Lost of power

[jl449]

I've had my B400 since the middle of March. I'm pretty happy with the little beast -- after I switch out the servos to 65s!!

I've been progressing on my flight abilities!! I'm now doing FF and circuits. Slow but I'm learning!! I've always maintain a 7-8 minute flight time and switch out the battery. Last night I was in the zone and did not keep track of time. I was doing some FF and all of a sudden the B400 lost all power!! Lucky for me the B400 was only 5 feet off the ground. It dropped but manage to land it safely but it was a hard landing.
Popped in another battery and all was fine.\

Is this the ESC power save mode? When the battery reaches a certain voltage it just cuts out?? Man If I was 20 feet up and this happen I would have been screwed.
Is there a way to deactivate it?? Better yet is there a way to activate an external LED and still maintain power to the motor so you can safely land it??

[azheliguy]

Hello, I am a newb also, but I maybe able to help. I have had the drop also and you can still land it ok you just have to add more pitch when you get close to the ground.
After I had a crash I started having problems with lost of power (4mins) and I am still trying to find the problem. I think it is the servos.(stock)
If you go over 5-6 mins you maybe getting close to the 9volt shutdown of the esc. I set my timer for 5 1/2 mins.
Hope this helps.

[LockMD]

Yeah the B400 does have a low voltage cutoff but it doesnt shut off abruptly when it activates you still have enough power to land safely. I dont think you can deactivate and wouldnt want to IMHO - if the batts get to low they could catch fire.

Do you guys have an external BEC? If not, I would suggest you get one, its only gonna get worse come summer.

[Mon_t]

pretty much answered your own question. you should notice a pulsing in the motor when battery starts to drop below 9v under load. Note this is already bad and damaging the battery. If it gets to the point of where the esc shuts off, then the battery is in real trouble.
I usually stick to 5 minutes flight times with each battery. I am running a couple of dualsky 2200/25c batteries, I get an average draw of about 250mA a minute which works out to about 7/7.5min at 80% drain of the battery(anymore is very bad). But if you're running 8min on the standard batteries, you're asking for trouble.
working on previous math. you should be able to get 5.7min out of the battery, but 5min without risk of damaging the battery.
There is a reason they set the timer on the radio to 4.5min, as you start demanding more and more of the bird, your current draw is going to increase especially once you start using idle-up.

[jl449]

It might have been pulsing... don't remember .. I was flying against a slight breeze so I could have missed it. I was using a G force 2250 25c battery.

I was wondering if there is a way to connect an external LED when the ESC reaches the battery warning limits.

I'll be looking on setting up the timer on the TX. 5 mins for now on!!!
Going to buy a third battery.

LockMD... can you explain the BEC comment... How is the external BEC configured on your heli and what make did you buy?

Thanks for the input everybody...

[LockMD]

It might have been pulsing... don't remember .. I was flying against a slight breeze so I could have missed it. I was using a G force 2250 25c battery.

I was wondering if there is a way to connect an external LED when the ESC reaches the battery warning limits.

I'll be looking on setting up the timer on the TX. 5 mins for now on!!!
Going to buy a third battery.

LockMD... can you explain the BEC comment... How is the external BEC configured on your heli and what make did you buy?

Thanks for the input everybody...


It helps keeps things cool especially if you have upgraded servos and such I bought the SportBEC VERY easy to use (see all the probs others are having) this one is just soldered in at esc and you have a switch right on it for go from 5-6V and you DONT have to cut any wires. Heli-Proz sells them. 30 Bucks (I think)

[azheliguy]

LockMD do you have a P/N for Heli-Proz? thanks

I am using the stock 1800mah battery and I get about 5mins. of flight time.
When I land the battery is very hot (140 F) and you are right as summer comes to AZ it is going to get worse.
I was thinking of adding a BEC.

Thanks, Albert

[HeliMix]

Does not sound like the case here, but keep in mind the following. I had a small crash and I thought all was well after replacing the tail boom and main blades. As it was, my tail shaft had the SLIGHTEST little end to it. Had to pull the shaft and use a straight edge to even tell. Well, that little bit of drag caused the ESC to over heat which will also cause a drop in power. The diff here is, once you land and let it sit a second, it will power back up.

Again, does not seem to apply in your case but I thought I would mention it.

