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Safety

Modified 2020-07-22 by Garrett Warren

The goal of this section is to identify sources of danger in the drone build, and to provide safety guidelines to mitigate the chance of harm.

Soldering

Modified 2020-07-22 by Garrett Warren

A majority of the drone build involves soldering. Soldering is fun and safe when done with proper care; however, the soldering iron is very hot, and is a significant burn hazard. By products of soldering are also dangerous– the fumes produced from the flux evaporating, as well as handling the solder itself because it may contain lead. Be sure to follow the following safety guidelines whenever soldering:

  • Solder in a well ventilated space and use a fume extractor to suck the fumes away from you while working

  • Always wear safety goggles when soldering to prevent solder from splashing into your eyes, and to help keep the solder fumes away from your eyes

  • Make sure the soldering iron stand is sturdy– the soldering iron can sit in the stand without falling falling over– before plugging in the soldering iron

  • Never touch the metal part of the soldering iron after it has been plugged in

  • If you are feeling light-headed after soldering for extended periods of time, take a break and get fresh air

  • Wash your hands after soldering since the solder may contain lead

Battery

Modified 2020-08-06 by Garrett Warren

Lithium Polymer (LiPo) batteries are very commonly used in RC devices. However, they must be handled properly. Please read this article to learn more about the proper care of your drone’s LiPo battery.

  • Never leave a LiPo battery charging unattended. If the battery or charger starts smoking when you plug in the battery to charge, unplug it immediately and get a new battery and charger (this happened once as a result of a faulty charger, but the battery was fine).

  • Never overcharge the battery

  • Always have a fire extinguisher nearby in case of fire. If one is not readily available, drenching the battery and surrounding area with water will work.

  • Always inspect your battery for signs of damage such as punctures or if it is puffy. If there are any signs of damage to your battery, properly dispose of it following this article.

Flying

Modified 2020-08-06 by Garrett Warren

The main sources of danger when flying are the spinning propellers. The propellers can cause serious injury if they come into contact with a person, and can cause serious damage if they come into contact with things. For this reason, it is very important to fly your drone in a spacious area without people or fragile things around.

Another source of danger is a propeller braking after hitting something, and then flying off of the drone. This is why it is important to always wear your safety goggles when flying. If your propellers are on the wrong motors, they could fly off of the motor and also cause serious damage. Always make sure the correct propellers are on each motor, the propellers are tightly fastened to the motors, and the motors are tightly fastened to the drone frame.