APM 2.5+ No dataflash inserted

Jim Frantz May 17, 2014 at 5:49pm

I also got the dreaded "no data flash inserted" on my APM V2.5.2. I checked the regulator for 3.3V and it was fine.

You may want to try the following if your problem is the same as mine.

Remove the APM board from its case
Firmly squeeze the bare board with one finger over the data flash chip marked ATMEL 45DBxxxxx located kitty corner from the GPS/UART1 connector. The chip only has 8 pins that show.
Then plug the APM into the USB power still squeezing the chip and board together and see if the error goes away.
If it does then put a tiny dab of solder paste on each pin and reheat each pin with your iron just long enough to re-flow the existing solder.

Voila you may have saved your APM like me! No error and the flight data logs are available once again.

Apparently a little flexing of the board can cause the very large stiff ATMEL dataflash to pop a solder connection. I wonder if putting chips this large without flex legs on a board that routinely sees flexing in crashes is the best way to go.

Jim

Arunabha Bhattacharya > Jim Frantz July 20, 2014 at 8:20pm

I'm getting the same error on my APM 2.5 (not 2.5.x). 3.3V regulator is fine. Baro and compass tests run fine in the CLI. I tried what you suggested, squeezing the chip. That didn't help. Any ideas what might be wrong?
- Sfreegry > Arunabha Bhattacharya November 19, 2014 at 9:17am
  
  I'm getting the same error on my APM 2.5 (not 2.5.x). 3.3V regulator is fine. Baro and compass tests run fine in the CLI. I tried what you suggested, squeezing the chip. That didn't help. Any ideas what might be wrong? i have the sam issue as you!
  - David > Sfreegry June 25, 2015 at 11:02pm
    
    Hello,
    
    I have the same problem. Got a arducopter last week it fly's very nice, but when I tried to get the logs from it
    
    I get no dataflash inserted.
    
    found that the logging was disabled so I enabled it unplugged it and took it for a spin again.
    
    Connected it to my laptop and guess what no dataflash inserted went back into settings and
    
    it was disabled just wont enable just gets disabled no matter what I do.
    
    Checked the forum for issues and found members with power problems on the regulator.
    
    Mine has the 3.3 Volts on the regulator
    
    suggestions are welcome.
    
    Thanks
    
    Dave.

Rohan Jain July 10, 2013 at 7:16am

Hey,

I'm using an APM2.5 running arducopter 2.9.1b frmware for my hexa-c RTF from 3drobotics.com. Have a taoglas GPS module on it.

the board powers up fine, and i was able to do ESC calibrations, but can't arm the motors.

noticed that on connecting board to MP, CLI mode. i get 3No dataflash inserted3COMPASS INIT ERROR

All sensor tests in CLI, give not healthy message or hangs. (GPS, altitude,compass)

can't do accel calib, can't set level etc.

tried setup/erase then setup/reset commands, redid the radio and esc calib. still no onboard sensors.

I tested the voltage across the TPS79133, input is 4.96V and output 0.96V

does this mean that the sensors need to work at 3.3V and that without it, the sensors aren't gonna work?

If so. Can i still arm the drone and get control of the motors directly from RC controller?

I'm looking for a more detailed explanation of what the TPS79133 is doing and what it's supposed to do, and how i can work around the issue.

Would really appreciate a response other than contact 3dr help and ask for replacement.

Thanks

kw SO May 9, 2013 at 12:42am

I've the same issue and found very low volt at U3 (TPS79133) output pin.

Problem still exist after replacing U3. It looks like other components overloaded the 3.3V circuit!

Derrick May 2, 2013 at 4:21pm

I have the same trouble with a new unflown board, no dataflash, no compass, and the onboard sensors are not working. I just uploaded the latest 3.0 rc-1 firmware and there is now some additional output now instead of just hanging on "Init Gyros"

*NOTE* CLI Works only on first connect of power, log download only over USB

Opened com port

Init ArduCopter V3.0.0-rc1

Free RAM: 2197

FW Ver: 120

----------------------------------------

load_all took 1336us

3No dataflash inserted3ArduCopter V3.0.0-rc1]

ArduCopter V3.0.0-rc1]

ArduCopter V3.0.0-rc1] ?

Commands:

logs

setup

test

reboot

help

ArduCopter V3.0.0-rc1] test

test] ?

Commands:

pwm

radio

gps

ins

battery

tune

relay

wp

altitude

sonar

compass

optflow

eedump

logging

nav

test] ins

Hit Enter to exit.

INS

Failed to boot MPU6000 5 times

PANIC: failed to boot MPU6000 5 times

WarMonkey March 2, 2013 at 11:22am

Well i've just fix my board. it's U3 in sch PartNo. TPS79133 cause this.Repair costs 0.5$ in china

http://diydrones.ning.com/forum/topics/apm-2-5-no-dataflash-compass...

Todd Nelson February 11, 2013 at 1:09am

have you solved this problem? I am having the same issue with my 2.5+, in cli it says no data flash when it boots also when i do a test on "logging" I get the same, no data flash. This first happened a few days ago, then went away......now the same problem is back. I have reloaded the firmware, including a different firmware.......still no success. I am trying to look at my logs to get Arducopter 2.9.1 working. Any help would be great.

Developer

Bill Bonney February 1, 2013 at 3:27pm

Press 'enter' 3 times to enter CLI mode. type 'test' then 'compass' What happens?

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APM 2.5+ No dataflash inserted

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