Eric Hartley Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 Hi When attempting to calibrate the motors on my quad I have proceeded in the following manner - Tx. on and throttle to full, connect the lipo following which the esc's emit some musical notes followed by a continual 'beep - beep' beeping at approx. 1 sec. intervals. Disconnect the lipo. and reconnect (Throttle still fully open) and obtain the usual musical notes followed by 2 beeps then throttle fully down and receive yet again the musical notes and a beep following which the motors seem to arm and will then spool up on operating the throttle. However upon disconnecting the lipo and then connecting for flight (throttle in closed position) the ubiquitous music tones sound followed by the 1 sec. beeping and no response with throttle. The only way I can overcome this is by recalibrating the esc's before each flight. Has anyone any advice please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Barlow Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 You should unplug all the esc's and calibrate them individually one at a time, using the same procedure as you have been doing. This might also cure the problem you're having. Edited By Chris Barlow 1 on 21/08/2014 14:34:08 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Barlow Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 Oh and remove the props first if you haven't! I had a motor spool up unexpectedly doing this when I put the TX down and knocked the throttle up! Fortunately it had no prop on at the time! (Thats not a thumbs up! It's what a hand looks like when you don't remove the props! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Zito Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 Are you using the KK2 Flight board. If so there is a way to do all four at once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Zito Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 Go to YouTube and search KK2 Board. There is a video by Dennis Baldwin that is really great. He will show you how to do all four esc's at once. That's IF you are using the KK2 board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adrian lawrence 1 Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 Similar thing for Multiwii see this https://code.google.com/p/multiwii/wiki/ESCsCalibration Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Hartley Posted August 22, 2014 Author Share Posted August 22, 2014 Hi Should have mentioned it is an APM 2.6 (Arducopter) board. I have tried to recalibrate the esc's again both collectively and individually via the receiver but again no joy. The esc's are Turnigy plush 40amp and I might try a different brand. Whilst I have succeeded in getting all the motors to spool up together the Quad. tips forward so I have shut of the throttle not wanting to upend it which presumably indicates that the esc's have not calibrated and are running at different speeds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C Norton Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 Hi Eric, I'm sure this is obvious but you have confirmed that the correct handed props are on the relevant motors? Not being so could cause the tipping you describe. Otherwise can you hold it level with some back elevator stick as you power up? Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-richards Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 use the multi rotors site all your info is on there Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Hartley Posted August 22, 2014 Author Share Posted August 22, 2014 Hi I've changed the esc's and they now calibrate ok. The new problem is that the quad now tilts over to the left when spooling up! incidentally the props. are spinning in the right direction according to the ardupilot manual. Don't really know what to try next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Jones 7 Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 Have you calibrated the board? Not sure how to do it with APM but it involves putting the quad on a level surface! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C Norton Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 I have sometimes found that with a newly built quad it won't always leave the ground smoothly and you have to just go for it and snatch it off and be prepared to level it quickly on the sticks but a small amount of trim can get them level. Just my experiences.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Hartley Posted August 22, 2014 Author Share Posted August 22, 2014 Hi Have recalibrated everything and upon spooling up the quad now wants to nose over (previously going over to the left). I have just about given up with the system. As a matter of interest I previously had a KK" board with no problems and only changed to the APM 2.6 because it seemed to offer a host of options for a reasonable price. Now I know why the Naza DJI costs much more but looks like it seems the best option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C Norton Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 Try to use your right stick (mode2) to get it stable on flat ground and if you can do so without excessive deflection then open the throttle enough to get it to lift off. If you do this over soft ground and can chop the throttle quickly enough if it all goes wrong then the worst that will happen is possibly a couple of broken props but you may be surprised to find that it will actually fly ok. Keep away from it a good distance of course! Another obvious thought occurs, you are using identical motors in all 4 corners? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Hartley Posted August 22, 2014 Author Share Posted August 22, 2014 Hi Yes I've tried spooling up with full up elevator but the quad still tries to nose over. If it was only slightly canting over I would be tempted to give it full throttle to get airborne . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C Norton Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 Ah, I think I'd be tempted to strip it all down and start again. Sounds like it's going to something irritatingly obvious! Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Zito Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 Eric, I had the same exact problem. I know you don't use a KK2 board, but check the orientation of your board. It has to be facing front so that it knows which way is forward, back, left, and right. As soon as i re-oriented my board, it flys like a son of a gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C Norton Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 Have you tried holding the copter (very firmly!) and applying part throttle, moving the copter around and ensuring that it tries to stabilize itselfby fighting against the movements? Failure to do so would indicate faulty board alignment as mentioned above, incorrect motor wiring, incorrect setup or a faulty board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Read Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 Download the mission planner software, connect the board to your PC using the USB cable and check to see if everything is working as it should. I'm sure its not a serious problem, it may be that a channel needs reversing or something equally simple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David... Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 I use the Turnigy Plush ESC and APM 2.6 and now APM 2.7 and have a far amount of experience of this setup, also see Peter King's YouTube videos of the same, he goes through the setup in great detail. I would say your board orientations or motor positions are wrong, have you done the motor test to ensure the craft forward (arrow on APM) and motors correspond? You will of course have completed the compass calibration if you have the latest mission planner, because it nags you to do it until completed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Hartley Posted August 24, 2014 Author Share Posted August 24, 2014 Hi Yes I have watched Peter King's video and they are very good I also downloaded his parameter settings. I have changed all the esc's and motors, recalibrated everything but the quad still tries to tip over on spooling up. What I have noticed however is that if I pull the right stick back (mode 2 elevator) it does not seem to have any effect similarly with the aileron. Is it a faulty board? Bearing in mind I have another quad with an APM 2.6 and that works perfectly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Zito Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 I have a minor issue. My quad Flys real nice, but when I lift off, the right side raises up before the rest of the quad. Finally after some throttle it levels out. What do you all think is causing one side to raise up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David... Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 If you swap the motor or ESC does the problem follow the items? I have a kk2.1.5 board quad too, and on take off one arm/side always lags behind but if I give it throttle then as soon as it gets off the ground it's fine. When idling on the ground you should be able to check all four axis of roll (ail) and pitch (ele) and see/hear the motors respond accordingly. How about trying a tethered flight, I use 100lb fishing line so I can stop it going off like a banshee... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Hartley Posted August 25, 2014 Author Share Posted August 25, 2014 Hi Finally managed to get the quad to arm and all the motors spool up together. When holding the quad and tilting it the motors respond trying to level it which is as it should be. Unfortunately when applying full throttle the motors do not accelerate and merely spool at app. 1/4 speed. If I recalibrate the motors this seems to bypass the arming procedure as the throttle will spool the motors up to full power but when tilting the quad there is no stabilisation attempt from the motors! I am completely at a loss as to what to try next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Zito Posted August 25, 2014 Share Posted August 25, 2014 Well David I appreciate the info. Being an ex RC helicopter pilot, I should have followed my own rule. I like to use the term "smartly". When flying a helicopter or multirotor, the props cause ground effect. It is pushing the air down, and the air has no where to go but back up. You should lift off "smartly" and get above that turbulence. I did that and the quad is more stable at take off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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