I recently bought a Phantom 2 with Zenm. H3-3D gimbal. It worked well right out of the box and I odered, FPV equipment, iOSD mini, and a Data link for GPS guided flight. The FPV package was a complete settup, PNP Black Pearl monitor with transmitter all in one box by Flysight. It went in without a hitch and flew with FPV for a few great days. As a matter of practice, the antenna for the transmitter was attached and never once removed after that. There were no crashes and not trauma to the Phantom at all during this time.
On my 20th discharge of the battery, I discharged the battery to the 8% level as advised in the assistant software. To do this I took the props. off and unpluged the gimbal ribbon cable from the anti-interference board (because I didn't want the gimbal motors to overheat), disconnected the FPV from it's power supply, I set the Phantom on the floor with my small office fan blowing on it and powered it up, initiated it and spun it at various RPM's for about 10 minutes until it stopped at the critically low voltage level. Then I recharged the battery.
After this, it would not initiate and the Assistant said it was because of a stick calibration problem. I recalibrated the sticks, cycled power and it fired up just fine. Later that morning the iOSD mini arrived and I used the plug and play cable and the "clean install" method of installation (detaching the can bus and rerouting some cables to the iOSD was inside the Phantom). I insullated the can bus with some tape to protect it from an accidental short and turned on the Phantom. Immediately the 32CH transmitter burst into flames at a small component located right near the power supply (looks like a thermal protection component). Of course it was dead at this point. I called the company I purchased the FPV package from and they accepted the return right away. I replaced it with the same exact package which arrived in two days (shout out to AlleRC.com who ships quickly). I put the whole thing together again after reviewing several forums and videos of the installation again to make doubly sure I hadn't done anything wrong (frankly though, with the directional connectors and plug-and-play wiring, there is only one way these things will go together). Satisfied it was correct, I powered up the Phantom. The transmitter bust into flames in my office again, burning me and a spot on my desk. The very same component that fried the first time was the one that fried this time too. Now I'm terrified to try anything new on the Phantom for safety sake and for the cost of these failures. (I don't know if I will be allowed to return this second FPV package, and haven't yet asked). I think it's clear that the Phantom is killing the transmitter. Voltage at the power supply to the transmitter is steady at 9.85v and the 1.30v at the video feed. These voltages do not spike at start up. I tried to measure amps and my multitester (which measures only to a maximum of 200 mA) indicated it was above that range.
I've had the Phantom for about a month. What should I do next? Try again and have the fire department standing by? Try to return the Phantom? Eat my losses and get another one?
Thanks for any help, John
Replies
Its good that you stated right off that the antennas were never removed, since that was going to be my first question. Those little TXs get REAL hot without one... by which time it's too late already for the radio finals.
(They advised you to discharge your LiPo to 8%? Wow, I'd expect that to kill them right then and there)
That instruction surprised me as well: Here's the verbatim text from the Phantom Assistant software:
“It’s recommended to charge and discharge the battery thoroughly once every 20 charge/discharge cycles. Users should turn on the battery installed in the aircraft, discharge statically until there is less than 8% power left or until the battery can no longer be turned on. Users should then fully recharge the battery to maximum capacity. This power cycling procedure will ensure the battery is working at its optimal level.”
+1 on that Ric that seems a surprising number. I don't know anything about Phantoms, how is the FPV unit powered from the main flight battery?
Earlier versions of this FPV package came with their own external battery, but this version plugged right into the "CAM" port in the drone and drew power from there.