[azheliguy]

LockMD do you have a P/N for Heli-Proz BEC? thanks

[jl449]

Does not sound like the case here, but keep in mind the following. I had a small crash and I thought all was well after replacing the tail boom and main blades. As it was, my tail shaft had the SLIGHTEST little end to it. Had to pull the shaft and use a straight edge to even tell. Well, that little bit of drag caused the ESC to over heat which will also cause a drop in power. The diff here is, once you land and let it sit a second, it will power back up.

Again, does not seem to apply in your case but I thought I would mention it.

After I was forced to land the heli.... It would not respond to throttle input at all. Swapped batteries and all was fine for another 5 to 6 minutes.
Someone mention it could have been a brown out on the RX. Don't know.
I think it was the battery since I lost track of time...

[HeliMix]

Yes, in this case, it sounds as if you ran the batt down to much. I forget the voltage but it will cut out when it drops below a given level. I have my Tx timer set at 7 mins I think it is. But I too forget to turn it on often.

As the batt runs, the heli will loose some power and you have to give it a little more stick than when you started. But later into the flight, there will be a point you have to give it a lot more sick to keep the same altitude/power. At that point in time is when I bring her down and swap out batts. I never run it beyond that point and as of now I have not had any trouble with my batts.

I hope all of that made sense.

[LockMD]

LockMD do you have a P/N for Heli-Proz BEC? thanks


Sorry, it turns out to be heli-direct not heli-proz


https://www.helidirect.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=sportbec&osCsid=bb7514ad8440a43be15adc35690a278b

[azheliguy]

LockMD, Thanks for the info!!!!!:)
Also one more question is the AR6100E rec. take 5v or 6v?
Thanks again, Albert

[LockMD]

LockMD, Thanks for the info!!!!!:)
Also one more question is the AR6100E rec. take 5v or 6v?
Thanks again, Albert


not sure but I fly my 400 in 6V with it so it must be able to handle it LOL

[azheliguy]

Thanks again!!

[kenny.c]

Hi

I had similar problems a month ago or so......I was pretty convinced it was the ESC overheating, the heli would just cutout and the ESC heatsink was V HOT!! I recon the internal BEC is close to its limit when the Blade 400 is standard! Im running a GY401 + S9257 - HS65hb with an external BEC with no problems what so ever now! The speed controller is hardly getting warm now!

Id try an external BEC........

Ken

[Mon_t]

It might have been pulsing... don't remember .. I was flying against a slight breeze so I could have missed it. I was using a G force 2250 25c battery.

I was wondering if there is a way to connect an external LED when the ESC reaches the battery warning limits.

I'll be looking on setting up the timer on the TX. 5 mins for now on!!!
Going to buy a third battery.

LockMD... can you explain the BEC comment... How is the external BEC configured on your heli and what make did you buy?

Thanks for the input everybody...
Western Robotics make a lipo saver, my friend bought one and it seems pretty good.

It starts of flashing a really bright blue colour when the battery is at full charge, then changes to green(still ok) then yellow (I would land soon) and red (LAND NOW YOU TOOL :YeaBaby:).

You can also fit a piezo buzzer that comes on when its time too land.
It's programmable so it supports different battery types up to and including 5s I think.
cost is around $30US maybe cheaper......

[eugenefelisco]

Hi

I had similar problems a month ago or so......I was pretty convinced it was the ESC overheating, the heli would just cutout and the ESC heatsink was V HOT!! I recon the internal BEC is close to its limit when the Blade 400 is standard! Im running a GY401 + S9257 - HS65hb with an external BEC with no problems what so ever now! The speed controller is hardly getting warm now!

Id try an external BEC........

Ken
Yup your right thermal shutdown as they say. The esc is hot, external bec is the answer. Better yet diagnose the drive train, if you have drag from the tail,belt,bearings,motor mesh and unbalance blades and rotor blades will heat up esc and motor.

[azheliguy]

I may of found my heating up problem and short flight times.
The Tail drive belt guide pully /tensioner was not turning.
The belt has worn a flat spot on the pully.
:DOH

[LockMD]

I may of found my heating up problem and short flight times.
The Tail drive belt guide pully /tensioner was not turning.
The belt has worn a flat spot on the pully.
:DOH


so the srew holding it in is way too tight, the pully should spin very easy.

[azheliguy]

I guess when I rebuilt the heli after a little crash I got it to tight.
But, I checked a 2nd B400 I have that only has three flights on it and it was to
tight also. Something to check!