guys are having a go.
As I said before none of this is my invention its all been gathered from various other forums.

1st stage is to rub the blades down with wet and dry to key the surface for a fuel proofer layer at the end.

Check the surface of the blade for conductivity - if it conducts you have to clearcoat before you proceed.
My blades were conductive only at the join along the edge.

Don't bother with the G switches I used they couldnt stand up to 3D flying and broke inside after 4 flights.

yuo need a meter with a diode test function that will test light the LED so you can get it the right way round.



White LED on end of blade, note insulating tape under copper wrapping leading edge.


not a good pic but this is the red or yellow LED with 82 ohm resistor in series. Only these two colours from my parts list need the resistor.


better pic of one of the other LEDS

Joins in the copper strip ned soldering too - though they seem to work before soldering they are not reliable.

After checking it all works (most likely problem is backwards LEDs) cover the end with heatshrink or solarfilm is what I used. Then seal the whole blade and edges of the heatshrink with fuel proofer.

For use on an electric maybe the fuel proofer is not required.


finished blade - balanced by the tape - not bad considering the proofer was brushed on.



If you don't want to be bothered making but want to night fly I have some align 600 night blades for sale. They have external lipos on them though, as the internal lipos were the usual align quality (probably why align stopped making night blades).

[WildWake]

As its getting too dark to fly in the evenings I thought I'd bring this thread back to life to see if any of you are still using the DIY night blades and too see if any improvements have been made as I'm looking to make some up.

[Streetluge Chris]

yep thinking try LEDS on the mcpx for a laugh.

[tonystevens]

Three people using the DIY night blades at our club after gordons thread. Ive got to say they work a treat and are highly visible. The only problems weve seen are people dropping the pins into the long grass so make plenty up lol!
Oh and dont go cutting grass with these blades or you'll loose the LED's as Tim found out

[WildWake]

Three people using the DIY night blades at our club after gordons thread. Ive got to say they work a treat and are highly visible. The only problems weve seen are people dropping the pins into the long grass so make plenty up lol!
Oh and dont go cutting grass with these blades or you'll loose the LED's as Tim found out

Thank you Tony for you feedback, if I go grass cutting,, it wont be the led's I'd have to worry about,,,, it would be how did I get into this position...

[dani_r]

Would the shopping list mentioned earlier still apply? Keen to try this as I have some 1S 130mah lipos going spare. Fancy making the 500 a night-flyer

[WildWake]

I was thinking of using my mcpx lipo's as it just sits in the box now.

[Vikki]

Looking good. Nice to see people trying things out

[WildWake]

Looking good. Nice to see people trying things out

Nice to see you back Vikki ;-)
Now this is a thread I'd like to see your thoughts on, I know from what I've seen you type in the past that you must have something magic to post????

[Vikki]

Thanks, Tye. The project seems to be going great. The only thing I would be thinking of, and I wouldn't necessarily expect anyone else to think of it, would be battery-less. Say, some coils mounted on the rotating parts and som stationary magnets positioned so the coils rush past them generating electrickery. Diode, smoothing cap. Something to experiment with. Nothing wrong with a battery though