Wet Suits, are they safe for your drone?

[AeroJ]

These parts will keep the battery and the gimbal protected , giving you some much needed protection where it is needed most the battery and the gimbal.

Given that the M4P doesn't have any fans, and that is (entirely or partly) the reason for the vented front bit behind the gimbal, is it a good idea to be covering that with anything ? We know how hot that little thing gets on the ground AND in flight in higher ambient temperatures. I would hesitate to reduce the internal airflow by any amount.

 

[Phantomrain.org]

Given that the M4P doesn't have any fans, and that is (entirely or partly) the reason for the vented front bit behind the gimbal, is it a good idea to be covering that with anything ? We know how hot that little thing gets on the ground AND in flight in higher ambient temperatures. I would hesitate to reduce the internal airflow by any amount.

Its much more important to have the Vents in the Back open for hot air release than it is sealing the front gimbal vents.
The Wet Suits give you control over the Air Flow on both the Mini 3 and Mini 4 to keep the air flow balanced.

Phantomrain.org
Gear to fly in the Rain, Land on the Water.

 

[AeroJ]

Its much more important to have the Vents in the Back open for hot air release than it is sealing the front gimbal vents.

I'm gonna respectfully disagree there. Where is the cold air coming from to pass over the board(s) and out the back vents if that front one is blocked ? There are no other holes in the case, right (back vents excepted obviously) ? Would DJI not have blocked it themselves if they felt they could, given it being such an obvious moisture access point ? I suspect that front vent is integral to air flow through the craft.

 

[Phantomrain.org]

I'm gonna respectfully disagree there. Where is the cold air coming from to pass over the board(s) and out the back vents if that front one is blocked ? There are no other holes in the case, right (back vents excepted obviously) ? Would DJI not have blocked it themselves if they felt they could ? I think that front vent is integral to air flow through the craft.

Sorry but the research we have done and other clients as well show that the back vents are more integral to hot air release. Hot air release is the main theme on all the drones and not air flow. .

A great example of this is the Mavic 3 Scoop on the front of the drone as many thought was for air flow but in fact it was a cosmetic effect that was sealed and therefore no Air Intake .

Thus we have had no issues with the front of the Mini 3 and Mini 4 working with the Wet Suit as it only redirects the rain to not go directly into the vents and still allows for hot air release.

The Wet Suits work with Tabs, use them when needed to fly in the Rain.

Phantomrain.org
Gear to fly in the Rain, Land on the Water.

 

[Felix le Chat]

There's nothing you can really do about the motors they need to vent. But as far as Waterproofing your Drone I think the best option is a wet suit (PhantomRain has nice suits) - It will add weight BUT its a tradeoff Do you wanna fly when its wet or stay home. Anytime you throw a battery into your drone in even a sprinkle there is a risk of water getting in and shorting something. I Don't take MY toys out in the rain or for awhile after.
There are other ways of waterproofing your drone- If you don't mind pulling your drone completely apart and applying proofing gel to every part of the electronics. BUT My guess is you don't wanna do that.

If you're on about the conformal coatings that were all the rage three or four years ago: I would imagine that a drone that already suffers with a lack of internal fan ventilation would overheat a lot faster regardless of whether it was airborne or not. I'm in the same mindset as you: rain? Wait until it stops, or no-go. Same with snow.

 

[MS Coast]

I'm gonna respectfully disagree there. Where is the cold air coming from to pass over the board(s) and out the back vents if that front one is blocked ? There are no other holes in the case, right (back vents excepted obviously) ? Would DJI not have blocked it themselves if they felt they could, given it being such an obvious moisture access point ? I suspect that front vent is integral to air flow through the craft.

That's a valid point. Hot air cannot be discharged from the rear of the drone without air entering the interior of the drone from somewhere.

Sorry but the research we have done and other clients as well show that the back vents are more integral to hot air release. Hot air release is the main theme on all the drones and not air flow. .

"Hot air release" IS air flow. Makeup air has to enter from somewhere.

The Wet Suits give you control over the Air Flow on both the Mini 3 and Mini 4 to keep the air flow balanced.

What is adjustable to provide control? Balanced between what?

 

[AeroJ]

That's a valid point.

I thought so too initially, but I think we are wrong now... this from the m4p manual.



