Tommygun

My Feedback: (2)

I put what used to be a brand new Jeti brushless ESC in my Herr Aquastar seaplane, and after a rough water landing, it caught fire. I was operating within the amp limits. My only guess is somehow water got on it, and it shorted out. Is that possible?? Many electronics will work after drying out. It didn't get submersed or anything- probably just sprayed.

jzrf6c

I'd bet that if the ESC was shorted long enought to cause the damage in the photo that it also has suffered major damage.

Tommygun

My Feedback: (2)

Well yeah, I kinda figured it's shot- the thing is melted and running down the pylon. But can water start a fire fire like that?

pilotpete2

Water and ESCs don't mix well, if one gets wet when not powered up, no problem if you dry it out completely before putting power to it. In the case of a seaplane one has to take extra care to protect the ESC from spray.
Pete

sharpshooter223

this is off topic, but i can never seen to get a straight answer anywhere else. how well does the aqua star fly, and what kind of motor are you using.

ashtonpa

If any electronic assembly gets wet when power is still applied, it will start to corrode almost instantly. If the battery remained hooked up while still wet, the products of corrosion, not the water, could cause enough of a short circuit to cause an event such as this (especially when you have so much energy in a battery capable of supplying lots of amperes). If you get electronics wet, remove power immediately and dry out the assembly before attempting to add power.

ih8nixon

My esc on an f-27c put some mean burn marks in my fuse after an inverted swamp landing, so I would assume if my esc had not gotten totally submeged in water it could have burned the rest of the plane. The first pic is the burn mark the second is the burned/melted esc

cwharper

Yes the esc can and will catch fire when water has gotten in it if powered up when wet. I have been there done that.