Phoenix sim and futaba 9c super problem

[nightstalker]

Hi all wonder if anyone has any ideas,
well i have the phoenix sim and a 9c super TX now i had a fault with the lead (that i thought) and sent it to phoenix and they sent me a new cable, but now when i switch the tx on i have 10.4v but when i switch it off them plug the sim cable into the back the alarm is going off and my voltage is going down fast was at 10.4 dropped to 7.1v

anyone have a clue whats going on?

[Ade_Law]

looks like an email to phoenix is needed. i have just been talking on email to them so im sure you will get a very quick response.

Ade

[Nutz]

Plug just the adapter in, if it still does it the adapter could be faulty, if it does not do it plug the adapter into the cable and see if it does it (without plugging the cable into your computer.

It could also be the TX so it is worth testing on another 9C TX

Test the TX it without and with the RX moudle.
The way the lead turns on your TX is by shorting 2 of the 6 pins in the plug (same way as a buddy lead), so it should not affect voltage.

Also try a buddy lead on it to see if it still does it, make your TX the slave.

[nightstalker]

Well the lead is a new one from the phoenix guys and it was tested before it was sent to me so i know thats fine, the TX is only 1 month old, so im thinking its the adapter, as i did as u said and yes it does this even when its just that part plugged in, if i switch the TX on its fine and the voltage is showing 10.4v,
I will go and pick up another adaptor tomorrow as i feel this is whats letting me down,

What a pain as the sim and that old either, but lets see what happens when i get another adaptor

[Nutz]

So we have narrowed down a bit, next step is to figure out if it is the adapter or TX.

I am going to suspect the TX as all the adapter does is short 2 pins to remotely turn on the TX bypassing the power button.

Try a buddy lead with another TX on the end of it and if you have the same problem, then it is the TX.

Also see if there is a difference with and without the RF module in.

You generally do not need to unplug the module as with the adapter in your should only get a red LED showing the TX is powered up

The other LED is to say the RF is on and transmitting and is a green or blue LED.

[nightstalker]

I always take the module off to save power, i have no way of testing it with a buddy lead, so i have to buy a new adaptor as this is the only way i will know,

[g0pkh]

Hi all.

I have a warning here with Pheonix and the FF9 Super.

I had a problem with my set the other day.
Was playing Phoenix when suddenly lost all control, the heli was going wild

After loading up the calibration page I noticed all channels going mad.

After a little cable wiggling, smoke started to appear from the back of the TX .

Fortunately being trained in electronics I checked things further.
I opened the phoenix adapter plug (Futaba 6 pin square plug).
And found that the blue wire which was ground for the phoenix dongle, had come unsoldered, in fact the quality of the soldering in the adapter lead was appaling .

This loose wire had inadvertantly bridged across pins 2 and 4 in the plug, and shorted out the supply which is provided for a buddy box TX.

Opening the FF9 and checking the rear circuit board revealed the destruction of a small inductor and a surface mount diode,these are soldered on the rear circuit board in the tx near to the buddy box socket.

When you plug in the lead with tx off the supply for the TX (minus the RF module ) is provided via this path. Hence you normally get about .5v lower reading when powering the TX this way (due to the normal voltdrop across a diode). When checking mine the voltage dropped well below 9v, removing the plug of course restored the correct voltage reading as power is supplied via a different path, ie the switch.

It was really fortunate that the battery is connected to this same board as this localised the damage. I was able to replace the inductor and diode.

After a range check all is fine again now.

This could have been much worse.

If anyone would like to know more in detail let me know, and I will help further.

Pete.

Might be worth adding this as a sticky.

[nightstalker]

Thats some good info there mate thanks, sounds like you could make some money here replacing inductors and diodes

[nightstalker]

Has any one ever opened the futaba plug that connects to the back of the TX?? well i did just to see if there was a wire come lose and there is a red and yellow connected but there is also a white one but that's not connected to any of the pins,

Any clues??

[robgt]

It's likely just a 3 core wire that was used to make the cable - but it only needs two wires and so the third wire wasn't used?
Sounds odd, I know, but possible??

Cheers,
Rob

[g0pkh]

That's correct there are 3 wires in the plug only 2 are used.

Mine were red and blue.

The red wire to pin1 being the PPM signal, and the blue to pin 2 ground.

The third wire was cut off (yellow) in mine in think.

pin4 carries the battery supply via the diode and inductor I talked about, and pin 5 used to power up the TX without RF Module.
Hence inserting the plug links 4 and 5 together.

The damage was done by a short across pins 2 and 4

Pete

[nightstalker]

well im fed up now so im going to sell the sim with the new dongle i was sent by phoenix last week and chuck the futaba plug in the bin,
I need to make some money to get my self flying again ASAP

[nightstalker]

Sim now sold and left with a busted TX training port