GV-1 Control box or sensor problem?

[Obsessive]

Hi guys. Got a strange one for ya.

GV-1 in a Rap50, been working great for several months...Until...

Last week, sensor reads 97% everywhere. Ok, bad sensor. Replaced.

Replacement sensor reads 0% at one magnet (OK), 97% at the other (OK), 30% everywhere else (Huh?).

Also tried swapping out the control box, same sensitivity readings found (30% between magnets).

Although the unit is not supposed to work at 64% and less, it does. The engine will not ramp up with GV-1 unit turned on.

Still a bad sensor? (Replacement sensor pulled from a dead helicopter).

I am stumped!

[WillJames]

I had a GV-1 read like 21% all the time except for under the magnet (97%) after a crash. Replaced the whole GV-1 and sensor fixed the problem. It did not work at all after the crash. It will be going back to Futaba if I can ever find the receipt. :DOH

Do you have another controller box to test with using your replacement sensor you already installed? If you don't I can send you one of mine to try and you can just send it back after the testing. I have a couple of extra control boxes, one is new and the other just got back from service at Futaba.

[Obsessive]

Thanks, Will...

and thanks for the offer, but I did try swapping out the controller box. Got the same results! I was thinking maybe there's a problem with the Rx channel, since it's common to two boxes.

It just doesn't make any sense to me.

[WillJames]

Ouch. Maybe so. Never had that happen luckily. :)

Good luck figuring it out. Which channel you think it is, whats you setup?

[Greg McFadden]

does it read 30% when you have the sensor in your hand and not mounted?

[Obsessive]

Will:

Using GEAR channel for ON/OFF, as well as StSw ON.
Using Aux 3 for RPM switching
Throttle channel for servo.


Greg,

The control box reads 30% "in air", and 0% if disconnected.

[WillJames]

Mine read the 21 any time it was plugged in. I did not take the time to try another sensor with it, just figured I would send the whole works back to Futaba.

That is the same basic setup I'm running Greg. I am very interested to hear what it is. I may dig mine out and try another sensor, but I think all I have left is Optical, I have broken 2 of the standard sensors.

[Greg McFadden]

I had one that read 97% all the tiem. faulty sensor. I am on my third sensor now. (luckily I bought local and just traided the sensors)

[Obsessive]

Thanks, guys....I've ordered a new sensor from Rick's. I'll let ya know what happens....

-Eric

[Obsessive]

Brand new sensor installed, problem solved.

[Greg McFadden]

do you still have the DOA sensor?

[Obsessive]

Greg,

Yes, I still have the one that was reading 30%. Are you an electronic gizmo fix-it helifreak?

[Greg McFadden]

sort of (decided to try to learn myself somethin bout that stuff a while back), I have always wanted to tear one apart and see the guts of it (but I have yet to have one go that was not waranteed by the LHS). (and more importantly, see if I can track the components down cheaper than what the sensor costs from futaba)

[Obsessive]

If I can find it, I'll send it to you for dissection. I don't think I have any formaldehyde around, though....

[Greg McFadden]

sweet, thanks! :)