Are motors water proof or does it not matter?

[tq_racing]

I have figured out how to water proof the servos, and Rx, but what I was wondering is if a Lathe motor is water proof? If not how do I make it water proof, OR does it not matter if an electric motor is submerged in water?

And one more thing about battery's, if Im going into the water is there anything special I should do to the batteries?

Thanks everyone, just trying to get all my ducks in a row before I start spending what little cash I have.

Thanks
TQ

 

[Ace]

I wouldn't worry too much about clean water on a bushed motor but lathe motors are ball bearing and the water will eventually rust the bearings, or at least fill them with grit and shorten the life.

 

[kerosinek]

A motor will be fine under water but the brushes will wear out quicker. After a motor is submerged, squirt some oil in there and run it.

 

[obijuan]

motor oil? or like marvel mystery?

 

[tmaxxking1]

.

most people break in motors in water

or use water to clean them all the brush dust floats to the top of a cup of water

just use motor spray to clean it and oil the bushings on both ends

 

[tmaxxking1]

.

ant standard rc motor oil would be fine

 

[kerosinek]

most people break in motors in water

or use water to clean them all the brush dust floats to the top of a cup of water

just use motor spray to clean it and oil the bushings on both ends

Most people break in motors in oil. I've never heard of breaking it in with water.

 

[hurricanemitch]

Brushed motors are fine in water with no mods, I run mine in water/mud quite a lot.

As for the batterys I havent done anything to them either and have had no problems.

Now, go get wet"thumbsup"

 

[Mad Scientist]

Most people break in motors in oil. I've never heard of breaking it in with water.

Do you mean actually submerging them in oil? :? I have never heard of that. Maybe a drop or two on the bushings/bearings, but never fully submerged in oil.

The water dip method has been around for a long time now. Some people swear by it, others don't reccomend it.

 

[kerosinek]

I've heard of people running motors in oil for a short time, just squirting some oil during break in, and even letting them soak in oil. One of my friends actually forgot about a motor he had in a can of oil. He found it three years later in the garage, still in a can full of oil. It still worked too. Smoothest running motor I've ever seen, lol.

 

[RD400]

Like it has been said, fresh water and motors get along well. Salt water is a NO NO.

kerosinek, motors can be broke in by placing them in a glass of water and hooking a 4 cell pack up to it. Let it run for 4 minutes, disconnect from the battery, dry the motor, shot it down with motor spray, oil the bearing, and you will have one sweet running motor.

The water keeps the brushes and comm cool during break-in. Plus, the water acts as a lube and flushes carbon and brush particals away.

 

[tq_racing]

Thanks

Thank you everyone, this is a big help, that was the only thing that was holding me back. Cant wait to build a submarine with wheels.

TQ

 

[DaViolentOne]

Atually, the rcommended way to break in a motor with water is use the 4 cell pack, yes, but only submerge it for a count of 10 seconds... 4 minutes is a bit much and would severly eat the brushes... Pretty well everyone and everywhere I've seen/heard all say 10 seconds... Then afterwards spray it out with motor spray, then give the bearings/bushings a good soaking with oil... If you're breaking in a rebuildable motor, then you can take out the brushes and give them a quick over with a comm stick as well as the comm itself... I've done that with each and every motor I've had over the years and it hasn't failed me yet... I am going to try a charger with motor break in and see if that makes a difference...

 

[4link4eva]

As far as I know, running standard batts submerged will short them out. Use plastidip on them and you should be OK. "thumbsup"

 

[tq_racing]

what if

If you dip the bat's in plastic dip, will they over heat. I would think cooling would be an issue.

Has any one had a problem with their bats after running them underwater.

I was planning on making a pack to fit over the front servo and want to know if I need to do anything special besides the standard building of the pack.

Thanks
TQ

 

[4link4eva]

The pull on the batts is so small in crawling, that batts do not get hot. Look for K Willis's thread in the sticky, he plastidipped them with no problems.

 

[Digger]

Electricity follows the path of least resistance, which in the case of batteries is the bars and wires. They work fine underwater(at least that has been my experience from rc boats that would sink yet still be able to get back to shore under their own power)...

 

[TwistedCreations]

never had a problem submerging my truck... only time i did smoke the motor was because i never oiled it afterwards.. I just kept dunking it under 2ft of water all day long :lol:

 

[Mad Scientist]

Fresh water won't short out RC batts. Just be sure to dry them completely before storage. I doubt even salt water would cause them to fry, but it might cause some corrosion issues.

 

[K_Willis]

The biggest problem with batteries that I've had, is that water gets into the shrink wrap and doesn't get out very easily, keeping the cells wet for extended periods of time. This ends up causing them to rust like crazy. So about half of my packs have had most of the shrink wrap removed and been plastidiped.

With the low amp draw of the crawlers, there is no way the packs are going to overheat, and even in my pede with a 17t they don't really get much hotter than my non-plastidipped packs. If I was running a lower wind motor than that, I might start getting a little concerned.