Recent content by cahutch

  1. cahutch

    Apple Watch Interferance

    Aluminum is non magnetic. Stainless Steel is also non magnetic but I suspect it's a "Stainless" alloy with some iron in it. In any case, it has a battery in it and any electric current is going to generate a magnetic field. So even if you can "successfully" calibrate your compass while wearing...
  2. cahutch

    self discharging batteries

    The self discharge feature was added in a firmware update so it could be applied to any P2 battery. You could check the battery firmware version number, I think the feature was added in V2.6.0.0 I also think the updated batteries have a V2.0 printed on them somewhere. If it's charged and you...
  3. cahutch

    Tech knowledge needed for hand launch and catching

    When it's descending, it's watching the barometric altimeter for changes that tell it it's still descending. When the altimeter has stopped changing for a couple of seconds (despite the fact that it's continuing to reduce motor speed and keep the system level) it realizes it can't descend any...
  4. cahutch

    2 days 2 crashes..... help

    Because the people who sell those props do their best to convince you that they are better, and some people fall for it.
  5. cahutch

    Stats On Fly Aways?

    90%+ of flyaway stories or videos I have seen have been clearly pilot error. Very few are caused by equipment failure. Even fewer, if any, might be caused by software bugs.
  6. cahutch

    4 propellers came off mid flight

    As stated in the other threads, it's believed to be a problem with the v3 version of the Phantom 2 or late models of the V2 with the 2.1 ESCs. Those haven't been out very long. But you already knew that, right...
  7. cahutch

    4 propellers came off mid flight

    The force involved to UNDO is NOT that great. Only ~2.4#-in of torque. Not much. Just spinning on the prop without tightening is even less though. Only ~1.2#-in. Using the wrench can get you up to ~13#-in which the motor could never remove with only ~2.4#-in of force.
  8. cahutch

    4 propellers came off mid flight

    I believe in Science. Where are these calculations and charts you speak of? NM, I see the link now. Didn't notice it before. http://www.wynotweb.com/Use_the_wrench.html Nevertheless, I have always been an advocate for tightening with the wrench and even linked to your thread in my previous...
  9. cahutch

    4 propellers came off mid flight

    The P2 comes with a small wrench that fits on the motor bell to hold it in place while you tighten the props by hand. It allows you to get some torque on the props as opposed to simply spinning them on until the motor starts turning.
  10. cahutch

    4 propellers came off mid flight

    No way to say for sure. But using the wrench will probably help and it can't hurt. Unless you over-tighten and break the prop. Certainly the more torque you apply to tighten the prop, the more reverse torque it will be able to take before flying off. So why not give 'em a bit of torque when you...
  11. cahutch

    4 propellers came off mid flight

    It's happened to a few other pilots before. There have been reports that a bug in the ESC can cause a momentary current reversal in the motors causing them to momentarily slow down hard, stop or even reverse direction. But only for a fraction of a second as you throttle down from full. It's...
  12. cahutch

    P3 v P2V+

    As long as my P2V+ keeps working I won't go out and buy a new P3 But, I might not be as careful with my P2V+ as I used to be. If it breaks, I have a good excuse to buy a new one ;)
  13. cahutch

    What mobile device do you prefer?

    No need to worry about connection problems since the connection to the P3 controller is hard wired USB. This means you can be connected the internet via WiFi at the same time. I would go with an iPad Mini or equivalent size Android tablet.
  14. cahutch

    What does the P3 offer than predecessors dont?

    No. The new controller uses Lightbridge which is a completely different system from the normal RC transmitter/receiver system. You could probably interchange with an Inspire controller though.
  15. cahutch

    What does the P3 offer than predecessors dont?

    The camera for the advance model appears to be pretty much the same. The GPS may be better in theory but under normal use I doubt it will make any noticeable improvement. Neither item would be relevant (to me) in a decision to upgrade. Honestly the high def video downlink is really the killer...