Noob Alert! ESC Beep Motor Twitch?!

Okay so I know someone is going to see this an sigh, link threads and call me a moron for not reading elsewhere. I understand your frustration! Please try to understand mine, I have read tons of threads with no luck! -_-

Hardware:

3DR Pixhawk! Flashed with the latest firmware via QGroundControl

4 580kv brushless motors

Hobbywing Quattro UBEC 25Ax4

11.1v 5k mAh 3 cell Battery

Taranis plus x9d AND x8R reciever

The issue at hand:

I have followed the directions step by step, ive flashed the latest firmware, done all the pixhawk calibrations via qgroundcontrol, Ive used the included "hub" to calibrate the ESC (after calibration ALL motors spins up and I start to cry because SOMETHING IS WORKING). I then go to plug in everything in through the pixhawk:the receiver, esc, bells, whistles, button; the works. I plug in the battery and all i get is twitching motors and annoying BEEP every second, NOT FAST BEEPING (i ran into that once and corrected that issue). Now like I said ive seen other people with this issue and have followed the steps that help them resolve their issue but im still stuck. Now call me slow but if there is anyone who can take the time to help me out please leave a response or PM me.

I am going to ski in switzerland, taking quad(if its working) with me to get some aerial shots of me skiing in the back country. Don't worry I wont be near any crowds...

So when you connect Mission Planner or any other GCS application, do you see the error message when you try arming it?

Also, take a photo of how your ESCs are connected to Pixhawk and upload, and the ESCs are rated for the Lipo size you are using?

According to the manual (screenshot attached), single beep indicates either signal is abnormal (2 secs), or throttle stick is not at bottom (0.25secs).

If it is the latter, you will have to recalibrate your radio as Pixhawk is not sending a low enough pwm signal to allow the ESCs to pass their throttle safety feature.

For the first scenario, you will have to relook into the arming error messages and also your connection.

It takes time, be patient but when you finally get it right and it flies - you'll feel it's worth it.

EDIT: oh and more thing, don't use the hub to calibrate the esc. Try using arducopter's built in calibration instead to calibrate your esc.

http://copter.ardupilot.com/wiki/initial-setup/esc-motor/

Not too sure what hub you are referring but the ESCs should be calibrated to arducopter's pwm range.

image.jpg

Replies

Thomas Stanley-Jones January 9, 2015 at 8:31am

I'm pretty noob as well, but one thing that caught me was enabling the pre-arm checks. I don't know QGroundControl, I was using Mission Planner, but I had to fly with the pre-arm checks off otherwise it kept the copter from arming. I think it was a high MAG offset that it didn't like.
- John OZemko > Thomas Stanley-Jones January 9, 2015 at 8:37am
  
  I will look into this! Thank you! If anyone else has had experience like this please feel free to chime in!
John OZemko January 8, 2015 at 7:33am

No clue what I am doing wrong at this point, ive started fresh; followed all the directions step by step and still no dice. I am at a loss at this point. Anyone thats had this issue care to type up a step by step (assume i know nothing about anything) as to what i can do? Thanks in advance!
- Kelvin Tan > John OZemko January 9, 2015 at 8:01am
  
  I think the answer is quite simple. For a lot of HobbyWing ESCs (like the Platinum Pro 30A I personally use), the ESCs beep once every few seconds when there is no signal detected on the esc side.
  
  And the reason the signal is not detected is because you probably have not activate the arm safety switch on Pixhawk. Once you press th arm safety switch Pixhawk will start sending a PWM signal to the ESCs and they will stop beeping.
  
  My ESCs will beep and motors will twitch along with the beeps (as a visual indicator of beeping) until I press the arm safety switch, then they will fall silent. After which you can continue as per normal with arming and take off.
  - John OZemko > Kelvin Tan January 9, 2015 at 8:08am
    
    That was my understanding as well, even after i arm the pixhawk using the blinkin red button they still beep, i have even assumed i would need to arm via the transmitter (throttle down and to the right) all i get is a warning tone that it cannot be armed. So i looked this up and went back to make sure everything that would stop it from arming was calibrated and it has been so thats where i stand, at a loss lol. thanks for your response, its helping me round out the process i took for more commenters.
    - Kelvin Tan > John OZemko January 9, 2015 at 8:56am
      
      So when you connect Mission Planner or any other GCS application, do you see the error message when you try arming it?
      
      Also, take a photo of how your ESCs are connected to Pixhawk and upload, and the ESCs are rated for the Lipo size you are using?
      
      According to the manual (screenshot attached), single beep indicates either signal is abnormal (2 secs), or throttle stick is not at bottom (0.25secs).
      
      If it is the latter, you will have to recalibrate your radio as Pixhawk is not sending a low enough pwm signal to allow the ESCs to pass their throttle safety feature.
      
      For the first scenario, you will have to relook into the arming error messages and also your connection.
      
      It takes time, be patient but when you finally get it right and it flies - you'll feel it's worth it.
      
      EDIT: oh and more thing, don't use the hub to calibrate the esc. Try using arducopter's built in calibration instead to calibrate your esc.
      
      http://copter.ardupilot.com/wiki/initial-setup/esc-motor/
      
      Not too sure what hub you are referring but the ESCs should be calibrated to arducopter's pwm range.
      image.jpg
      - John OZemko > Kelvin Tan January 9, 2015 at 9:14am
        
        I will double check how far i can get in the application, but i believe i have gone from unarmed to armed while connected to the application.
        
        I will upload a picture of the esc which is 25amps and form my understanding is enough power for my motor/prop combo.
        
        I have the manual and have come to the conclusion that signal is abnormal.
        
        I appreciate the feedback and advice I will get looking into it when i get home from work.
        
        Would it be easier to just scrap the 4in1 and get 4 individual ESCs?
        
        Kelvin Tan > John OZemko January 9, 2015 at 9:17am
        
        To be honest I don't trust the 4in1s, but they do work fine in most instances. I suggest you stick with them first, but do plan for a move to individual ESCs.
        
        Also, do check and see if your throttle is reversed. Good luck and keep us updated. This community is here to make sure you get that Pixhawk up in the air safely.
        
        As to flying while skiing, please be aware of cold temperatures and the effects on batt life as well as high altitude air and how the motors and props have to work harder. And suggest you do a fair bit of ground testing before bringing it to the ski resort with you.
Gerard Toonstra January 6, 2015 at 5:46pm

I never used the hobbywing esc, but maybe this helps:

http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/hobbywing-quatro-20ax4-esc-with...
- John OZemko > Gerard Toonstra January 6, 2015 at 5:51pm
  
  I read this article, re-read it just in case i missed something. I'm thinking ill just start over and follow the steps over again maybe i missed something there but as ive done it three times already i hope i didnt lol. i appreciate your help!

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Noob Alert! ESC Beep Motor Twitch?!

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