Comments

• 

  Ellison Chan March 20, 2012 at 11:09am

  When you calibrate in MP, the high and low of each channel is saved onto your APM, so that the firmware can know what the top and bottom range is.  These range values are used by the firmware to limit the range of motor speeds sent to the motors.  You only have to calibrate the radio once.
• T3

  Aerhead March 20, 2012 at 10:57am

  Bradley

  This is easy to do but not easy to explain.  If you use the same Tx throttle setting (trim to center) on the Mission planner as you use to set the ESCs using the  Rx, you should be good to fly. No need to change the trim if you use the same setting.  

  The trouble you were have with the ESC was caused by using the default throttle calibration settings.

  Larry
• 

  Ellison Chan March 20, 2012 at 10:54am

  Bradley, I suggest this:

  1- Centre all your trims.

  2- Go to MP, and calibrate your radio.

  3- Re-calibrate each ESC all over again, individually.

  4- Re-attach everything.

  5-  If that one ESC is still not behaving as the others, replace it.
• 

  Ellison Chan March 20, 2012 at 10:47am

  I would not trim the throttle. Trimming the throttle lower would just adversely affect the other 3 ESCs, and delay their spin up.   If the ESC is still not behaving after doing the calibration procedure outlined by Aerhead, then I would not use that ESC.  It may be bad.
• 

  Ellison Chan March 20, 2012 at 10:34am

  Bradley, if you trim, after calibrating the radio, then it will be ok.  If you re-calibrate you radio, make sure your return the trims to back to centre.
• 

  Ellison Chan March 20, 2012 at 10:18am

  Aerhead, what you just described is the ESC calibration procedure.  I thought that Bradley has already calibrated each ESC individually.  If not, then that explains why he's having problems with starting up his motors.
• T3

  Aerhead March 20, 2012 at 9:53am

  Bradley

  The instruction come with most ESCs or you can find them online.

  It's quite simple and since you having a bad time with it I'll try to tell you how.

  1. With no power to the ESC set the throttle to the highest setting.

  2. With no prop on the motor connect power to the ESC.  The receiver will get power at the same time if it is powered by the ESC's BEC.

  3.  You'll here a few beeps a couple of seconds after you connect power.  Just after you here the beeps move the throttle stick to the low position.  I'll hear a beep or two.  Now the motor should run when you raise the throttle.

  4. If your motors don't work for the quad calibrate the ESC again and raise the trim on the throttle a little.  The lower end point of the throttle range must be higher then that of the output of the APM 2.
• T3

  Aerhead March 20, 2012 at 9:36am

  Bradley

  I was wrong in telling you to set the throttle calibration lower I should have said higher.  The end points of the throttle range for the ESC must start higher then the output of the APM 2.  The outputs PWM should be around 1ms and your ESCs must have a little higher low end point.  It's setup this way so motors can't start with partial throttle.
• T3

  Aerhead March 20, 2012 at 9:02am

  Bradley

  I think your low throttle setting was right on the edge of being low enough.  It started because the signals from the different output pins can vary a little and that's what got your ESC to start.  If it start it should be fine.  I would set the ESC throttle calibration lower.  Temperature can make the ESC PWM vary and you may see the problem again if you do not set the throttle calibration lower.  It has happened to me in the last five years that I've played with quads.
• Chris Mulder March 20, 2012 at 8:53am

  Bradley, I think that answered the question, ESC sounds dodgy... not sure I'd trust my quad using it 400 feet up...

  As the old wise ones say....."problems that go away by themselves, tend to come back by themselves"...