Input Rail Voltage Drop When Rx Attached

I'm trying to set up a new APM2 and have an issue with the input power rail.  I suspect I'm doing something wrong.

I'm powering my FC using the power from an ESC's BEC on the output rail.  Coming from the BEC I see 5.1 volts.  The board seems to power up fine that way.  If I don't have a receiver attached to the input rail, with a DMM I measure 4.9 volts across the +/- pins on the input rail.  If I attach a receiver that voltage drops to 3.2 volts and isn't enough to power my receiver.  If I power the board through the USB port, I see 3.6 volts across the input rails with nothing attached, 0.7 volts after I attach the receiver.  The power jumper is on.

I've tried this with 3 different receivers and get the same results.  I've checked that I have the +/-/S pins correct about a zillion different times.

I'd really rather not remove the power jumper and have to worry about powering both sides separately.

Has anyone seen this behavior before?  I spent a bit of time searching the forum and haven't seen any other postings like this.

Thanks

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Replies

  • Good question!  I'm not sure why the APM doesn't use a common ground and 5v rail.  Seems to make the power issue more complicated and there have been several posts of people burning out the diode between them.

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