Hello everyone,
I am looking for help!
I am a design engineer, specializing in composite structures. So building designing and building vessels for my project is the easy part.
My weakness is the APM and getting more channels to perform necessary tasks, turn on Nav lights, bilge pumps, and for future projects Sail sheets and halyards.
As far as I can find the ArduRover firmware only allows out put channels 1 & 3 to function. Channels 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8 are redundant.
So heres my set up:
I am using a AMP 2.5 flashed with the latest firmware (flashed today before testing 2.46 I think). For the RC side I am using UHF 433 Mhz (and one day Drone Cell for telemetry).
In terms of power supply the RX unit has a dedicated UBEC, the APM is powered by the PM from 3DR (that came with the APM), the servos again are powered by a dedicated power supply. All share a common ground with the APM.
@TCIII this may sound familiar as you helped me on this a few months ago.
When I first discovered that I could only get channels 1 & 3 to function I thought I had fried the output board in some way.
I searched online and through the groups and got conflicting information on whether the other channels worked in the firmware.
So I order another APM (2.6 was only available), flashed it and tested it . . . and guess what . . . no joy on output channels 2, 4, 5, 6, 7,& 8 :-((
I have used two types of servo switches and still nothing, So I can only suggest that the firmware does not support function on those output channels? Please correct me if I am wrong?
If that is the case then sailing projects will be very limited.
Please have a look at the images for my set up. If you see anything wrong please let me know.
SO, can some one please tell me my options? I would like 4 - 5 more channels.
Is there a way that doesn't involve programming to get the out put channels working?
Or can I use the Analogue pins?
If someone could help?
Regards,
Richard
Replies
Can some one please tell me what the RC?_DZ (i.e. RC2_DZ, RC3_DZ, RC4_DZ etc etc) setting in the prams list?
I am still having trouble getting these switches set up through the APM.
The switches are open with current flow through (i.e. the lights are illuminated / ON) but I cannot get them to switch on/off.
The only thing I can see different between the channels is the DZ settings.
Any ideas?
Cheers,
Richard
Richard, DZ stands for Dead Zone. I think it the amount of PWM around your trim on the sticks that will have no effect if using an auto mode. Somebody else can probably explain it better.
Regards
David R. Boulanger
Cheers David, I now understand enough to know its not where my problem lies.
Cheers,
Richard
Ok Guy's,
I'm stuck again.
After getting out put on all of the out put channels by WRITING!! the prams to the APM I tested and still didn't have any results with the switch.
I had a look at the HK site and YouTube and realized that as I am using three independent battery systems: Main engine (includes, bilge pumps, Nav Lights, and main engine starting) this is trickle charged from the main engine, Servo (1300mAh) dedicated to the servo's, and the electronics bank (1200mAh) dedicated to the APM, RXmodule, and the Dronecell.
What I discovered is that with multiple battery banks the switches will only work if all share a common ground. This is quite logical and I am disappointed that I didn't think of that, as when one builds a full size boat there are generally two ground strips running longitudinally down the boat that all negative connect to and at the end of the ground strip then exits the hull and finished with a sacrificial anode.
So after installing a temp ground strip I achieved current pass through on the switch.
The problem now is that I cannot get the switch to function on/off, it is currently on.
I have read the information on the HK site and the downloadable files, from what I can see the switch operates with the PWM signal achieves 50% plus.
I have played around with the PWM setting in the Prams list first at 860 min to 2100max No change. then 1400min to 1600max, no change.
So what am I doing wrong?
I am assuming 50% means 50% of min to max? so if the min in 1400 and the max is 1600 then the 50% threshold is 1500????
Cheers,
Richard
Hi Richard,
It sounds like your switches are Normally Closed (NC) until the PWM signal reaches 50%+ and then it should go open and disconnect the circuit.
Yes, 50%+ should be 1500us or greater. I have used this kind of PWM to contact control type of switch before and had no problem with the on/off function of the converter.
However the webpage for the switch says: "The Turnigy switch will complete a circuit when the radio channel passes 50%. Connect it to your flap or gear channel for an instant on/off switch!."
But you are saying that the switch is currently ON with no input or what PWM input value?
How do you have the jumpers set on the switch?
According to one user, the switch is solid state and not a mechanical relay.
Don't know what to say at this time.
Regards,
TCIII AVD
@ Linus
@ TCIII
Cheers Guys,
I couldn't get to it this afternoon but gonna grab a quick bit and see if I can get it sorted.
I'll keep you posted.
Thanks again,
Richard
Hi Richard,
can you try to setup the channel you want to use with RCx_FUNCTION to "1" for enabling RCPassThru and verify that you have powered the servo-rail ? Cant see if you have the jumper installed from the pictures.
I gave it a shot with a Servo this morning on one APM2 and one PX4 equipped rovers and the passthrough works as expected here.
Had to power the servo rail with a UBEC to power the servo turn.
Cheers,
Linus
Hey Linus,
Thanks for you post.
You have helped me with this a few months ago (LatLong) but I had to shelve it for the last couple of months as work got in the way. But I am focused on this and hope to get it solved in this attempt.
I have read you post and will test and report back in a few hours.
I will have to say that it looks if I am doing something wrong. I my last attempt I assumed that I had fried my out put rail some how, even though ch 1& 3 functioned fine. Not knowing what else to do I purchased another APM (2.6 as there where no more 2.5's).
So I flashed both the 2.6 & the 2.5 with the rover firmware and tested, again no output on 2, 4, 5 etc etc for both the 2.5 & the 2.6. this confirmed it is not the hardware (unless I have fried the put puts on the 2.6 as well lol).
So I flashed the 2.6 with the Arduplane firmware and tested in the same manner using both types of servo switches, same results. so this lead me to believe that the fault more than likely is in my settings
I will now follow Andrew's advice and yours and test it and post the results.
As you are in EU and if you are on line can you please tell me how to record the tlog?
Cheers,
Richard
Hi Richard,
a tlog gets recorded when your GCS (MissionPlanner) is connected to you APM.
Just search in for the Folder where MissionPlanner is installed and change to the Logs folder in that directory.
You should be able to find a log with the date in the filename.
But i bet its just a minor thing and hope we can solve it soon.
Please look at the output side of you APM, there is usually a tiny jumper in place where the first two channels are connected on your APM. If not i think you only need to put it in place and the switch should be triggering when you have setup the channel you want to use with RCPassThrough option wich is the 1.
Go to the full parameter table in Mission Planner search for the RC[number you want to use]_FUNCTION and put in "1" and write the settings to you APM and it should work.
Cheers,
Linus
Hi Linus,
Thanks for your help.
I have set channels 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, &8 to "1" in the parameter table. see attached for the prams.
I also checked all channels on the out put board and all had the same out put voltage 5v (actually just under).
I can confirm that the jumper is in place.
Any ideas of what I should check next.
I agree with you that I think I have missed something.
Thanks again,
Richard
2-6 prams 9-10
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
of 4 Next