Model RC surfer

[Southern SailorParticipant @southernsailor76583]

Good day all,

 

A friend has a model surfer which worked very well in the surf. He was running it in his swimming pool one day when, with no warning and for no apparent reason, the deck blew off, over the fence, over the trees (3 m high)  and into his neighbour’s yard,

 

On inspectioon all the parts looked undamaged, including the battery.  The securing screws for the deck had been ripped out of their holes.

 

Can anyone offer a suggestion as to the possible cause of the explosion?  He has a salt chlorinator.

 

Thanks

Brian

[Southern SailorParticipant @southernsailor76583]

explosion!

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Brian, what sort of batteries did the surfer have, man    ?  An explosion that leaves all parts undamaged can surely only have been caused by Gas from the battery…or did the surfer have some STASH on him?  dude

 

Ashley

 

[Southern SailorParticipant @southernsailor76583]

That’s what I have in mind.  As far as I know the batteries were/are NiCds. Of course they may have been LiPOs.  I understand these are quite violent under certain circumstances.

 

No STASH as far as I know.  Not the violent type!

 

Brian

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

I have heard of submarines blowing up (model ones) due to a build up  of hydrogen in the sealed hull from gel batteries and sparks from the motor, but I wouldn’t have thought that this would apply to Nicads, NiMh or even LiPo`s….

 

Whereas LiPo`s do seem toexplode now and then, you say the batteries appeared to be undamaged…. a mystery.

 

How about….glue fumes, released when the motor got warm/hot ??

 

Ashley

[Southern SailorParticipant @southernsailor76583]

The mystery continues.  He is going to go back and take a more careful look at the components.  Will let you know what he finds.  This hull in of course also sealed, although the degree of water-tightnes is not as high as a sub.. 

Brian 

[Southern SailorParticipant @southernsailor76583]

It seems that the deck holding down screws pulled out.  There is also no sign of any combustion.  So it must have been a build up of pressure inside, somehow, that ripped the screws out.

Brian

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