FPV feed cut out issues. HELP!!!!!

[katheiser]

So I have an Argonaut AQ320 I bought from RCtimer. Here is a link...
http://rctimer.com/product-1210.html
I also have this camera and TX...
http://rctimer.com/product-1275.html
Im powering the camera and the TX off the integrated 5v pins on the PDB. everything is working great... video feeds to my goggles, everything. UNTIL I THROTTLE UP AT ALL. Complete cut out. What am I missing? Im sure it has to be something easy. HELP!!!!!!!

 

[GJH105775]

A few ideas, first it could be as simple as RFI, try it without props on the motors, and with just the radio, on and the board in safe mode.

 

[GJH105775]

Can you provide a part list, and maybe also try powering just the FPV system?

 

[katheiser]

So I was thinking about powering the fpv system by its self. I'm kind of unsure how to do that. the camera and VTX are 5v, so I'm gonna need to supply that some how. thought about using my balance wires on my lipo, but cant figure out how to do that AND get 5v. plus, that seems like it would drain my battery quickly. I will absolutely try the testing you suggested. That never crossed my mind. Parts for the fpv are in the first post, unless you need to know something else, I will provide any info I can.....

 

[Jackson]

So I was thinking about powering the fpv system by its self. I'm kind of unsure how to do that. the camera and VTX are 5v, so I'm gonna need to supply that some how. thought about using my balance wires on my lipo, but cant figure out how to do that AND get 5v

Don't need 5V, fully charge your LiPo and pull leads from one of the cells from your balance plug (just shove in 2 wires.)

You'll be close to 4.2V.

The specs from your link.

Power supply: 3.6-5.5V

That's only for the camera, which is actually being powered the LT200 VTX, for that we see:

Operating Voltage: 7V-24V

Note that spec is quite important and germane to your problem.

Now to the real meat. From your OP:

Im powering the camera and the TX off the integrated 5v pins on the PDB

You need to pull off the 12V pad of your PDB or directly off your battery to power the VTX.

 

[katheiser]

You know what, I bet you are correct! You are a godsend Jackson! I'll try this tonight but I bet its gonna work! Thank you! Thank you to everyone here! Ill let you know if it works!

 

[katheiser]

Ok. So here's the update. I wired the fpv system separately using a balance plug adapter. So now the motors are running on the battery and the fpv feed is, well I guess still on the same battery but off the balance charger. I tested like GHJ suggested, by trying it with the board in safe mode and the video never drops. So it's not radio interference. So, I removed the props, and tried it on my table. The video cuts out when I FIRST start the motors for just a second, but comes back and seems to stay on no matter what I do with the sticks. All throttle, pitch, roll and yaw ranges and it's perfect. So problem solved right? I thought so until I went to fly it. Outside, it's doing the exact same thing it was. As soon as I throttle up at all, I lose video and it never comes back. The only thing that has changed is putting props on. I just don't expect that to mess with it that bad. I understand that without the props there is no load on anything, but still. Seems rediculous. I m so frustrated at this point. Does anyone have any other ideas? Would going to 4s battery give me more power? Please let me know. I'm about ready to give up on this whole thing. ...

 

[GJH105775]

What motors are you using? You may need to have a power filter.

 

[katheiser]

Here is a link to the motors. Maybe you can suggest a filter?

http://www.rctimer.com/product-1249.html

 

[GJH105775]

Make your FPV setup run 100% seperate from your quad, then move it toward the quad while the motors are running, if it affects it close to the motors then fliter won't help, if it works fine, then a filter should help. This is the reason for OPTO ESCS, but a filter should fix it if that is the case.

 

[katheiser]

So completely disassemble the fpv parts? Power them with a separate battery, and walk with it? Or are you saying walk away from the quad with my goggles? Sorry, I'm a little slow...

 

[GJH105775]

So completely disassemble the fpv parts? Power them with a separate battery, and walk with it? Or are you saying walk away from the quad with my goggles? Sorry, I'm a little slow...

No walking required, just need to have a separate power source for the camera and TX and move the tx and then the camera around a few feet from the motors to see if it is some sort of EMI. If that fixes it then a filter is most likely fix, if not fixed, but only affects while closer than EMI is the most likely problem.

 

[katheiser]

Ah... I see. Well I only have one battery as of so far.... but my balance charger plug got in the props in my crash today, so new batteries are on their way. I'll let you know!

 

[GJH105775]

Have a AC-DC wall adapter with around the correct voltage?

 

[katheiser]

UM... I don't believe so... ill just wait for new batteries, *sigh*

 

[katheiser]

So I saw a thread somewhere that said NEVER POWER YOUR VTX WITHOUT THE ANTENNA ON IT....
O_O
so, Obviously I did that... could this be the root of my cutout issues? could I have damaged my VTX and that's why it cuts out?

 

[GJH105775]

So I saw a thread somewhere that said NEVER POWER YOUR VTX WITHOUT THE ANTENNA ON IT....
O_O
so, Obviously I did that... could this be the root of my cutout issues? could I have damaged my VTX and that's why it cuts out?

It very well could be. Does a resistor look burnt? Without an antenna you have no where to dump the current load, so it usually burns a resistor, usually the resistor will catch fire. Do you see anything like that?

 

[katheiser]

Not really but I didn't know what to look for.... I will search the board tonight...

 

[GJH105775]

Haha, just look for a blackened resistor, it may be surface mounted.

 

[katheiser]

ok. so the board looks fine to me. no visual damage that I can see. however, in my infinite wisdom, I got new batteries yesterday, and plugged the vtx in to see if that did any thing, and it didn't. then, I forgot to unplug it ALL NIGHT LONG. *sigh* so what damage could I have done now? I swear one of these days im gonna figure this out...