Noob neds help (Burned ESC's, Libre pilot, batteries...)

[Marin]

So, i got my 1st bigger quad a few days ago, a Eachine racer 250 to be exact, and somehow managed to burn one of the ESC's while setting it up in Libre pilot.

Burned ESC's

At 1st i did a firmware update, which reset the whole quad and led to a crash, so i decided to go through the vehicle setup wizard. As i was going through, step by step, at the ESC setup step, after i got 3 ESC beeps, one of the ESC's just started burning. More specifically it was the chip above the yellow wire that started burning(The ESC's used http://www.banggood.com/Eachine-Racer-250-Drone-Spare-Part-Simonk-12A-ESC-2-4S-p-1014103.html) .

Does anyone know why this happened? I picked the middle ESC as the type (superspeed or something like that?), and followed the steps as instructed. Was it my fault, or did i just get a bad ESC?

Libre pilot

Is there any good tutorials for libre pilot? i know there's a documentation, but having someone explain it can only help.

Batteries

In the above mentioned crash the balance charger connector got destroyed, which i find pretty strange because i made sure it was at a safe spot... But anyway, i need a new LiPo, and searching for one is so much more confusing then it is for RC cars. It seams like only 1500 mAh batteries fit the quad as it is, but it would still be good to know what brands to stay away from and which i should look for.

 

[Jackson]

At 1st i did a firmware update,

So you didn't even fly it, as is, when you first got it?

... which reset the whole quad and led to a crash... As i was going through, step by step, at the ESC setup step, after i got 3 ESC beeps, one of the ESC's just started burning.

I would assume the crash had something to do with it.

 

[holtneil]

Hi Mate I second what Jackson said in the crash the prop may had got jammed this would had spiked the ESC on that motor and it sounds like its cooked one of the FETs, You need to get into the habit of killing the throttle if your going to crash and not be able to recover before the crash , its hard but will save some parts like motors and ESCs

 

[Jackson]

Maybe some help here.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/eachineracer250fpv/

 

[Marin]

So you didn't even fly it, as is, when you first got it?


I would assume the crash had something to do with it.

i did fly it for 5-10 minutes before, just forgot to put that into the post.

Anyway, thanks for the tip, the prop did get jammed and i did not lower the throttle as soon it happened, so that's probably it. Got a few spare ESC's on the way right now, as well as a battery and some balance connectors to try and fix up the broken one.

 

[holtneil]

Hi Martin crashing and fixing is all part of learning to fly quads the good thing they are the cheaper to fix , a minor crash with a 500 class Helicopter will be about £100 a time

 

[Marin]

Yeah, i expected things to break, a lot, i do have a bunch of spare props and arms, i just didn't expect the electornics to catch on fire

But i have another question, The more research i did the more complaints i saw about the stock ER250 ESC's. So, i've looked at the alternatives on hobbyking, but i'm pretty confused. The ER250 has 3 wires going to the quad labeled +, - and s, now i know what the + and - do, but all ESC's i found on HK have 2 (+ and -) and a 3 wire connector. Does this mean i'm stuck with the default ESC's, or did i miss something?

the stock ESC: http://www.banggood.com/Eachine-Racer-250-Drone-Spare-Part-Simonk-12A-ESC-2-4S-p-1014103.html

the ESC i'm looking at: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__58263__Flycolor_20_Amp_Multi_rotor_ESC_2_4S_with_BEC.html

 

[holtneil]

Hi mate how does the ESC plug into the FCB can you take a photo of the FCB of the quad , if it has the normal servo plug then you can use any ESC you want

 

[Marin]

Hi mate how does the ESC plug into the FCB can you take a photo of the FCB of the quad , if it has the normal servo plug then you can use any ESC you want

The ESC's do not directly connect to the FCB, they are instead soldered to the bottom board of the Quad (the -, S and + i was talking about)

The FCB itself is a modified CC3D

and i guess this is how the ESC's are connected?

 

[holtneil]

HI mate looks like your stuck , unless you have a FCB you can use and just keep the frame but looks like the FPV is built in ,so would cost a little to change it all , ask George if he can think of a way round it, the hobby king ESC will not match as the Eachine is simonk flashed so the code is different so you would have to change all 4 , so may be cheaper to just get the Eachine ones and save up and build your own racer with parts you can get easy
Any way message George this is his link
http://quadcopterforum.com/members/gjh105775.340/

 

[GJH105775]

It is possible(and not uncommon) to cause an ESC to burn with a firmware problem such as trying to use a feature your ESCs don't support, or a serious timing error that leads to two FETs being on that should not. If you've flown it with the new fimware then it is likely that it was a crash that did it.
You can buy a new JST for your balance connector if you so desire, I'd get a few lipos just for extra flight time.

The +S- looks to be Vin, signal, (for PWN) and ground. that is not where I'd expect a short for a firmware problem, or a crash, odd. Do you have a schematic of the ESCs?

 

[Marin]

No schematic sadly. Actually, there's no info at all on the ESC out there, all i could find was that it was 12A and supports 2-4S lipos. That's also part of why i felt like upgrading.

One of the solutions people suggested was to just always fly in 50Hz, but that does not seem like a good solution

 

[watageek]

Hi guys,

I just received a Racer 250. There is already a problem with mine. It doesn't fly, has a bad ESC (still under diagnostic)on SW motor. The ESC is becoming real hot in a couple of second. Dead On Arrival

https://goo.gl/photos/2rXw3Y1t6okwdExv7




Just to clarify, You can use any ESC (4x) you want. If it has the classical servo wire, You isolate the BEC wire (little red/unused) use the white (or whatever color it is) as a Signal wire. Can someone confirm the needs of plugging the small Black wire at the ground, is it for the BEC, for the signal or both?

Edit: Confirmed for a bad ESC DOA. And there is another one exibiting "the in a not so distant future failure" sign.

 

[holtneil]

Hi mate servo plugs are red live always middle pin black earth or ground what ever way you like to say it the lightest colour wire is always signal wire
you need to see how the FCB is powered some use a single BEC off one ESC normally motor 1
Dont cut any wires just lift the little tag in the back of the plug then pull the wire out and heat shrink it

 

[Jackson]

I just received a Racer 250

I hope you just didn't buy it, just old and unreliable tech.

 

[watageek]

I hope you just didn't buy it, just old and unreliable tech.

Sad but true. Shame.

They won't answer my email too.

Shame

 

[watageek]

One of my friend told me afterward, A quad is 90% motor/esc and 10% customization...

 

[holtneil]

Hi mate, not all is lost if at the worse use the frame and add up to date FCB and ESCs the motors should be ok and the props too , it is a shame but its all part of the learning curve ,I spend hundreds on CP helis that were rubbish when I started the hobby , Jackson is the guys to ask about up to date parts for a quad

 

[watageek]

You're right. Now I know. At a point I needed to do the big jump.

By the time I have the maiden flight I will be freaking good at DRL simulator