Building the Lunch Tray Drone

[Oso]

I went over everything again I am getting the ESC status error, I restart the drone and same thing comes up, ESC status error!

A couple of initial thoughts, but my memory is cloudy at best.

Did you carefully strip the enameling (coating) from the motor wires before soldering?

Since your "shell" is flat versus the OEM shell, perhaps the motor screws damaged the motor windings. We have seen that happen often when people have removed prop guards and then reinserted the longer screws and damage the windings.

 

[watersteps]

OK I am doing the IMU calibration right now.

 

[watersteps]

I will check the ready to fly message when the IMU cal is done.
I was very carefull not to put any long screws in the motor mounting, thanks anyway.

 

[captainmilehigh]

A couple of initial thoughts, but my memory is cloudy at best.

Did you carefully strip the enameling (coating) from the motor wires before soldering?

Since your "shell" is flat versus the OEM shell, perhaps the motor screws damaged the motor windings. We have seen that happen often when people have removed prop guards and then reinserted the longer screws and damage the windings.

Agree. A motor screw that's even 1-2mm too long will damage the motor windings and essentially 'kill' that motor.....causing a ESC error.

 

[captainmilehigh]

I will check the ready to fly message when the IMU cal is done.
I was very carefull not to put any long screws in the motor mounting, thanks anyway.

Ok. Be patient. IMU cal's may take 5-10 minutes.

 

[watersteps]

IMU cal is done, I can't find any ready to fly message, I do have no image transmission signal messade because I have the camera off the drone. I still have flashing green light (twice)
I just tried the sticks down to start the motors and I get ESU error.

 

[captainmilehigh]

IMU cal is done, I can't find any ready to fly message, I do have no image transmission signal messade because I have the camera off the drone. I still have flashing green light (twice)
I just tried the sticks down to start the motors and I get ESU error.

 

[watersteps]

OK I will check the motor winding and see what they look like.

 

[watersteps]

I found one yellow wire that fell off of the main board in my hand when I was looking at the windings. Could one wire cause the ESC error?

 

[watersteps]

OK motors are off and inspected, no winding damage at all. Can I test these motors while they are unwired and what voltage, DC and which wires, Red Black or Yellow.

 

[captainmilehigh]

I found one yellow wire that fell off of the main board in my hand when I was looking at the windings. Could one wire cause the ESC error?

yes

As @Oso mentioned in post # 21, the motor wires are coated (enameling),... and that coating must be scraped off to ensure a correct solder. Each of the three wires per motor must be perfectly soldered to the main board to perform correctly. I don't know of any testing that can be done with each motor individually.

 

[watersteps]

OK I remembered these motors are 3 phase, so I ran each one a drill and checked all three wires to the other two wires. All came up with 1.5, I had the multimeter set at V~ 200. Now I have to remount them and look for something else.

 

[watersteps]

Yes the wires are re-stripped and the enameled coating has been removed. I will solider them in the morning and see what happens.

 

[captainmilehigh]

Ok. You might try the auto-takeoff mode from the GoApp (with the props OFF) and see if the drone responds. Can't stress enough.....props OFF.

 

[watersteps]

Got it! I will check after coffee and soldiering is complete. Thanks
I'm afraid I will have to do some kind of FW change, and that would be like an old county boy doing brain surgery!

 

[captainmilehigh]

Got it! I will check after coffee and soldiering is complete. Thanks
I'm afraid I will have to do some kind of FW change, and that would be like an old county boy doing brain surgery!

Don't mess with the firmware....not yet. That would be a last resort.

 

[watersteps]

OK motors are mounted and soldered, tried the auto take off without props, it told me to wait for the IMU to warm up I waited and tried again it now said to turn off the drone and restart, I did. Now I get the ESC error again. Shut everything down and try again same error.

 

[watersteps]

Is it possible for me to plug my drone into my PC and see if there is a problem? I did not do it yet just waiting for guidance .

 

[captainmilehigh]

Is it possible for me to plug my drone into my PC and see if there is a problem? I did not do it yet just waiting for guidance .

No, it's not like a car where you can plug in a code scanner and it tells you what's wrong. It could still be an issue with the IMU, the motors and the wiring, or any number of things. * Is the RC (controller) the original RC that was paired with the drone? It may be a firmware mismatch.................but a firmware update is the last thing you should try. Maybe try linking another working controller to the 'lunch tray drone' and see if the issue remains. (..and link the LTD R/C to a working drone to determine if the RC is good) * Are you still getting the 'two blink' green on the drone after it has warmed up?

Maybe other members have ideas also. Troubleshooting is tedious, but it may only be a loose wire or a plug-in on the main board somewhere.

 

[watersteps]

I am getting the 2 blink green lights. I will check another controller and let you know.