Replies to This Discussion

DeveloperPermalink Reply by Adam Rivera on March 12, 2012 at 6:40pm

Have you run ESC calibration? Take a look at this: http://code.google.com/p/arducopter/wiki/AC2_ESC

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Andrew Adams on March 12, 2012 at 6:42pm

I did run the initial calibration and I thought they all worked fine...obviously they don't. I'm going to start from scratch tomorrow and reload the firmware and go through all the steps. I'm hoping that solves it.

Just wanted to make sure this was an isolated thing, and if it isn't, figure out the solution. Thanks for the quick reply.

• ▶ Reply

DeveloperPermalink Reply by Adam Rivera on March 12, 2012 at 6:43pm

You may need to do the manual calibration of your ESCs. Also, just double check the wiring... I have sworn I had everything connected properly only to find a problem.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Andrew Adams on March 12, 2012 at 6:45pm

Ya. I've done that way too many times. I'll check that first then start over. I'll give the manual calibration a try also.

• ▶ Reply

DeveloperPermalink Reply by Adam Rivera on March 12, 2012 at 6:46pm

Well I hope you get it figured out... sometimes walking away and coming back helps in and of itself.  Good luck!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Andrew Adams on March 12, 2012 at 6:47pm

Thanks. I'll post back once I have a solution just for reference.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jan Schermer on March 13, 2012 at 1:09am

If they all are calibrated properly (you can check by attaching ESC wires to the receiver throttle channel and check that the throttle range is the same for all of them) the other possibility is that your copter is not level - or it thinks so. Does it show horizon as level in Mission Planner? Try recalibrating autolevel and try again.

And btw the ESC calibration never worked for me on hexa, only 4 motors spun up. So maybe you missed two of them this way.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Andrew Adams on March 13, 2012 at 5:17pm

I reloaded my firmware and calibrated the ESCs and that has solved one problem. Turn out my ESCs are not plugged in correctly so I need to go rewire them.

I also seem to have a more serious problem...my copter doesn't have enough power/lift to achieve lift at a reasonable throttle level (70%). Is this normal? I would have expected it to lift off with much less. I am spinning 10x4.7 props on 1100kv motors. The hexa weighs in at 1.9kg.

I am looking at getting much lower kv motors and going to 12" props. Would that help?

Any help/insight would be appreciated.

• ▶ Reply

DeveloperPermalink Reply by Adam Rivera on March 13, 2012 at 5:30pm

It sounds like you should be able to get lift at 70% throttle. If it is possible hold the hexa and see if you are getting any lift at all. Maybe your props are backwards, or your motors are still connected incorrectly.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Andrew Adams on March 13, 2012 at 5:53pm

The motors are connected correctly. I am going to rewire an the test again. My suspicion is that I'm not generating enough thrust to lift te heavy frame up. What is a typical hexa weight?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jan Schermer on March 13, 2012 at 11:38pm

My flyduspider is 1.5kg with battery, 1.7kg with gopro, and still lifts up at ~60% throttle. Ideally it should lift with 50%. There is no answer to how heavy it should be, I had larger motors in there that added +300g themselves, but there is usually a typical weight for a particular frame.

However at 1.9kg it shoul lift just fine with 10" props. Is your battery hot? Are you using 3S battery with that motors?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Andrew Adams on March 14, 2012 at 4:36am

Yes, I am using a 3S battery and it isn't getting hot.

Assuming the motors aren't cutting it, I am using eCalc to find the best motor for my copter and I've narrowed it down to the following:

Turnigy 2217 20turn 860kv 22A Outrunner

Turnigy D2836/11 750KV Brushless Outrunner Motor

NTM Prop Drive Series 35-36A 910Kv / 350W

The NTM is not preferred because of the price and the 6 new ESCs I'd have to get. With those I'm not getting a flight time of more than 6 minutes.

What are you getting for flight times with your copter? Also, what battery are you using? Could you post specs so I can compare?

Thanks

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page