Optipower Backup Guard

[Planehazza]

Although that would work, it does remove some of the simplicity and certainty from the device as you do have to remember to turn the switch on. Also I really don't like switches

I do have an idea or two that could possibly be implemented in firmware, but I need to know what the range of voltage drops are from devices of this type on different power sources before making any suggestions.

Oh trust me, I'll remember It's better than having to disconnect the guard, boot up, start the engine and turn off the glow then reconnect the optiguard, and then get your friend (sorry turbogaz!) to hold the head while I fit the canopy. The G4 has only had ~12 flights so the clutch bites very early still.

I'll email andy direct to ask about these things.

If there's no solution, it's either a switch or I ditch the opti guard entirely, which I don't want to do as I don't want the BUG that I have to remember to charge.

[Mark_T]

I should get a chance to do some testing later this evening, I'll post what I find here.

I've got a 2S A123 30/60C pack that I'll use, that should be similar to the one you have.

Out of interest, are you connecting the pack using a single servo connector or more than one from heavier discharge leads?

[Planehazza]

I should get a chance to do some testing later this evening, I'll post what I find here.

I've got a 2S A123 30/60C pack that I'll use, that should be similar to the one you have.

Out of interest, are you connecting the pack using a single servo connector or more than one from heavier discharge leads?

I'm not using the two servo connectors on the battery, they're securely taped to the battery out of the way. I'm using the deans, which when connected, goes into Y lead that is deans male to 2x servo connector. One goes to the Rx, the other to the FBL.

[10x]

As a little more info, I use a A123 life pack on my electric 700 and fined that if I charge the life pack when I have finished I do not have a problem. But if I charge just before going out, the first time I start up the opti will flash and arm it self.
I assumed that the A123 pack is charged to 7.2 volts and not dropped that much but if left for a day or two it has settled on 6.6v and there is no problem...Using the life pack through ec3 on main leads to 2 plugs on receiver and 2 on fbl unit...

[Planehazza]

As a little more info, I use a A123 life pack on my electric 700 and fined that if I charge the life pack when I have finished I do not have a problem. But if I charge just before going out, the first time I start up the opti will flash and arm it self.
I assumed that the A123 pack is charged to 7.2 volts and not dropped that much but if left for a day or two it has settled on 6.6v and there is no problem...Using the life pack through ec3 on main leads to 2 plugs on receiver and 2 on fbl unit...

Very good point, I totally forgot about that. When I charge one of my older LiFe packs, it's dropped from 7.2 to 6.6 within minutes of taking off the charger. This is a much better newer pack, so I'll try charging the day before and see what happens.

[Mark_T]

As a little more info, I use a A123 life pack on my electric 700 and fined that if I charge the life pack when I have finished I do not have a problem. But if I charge just before going out, the first time I start up the opti will flash and arm it self.

Excellent information, I was wondering if it might be something like that, got one LiFe on charge right now and another I charged yesterday so was just about to test it

[Planehazza]

Hi Mark, just wondering during how you got on?

[maarset]

Went to power off my logo after a flight today and the unit didn't do the bright flashy thing. In fact it wasn't even powering the heli when I unplugged the flight pack.

The unit just flashes red thne green and back to red again. Just keeps doing this. Probably had a dozen flights on it. Any ideas what to do?

Using
12s pack
YGE 120 HV
Castle BEC pro v2

Mike

[maarset]

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1396223007.943831.jpg
Yikes! My lipo was severely discharged! I hadn't flown the logo in a week. I guess it's best to disconnect the pack when not in use???

[Jez N]

Only a week?? Supposed to be able to leave connected for a lot longer than that.

Some difference in cell voltages as well!

[maarset]

Yah not sure what is going on. Was able to charge the pack back up on my cellpro. Going to leave it disconnected when not using it.

[Mark_T]

Hi Mark, just wondering during how you got on?

I finished up testing over the weekend.

Near as I can tell this isn't an issue with using a glo-driver but simply the behaviour of using a direct LiFe when freshly charged.

I can get the results you were seeing even on an electric heli if I use a fully charged LiFe pack.

The LiFe will initially give around 6.8-7.2V depending on just how recent the charge was.

The glow driver on its own will only reduce the voltage by about 0.1V when it is on, but any load from the servos/FBL unit will rapidly reduce the voltage to around 6.4-6.6V.

So if the Optiguard armed at the higher end of the range, turning on the glow driver tips it over the edge and causes the alarm to trigger.

You can theoretically get the same sort of result using a direct Lipo as well, but it will not tend to be so immediate as the voltage does not drop so quickly under load and since you reset the start point with each flight you are not as likely to see the issue with a Lipo.

[Mark_T]

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Yikes! My lipo was severely discharged! I hadn't flown the logo in a week. I guess it's best to disconnect the pack when not in use???

Odd, I've not seen that problem despite leaving packs connected for more than a week.

Do you have the warning LED unit on your Optiguard?

Also, I'd suggest you contact Andy directly, I wouldn't regard the lipo on your UG430 as completely dependable after such a deep discharge even if it does appear to have recovered after a charge.

Given that you have a PL8 there, you might want to let it cycle the Lipo a couple of times just to make sure all is OK.

[OPTIANDY]

Odd, I've not seen that problem despite leaving packs connected for more than a week.

Do you have the warning LED unit on your Optiguard?

Also, I'd suggest you contact Andy directly, I wouldn't regard the lipo on your UG430 as completely dependable after such a deep discharge even if it does appear to have recovered after a charge.



Given that you have a PL8 there, you might want to let it cycle the Lipo a couple of times just to make sure all is OK.

Hi Maarset,

That's very odd, not quite sure how you managed that. The LiPo pack should be fine but if you want to email me with your address I will send you a spare LiPo to be sure. Did you just leave it on, i.e. armed?

[Planehazza]

I finished up testing over the weekend.

Near as I can tell this isn't an issue with using a glo-driver but simply the behaviour of using a direct LiFe when freshly charged.

I can get the results you were seeing even on an electric heli if I use a fully charged LiFe pack.

The LiFe will initially give around 6.8-7.2V depending on just how recent the charge was.

The glow driver on its own will only reduce the voltage by about 0.1V when it is on, but any load from the servos/FBL unit will rapidly reduce the voltage to around 6.4-6.6V.

So if the Optiguard armed at the higher end of the range, turning on the glow driver tips it over the edge and causes the alarm to trigger.

You can theoretically get the same sort of result using a direct Lipo as well, but it will not tend to be so immediate as the voltage does not drop so quickly under load and since you reset the start point with each flight you are not as likely to see the issue with a Lipo.

Awesome mate thanks. I don't want to go back to using a regulator, so I might look at getting a high current switch so I can bypass it whilst starting and/or charge my LiFe pack the night before so the voltage can stabilise down to 6.6v before arming. That way, as you say, when the ignitor fires, it won't be going from 7.2 all the way down to ~6.4v, then back up to 6.6v. Without meaning to state the obvious, the difference between 6.6 and 7.2 is 0.6 so it's more than enough to trigger it. Having said that, I'm sure when it happened, I'd already had a flight and the CGY750 was reading 6.6 on startup anyway. I'll have to test again to be sure.

Cheers!