A propeller is a component that converts the power of an engine or motor's rotating shaft into propulsion. In the UAV system, it is part of the propulsion system. The performance of the propeller and its adaptability to the motor directly affect the flight performance of the UAV. Therefore, it is important to understand some causes of propeller failure and how to replace propellers.
How to fix your drone propeller?
If you want to know how to fix your propellers, you need to know what is causing the problem. Only by eliminating these causes can you help your drone blades operate normally.
Why is my drone propeller not spinning?
Many people encounter the problem that the propeller does not rotate. Have you considered these reasons?
Check the motor: The propeller is driven by a motor. First, you need to troubleshoot the motor. If the propeller cannot rotate, please remove the propeller and connect the motor to the power supply to test whether it can operate normally.
Identify CW and CCW propellers: Before installing the propellers, you need to distinguish the CW and CCW propellers. If the front and back of the blades are installed incorrectly, some protection mechanisms will not let the propellers spin.
Check if the signal is stable: Drones are controlled to take off after receiving the signal, but when the signal is unstable, the drone cannot receive the instructions correctly, which also would cause the propellers to not be able to work normally.
Clear obstructions: This is the simplest and most likely to be overlooked. The reason the propeller is not spinning is that it is stuck on something. Check for any small obstructions that may be blocking the propeller.
How do you fix a drone propeller that won't stop spinning?
When the drone propeller rotates, the fast-spinning blades may cause harm to you. If the propeller does not stop rotating, please cut off the power supply immediately and then disassemble the propeller.
Usually, the uncontrolled operation of the propeller is related to the motor and ESC. Please check whether these two components are working properly.
Can a drone fly with a broken propeller?
Obviously, the answer is no.
Broken propellers will result in different weights between all blades, which will affect the overall dynamic balance of the drone when the propellers are rotating. The difference in dynamic balance will cause greater vibrations in the drone, affecting the stability of the machine and potentially causing damage to the drone. It may reduce motor life and affect aircraft flight performance, thus leading to the risk of a drone crash.
The most important factor for propeller rotation to ensure normal flight of the drone is balance. Broken blades or even minor defects will damage the balance of the drone in the air, and may even cause the blades to break during flight, thus leading to the risk of a drone crash.
Therefore, we recommend that for minor scratches on the prop’s surface, if you do not have great requirements for flight stability and vibration and are just flying for fun, you can continue to use it while ensuring safety. If you use it for work and have certain requirements for stability, replace the propeller.
For damaged propellers, it is recommended to replace them whether for personal use or work. After all, blades are consumables, and if a drone crash happens, greater property losses will be caused.
How often should you change drone propellers?
How often you replace your propellers has something to do with the raw materials. First, let us know the characteristics of some raw materials of propellers on the market.
Propeller materials
These are the types of propellers depending on materials used.
Wooden propellers: Wooden propellers are a propeller material that has been used since the invention of aircraft, whether it is a drone or a manned aircraft. The advantages of wooden propellers have the advantages such as: light weight, low cost, and easy processing. However, the manufacturing industry is more complicated, and the finished product is not high in precision and strength.
Nylon propellers: with flexible performance but low hardness, it is easy to bend in flight, so easier to damage.
Plastic propellers: Plastic propellers have the advantages of easy processing, low cost, high mold processing precision, and lightweight. However, their disadvantages are low strength and the propeller is easy to break
Carbon fiber propellers: Lightweight, high tensile strength, friction-resistant, but fragile and difficult to process, suitable for high-strength industrial drones.
Polymer propellers: The complex mixing ratio of carbon fiber and plastic polymer improves the strength of the blade and prolongs its service life.
Fiberglass propellers: Low efficiency, heavyweight, the advantage is that it is more durable.
With different materials, the usage specifications and lifespan are different. But the only consensus is that if the surface of the propeller is obviously damaged, please replace it in time to avoid property damage caused by flight problems.
How to replace drone propellers?
Propellers will directly affect the drone’s flight condition. How to replace it correctly is also a concern for every pilot when the propeller must be replaced.
What we know is that drone propellers are used with motors, so we need to make sure we have the necessary accessories on hand. Make sure that you get all the necessary accessories you need besides propellers to be replaced, the right size screws, screwdriver, etc.
Propeller replacement steps
1. Unscrew the screws which connecting the propellers to the motor and remove the old propellers.
2. Check the surface of the replacement propellers for any obvious flaws.
3. Check whether the number of screws on hand matches the holes on the propeller. Highly recommend using new screws.
4. Distinguish the CW(Clock Wise) and CCW(Counter Clock Wise) propellers. Each manufacturer will indicate how to differentiate, such as T-MOTOR’s propellers, will mark L for CW and R for CCW.
5. After completing the inspection work, start the installation. If there are any prop cover plates in your screw accessory bag, take them out. Place them above the propeller hole to ensure the holes are aligned. (If no prop cover plate is needed, please ignore this step)
6. Place the mounting screws into the corresponding holes.
7. Place the propeller correctly on the motor with the screws facing the holes.
8. Tighten the screws with a screwdriver.
9. Finish installation.
Are drone propeller guards worth it?
If you are a novice, the drone protective cover can provide certain protection when your flying skills are not that good. It is still recommended to wear a protective cover during indoor flying.
But there are still some other voices on the market. We have collected them for your reference.
1. Propeller guards are troublesome to carry. Most portable bags do not leave space for the protective cover, which means that if you wear a protective cover, you have to find a separate place to put it.
2. It affects the battery life. Having the extra guards means more weight, which is harmful to the drone due to overload. The battery life will be affected to a certain extent, and the wind resistance will also be affected to a certain extent.
3. The protective effect is not obvious outdoors. The guard is only useful indoors but has little effect outdoors.
So whether propeller guards are worth it depends on your personal flying habits.
FAQ
What happens if a drone loses a propeller?
What happens if a drone loses a propeller?
For tri-copters and multirotors, it would bring the risk of direct drone crash, for hexacopters octocopters, and coaxial drones, it would cause the drone to rotate in the air or fly erratically.
How do you balance a drone propeller?
If you are not an expert in this field and have no professional judgment ability, it is recommended to buy a propeller balacer.
