Could someone check their FS8 Copilot for me?

[LukeZ]

Hey guys,

I just got an FS8 to experiment with. During failsafe setup the LED on the "Programming Switch and LED Indicator" wasn't coming on. I couldn't figure out why until, after some experimentation with my voltmeter, I discovered that the wires on this PCB were switched! Hmm, that's not good. So I swapped them and now the LED works.

However, I can still only get into Failsafe Setup mode (using the REC button), but I can not get the unit to go into Stabilization Setup mode (using the CAL button).

Looking at the board it appears the CAL button has an SMT resistor in series with it. My ohm-meter is telling me this resistor is essentially open. In other words, I think it's bad (or else it's not a resistor). This would explain why I can enter the Failsafe Mode using the REC button, but not the Stabilization Mode using the CAL button.

I'm going to just try putting on a 10K or something but I wondered if anyone would be willing to check on theirs. If you have an ohm-meter, UNPLUG the switch assembly from your Copilot, and then put the leads across the resistor. What resistance do you get?

I could send this back and I'm sure they'd replace it, but it seems like such an easy thing to fix at home...

Thanks in advance for any help,


Luke

[Steve McBride]

I have the stand alone copilot but would suspect the setup button to be the same. I get 950k across the switch without the button pressed.

Hope this helps!

Steve

[LukeZ]

Steve,

Thanks for checking on this for me. I tried 950k and no luck. I went ahead and sent an email to FMA support and hopefully they will advise me. I may just have to send the unit back for replacement.

You say you get 950k across the switch without the switch being pressed - in that case, I think you may be measuring the resistance of the LED. You shouldn't need to press the switch, you're right about that: but I think to measure the resistor only, you would want to put your leads across the resistor itself, rather than across the switch.

However, I know you probably have to dig this out of your plane, so don't worry about it if you don't want to check again - at this point I'll be doing whatever the FMA support guys tell me anyhow.

Thanks again!


Luke

[Steve McBride]

Sorry about that. Mine apparently uses a single switch without a circuit board or LED. I disconnected it and measured 950k, but it's a much different switch arrangement on the stand-alone copilot.

Sorry I could not be of help. Good luck with it - hope you get it working soon.

Steve

[LukeZ]

Steve - that's ok. Thanks again for trying.

Luke

[LukeZ]

For what it's worth, FMA offered to send me a new one for free - but they also told me the value of the resistor on this unit is 82 ohms. It was less time for me to fix it than wait for a new one so that's what I did.

They didn't say whether I could pass that information on to the world or not, but as it can hardly be secret to anyone who has a (functional) unit, I feel like it should be ok to relate.

All I had that was close was a 68 and 10 ohm resistor, which I put in series. Worked perfectly. I had a 100 ohm resistor as well but that appeared to be too far off the mark.

Anyways, if anyone else ever gets this problem, now you'll know.

Thanks again Steve for helping out,


Luke