Align 600MX motor shutting down

[Phill. H]

Looks to me like the voltage cutoffs are not set up properly dropping the esc power out when it detects low voltage/cell, can't really tell as it needs the set up files posting so we can download them and see what castle link says. Been using Castle Ice and Ice Hv's for a few years and never had one issue. All my 12 S set ups have - Current Limiting Disabled, Cut off voltage Auto-LiPo (*), Auto-LiPo Volts/Cell =3.0Volts/Cell, Voltage Cutoff Type = Soft Cutoff (*). Use a timer for flying.

( Hard Cutoff and too high Volts/Cell setting would give the symptoms you describe ).

What's your settings Granpappy ?

[Granpappy]

( Hard Cutoff and too high Volts/Cell setting would give the symptoms you describe ).

What's your settings Granpappy ?

################################################## #####
# Castle Link Data File
# Created: Saturday, 10 October, 2015
# Do Not Edit This File By Hand
################################################## #####
Auto Rotate Enabled: True
Auto-Lipo Volts/Cell: 3.4 Volts/Cell
Brake Delay: .6 sec (Delayed) (*)
Brake Ramp: Immediate (*)
Brake Strength: 0%, Disabled (*)
Current Cutoff Type: Soft Cutoff (*)
Current Limiting: Disabled
Cutoff Voltage: Auto Li-Po (*)
Data Log Enabled: 255
Direction: Forward (*)
Governor Gain: Low (15) (*)
Governor Mode Type: Simple
Head Speed Change Rate: Medium (5) (*)
Hex55: 85
Initial Spool-Up Rate: Low (2)
Link Live Enable: Disabled (*)
Motor Start Power: Medium (59) (*)
Motor Timing: Normal (5) (*)
Power-On Beep: Enabled (*)
PWM Rate: 12 Khz (*)
Sample Frequency: 2 Sample / Sec
Throttle Response: Medium (5) (*)
Throttle Type: Fixed-Endpoints
Vehicle Type: Helicopter
Voltage Cutoff Type: Soft Cutoff (*)

[Granpappy]

im assuming your running this motor on 12 cells, 1400 rpm is like scale. what gearing are you running and why not use the governor rather than curves ?

It's 12s. Main pinion 135T. Motor pinion 13T. Motor 510Kv.

I just prefer curves to the governor. It's what I'm used to.

The low head speed does not relate to what is set in the transmitter.

[trillian]

The rpm is an odd one. You should be getting something like 2000-2100 headspeed at high throttle.

The only time I had something very similar happening it was a castle ICE2 120HV with a 700mx/510 motor. It was the maiden flight of my Rave ENV and it was fine until I put a little load on it and then the power would cut, I'd start to auto and then it would kick in again. The cause of the problem I later discovered, was because when I setup the governor it wouldn't show me the headspeed I wanted in idle-2 so I 'lied' to it about the voltage (I don't remember the exact settings, it was to do with setting 12s and 'LiPo' and telling it the low wasn't 3.7 volts per cell but was something else. Anyway, I had forgotten to set the voltage back to 12s LiPo and somehow it was looking at it like one cell that was 50 volts and when it rippled a bit under any kind of load it freaked it out. 'Scared the bejesus outta me!

[Phill. H]

################################################## #####
# Castle Link Data File
# Created: Saturday, 10 October, 2015
# Do Not Edit This File By Hand
################################################## #####
Auto Rotate Enabled: True
Auto-Lipo Volts/Cell: 3.4 Volts/Cell
Brake Delay: .6 sec (Delayed) (*)
Brake Ramp: Immediate (*)
Brake Strength: 0%, Disabled (*)
Current Cutoff Type: Soft Cutoff (*)
Current Limiting: Disabled
Cutoff Voltage: Auto Li-Po (*)
Data Log Enabled: 255
Direction: Forward (*)
Governor Gain: Low (15) (*)
Governor Mode Type: Simple
Head Speed Change Rate: Medium (5) (*)
Hex55: 85
Initial Spool-Up Rate: Low (2)
Link Live Enable: Disabled (*)
Motor Start Power: Medium (59) (*)
Motor Timing: Normal (5) (*)
Power-On Beep: Enabled (*)
PWM Rate: 12 Khz (*)
Sample Frequency: 2 Sample / Sec
Throttle Response: Medium (5) (*)
Throttle Type: Fixed-Endpoints
Vehicle Type: Helicopter
Voltage Cutoff Type: Soft Cutoff (*)

