Trex 600E Motor or ESC Problem?

[johnsandywhite]

After several unknown reason crashes, I have been doing a LOT of research. Especially on Helifreak.
I may have come up with some ideas about 2 or 3 of my crashes and the reason for loss of power when flying.
The easiest one is the power loss. When the ESC reaches 80C it engages the battery protection circuit and reduces the power.
Fix? Try and fit the ESC somewhere cooler. Perhaps the North Pole?
Seemingly the full Negative Pitch power into the ground is a common fault. Having read through the Manual, it says that when you BIND the Rx to the Tx you are programming the Rx with the failsafe defaults.
SO, the Rx loses signal and goes into failsafe.
What settings do the average people have? I would think throttle in the low position, Otherwise it goes into vibrate/BUZZ mode doesn't it?
FIX? The only logical fix would be to chuck the DX8 as far as you can throw it?
Or perhaps set the throttle to zero and pitch to zero in the Tx before binding? Any thoughts?

[d a baker]

Surely it's the fault of the ESC getting too hot (over 80c) not the DX8.

[johnsandywhite]

Surely it's the fault of the ESC getting too hot (over 80c) not the DX8.

NOT when my 550FB went FULL negative power in.

[sacko]

Test it on the bench. Unplug the motor wires, turn Heli on and give it full collective.

Then the the tx off. What happens?

[johnsandywhite]

Test it on the bench. Unplug the motor wires, turn Heli on and give it full collective.

Then the the tx off. What happens?

Just tested that on my 600E FB because my 550 FB and 550 FBL are otherwised partually stripped.
I turned on the Tx then the Rx went to Idle up 2 (which is what I normally do) gave full throttle and then turned the Tx off.
Nothing happened it stayed the same. So my theory of full negative on loss of signal is wrong?
So WHY the full power negative? If it was the ESC it would gradually power down, not stay at full power and go negative pitch.

[acwman]

Whatever the problem, I would start off trying to figure out why your esc is 'Red Hot'. Doing hovering 'Ts' and Autos, the ESC should come down barely warm. Make sure everything is running smooth, and then either the Motor has had it and overloading the esc.. or just that the esc could be going.

[johnsandywhite]

Sorry about this. But I have 2 types of problem. The first is the LOSS of power on both my 600 FB and my 550 FB. I changed the ESC (s/h) and then the motor on the 600. Still loss of power. Perhaps both ESC's are duff. I also changed out the Motor from the 600L to the 600XL. Same problem. 2 duff Motors?
The 550 FB had the same loss of power. Changed the frame bearings and I fitted it with the ESC that was working fine from the 550 FBL. On it's maiden/rebuild test flight it did the FULL Negative power in. Even though I hit Throttle hold. Two different problems onn several different combinations. Except they ALL were flown with the DX8.

[acwman]

Do you have a telemetry unit for the DX8. It could show if you have a weak signal, have any fades/losses in the receiver/satellite etc..

If you have an early DX8, is it possible you have the 'Pot' issue? You can look at the 'monitor' screen in the menu, and see if any of them seem to jump around when moving the sticks around...or head over the the Spektrum site to which runs you through tests and serial no.s that are affected.

[johnsandywhite]

It was a new DX8 from around January/February. Son bought me it as a present. I have checked the Monitor and the Rudder does jump around some. Hence my reason for thinking it is a Tx problem for the full negative power down. But NOT the power down. That has to be the ESC. Either connections or bad Motor and/or ESC. I don't have the telemetry. I have a new 550E Fb on it's way and I intend to fly it with my trusty Futaba PCM DC 35MHz.

[acwman]

It was a new DX8 from around January/February.

have you checked if your tx has a recall on it then. Jan/Feb...ppl were still having problems then.. also where it was bought it may have been stock from the previous year then.

[johnsandywhite]

All I can say is that it was checked against the list and it was not subject to a recall. Same with my son's DX8. He has had problems with his pots and just had it away to HH. The problem I have at the moment is that I am in Spain for the Winter (see Avatar) and don't want the hassle of sending it back from here. As I said, i shall use my Futaba 35MHz and use the DX8 on the MCPX. It bounces better and is cheaper to repair.