RTF = Ready to Fix?

D

doug micheletti

Well-Known Member
Hi,
I purchased a jinxed SK450 that I have been able to fly only once. I have been having consistent problems with the KK2.1.5 board failing.
When new - it would not bind, then went blank screen and smoked a resister located just above the connections from the ESC's.
After a couple of weeks of e-mails - I got hobbyking to send a replacement.
That was only part of the problem as one ESC failed when the KK2 smoked.
Another week of emails and one of those was sent out.
Installed it and was actually able to fly it for the first time. Fun, but too windy for a beginner and I had to shut it down for another day.
I installed Stevis 1.81s on the board - it installed successfully.
After install - it would not bind - the receiver light never came on. I figured it was the next fail in line and bought one of those.
A week later - put it in - same thing. Pull all the servo wires except #1 and it will bind. WTF?
Narrow it down to servo #5 - unplugged it will bind, plugged in it wont.
Then loud beep and blank screen on KK2 board.
Pull board and it will not successfully flash a new program. Another brick...
Try old board with burnt resister - it will flash? WTF again?
I just ordered a new KK2.1.5 board - should have it in a few days as it was from local warehouse.
I think the above shows that either I have a jinxed copter, really bad luck or am too retarded for this sport. For the record - I am a toolmaker and a mechanical engineer, which means that I don't know squat about electronics. I have flown planes since I was a kid - control line and rc, plus gliders and never experienced anything like this.
I am looking for some input as to what may have caused all my issues (including me), and what to avoid so I can get it working and go fly this silly thing. It won't make a very good wheel chock....

What the heck am I doing?
Thanks!
Doug
 
doug micheletti said:
Hi,
I purchased a jinxed SK450 that I have been able to fly only once. I have been having consistent problems with the KK2.1.5 board failing.
When new - it would not bind, then went blank screen and smoked a resister located just above the connections from the ESC's.
After a couple of weeks of e-mails - I got hobbyking to send a replacement.
That was only part of the problem as one ESC failed when the KK2 smoked.
Another week of emails and one of those was sent out.
Installed it and was actually able to fly it for the first time. Fun, but too windy for a beginner and I had to shut it down for another day.
I installed Stevis 1.81s on the board - it installed successfully.
After install - it would not bind - the receiver light never came on. I figured it was the next fail in line and bought one of those.
A week later - put it in - same thing. Pull all the servo wires except #1 and it will bind. WTF?
Narrow it down to servo #5 - unplugged it will bind, plugged in it wont.
Then loud beep and blank screen on KK2 board.
Pull board and it will not successfully flash a new program. Another brick...
Try old board with burnt resister - it will flash? WTF again?
I just ordered a new KK2.1.5 board - should have it in a few days as it was from local warehouse.
I think the above shows that either I have a jinxed copter, really bad luck or am too retarded for this sport. For the record - I am a toolmaker and a mechanical engineer, which means that I don't know squat about electronics. I have flown planes since I was a kid - control line and rc, plus gliders and never experienced anything like this.
I am looking for some input as to what may have caused all my issues (including me), and what to avoid so I can get it working and go fly this silly thing. It won't make a very good wheel chock....

What the heck am I doing?
Thanks!
Doug
Click to expand...
Servo?

Also can you provide a wiring diagram of how you were hooking everything up? I suggest you use Stevies 1.8 as it has more features.
 
Thanks for the reply. My bad on the servo - I was referring to the wires plugged into the receiver that go to the kk2.1.5 board. I did get as far as getting stevis 1.81s ( I think that is the number) flashed onto the controller. I was going thru the manual item by item butt was never able to get it to arm if the wire for the fifth axis was plugged into the receiver. Is that a receiver problem, kk2 problem, or programming error? It had armed previously witth the program it shipped with and I am pretty sure I had similar settings. I will try again once my new controller arrives. Any advice regarding programming would be appreciated!
 
doug micheletti said:
Thanks for the reply. My bad on the servo - I was referring to the wires plugged into the receiver that go to the kk2.1.5 board. I did get as far as getting stevis 1.81s ( I think that is the number) flashed onto the controller. I was going thru the manual item by item butt was never able to get it to arm if the wire for the fifth axis was plugged into the receiver. Is that a receiver problem, kk2 problem, or programming error? It had armed previously witth the program it shipped with and I am pretty sure I had similar settings. I will try again once my new controller arrives. Any advice regarding programming would be appreciated!
Click to expand...
Go into reciever test and make sure everything there is working properly, Still confused with how you got it to smoke unless you had a KK2.0
 
It looked ok in receiver test before it failed - it just would not arm. I was getting the error message "no yaw" which I believe you always get if not bound to receiver? It is a 2.1.5 - it has the red battery connector, both boards did. Regarding the smoke - I guess I am gifted....
 
doug micheletti said:
It looked ok in receiver test before it failed - it just would not arm. I was getting the error message "no yaw" which I believe you always get if not bound to receiver? It is a 2.1.5 - it has the red battery connector, both boards did. Regarding the smoke - I guess I am gifted....
Click to expand...
Turn the transmitter on then the quad this is a common problem. Order matters.
 
As you can imagine it is a really common problem, they need to put it in big bold letters on their sales page hahaha.
 
doug micheletti said:
Yep. That and smoke :eek:
Click to expand...
Still don't understand how you smoked it.... I really am interested in a wiring diagram xD you mount it directly to CF with no stand-offs? I've seen and made all kinds of mistakes when plugging itt up and never seen a genuine 2.1.5 smoke because of that xD.
 
It came wired from hobbyking. I took pics before taking apart and it has been the same each time. I would love to know what I did so I can skip it next time... It flew with the wiring one time so it must be OK?
 
doug micheletti said:
It came wired from hobbyking. I took pics before taking apart and it has been the same each time. I would love to know what I did so I can skip it next time... It flew with the wiring one time so it must be OK?
Click to expand...

Did they use standoffs properly? Anything touch the back of the board? CF is really conductive.
 
It is on plastic standoffs attached with plastic screws. All wires run arount it and not under. I really have no idea. They do stink when they smoke though.....
 
You mentioned removing the power wire from all but the #1 esc. Hk didn't do that. Could it contribute? I am using a 3 cell 2200 mah battery - do I need to drop voltage or does the esc do that? I would like to eliminate any possibilities this time. Where would 5v short be likely?
 
doug micheletti said:
You mentioned removing the power wire from all but the #1 esc. Hk didn't do that. Could it contribute? I am using a 3 cell 2200 mah battery - do I need to drop voltage or does the esc do that? I would like to eliminate any possibilities this time. Where would 5v short be likely?
Click to expand...

Can you do a video chat when you hook it up? I'd like to walk you through connecting and if you have a multi-meter (voltage tester) a continuity test.
 
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