Hey Guys,
Had a very sad day today flying my copter. Was bringing it in to land when about 15ft off the ground I lost all power and the copter just fell out of the sky. I had my 5DMKII on there as well but luckily it's ok. The copter broke a leg and one of the carbon tubes on the gimbal. I haven't had a chance to test anything else though.

My question is I live in Phoenix Arizona and it's starting to get hot here. Today it was about 97* outside when I was flying and from the looks of it the reason I lost all my power is the Positive battery wire going from the DEANS connector to the copter came undone (This is a solder point I did NOT solder but was pre-soldered when I got the copter). I could see where the solder actually was thrown to another part of the copter where it then cooled down and stuck to one of the tubes so I am thinking it got so hot that it melted that joint. Whats a safe temperature range to fly these things? Thanks

Josh

Oh and to top it all off... I got a flat tire driving back to my apt after the crash... it's been an awesome day.

If the ambient air was hot enough to cause issues with solder melting on your electronics you would not be making this thread.

I agree, that is a clear indication of a cold or stressed solder joint. It takes about 600 degrees F to melt solder.

OK, thats what I was thinking. Thanks guys... Time to talk with the company.

Josh

solder splatter was there from assembly...

and the connection could have failed during the crash...

you could have had a radio glitch\brownout

I don't think it was a radio signal issue. The copter has fail-safes for that which will instantly kick in and keep the copter in the air. I have tested it and can confirm it works.

For the solder splatter I know for a fact that it wasn't there prior to the crash. I am the one who built the copter but the connection that failed was a pre-soldered part from the factory so there wouldn't be any solder splatter there anyways. I also have flown the copter a lot and have never noticed it.

Ill have pictures posted in a few minutes.

Josh

Pictures Uploaded

I bet on a short circuit fault. The solder point that fails was only the weakest point. Check the other solder joints and cables for injuries that can cause short cuts. Also measure the resistance against both poles and shake the copter to determine a short cut that occures only now and then. Short cuts are the most common electrical reason for crashes.

Ill do that.

Originally Posted by zerosight

I bet on a short circuit fault. The solder point that fails was only the weakest point. Check the other solder joints and cables for injuries that can cause short cuts. Also measure the resistance against both poles and shake the copter to determine a short cut that occures only now and then. Short cuts are the most common electrical reason for crashes.

I agree. In order for solder to splatter it has to be a direct short. I suggest finding the source of the short before rebuilding to prevent it from occurring again.

Let me get this straight... you are flying a heavy octo with 3 axis gimbal and a 5d drawing power thru a deans plug???

I would change all deans plugs asap.

Was the battery hot and what voltage was it reading after the crash?

How many Deans connectors do you have on that rig? In one of the pictures(Whole Gimbal is Tweaked) it looks like the wire is connected to the Deans plug.

Originally Posted by redridinghood

Let me get this straight... you are flying a heavy octo with 3 axis gimbal and a 5d drawing power thru a deans plug???

I would change all deans plugs asap.

I was yes. Do you recommend a better plug? I am up for switching out to anything... the DEANS kind of scared me in the first place but not sure what better alternatives there are.

The battery was warm but the deans plug was so hot I couldn't touch it. The voltage on the battery's (was running two batteries to help with flight times) and they were both at 15.89V after the crash. I have the low voltage at 14V. They are 6200 mAh 4s 25C with burst of 50C.

Josh

Originally Posted by Tarro

How many Deans connectors do you have on that rig? In one of the pictures(Whole Gimbal is Tweaked) it looks like the wire is connected to the Deans plug.

There is the DEANS for the main power to the copter and the gimbal has it's own power source which is also a DEANS plug. The gimbal is a completely separate system (Separate battery, flight control for stabilization, receiver).

Josh