HELP---Phantom V2+ Short Lived

[davidsoncm]

Well my phantom experience was short-lived. After my 3rd flight while descending it wobbled abruptly and landed in my pool of all places. :evil: (Reminds me of the time I crashed one of my R/C planes into a pond and had to hit the only floating log in the pond)
Anyway I got it out in less than 10 seconds quickly disconnected battery and took it apart to let it dry out. After 48 hours or so of letting it dry out I reassembled it. During this time I noticed the battery LED's where not functioning properly so I did not want to reconnect a Li-po battery with water damage back to the Phantom. Ordered a new battery charged it up and figured it was time to give it another try. So with my fingers crossed I powered the battery on and the Phantom powered up to what appeared to be normal. After the power up and all the led's flashing in the initial start appeared and chimes. I thought GREAT!!! it's going to work. However shortly after turning on the power the yellow (no green LED's) LED's light up, I go into compass calibration mode easily and calibrate the compass half the time I get the "long flashing yellow LED" the other half is a "solid green" LED. In either case the motors will not start. I go into the Phantom assistant software and connect all stick motions indicate a response to my input. But I noticed the in the firmware update under GPS I have all blanks 0.0.0. and or ----- in the Loader Hardware and Firmware sections when connected to the Phantom via the software under the "UPGRADE" sections of the software. All other firmware indications within the software are normal. I took the Phantom apart again and I noticed some corrosion on the GPS board. Everything appears just fine inside cover of the Phantom and with the software.

A couple of questions.
1. Any suggestions on getting this thing fixed?
2. I have not been able to find a new GPS module that is labeled Vision 2+ I have found a Vision 2 GPS module will this work? Are they the same? Will it work
3. On the Master Controller inside there is one side that has only one connector to it I want to confirm I have reconnected to it properly the other side is full and I and I'm certain all other connections are correct. I have scoured the internet to find MC for the Phantom Vision 2+ to confirm this but have not came up with any diagrams for pictures. (For some reason I'm thinking on that side I may have not connected it to the proper slot since there were so many empty ones on that side But I'm 90% sure it is correct I just want to confirm)
4. If it is only the GPS module that is bad shouldn't it still at least start the motors in non-gps mode?
5. All I have ran the phantom assistant software is a Mac. Is there a preferred operating system Windows/Mac that most guys like and works better for them?
Thanks in advance. I love the forum and love the Phantom I just don't want to have to buy a new one.
Thanks,
Cliff

 

[Geoelectro]

I had an experience of flying my P2V into a lake, recovered it 30 minutes later. Rinsed and dried. Let it set all night under a fan. My camera was lost and the battery was damaged. With a new battery it did fly again. My cleaning consisted of opening the craft and rinsing it out. Then, drying it for an hour and a half with a hair dryer. Then all night under a fan. The motors were oiled with a drop per bearing. I didn't remove the GPS from under the top due to the self adhesive material covering it. I bought a new camera and battery and have been flying it for a month. As time goes by, the craft has become more and more unstable. It calibrates properly on the computer and compass cal always works. However, it acts like the compass is way off or the GPS.

I decided to take it apart again and tackle the GPS. It looked fine. I also took the motors apart and did additional cleaning and oiling. Still, the stability was continuing to go down hill. I just this week bought a new "craft only" from RC Hobbies. It works like new and I'm back in the air.

So, after much reading and thinking I believe the NAZA module is where the problem is. It is an enclosed module and is not water tight, I suspect the drying out didn't fully dry out the module and some internal circuit or connectors are going bad from corrosion. I'm of the belief a new NAZA module and four new motors will get it back up. I may try swapping the NAZA from the new craft to the old one to verify my assumptions. I will certainly update the forum on the final solution.

As to whether the old NAZA from the P2V is the same as the plus I have no idea. I know what the insides of mine look like but I haven't seen the inside of the plus yet.

Geo

 

[davidsoncm]

I had an experience of flying my P2V into a lake, recovered it 30 minutes later. Rinsed and dried. Let it set all night under a fan. My camera was lost and the battery was damaged. With a new battery it did fly again. My cleaning consisted of opening the craft and rinsing it out. Then, drying it for an hour and a half with a hair dryer. Then all night under a fan. The motors were oiled with a drop per bearing. I didn't remove the GPS from under the top due to the self adhesive material covering it. I bought a new camera and battery and have been flying it for a month. As time goes by, the craft has become more and more unstable. It calibrates properly on the computer and compass cal always works. However, it acts like the compass is way off or the GPS.

I decided to take it apart again and tackle the GPS. It looked fine. I also took the motors apart and did additional cleaning and oiling. Still, the stability was continuing to go down hill. I just this week bought a new "craft only" from RC Hobbies. It works like new and I'm back in the air.

So, after much reading and thinking I believe the NAZA module is where the problem is. It is an enclosed module and is not water tight, I suspect the drying out didn't fully dry out the module and some internal circuit or connectors are going bad from corrosion. I'm of the belief a new NAZA module and four new motors will get it back up. I may try swapping the NAZA from the new craft to the old one to verify my assumptions. I will certainly update the forum on the final solution.

As to whether the old NAZA from the P2V is the same as the plus I have no idea. I know what the insides of mine look like but I haven't seen the inside of the plus yet.

Geo

Thanks Geo please let me know how it turns out.

 

[davidsoncm]

For what it's worth. I replaced the GPS board with a Phantom 2 Vision (non gps) board into my P2V+ and all is well

 

[DrJoe]

OP- Do you understand why you crashed?

You encountered a "vortex ring state", which is deadly to rotorcraft. Next time, move the right control stick in any direction to slide out of your prop wash... she'll recover immediately. Just adding power will make it worse.