I've got a RAM 1000 Electric Start ECU that has been giving me problems. The turbine and ECU have run flawlessly during the first 15 cycles. However, I recently had to send the ECU back to Electro Dynamics because the humidity in my flying area was to high and it would cause the ECU to sometimes work and sometimes not. E.D. "sealed" the bottom of the ECU so that the crystal inside would not be affected by changes in atmospheric humidity. After I got the ECU back, I reinstalled it in the aircraft and completed two starts. Everything looked fine so I started the turbine a third time and flew the aircraft. The flight went well without a hitch. Here is were the current problem began. Preparing for the next flight, the ECU would not light up indicating that it was not working. This was confirmed by the ground start box showing a bunch of black boxes in the display(it usually shows me prestart data). My question is that is this common with a RAM 1000ES ECU? I like most turbine modelers have way too much invested in our aircraft to risk losing it on a turbine computer error inflight. Can anyone please give me advice? I have thorougly gone thru the entire aircraft and all of it's electrical/battery connections. I called RAM and they said that they no longer service this ECU and suggested that I upgrade to the X-series ECU Autostart system for $995. I bought this system new from RAM just over a year ago and only have less than 20 cycles. Please help, anybody. Thanks

Send it back to Andy at ED and he can fix it for you. He is at the WREN show in NY this week.

BTW, before sending it out, check your battery and make sure that you have a good connection.

If thats true,you bought it barely a year ago and there telling you they dont Service it anymore,it sounds like there trying to get into your wallet,If it was me i would be looking for another Brand of Turbine.

Happy Jets

Please hear me correct. I am not so much interested in discussing RAM, the company, but rather if anyone has had similar problems with their 1000ES ECU. I would just like to solve this ECU problem so I can get back to flying.

For the record, I sent the ECU back to RAM originally and they called me to let me know that they are no longer servicing this particular ECU and that they were forwarding the ECU to Electro Dynamics for repair.

Although it is true that this turbine was purchased more than a year ago, I have several flyers, including a RAM rep, that can verify that this turbine had only been installed into the new aircraft less than 7 months ago. Many of us purchase power plants before the actual construction of the plane is complete.

For the record, the batteries and connections have been checked many, many times.

I highly doubt that RAM would try to ripp anyone off nor get in your wallet like this Sport Happy Jets says.

I can tell you that I had similar problems as well when they first came out with that particular unit.
I had the black Boxes on my display unit as well just like you have described.
The solution to my problem was that I sent my start box to RAM and they replaced it and the problem was still there, than we swapped ECU's and the problem was in the connection port where you plug the starter to. If you turn it on and off a few times it would correct the issue but the problem was in my port where I plugged the starter box in to the ECU.
Make sure that the plane is in the OFF position before you plugg it in.

Your ECU settings will not act up on you nor make you loose your jet. Try to talk to Albert if you can get a hold of him and explain exactly what you're going through as he's aware of those issues happening to me before as well.


Hope this Info helps and good luck............Johnny Hernandez