Replaced camera now getting error

[RodPad]

Prop guards, wow!

Good Call.
I forgot about those issues with the P3*

Rod ..

 

[Mnap20]

I wonder if the previous owner maybe installed prop guards at one time, and damaged the motor windings with 'too long screws'. It happens quite often.

Have you started the drone ---spun up the motors ? (Best to do this with props OFF the bird for inside bench testing) Do all 4 motors start/idle/spin up normally?

Also, maybe an IMU calibration would help?

Previous owner didn’t have any prop guards on it. I couldn’t get the drone to start, it’ll say it’s ready to go, then I try to take off and I get the esc error.

I can try the imu calibration today.

 

[RodPad]

HUM, do you get the 4 beeps on power up?
I actually haven't flown anything for a couple of years.

Just powered up the P3A, and It had four beeps.

The IMU thing I feel like that's not going to fix the ESC problems. I would try it

Also, even though you haven't got back in the air your mobile device will have a flight log.

For sure the SD card that is on the motherboard (black box) will have info every time it gets started, etc.
When it full, it automatically removes the old stuff, same as the Black Box in a car or on a Airline.

That is downloadable via PC that is the port on the front.

Rod ..

 

[captainmilehigh]

Previous owner didn’t have any prop guards on it. I couldn’t get the drone to start, it’ll say it’s ready to go, then I try to take off and I get the esc error.

I can try the imu calibration today.

ok. Not sure if the IMU calibration is even relevant in this situation, but with your component changes it may/may not help.

I'm beginning to believe that your crash did more than damage the camera.

 

[Mnap20]

ok. Not sure if the IMU calibration is even relevant in this situation, but with your component changes it may/may not help.

I'm beginning to believe that your crash did more than damage the camera.

Did the IMU calibration but it didn’t help. I do clearly hear 4 beeps upon drone startup. I’m still getting the ESC error

 

[RodPad]

Hum, thanks for the update.

@quaddamage, you got any thoughts on this one?

Rod ..

 

[captainmilehigh]

Did the IMU calibration but it didn’t help. I do clearly hear 4 beeps upon drone startup. I’m still getting the ESC error

Oh well....worth a shot.

Have you had the top shell off the bird anytime?.......maybe to check motor wire solder points or any loose components? It doesn't take much of a crash to shake things loose in there.

 

[Mnap20]

Oh well....worth a shot.

Have you had the top shell off the bird anytime?.......maybe to check motor wire solder points or any loose components? It doesn't take much of a crash to shake things loose in there.

I haven’t taken the shell off yet I’ll look for a loose wire

 

[captainmilehigh]

I haven’t taken the shell off yet I’ll look for a loose wire

If you've never separated shells before, you may want to check out the YouTube videos available on it. It can be a royal p.i.t.a.

I did mine when I replaced the main board many years ago on my P3.

Also, the motor wires are shielded, so just a quick solder job won't work. The shielding will need to be scraped off before soldering.

 

[quaddamage]

@quaddamage, you got any thoughts on this one?

Long thread, sorry - I'm not reading this. Seen several issues punctuated in first post, not sure which one we're solving.

Definitely worth emphasizing that - as the OP noticed - camera and the rest of the drone can be easily interchanged. In a similar manner, issues with the drone body can be worked on without the camera even connected.

 

[Mnap20]

Long thread, sorry - I'm not reading this. Seen several issues punctuated in first post, not sure which one we're solving.

Definitely worth emphasizing that - as the OP noticed - camera and the rest of the drone can be easily interchanged. In a similar manner, issues with the drone body can be worked on without the camera even connected.

@quaddamage, as of now the camera and ribbon cable have been replaced. The camera will do its dance upon startup which it wasn’t previously doing which is good. I get the 4 beeps when the drone is powered on. It says the drone is ready to take off in the app and soon as I attempt to, I get ESC status error.

