Built myself a "Cage"

[d3lap]

So I started off with 6' of Derlin Rod. 3/8" thick.

Got it set up with the heat gun for my losi 8t 1.0 and ready to start forming it.

Got a basic shape I liked. Was going for a sleek look so it could still fit under most of my bodies.

Started some bracing, you can see the excess running through the rear shock tower.

Test fit of the body,

Proved to be good, so i continued working on the bracing. That 6' didnt last me long and I had to go get another couple feet as I have a few ideas of where id like this to go.

Ended up picking up another 6' just to be safe.
Tied the front cage into the bumper, which has an aluminum mount that goes and ties into the 4 underside diff screws. Counter sinking the wholes to make sure they dont snag. The rear end of the cage is mounted to the shock tower, the lower wing mounts to be specific. Can tie the wing in too if I wanted too.
Well, its done for a little bit. Going to try and get some wrench time in tonight.








Let me know what you think. I breifly stood on it, and its solid!

[_paralyzed_]

Awesome work! I like the body too. Good looking machine!

Somehow building a cage turned your blue motor green?

[d3lap]

It needed more umph. So the 2.5hp motor went in! And I wonder how i go through diffs.. Should be pretty good with the Gopro!

[d3lap]

Dahh dahh dummmmm....




Im going to have to put some current limiters on the leds... Looks like having 12 led's hooked to a 5s battery isnt the greatest idea... Any tips?

[brainanator]

What voltage are your LEDs? Possibly you can run them off of the BEC. If that voltage is too low you can just wire in a resistor to the LED circuit. If you're over volting the LEDs I'm surprised they didn't already blow out. Whenever I over volt them they POP right away!

Roll cage looks great!

[d3lap]

Thanks! I'm pretty sure the lights are 1.5v each, got them on ebay some time ago, just to spend the last couple bucks. They came in a ziplock baggy.. But I cant complain they are pretty good actually. They dont blow but i figure 5s at 4.2*5=21v and 1.5*12=18 so i could be overloading their voltage.. I have them wired all positives to + lead and all Negative to - lead. I would be more inclined to put a regulator on it, but I could always try and rewire it. Worth noting tho, I have them clustered in 3's on each light (4 total) and glued together, and they warmed up enough to soften the glue (glue gun).


The led's also have a little diode or something on their leds.

[brainanator]

If they are all wired in parallel as you described (as in, not "daisy chained" but each one going to the power source individually) then they are ALL getting the full voltage. You can't add up the voltage drops (like you did with 1.5*12=18). If theyare all in series (one after the other) you can do that.
I don't think each one has a diode, since LEDs ARE diodes (light emitting diode). They might have a built in resistor, which is why you haven't blown them up yet. LEDs usually don't warm up on there own unless they are very high powered. And then not enough to melt hot glue.

Without knowing exactly what you have it's hard to know what advice to give you. This secondary component is what's saving them, otherwise plugging straight into 21V would surely fry them right away.

[ZippyBasher]

Looks familiar: Check out my Cage

Check out my Cage

I just used some lexan painted black for panels. EZ stuff.

I like your look even w/out the Body Good Job!

[d3lap]

Thanks, Your cage looks super beefy! Im hoping the hard work holds up to the 6s im putting in it!