Hot air rises, and if there are 4 powerful fans pushing air around outside the craft, that would potentially create lower pressure inside the craft further accelerating its escape ? I suspect then that is air movement in both directions around those rear vents, but whatever happens, it does work in keeping it cool in flight, and apparently so even with the front bits blocked.

Personally I'd still have the extra cooling rather than the rain-proofing, though I may regret that if I ever get caught out...

 

[Phantomrain.org]

That's a valid point. Hot air cannot be discharged from the rear of the drone without air entering the interior of the drone from somewhere.

"Hot air release" IS air flow. Makeup air has to enter from somewhere.


What is adjustable to provide control? Balanced between what?

None of these points are Valid.
Hot Air Release does not need cool air coming into the drone for the Hot Air to release itself.

We have only sold a couple hundred Mini 3 and Mini 4 Wet Suits being used worldwide ,
they have the ability to adapt to fly in hot temps as well as secure the drone to fly in the Rain.

It bears repeating that the Wet Suit do not seal the Front Gimbal but Redirects the rain so it does not get
into the vents.



Phantomrain.org
Gear to fly in the Rain, Land on the Water.

 

[MS Coast]

None of these points are Valid.
Hot Air Release does not need cool air coming into the drone for the Hot Air to release itself.

I don't remember a lot of what I learned in those heat transfer and thermodynamics classes, and I've certainly forgotten a lot of my engineering work in the following five decades, but I do remember the principle of conservation of mass.

Air cannot continuously flow out of a drone without air flowing into the drone.

Assuming that it could be kept running, would a drone submerged in water be able to blow bubbles until the battery ran down?

 

[Phantomrain.org]

We have been selling Wet Suit for almost 6 Years now, if there was any safety issues this Forum would have them noted.

On a serious note: All of the Drones are fully submerged, and we seal off all the vents to test the drone's abilities.
than we reverse Engineer the Wet Suits for what is needed.

When it comes to the Mini 3 and Mini 4 drones they are the very Worst in the Rain. but with the Wet Suits
the magic happens for them as they do for all the drones.

You have to give credit to the Wet Suits , as we enhance the DJI drone to fly in the Rain , an keep the Drones Safe for the last 6 Years.

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When it comes to someone having 50 Years of thermodynamic experience, I will just keep cutting open my hot Potato to release the heat. . lol



Phantomrain.org
Gear to Fly in the Rain.

 

[MS Coast]

None of these points are Valid.
Hot Air Release does not need cool air coming into the drone for the Hot Air to release itself.

When it comes to someone having 50 Years of thermodynamic experience, I will just keep cutting open my hot Potato to release the heat. . lol

Well, ok then. When it comes to someone having six years of stick-on foam rubber experience, I'll continue to say that hot air cannot continuously flow out of a drone without air flowing into the drone. Air is not created inside the drone.

Pass the butter and sour cream, please.

(When that hot air flows away from your potato, cooler air flows in to replace it.)

 

[Phantomrain.org]

Well, ok then. When it comes to someone having six years of stick-on foam rubber experience, I'll continue to say that hot air cannot continuously flow out of a drone without air flowing into the drone. Air is not created inside the drone.

Pass the butter and sour cream, please.

(When that hot air flows away from your potato, cooler air flows in to replace it.)

With 50 Years of Engineering and Thermo Dynamic maybe you should develop your own Wetsuit.
I think everyone on this forum and the world over would like to see it. Right everyone?

You have been following my Company for Years now, you must be ready to show your stuff. ?

Show us your Engineering thoughts.

Why dont we start with what Material would you use ?
What is the maximum weight your willing to settle for
How would you apply it ?



Keep me posted as I will be your first Client if Im not dead and buried.

Phantomrain.org
Gear to fly your Drone in the Rain. Land on the Water.

 

[MS Coast]

With 50 Years of Engineering and Thermo Dynamic maybe you should develop your own Wetsuit.

No, thanks. I'm not interested in new business. But I will speak up when someone posts something that is physically impossible and potentially misleading.

In order for moving air to remove heat from the interior of a drone, cooler air must flow into the drone as the warmer air flows out.

I recall that you also objected when I disagreed with your statement that the flotation kit attached to a drone will make it fly better downwind.

Let's keep things real, and civil.

 

[Droning on and on...]

there are 4 powerful fans pushing air around outside the craft, that would potentially create lower pressure inside the craft further accelerating its escape ?

Bernoulli.

 

[Droning on and on...]

