Why is my light/power system failing?

[Pudknocker71]

Arrggg :censored: :mad: Soldered up the light set. Lights or circuit board are causing feedback! I thought I had this all tested OK at work. :censored: Now I have to try to salvage this light setup with removing the circuit board. That means no flashing LEDs. :censored: :censored: :censored: :mad:

No, I don't see any shorts. Allthought the BEC is heating up. Nothing else. It cooled down after I either turn them off at the switch or unplug them. Unit operates just fine with lights unpluged but the power switch on. If the board was causing the problem then I would think it would still be glitching even with the lights detached.

Why would the lights work till the whole thing starts gliching and pulsing a few moments later?(Once the BEC heats up? I guess)

I just rewired it to the original 3AAA setup. Works great! Why won't it work throught the receiver?

[UAVPilot]

Some of those don't look like LED's? If some of those are filament type bulbs then they will draw way more current then just LED's

If you are running them off the same BEC that is powering the RX , then you are over loading the BEC. You can wire in a separate BEC that will handle a higher current load just for the lights or use a higher Ohm resistor and run straight off the battery.

[UAVPilot]

Just counted the bulbs, 22.

Even if they are all LED's and they have the proper resistor on them to cut down the current they should have, they would still be drawing over .5 amps. Since most BEC's only give 1 amps total, there is nothing left for the radio and it is over heating and starting to shut down.

As my previous post says , you will need a separate BEC or run them straight off the battery with a higher ohm resistor on them.

For a 2 cell lipo you will need about a 240 ohm resistor.

for a 3 cell Lipo you will need about a 340 ohm resistor, although that one will work for either voltage, will just be a bit dimmer at 7.4 volts.

[Pudknocker71]

What about a 800mah 8cell Nimh? Where would I put the resistor? I would guess pos side at battery connector.

There all LEDs with resisters.

[Wayne V]

If you attach a 330ohm resistor at each LED and wire them up in parallel you can wire that right to your battery, i usually solder a JST or other small connector onto the ESC side plug that goes to the battery.

[UAVPilot]

What about a 800mah 8cell Nimh? Where would I put the resistor? I would guess pos side at battery connector.

There all LEDs with resisters.If each LED already has a resistor attached and they are properly rated for 5 volts then you can just attach one 200 ohm resistor on the positive or negative side coming off the battery to make them work with 9.6 volts 8Cell Nimh. Just make sure the resistor is wired to the lights and not between the battery and speed control

[Pudknocker71]

Then its a trip to Radio Shack.

My assumption is that if these run with 3 1.2 volt AAAs (3.6 total?) then it should run in a 5v receiver. I just didn't expect the receivers/ESCs reaction with the servos attached. I bench tested without the servos. :rolleyes: They work correctly but then I didn't notice if there was any heat gain in the ESC.

Could I attach this resistor to the light set and still use the receiver? I already have it wired that way. I'll have to go back to the LHS (far away) to get connectors for the battery.

Thanks for your help UACPilot!

[Pudknocker71]

Uh ..sorry ..just reread some of your previous replys. Another BEC or straight to battery. I'll plan on the battery connector with resistor. That's a later trip to the LHS.

I'll try flying with the separate battery pack for now. :cool: