Power issue
04-15-2012, 07:46 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Power issue
Ok, so hear is the deal. Brand new 2 meter plane. New Hymax 6330-210, with an ICE 80 HV that has about 20 flights on another plane that worked flawlessly. I am using Power Unlimited’s Dean’s series connector.
http://www.f3aunlimited.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=33_57&produ cts_id=312
Maiden today. First flight goes off without a hitch. Second flight…..plug in the batteries and get 10 beeps and the arming code. Taxi out and give it power . It felt a little weak, but being new to 2 meter electric, I lifted off and knew off the bat I didn’t have any power. Just got it turned around to the field going down wind. Pan caked it in and took out the landing gear plate.
I downloaded the Castle file and the voltage for the bad flight was only 20 volts. I checked both batteries after and they were fine on voltage. Both batteries have about 30 flights on them.
I hooked up the same batteries on the bench and they now show 40 volts on the Castle file and it runs fine. This whole thing doesn’t make any sense. How could the controller arm in the first place if only one battery connection was open to be only 20 volts? If the series connection is broken, “no” voltage would reach the controller, not half the amount.
Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks
04-15-2012, 08:50 PM
#2
RE: Power issue
First thing I would check for is bad or cold solder joints anywhere in the battery to ESC loop. There is something strange here, if you got 10 beeps but the ESC only recorded 20V it should not have armed, it should have been in Low Voltage Shutdown immediately.
Woodie
Team Acme LG
Team Blenderm
Woodie
Team Acme LG
Team Blenderm
04-15-2012, 09:15 PM
#3
Thread Starter
RE: Power issue
Woodie,
That's exactly what I am saying. It doesn't make any sense. If it was an open circuit it wouldn’t have armed, and I wouldn’t have heard ten beeps.
Here is the file. You can see the drop to 20 volts. The one before was the maiden flight and the three after were on the bench that show 40 volts.
I have used the same packs as 5’s in an Osiris with no issues.
That's exactly what I am saying. It doesn't make any sense. If it was an open circuit it wouldn’t have armed, and I wouldn’t have heard ten beeps.
Here is the file. You can see the drop to 20 volts. The one before was the maiden flight and the three after were on the bench that show 40 volts.
I have used the same packs as 5’s in an Osiris with no issues.
04-16-2012, 06:40 AM
#6
My Feedback: (1)
RE: Power issue
Did you try to re-arm on the flight that lost power? You would have had to go to low trim and low throttle and when your up to your butt in aligators it's hard to think about everythig but it sounds like it may have worked. Also how do you have your fail safe set up? You may have momentarly lost the Rx and it shut the ESC down. That would require a re-arm to get power back. Not sure what the data logger woud show on that kind of event.
04-16-2012, 06:58 AM
#7
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RE: Power issue
Check for pitting on the Deans connectors. Especially the male soldered to the speed controller. It may even have a slight black discoloration inside the pits. Compare with a brand new one if you can.
In my case I must have had 200 flights on the connector but the symptoms were very similar to your own.
The way I rationalised it is that the packs were able to deliver full voltage under no current but the voltage drop under takeoff current was enough to trigger the motor shutdown on the ESC.
In my case I must have had 200 flights on the connector but the symptoms were very similar to your own.
The way I rationalised it is that the packs were able to deliver full voltage under no current but the voltage drop under takeoff current was enough to trigger the motor shutdown on the ESC.
04-16-2012, 07:26 AM
#8
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RE: Power issue
You need to communicate with Castle and send them the log. The supply voltage drop does not appear to be the result of high impedance, especially since the system has worked before and after.
I notice that you said this was an ICEHV80. If it's not an ICE2 you are due a free upgrade from Castle anyway.
John
I notice that you said this was an ICEHV80. If it's not an ICE2 you are due a free upgrade from Castle anyway.
John
04-16-2012, 08:44 AM
#9
Thread Starter
RE: Power issue
Sorry…yes it is a brand new version 2 ICE so not in recall. One thing I did do was recheck the firmware. I had upgraded to version 4.0 which is a beta, but have now gone back to 3.? (non beta). I have heard issues with 4.0.
<o
></o>
Didn’t try re-arming with no thought process five feet off the ground.
<o></o>
Fail Safe is “throttle to low”.
<o></o>
Deans connectors are all brand new so shouldn’t be a pitting issue.
<o></o>
I intend to resolder all connectors.
<o></o>
I’ll send the log to Castle today.
<o></o>
One other thing that may or may not be relevant. I always switch on my receiver first and then plug in the flight packs. After I got to thinking about it, I may have done the opposite. Could this be an issue?
<o></o>
Thanks for all your help.
<o></o>
<o></o>
04-16-2012, 06:20 PM
#13
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RE: Power issue
That 20V signal on the log looks too "smooth" to be anything related to forces external to the ESC.
Bad solder joints, pitted connectors or wonky cells wouldn't give a line as straight as that, although there is a small bit of ripple in the middle where a bit of curren tis being drawn.
My guess is the ESC at some point decided the voltage was 20V for whatever reason, logged it and acted accordingly.
Bad solder joints, pitted connectors or wonky cells wouldn't give a line as straight as that, although there is a small bit of ripple in the middle where a bit of curren tis being drawn.
My guess is the ESC at some point decided the voltage was 20V for whatever reason, logged it and acted accordingly.
04-16-2012, 06:43 PM
#14
RE: Power issue
From CC's website, about the 4.0 firmware version the OP was running (what was fixed in 4.01):
4.01 Beta 03/30/12
NOTE: It is HIGHLY recommended that all users discontinue use of firmware V4.00 due to a known bug that can cause unusual ESC behavior. Users may either upgrade to V4.01 or downgrade to a previous version.
Functional Improvement: Increased maximum throttle change rate on Multi-Rotor setting. A throttle change of 50% can now be accomplished in .08s.
Bug fix: Occasional errors were being recorded in the data log. Fixed
Bug fix: Unusual motor shutdowns, and other controller anomolies including ESC failure. Fixed
NOTE: It is HIGHLY recommended that all users discontinue use of firmware V4.00 due to a known bug that can cause unusual ESC behavior. Users may either upgrade to V4.01 or downgrade to a previous version.
Functional Improvement: Increased maximum throttle change rate on Multi-Rotor setting. A throttle change of 50% can now be accomplished in .08s.
Bug fix: Occasional errors were being recorded in the data log. Fixed
Bug fix: Unusual motor shutdowns, and other controller anomolies including ESC failure. Fixed
04-16-2012, 08:12 PM
#15
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04-17-2012, 04:04 AM
#16
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RE: Power issue
Are you sure you heard the ten beeps? I once aborted a takeoff because I didn't seem to have much power, only to discover that I'd only plugged in one pack. 20 volts is about what you'd expect in that situation.
Just a thought.
Just a thought.
04-17-2012, 08:05 AM
#19
Thread Starter
RE: Power issue
Strat2003
rm, gaRCfield
Yes it was in "auto", I willchange that.
Yes, ten beeps.In series, if you plug injust onepack, nothing happens. The circuit is open. If it were in parallel, that could be the case.
rm, gaRCfield
Yes it was in "auto", I willchange that.