Hot Air Release does not need cool air coming into the drone for the Hot Air to release itself.

"Hot Air Release" is not a precise term in science or engineering, so it makes discussing this a little problematic.

There are 3 means by which heat energy transfers from one body to another: Convection (airflow), conduction (contact), or radiation (electromagnetic emission). Any matter above absolute zero is radiating; the hot elements (electronics) are transferring heat to the body through conduction where they are in contact with it.

Convection is the transfer mode we're debating here. Any air that leaves the volume of the body interior will be replaced by air entering the body from openings, designed (vents) or accidental (poor seal on shell seams, holes where arms attach, etc.).

This is simple fluid dynamics of gases.

So, if air is leaving the body of the drone as a part of "hot air release" it IS being replaced by air entering the drone body through other openings.

 

[Phantomrain.org]

We make Wet Suits to fly the Drones in the Rain and to land on the Water.
The Terms we use are Kept Simple so everyone can understand the process.

Its real simple, cover all the vents and the drone overheats quickly, this is why we engineered the Wet Suits to redirect the Rain while still providing air flow. ect.



Our Wet Suits our a game changer, I remember when our Phantom 4 pro Wet Suit got over 8000 negative comments. lol Today its a staple for those that need to fly in the Rain.

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Phantomrain.org
Gear to fly in the Rain. Land on the Water, Capture the Storm.

 

[Droning on and on...]

@Phantomrain.org, I've stated explicitly on the forum the respect I have for you and your products. Nothing in this discussion has changed that.

It's also true that if hot air is leaving the drone through some opening(s), air must be entering the drone from some other opening(s) to replace it.

I was doing my best to put this discussion in the realm of actual fluid dynamics using well-defined terms. Seemed to me people were talking past each other.

 

[Torque]

When I need to cool down, I don't stick an AC hose in an orifice and blow the heat out another orifice. I stand in front of the fan. I just bought the Galaxy Z Fold 6, one of its improvments is the vapour chamber to prevent overheating. The chamber is 1.6 X larger than previous models. There is no air exchange taking place within the phone to cool it. The larger chamber allows the heat to dissipate quicker through conduction, not air exchange. Just like the Mini drones dissipate their heat while flying and not while sitting on our desks immobile during firmware updates.
I'm quite sure that if there was a problem with the rain jackets retaining heat, we would have heard about by now, probably heard it many times over.

 

[Droning on and on...]

When I need to cool down, I don't stick an AC hose in an orifice and blow the heat out another orifice.

And please don't

 

[MS Coast]

NOTE: I'm not making any comments on the effects of any add-on product on any drone's performance. While anything that reduces heat rejection by insulating or reducing airflow may increase the tendency of a drone to overheat, I'm NOT suggesting that the products discussed in this thread create a problem. I've never seen one to even really know what they are or how they fit.

Any air that leaves the volume of the body interior will be replaced by air entering the body from openings, designed (vents) or accidental (poor seal on shell seams, holes where arms attach, etc.).

So, if air is leaving the body of the drone as a part of "hot air release" it IS being replaced by air entering the drone body through other openings.

Exactly, that's been my sole point. It turns out there's a pretty interesting system in the Mini 4 Pro. The more I look at DJI drones, the more impressed I am with the engineering that goes into them.

Instead of flying the M4P in today's afternoon heat and humidity, I poked around in its innards to find the paths for air to flow in, through, and out. I removed the battery and shined a small light inside for a better look. I also looked at an excellent disassembly and repair video that shows the interior structure and components. The link is below.

In forward flight, air can enter through the large vents in the front of the drone, flow around all sides of the electronics and the battery, and then exit out the top rear, sides, and bottom of the drone body.



Particularly important for cooling, air from behind the gimbal is routed through several long channels in the top of the big heat sink mounted to the motherboard. Those channels connect directly to the two black vents on the top rear of the drone. (The image is a screen capture from the video.)



Lower in the interior of the drone, there are flow paths across the bottom side of the circuit board and around the battery, with exits at the four vents on the bottom of the drone, just aft of the auxiliary light, There are two odd screened openings between the downward sensors that connect to the interior of the drone.



Warm air can also exit the battery area through the gaps at the two rear arm pivots.



There are some other interesting things inside. I was surprised to see that there are four foam pads below the circuit board, presumably to thermally isolate it somewhat from the battery.

Good disassembly and repair video:

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