View Full Version : DX7 lock-out claims predator ??
trevorz
05-13-2007, 02:08 AM
Well lost my predator today. Complete radio failure and it spiraled into the ground on it's nose. Pretty much everything is toast, motor, JR 7000 gyro, TJ pro, servos, head etc.
To make matters worse, it ejected the Rx on impact and did the funky chicken for several minutes and made sure whatever wasn't broke, is broke now :arggg:
Checked it all out afterwards, battery is good, reg is good (didn't load test though yet), switch was on. Even the Rx works now, so it was not a complete failure of the Rx.
The only explaination I got is the radio locked out. So, anyone else having issues like this.
It was about flight 8 with this setup too. So far, the DX7 has been working flawless in my Swift and Trex, and I hope it stays that way. I just wish I could be sure what the cause of the crash was, as everything is checking out ok now. Of course it all has to go back to the factory for repair, or replacement :( .
If ya got another option as to the possible cause of the crash, I would be interested. Maybe I jumped in too quick. . .
Filby
05-13-2007, 06:38 AM
Hard to tell but maybe the battery connection to the Rx failed or battery->switch->reg connection failed altogether. This would be indicated by the fact that the motor didnt go into failsafe as it should have if the Rx lost signal. Thats assuming you set it up correctly when binding.
Sorry to hear of your loss :(
Fil
Jermo
05-13-2007, 09:00 AM
which reciever?
trevorz
05-13-2007, 10:25 AM
It was the AR7000 Rx.
It is possible the connectors came loose, but they were Dean's micros, and were strain reliefed. Of course post crash everything was torn out so it's impossible to tell if it was before or after the crash.
As for the binding. I did bind it at low throttle, but . . . maybe didn't quite do it right either. (I thought I checked it but can't remember.)
Not the first incident with a 7000.....
If the voltage to the rx is at 3.5 volts or lower, rx. stops working according to this thread---
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=672912
Even the pro's have crashed due to the problem-- Horizon's explantion
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Articles/Article.aspx?ArticleID=1674
steve9534
05-20-2007, 10:48 PM
FWIW the Futaba PCM receivers lock out at about 3.6 volts also, so getting a different brand Rx probably won't help much here. I had some lockout problems with my Futaba radios that resolved when I got a different brand pack. Fortunately, no crashes, but the radio started locking out on the second flight of the day when I'd really bang the sticks. Once it locked out, the load on the pack would drop, the voltage would come back up again, and the radio would start responding. The AR7000 receivers I've got will come back to life within a second or two after switching the power off, then back on again. I haven't experienced this problem with the AR7000's, but don't use the packs in question any more either. I have had a problem with both the AR7000 and 6100 receivers in that the connectors don't plug into the receivers very tightly and the roll cyclic servos have come unplugged on two separate occasions with predictable result. In my case, everything else responded normally, but if it had been the battery/switch connector instead, all control would have been lost. I've been checking these connections routinely now and they have started to come loose on several other occasions, but I've caught them before they've completely disconnected. I'm not sure the best way to handle this and am about at the point of Gooping the connectors in place. I don't know you're flying style, but I'm a stick banger and this may or may not be a problem for those who fly more sedately. Hope this helps. steve.
LITHIUMSTATIC
05-21-2007, 02:27 AM
I'm going to get one of these for insurance.
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Product...?ProdID=SPM1600
trevorz
05-21-2007, 10:14 AM
May be a good idea!
Hi
What kind of regulator are you using?
I lost my raptor 50 due to a faulty arizona regulator.
Load tested before 1st flight,all is good,then 5-6 mins into the flight while inverted 3-4 mtrs above ground I lost all contact and chrashed.I managed to hit throttle hold,because the heli made half a pirouette on its own(no stick inputs),thus indicating the gyro had let go....When I checked things over after the crash,the regulator would not power on at all.....Chekced everything else(connectors,battery...)all seemed ok.Tried powering up the reg again and suddenly it came to life.....
The shop that sold me the reg replaced it free of charge,and I have not had any problems with the new reg,all other electronics and battery are the same...
Just thought I`d let you know......
geir
Ah Clem
05-29-2007, 08:09 PM
I had an AR7000 work very strangely on the bench. It was brand new, and came with the DX7.
I took a little more time than I was used to, to bind to the TX. Part of the time it would work, part of the time it would not. Rebinding was very difficult. The lamp in the satellite reciever would always light, but the light in the main reciever would not light, when it was no working. No way could I fly with this reciever.
After a frustrating evening, just trying to set up the helicopter with a non-responsive reciever, I happened to touch the reciever. Suddenly it worked.
A new AR7000 was purchased for comparison purposes, and it worked properly from the start. I returned the errant AR7000 to the place where I purchased it, and they replaced it with no problem.