View Full Version : Castle Link Problems
Symon
10-15-2006, 05:06 AM
Well I extended to 115% on the low (only needed 113%) and whadda'ya know!!!....Works sweet :D
Cheers Scott
Should I increase the high also to match?
Symon
10-15-2006, 08:11 AM
Took it to the field and it cuts out when it gets to top rpm!!! Had to auto the first one. Seems like it might be a timing thing as this happened to an out off date Jazz once on my 450.
Does anyone else have this issue with the new firm ware?
MLaBoyteaux
10-15-2006, 09:14 AM
Where do you have the voltage and current cut-outs set?
Seems the common practice is to disable the over-current sensing and set the under-voltage to "custom" 4 volts.
Symon
10-15-2006, 11:06 AM
Cheers Mark,
Yeh I have looked at the CC site and it too says lower over-current. I was thinking to change it to insensitive but your think disabling it is fine?
Symon
10-15-2006, 11:16 AM
Rechecked the software and it says disable the over-current!! DOH!! Course...peak city :roll:
BTW my voltage cutoff is 3v. I time my flights so shouldn't go near this.
Off back to the field now before the rain and darkness arrives :)
Symon
10-15-2006, 11:49 AM
Back...
...disabling the over-current smoked my motor. I am not a happy man.
GGoodrum
10-15-2006, 11:57 AM
You HAVE to disable the over-current setting. Even set to insensitive will cause a cutout in a helicopte.
-- Gary
GGoodrum
10-15-2006, 12:00 PM
Back...
...disabling the over-current smoked my motor. I am not a happy man.
Sounds like you had motor "issues" from the get-go. Which motor was it? What's it in? What battery? What gearing?
-- Gary
Symon
10-15-2006, 12:06 PM
Motor issues? This motor has flown on the Align ESC for 80+ flights.
It's the 600L in the T-Rex 600. Many have and are using this ESC with this set-up and as the motor has flown great for 80+ flights I have to say it can not be the motor.
Could be wrong but I can't see it making logical sense.
Why do you think it's the motor?
:)
GGoodrum
10-15-2006, 10:35 PM
There are basically only two things that ever happen to a controller, either the processor board craps out, or more commonly, one phase pops a FET or two. In either case, the motor won't spin.
Motors, on the other hand, can have lots of problems that can cause them to run really hot, usually this is because of a "weak phase", which can't handle the current. The other two phases try and make up for the weak one, which causes a lot more current to pass through them, generating a ton of heat. This usually ends up doing something, like delaminating the magnets, which kills the motor.
In your case, when the current limiting function was still enabled, the controller shut the motor off as soon as the current rose above "normal". Regardless of how well this motor did previously, it was definitely not well at the time you tried the Phx HV 85. For what it's worth, this isn't the first of these motors I've heard about failing after a period. I'm not saying the motors are bad, but since these are running in 6s setups, there's a lot more current being used, than say a typical 10s setup with a lower kV motor. It takes the same number of watts to move a 600-bladed, 7-1/2 pound helicopter around the sky, regardless if it is on 6s or 10s or 12s. With the lower voltage 6s setup, it has to use more current for the same number of watts. Since heat losses go up as a square function of the current, there's going to be more heat generated. Heat takes it toll on motors.
The other "issue" with these motors is that because of the crazy "outrunner in a can" design, heat has a hard time being dissipated very efficienctly. Like I said, heat eventually takes its toll.
-- Gary
Symon
10-16-2006, 03:11 AM
Thanks GGoodrum...that's really good info :) Love it :)
However, on this occasion, I have to say it seems not to be the motor as I put the Align ESC back on and it runs sweeeeeet again :)
Loads use the 6s HV85 600L setup without trouble but it looks like this is just my luck!!! hahaha
I'll see what CC say.
Thanks GGoodrum for your time and the above post is what forums are all about. I learn something new each day ;)
MasterCrash
10-27-2006, 04:38 PM
Must be differences in some models. Just tested mine.
Turned on receiver, started castle link had everything plugged together, got the same screen Mark had.
Plugged in the lipos, castle link software picked up and started talking.
Unplugged lipos, goodbye castle link.
On your computers hardware;
USB Type I has a 5 volt service, USB Type II Has 12/5 volt service, USB I would require you to plug in the battery to work, USB II would supply the needed Volts to work.
Scott
MLaBoyteaux
10-27-2006, 04:54 PM
The replacement ESC works. I've got the High speed USB, but I still have to hook up a battery pack to the ESC to get the link and software to see it.
Having developed working USB prototypes, I'm quite familiar with USB and there are no 12v signals.
Perhaps you've confused it with firewire? That's 12vdc.
The "problem" is in fact a difference in the ESC. The HV85, due to it's optoisolation, is not capable of being powered over the USB line, hence the need to use lipos.
On your computers hardware;
USB Type I has a 5 volt service, USB Type II Has 12/5 volt service, USB I would require you to plug in the battery to work, USB II would supply the needed Volts to work.
Scott