Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kenneth Ripple on February 5, 2013 at 1:32pm

Are you providing power to your APM 2.5 board from your ESCs?  Do you have the power lead from all 4 ESCs attached to the APM 2.5 board?  This is the configuration I'm using and I am having the same issue.  I am starting to believe this configuration is causing this.  Hopefully someone here can recommend a better way.

3D RoboticsPermalink Reply by Chris Anderson on February 5, 2013 at 1:38pm

Yes, if you're using one of the ESCs to provide power to the APM and other electronics, that ESC will run hot. That's why we recommend you use the Power Module instead to power the electronics. Much more reliable.

Permalink Reply by Kenneth Ripple on February 5, 2013 at 5:16pm

Chris... My configuration exceeds the 90A rating of the Power Module by a little bit.  My calculations indicate that I will draw roughly 105A at full throttle (Quad with 3530-14 1100kv motors, 30A SimonK based ESCs, 6000mAh 3S 25-50C LiPo, etc.).  Each ESC has a 5V 2A BEC. What other options do I have for powering the APM 2.5 board without using the the ESC's BECs?

Permalink Reply by Bill Bonney on February 8, 2013 at 12:27pm

The limiting factor is that the APM PM I-sense will put out more that 5V to the ADC with over 90A. The inline resistor is capable of the extra current (its rated 4W). You could try and scale the 5V output using a small voltage divider to scale back to 5V e.g.. R1 of 10K and R2 of 47K see http://www.raltron.com/cust/tools/voltage_divider.asp

Permalink Reply by Hugues on February 5, 2013 at 1:55pm

I am using the 3dr power module. I kept the red/black connector between the PDB and the APM output rail. JP1 is off.

So this is not the problem.
Any other idea of what could be wrong ?

ModeratorPermalink Reply by Sgt Ric on February 5, 2013 at 2:02pm

Just how long are your power leads?

 

Permalink Reply by Hugues on February 5, 2013 at 2:15pm

The length they come in the 3DR kit

@Chris Anderson : if using 3DR power module, do i need to disconnect the power lead between PDB and APM output rail ?

Permalink Reply by Richard Boyhan on February 5, 2013 at 7:16pm

The 3DR power module will power the APM. You should try and disconnect the red/black wires from the PDB and see if the problem goes away. Keep in mind that the 3DR power module can power the APM, but don't add any camera servos, it can't handle both the APM and the camera servos. If you need camera servos you will need a larger BEC. I use a 5 amp BEC to power everything. I don't get the battery monitoring. So I fly with small battery buzzer attach to the balance plug on my battery.
Richard

Permalink Reply by Michael on February 11, 2013 at 3:07pm

If your using the power module I think you leave the red and black wire in, just remove the little piece that goes over the jp1.

Permalink Reply by Bob Davies on February 5, 2013 at 10:12pm

Get a bec like Castle. Take out jp1; both sides of the apm with the bec. Take the power lead out of all of the esc cables and run them right up to the apm outputs. Sometimes noise causes the esc to send reversing signals to the motor. Fewer connections from the apm to the esc the better.

Permalink Reply by Kenneth Ripple on February 7, 2013 at 4:58am

Bob... can you explain what you mean by "Take the power lead out of all of the esc cables and run them up to the apm outputs."?  I was planning on adding a separate 5V 5A BEC to my set up to power the APM.  This would mean I have to remove the red power lead connection from all my ESCs to the APM, correct?  Also, where is the best place to connect the BEC output to the APM 2.5?

Permalink Reply by Bill Bonney on February 8, 2013 at 3:30pm

Just remove JP1 and connect the BEC to the PWM inputs 5v and GND lines. This is if you are not using the APM PM.

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