Ok try setting Auto-LiPo Volts/Cell at 3.0Volts, reasoning behind this is looking at the graph log your start voltage is under 50 Volts for 12S Set up, all my stuff on 12S starts up at over 50Volts so just maybe your batteries are not too good or not getting a full charge and looking again at the graph your problems start as voltage begins to sag. Also have you done the fixed end point calibration with the ESC ? should not give you the problems you have but always best to do it. Logging when looking for a problem is best done a 10 samples/sec, just log the Voltage, throttle output and controller output and check it when done. Only takes a low voltage spike to knock the ESC off, you may not see it at 2 samples/sec. Gut feeling here is maybe a battery problem.

[Grumpy]

I think i may have spotted the problem. You say that you arent using governor but prefer curves.

But.....

You have governor enabled.

From the data file:

Governor Mode Type: Simple

So what the ESC will be trying to do is set governed headspeed at the first stable headspeed that you power up with. This probably explains the low RPM. It could conceivably also explain the cutouts as the headspeed could be too low for the governor to work properly.

You either need to use the governor (that would be much prefered IMHO) in which case the 'Set RPM' is the best option, or if not using governor just set to fixed endpoints with Governor disabled. As previous post, you also need to calibrate fixed endpoints.

[Phill. H]

His governor is disabled

[Grumpy]

His governor is disabled

So am I misinterpreting the data file?

It says: "Governor Mode Type: Simple"

PS i agree that 3.4V is too high for the cutoff so that needs reducing, but as it's set to 'Soft' I don't think it would explain the total power loss that we are seeing, but it's worth a try for sure.

[Phill. H]

His governor is disabled, has to be set to governor mode to enable it, can't do it in fixed end points.

[Granpappy]

Ok try setting Auto-LiPo Volts/Cell at 3.0Volts, reasoning behind this is looking at the graph log your start voltage is under 50 Volts for 12S Set up, all my stuff on 12S starts up at over 50Volts so just maybe your batteries are not too good or not getting a full charge and looking again at the graph your problems start as voltage begins to sag. Also have you done the fixed end point calibration with the ESC ? should not give you the problems you have but always best to do it. Logging when looking for a problem is best done a 10 samples/sec, just log the Voltage, throttle output and controller output and check it when done. Only takes a low voltage spike to knock the ESC off, you may not see it at 2 samples/sec. Gut feeling here is maybe a battery problem.

Hi there. I've already done the fixed end point calibration. I will change the settings as you suggest. I used 2 samples per sec so that I would get a longer log time. I'll change it to 10/sec. Cheers.

[Phill. H]

Set up file is confusing, I'm running an Ice HV in demo mode here on Castle link

[Granpappy]

If I set to governor mode do I just use a flat line on the throttle curve and use Throttle Hold to switch on and off?

[Grumpy]

His governor is disabled, has to be set to governor mode to enable it, can't do it in fixed end points.

ok... me bad. Ignore my previous post. i see now that because 'Throttle Type' is set to 'Fixed Endpoints' that overrides the governor mode.... so yes, governor is disabled.

The power losses occurred when the log file indicated around 47V (3.9V per cell) battery voltage, so low voltage cutoff seems unlikely.

[Grumpy]

If I set to governor mode do I just use a flat line on the throttle curve and use Throttle Hold to switch on and off?

Yes. If you use the 'Set RPM' option you input the gearing and three desired headspeeds into the software. You can select these speeds in flight by setting straight line 'curves' of 30%, 70% and 100%.

[GIXERMAN]

If I set to governor mode do I just use a flat line on the throttle curve and use Throttle Hold to switch on and off?

norm 0-30 30 30
idl1 70 70 70 70
idle2 100 100 100