Ok, I have an issue or maybe not an issue, but an unusual behavior that I want to make sure isn't an issue. One of the motors/ESCs on my hexcopter (a 3DR Hex with 3DR ESCs, Ardupilot 2.0, and 880kv motors), number three or left rear according to arducopter (+ config) is acting strangely. When I boot the copter I get several more beeps out of this motors esc than I do out of the others. Also, I notice that when I cut the throttle, this one also looses power but always keeps spinning for longer than the others. I have checked continuity between the three posts of the motor and get continuity between the three posts in any combination and the motor spins strongly, so I don't think it's a motor issue. I have also replaced the ESC on this motor and it has the exact same issue.
I have also had another strange issue where at low throttle I get pulsing of all the motors up and down (this corrects at over 5-10% throttle). I'm not sure if these issues are related or not, so I only mention the latter in case it helps diagnose the former. I did have some issues getting this ESC to program, initially using autoprogramming, but after multiple tries the ESC finally completed it's programming, but I still get the extra beeps after a reboot.
Does anybody have any thoughts on what might be causing this? I have not actually flown this copter yet, but I've been testing thoroughly while tied down to make sure I don't loose it, when I get it in the air. I did get it up to about 4 feet one day and dropped it pretty hard when it went out of control, this resulted in the death of a motor that had a cold solder joint on the motor itself. Since then, I've been being very careful about taking it out again, before I am more confident in the hardware, configuration, and assembly. I am very close at this point and this is the only thing holding me back from a full on flight test.
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I just recently noticed the same issue with my Hexa C as well. I've manually/automatically calibrated the ESCs multiple times and they all seem to start up at the same time.
However, I get a single higher pitched beep after plugging up LIPO. I assume this is from motor #5 because this one spins longer when I disarm and land. Also, when LIPO is plugged in all the motors seem to be a quite firm, meaning if I try to spin the prop with by hand there is some resistance, but motor #5 and prop will spin freely (no resistance) just as if the LIPO is not plugged in.
I've also noticed a lot of forward drift in stabilize mode but auto and RTL are extremely stable. Other than that, it seems to fly fine but like you I do not want this to be a potential issue later.
I've been trying to find out the meaning of the beeps online but I cannot find anything outside of online guides related to ESC calibrations.
Were you able to find a solution to your problem?