ESC Power Output % Parameter

[sboss]

I'm using the ikon2 governor with a hobbywing v4 ESC and I noticed on the logs that the throttle out % from the ikon is reaching 100% at the end of a pack and the rpm is dropping a bit. But the ESC power output % parameter is only around 70% at the end of a pack. What is this parameter and should it match the throttle out? I'm thinking maybe I have an ESC calibration issue.

[JimJW]

It’s likely one of two things...

1) A bad throttle calibration, easy enough to re-do.
2) wrong throttle endpoints on the Governor Setup page of the Ikon wizard.
2a) the Ikon documentation for the Hobbywing esc recommends endpoints of: Min: 1100 / Max: 1940, it’s my understanding that those values are for an ESC with ‘default’ endpoints.

If you esc is putting out 70% but the Ikon is putting out 100% then it sounds like something is wrong...

— if the Max endpoint was set to 1700 or so, you might get the result you described (assuming a factory endpoint cal).

— Similarly if the Manual endpoint calibration had a high throttle endpoint of 2200 or more with a Ikon Governor Max endpoint setting of 1940 would get you to the same place.

I think throttle calibration can be tricky, the last couple setups that I did was to use the factory defaults (skip throttle calibration) and then used the recommended endpoints. The Store Gov. on the Hobbywing worked perfectly.

(I know you’re using the Ikon Gov. and Should Be using either ‘Heli Linear or Airplane mode’ settings for the esc) ...point being, endpoints worked right on...

[sboss]

So last night I double checked everything. The ikon governor endpoints are set to 1100 - 1940 as recommended. The transmitter throttle channel range is correct at 0 - 100%. The ESC is set to airplane mode (linear throttle).

I redid the ESC calibration making sure to use a normal throttle curve and disabling the governor temporarily. Got all the expected beeps during the calibration so I'm pretty sure it worked. I'll have to see what the logs look like on the next flight. The helicopter flies great so if it wasn't for the logs disagreeing I wouldn't have even known there might be an issue.

Maybe ESC power output % is the % of the ESC's total power or amperage capacity? I'm using a 200A ESC and I don't fly hard enough to use anywhere near the full capability of this ESC right now.

[PaoloFCantoni]

Yes, Sboss,

Clarification (preferably from Rik - BrainDev) on exactly what the ESC Power Output % measures would be most useful.

I have some issues understanding what my Brain2 is telling me about one of my Helis, so I'm also interested in this parameter.

Paolo

[ticedoff8]

on exactly what the ESC Power Output % measures

I would be willing to bet it is exactly what the ESC tells the Brain2 / iKON2 it is.
I doubt the Brain2 / iKON2 is post-processing some combination of data points to create a parameter named "ESC Power Output %"

[JimJW]

Originally Posted by ticedoff8

I would be willing to bet it is exactly what the ESC tells the Brain2 / iKON2 it is.
I doubt the Brain2 / iKON2 is post-processing some combination of data points to create a parameter named "ESC Power Output %"

I’m working on reading Hobbywing ESC telemetry directly. One of the data bytes is just that “Actual PWM Output” is what Hobbywing labels it...

[sboss]

Originally Posted by JimJW

I’m working on reading Hobbywing ESC telemetry directly. One of the data bytes is just that “Actual PWM Output” is what Hobbywing labels it...

That's very good to know. So I think I definitely had a calibration issue then. I'll have to see if the new ESC calibration that I did fixes this issue. Where did you find the Hobbywing ESC telemetry data specifications?

[JimJW]

Originally Posted by sboss

That's very good to know. So I think I definitely had a calibration issue then. I'll have to see if the new ESC calibration that I did fixes this issue. Where did you find the Hobbywing ESC telemetry data specifications?

Dan’s thread and Github site are the best resources I’ve found:

https://www.helifreak.com/#/topics/835243

https://github.com/dgatf/msrc

Hobbywing published the Platinum V3 a while back as part of the manual: (that’s my reference for the term “Actual PWM Output”

[sboss]

I figured I'd update this thread in case anyone runs into an issue like this in the future. I did some troubleshooting and I am pretty sure my hobbywing ESC is just outputting an incorrect value to the Ikon2 for it's ESC power output %. Not sure if it's all of them like this or just an issue with mine (200A V4.1). Functionally everything is working as expected.

I disabled the governor and tried adjusting the min/max throttle values in the Ikon2 governor setup panel. Both the top and bottom values were set correct at their defaults of 1100-1940. If I lower the top value to 1930 there is a slight decrease in rpm and if I increase it to 1950 the rpm is unchanged.

With blades off and governor deactivated I get about 2600 rpm at 100% throttle with a half full battery. Meanwhile at this rpm the ESC is saying it's only outputting at 71%, but this is impossible because I'd never be able to get 2600 rpm at only 71% throttle (12S, 490 KV motor, 8.461 gear ratio). I've also checked the rpm with a tach and it matches what the Ikon2 is reporting.