My next step is to remove the cover of the drone and look inside for any obvious damage

 

[quaddamage]

@quaddamage, as of now the camera and ribbon cable have been replaced. The camera will do its dance upon startup which it wasn’t previously doing which is good. I get the 4 beeps when the drone is powered on. It says the drone is ready to take off in the app and soon as I attempt to, I get ESC status error.

My next step is to remove the cover of the drone and look inside for any obvious damage

So you have a fully working gimbal+camera - that's good, this is actually the most expensive part of the drone.

For ESC Status Error - yes, you need to look inside the cover. I did started a diagnosis procedure for that, but never finished it completely, Still, this should help you:

dji-technical-stuff/pictures/fig147831.png at main · quaddama9e/dji-technical-stuff

Technical details and howtos about DJI drones. Contribute to quaddama9e/dji-technical-stuff development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

 

[Pablodrone]

I wonder if the previous owner maybe installed prop guards at one time, and damaged the motor windings with 'too long screws'. It happens quite often.

Have you started the drone ---spun up the motors ? (Best to do this with props OFF the bird for inside bench testing) Do all 4 motors start/idle/spin up normally?

Also, maybe an IMU calibration would help?

I tried to start up without props and I get the esc error. Also was going to do the IMU calibration but when I look at IMU it says ready or ok. Can’t remember but there’s no option to calibrate I can find.

 

[captainmilehigh]

I tried to start up without props and I get the esc error. Also was going to do the IMU calibration but when I look at IMU it says ready or ok. Can’t remember but there’s no option to calibrate I can find.

The IMU calibration is in the GoApp.
Select three dots, top right of screen,
Select pic of little drone on screen,
Go to Advanced settings at the bottom,
Select 'Sensors'.
Select Check IMU or IMU Calibration.

ESC errors are almost always a motor problem. As mentioned above, installing the incorrect length screws in the motors is a primary cause. Loose or broken motor wires is another.

 

[Pablodrone]

The IMU calibration is in the GoApp.
Select three dots, top right of screen,
Select pic of little drone on screen,
Go to Advanced settings at the bottom,
Select 'Sensors'.
Select Check IMU or IMU Calibration.

ESC errors are almost always a motor problem. As mentioned above, installing the incorrect length screws in the motors is a primary cause. Loose or broken motor wires is another.

I carefully inspected all of my motors, and I see one indication on one motor where I can see where the longer screw interfered with the silicon disk between it and the motor windings. Is there a way to disable and bypass this one motor to see if this is what’s causing my problem?

 

[Pablodrone]

 

[Pablodrone]

The marking on the motor

 

[Mnap20]

So you have a fully working gimbal+camera - that's good, this is actually the most expensive part of the drone.

For ESC Status Error - yes, you need to look inside the cover. I did started a diagnosis procedure for that, but never finished it completely, Still, this should help you:

dji-technical-stuff/pictures/fig147831.png at main · quaddama9e/dji-technical-stuff

Technical details and howtos about DJI drones. Contribute to quaddama9e/dji-technical-stuff development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

No obvious signs of damage under the cover. Now I’m getting a battery error and my camera light stays red, and sustains a steady sound like something is stuck. No idea how that happened out of nowhere. I’m thinking this drone is toast

 

[captainmilehigh]

The marking on the motor

It has likely damaged the motor coil windings, and did damage the motor wires.

Be best to replace that motor. Be SURE to get a OEM DJI replacement motor, not third party.

 

[captainmilehigh]

No obvious signs of damage under the cover. Now I’m getting a battery error and my camera light stays red, and sustains a steady sound like something is stuck. No idea how that happened out of nowhere. I’m thinking this drone is toast

Did you reassemble the top shell? While you're in there it maybe best to check each motor for damage due to incorrect mounting screws being installed at some time......(unless you are original owner).....I can't remember.......long thread.

Check all plug in connections while you're in there, since there are new warnings present now. Something might have shaken loose while you were checking it out.