View Full Version : ar7000 receiver issues????
Ok. Here is my problem... I have a ar7000 in a trex 450se, and after binding, it flew great. About five flights later, I noticed the lights on both the main and remote receivers were flashing. Not really fast, about once per second. Any way, I didn't worry too much about it, then I noticed a twitch every so often in the servos on the heli. Did a re-bind, all issues gone for one flight. Changed batteries, lights flash again, got it off the ground and the twitch was back. Brought it home, rebound again...lights solid, all response good. Unplugged battery for ten seconds then plugged back in and the lights flash again. What gives?!?! Please help me!!!!:confused:
marchambault
05-15-2008, 01:01 AM
Is this a new receiver, does it have a v1.6 sticker on it? Flashing lights indicate a power supply interruption to the receiver. The twitch could be the RX loosing power and the regaining power. What is your ESC, do you use an external BEC? Have you crashed recently which could have caused internal damage to any servos?
Is this a new receiver, does it have a v1.6 sticker on it? Flashing lights indicate a power supply interruption to the receiver. The twitch could be the RX loosing power and the regaining power. What is your ESC, do you use an external BEC? Have you crashed recently which could have caused internal damage to any servos?
Yes this receiver is new...it came with my dx7. Before I ever used it, I sent it horizon for the firmware update. Don't think it has the 1.6 sticker. My ESC is the align that came in it... I bought the 450se used, with the servos already installed. They are not marked as to who made them, but they look like the ones made by towerpro... I am really not sure what they are, though. I have a set of hitec hs 65s to go in this bird, but just haven't done it yet. I just replaced the telebee gyro and cheap tail with a 401/s9257. Did that before ever flew. As far as crashes...I haven't dumped it yet, and the rex didn't look like it had ever been actually flown, when I got it, but I don't know for sure. Thanks for your help!! I really appreciate it.
marchambault
05-15-2008, 10:29 AM
Ok, so the slow flashing lights are definately the result of the new firmware. When the voltage to the receiver drops below 3.5 V or cuts out completely, then the receiver will immediately be available when the power returns but the lights on both receivers will flash slowly, telling the pilot he should inspect his power system.
So what causes the power failure:
1) A servo that is on it's last legs. You should be able to test this on the ground. Don't spool up, just keep moving the swashplate and tail for 2-3 minutes. You can also buy a servo current monitor, which is very practical for just this sort of situation. Either as part of an EagleTree eLogger or on it's own: http://www.dimensionengineering.com/ServoSensePlus.htm You should average around 0.3 Amps. If you are getting anything higher than that, or spikes higher than 0.7Amps on the ground, you definately have a bad servo which is drawing more amps than the ESC/BEC can supply.
2) The BEC that is incorporated into the ESC is having problems. This is harder to diagnose. How warm is the ESC after you fly? Excessive heat could cause the ESC to reset.
3) Loose wiring or servo connectors. This can be diagnosed by leaving the heli powered on the ground (you are using -5% for throttle hold for ground ops are you?) and moving wires, moving servos, moving the ESC, etc...
4) You can try installing an external BEC. The dimension engineering ParkBec 6V will be perfect for your HS-65 /but you would need a drop-down voltage regulator for the tail servo (you can't run the Futaba 9257 @ 6 Volts).
http://www.readyheli.com/Western_Robotics_Step_Down_Voltage_Regula_p/wrl-sdvr.htm
Align also makes one.
5) You could have a poor connection between the receiver's power bus bars and the pins for the ESC/Throttle. This is not very likely as the RX just came back from the factory!
Anyway, I'd start with a) bad servos b) external bec c) intermittent electrical connection / loose wiring. In any event, I highly recommend some sort of a current monitor.
Thanks...I will start with the servosand connections. I have been meaning to install the hs65s anyway.
BarracudaHockey
05-15-2008, 02:23 PM
If you unplug the battery and leave the transmitter on and plug in a new battery you will get the flashing lights, regardless of whether you remove power to the system for 10 seconds or 10 minutes.
If you turn off the transmitter while the receiver is off, you won't get any flashing lights. I wouldn't worry about flashing lights at power up, when you need to worry about this is if they were solid when you powered up but flashing when you land, that's when you have a reboot problem.
Barracuda...your right. I was just going to post a new find. that if I turn the transmitter off, before plugging the battery in, i will not get flashing lights, or the twitch in the servos. I just now realized this, and I have about forty flights behind me. All this time, I have been leaving the tx on, while changing batteries, and never knew...:shock: Does anyone know why it does that? I don't understand why it would change. Thanks:thumbup:
marchambault
05-16-2008, 01:05 AM
Like I said, this is a new feature part of the v1.6 firmware designed to warn pilots of a power problem.
The intent is that every flight, you turn off / on your transmitter. This will cause it to select a new set of frequencies. Apparently, it cannot use the same set as during the previous power cycle.
When you power your model both receivers should have a solid light if the transmitter is on and the receiver links to it successfully.
If during the flight, the receiver looses power completely or power drops below 3.5 volts, when power is resumed, the receiver will continue to function on the previously acquired freqency pair and will slowly flash the lights.
On the ground, the pilot notices flashing lights and knows that he has a problem with his power system.
Spektrum calls this feature "Quick Connect".
More information is available here: http://www.spektrumrc.com/Articles/Article.aspx?ArticleID=1756
But what if you leave your transmitter on while changing batteries?
Then upon powering the receiver, the lights will flash, indicating a power loss, of course there was: we just plugged-in a new battery!
So the lessons here are:
1) when landing, check to see if you have flashing lights.
2) After unplugging the battery, turn off the transmitter
That way, the system is reset and ready for the next flight.
marchambault
05-16-2008, 04:14 PM
So where you getting the flashing lights post flight or at the beginning of your flights when you connected the battery?
It was when I first plugged in. Only flew the two flights on the rex like that, but I'm curious... I have a blade 400, that has the ar6100 in it, and it is hard to see the light on it. I have put about 30 flights on it, and have left the radio on when swapping batteries, and never noticed the light flashing, but now I will have to check it.
Thanks alot for your help.:thumbup: It is really great to have this website full of people who are so helpful and willing to share their knowledge. Without it, I would be even further behind, as I have no one in my area that I know of that flies helis.:roll:
Pinecone
05-17-2008, 09:02 AM
Your Blade 400 probably doesn't have the latest firmware in the Rx.