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Next D . Fast Lad Performance . Ace Hobby

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e-Align T-REX 450-500-600 > T-REX 450 Esc Problems
 
 
vsnyder8
Veteran
Location: Ft Wayne, IN

I recently am having a problem with my esc, It seems I fly about 4 minutes, no 3d, mild flying and my heli starts slowing down like the bec is saying my bat has run out of juice, I take the bat out recharge and 500 or 600 mah later it is charged and balanced, and the same thing happens again.

I have been reading of others having problems with esc's, especially in the hot weather, is this becoming common with the align esc's. If I am getting a new esc is it worth spending extra to get a jazz or something even though I am not into 3d.

Just curious in Indiana

AMA Member # 907855
07-17-2008 03:51 AM
 
 
cassat
Veteran
Location: Alberta,Canada

You are probably loading up with too much blade pitch too soon.
I just reset my pitch angles the other night after maintenance with
a mini pitch guage, and now my headspeed is more even and I am
still measuring 12 volts after 5 minutes of flying. Also make sure
the little silver collar on top the main drive gear is not forced
up against the shaft bearing blocks too tight.
07-17-2008 04:34 AM
 
 
vsnyder8
Veteran
Location: Ft Wayne, IN

Thanks for the ideas, but everything is free, blades spin forever after power is cut, no drag. The pitch hasn't changed, no crashes, or even hard landings.

The thing is, the batteries aren't hot from excessive draw, and they aren't drained very far. It just started dropping power before the timer went off, then it dropped power a little sooner after a couple more flights, now I am lucky to get 4 minutes of gentle flying.

AMA Member # 907855
07-17-2008 12:00 PM
 
 
jaizon
Heliman
Location: Wilton, N.H. USA

About a week ago I noticed that my blades did not stop spinning on landing until I went into throttle hold. The heli flew fine in the air. Then last night on my fourth flight I lifted off and went into a hover. About five seconds later the heli acts like it hiccupped, then ten seconds later the same kind of thing. I landed, checked everything and tried to hover again. Same thing only worse. Shut it down and went home. This morning I double checked everything and lubed the belt and checked the bearings. Took it up in my driveway. Same behavior. Reprogrammed the esc. Problem gone. Hmmmm. So the question was...do I want to fly with an esc that might be going bad or might not be. The short answer is I am now flying a Phoenix 35 amp.
The deciding factor for me was did I want to risk a very expensive failure in the air should the esc decide to act up say twenty flights from now and end up spending a lot more money and time on a possible catastrophic crash. Looking for a cheap escape? Only kidding. Anyway, reprogramming is at least worth a try. Good luck.

Preston
07-18-2008 04:46 AM
 
 
702nitro
Veteran
Location: Las Vegas, NV

My experience with the Phoenix 35 ESC is that the BEC is very limited and doesn't have the capacity to provide enough amps. I was having a similar problem to what your experiencing(Plus heatshrink melting) and it was solved by adding an external BEC(i.e, Castle Creations BEC). After the modification, the ESC remained cool no matter what weather it was flown in or what I threw at the heli.

Vibe Fiddy
Atom 500
07-18-2008 06:32 AM
 
 
vsnyder8
Veteran
Location: Ft Wayne, IN

I tried reprograming the esc. This is the old one with only 3 settings to program. Still did the same thing.

At this point I am just waiting for the lhs to get some esc's in. they are backordered, at least the new 6v ones are. They have the Jazz in stock but they cost a bunch more and I am assuming for just simple flying they really don't make much difference.

I guess what I was looking for here was, with this large of an audience and the acumulative experience someone saying, "Yes mine did that exact same thing and when I did _____ it started working great again". Doesn't alway happen.

But thank you guys, I appreciate all the ideas and without being here and seeing exactly what it was doing you all had very affective ideas. I have been a member here for a long while and I understand how difficult it is to diagnose a problem with limited info.

I think I will do another search for best esc, tried that before without finding what I wanted, maybe I didn't word the question right


Thanks
Van

AMA Member # 907855
07-18-2008 12:17 PM
 
 
jaizon
Heliman
Location: Wilton, N.H. USA

Interesting, Nitro. I only do mild sport flying. Do you think I still need that BEC?

Preston
07-18-2008 02:20 PM
 
 
702nitro
Veteran
Location: Las Vegas, NV

That was MY experience with the CC35, but that was doing mild 3d and using the current firmware at that time. If your just sport flying it should be okay, but when you get into more 3d monitor how hot the built-in bec gets and decide from there. Like all things in this hobby some people will have success while others won't with Product X.

Vibe Fiddy
Atom 500
07-18-2008 07:45 PM
 
 
InvictaRocks
New Heliman
Location: Santa Clara, CA

I've experienced my Phoenix 35 getting hot just running the servos. I think a BEC is a good idea.
07-18-2008 09:20 PM
 
 
vsnyder8
Veteran
Location: Ft Wayne, IN

When you add a Bec, do you remove one of the wires from the esc?

Or does it make the adjustment itself?

Van

AMA Member # 907855
07-18-2008 10:46 PM
 
 
Merlin1205
Heliman
Location: Winter haven FL

Some require removing or cutting the red wire on the esc
others such as the one's from http://www.dimensionengineering.com/index.html

Do not require anything other than just plugging it in.

Tim
07-19-2008 01:01 AM
 
 
baby uh1
Senior Heliman
Location: St. James, Mo.

I'm late to this disscussion but it sure sounds like the esc is incorrectly reading the battery voltage and shutting you down.
A ubec would help keep the esc cool and guard against control loss but might or might not fix your problem.

Good luck!
07-19-2008 04:08 AM
 
 
vsnyder8
Veteran
Location: Ft Wayne, IN

Thanks, I think I am going to get a new align esc as soon as the lhs gets them in. appreciate all your help.

Van

AMA Member # 907855
07-19-2008 04:17 AM
 
 
vsnyder8
Veteran
Location: Ft Wayne, IN

Well, I guess I resolved that issue. I bought a new esc yesterday and put it in and flew. Same result. The TP 2070 battery with only about 40 flights won't hold a charge long enough to fly for more than 5 minutes, only takes about 700mah back. Never been over discharged, Never crashed, Never puffed.

I have a cheapo I bought from my lhs with about 15 flights, it flew the whole time with no problem. I had had a problem with it before with the old esc, but that may have been my mistake, I only used it twice testing the esc, once it died early the other it worked. I probably had not balanced or fully charged the time it failed, and assumed it was a fluke when it worked, cause everyone knows the TP is a better battery.

I have had TP batts before that flew well over 200 flights, without problems, I guess the 2070 was not made well.

Thanks for all your ideas and help guys.

Van

Oh, one more thing, I like the new align 35a esc better then my old align 35a esc. The new one has soft start, and since most of my flying is off concrete that is nice to have.

AMA Member # 907855
07-20-2008 03:20 PM
 
 
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e-Align T-REX 450-500-600 > T-REX 450 Esc Problems
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