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Skookum Robotics Skookum Robotics SK-360 SK-540 & SK-720 Digital Flybar |
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11-29-2015, 02:22 PM | #1 (permalink) |
HF Scale Support
Join Date: Jan 2010
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A question about satellites and resetting.
Hi guys.
For the past three years (or more), I have been running my 500MD TOW Defender with a Skookum 720 and twin satellites. Out of the blue, at 12 O'clock High, the helicopter spooled down and dove to the ground when only about 10ft off the ground after takeoff. I put it down to bad pitch links and/or a loose swash driver and set about building a new body for it. I took the chassis after rebuilding it, to the field when I flew it twice with no issues and held off flying it for the third test until a friend arrived. Since he didn't, I took it up and about a foot off the ground, the exact same thing happened but this time, I had a great view of all components. The satellites were lit solid but the Skookum was flashing red. I then wiggled the satellite wires and one began to blink. I reset the entire system and then without spooling up, wiggled the same wire and it began to blink again. I can do this repeatedly with no change. The question is this. Why did the satellite not show a loss of signal and the Skookum reset? If it was blinking and the Skookum reset, I could understand that. The wire that is bad seems to be the black ground wire as it has the insulation broken right at the point that it meets the little crimped connection. Would a slightly loose connection cause some loss of signal to the 720 to cause the reset but have just enough connection (or and extremely short break) to keep the satellite live until I really grabbed the connector? Yes, I have replaced the wire since but have not flown it yet. It is a DX-18 transmitter and I was flying other 720 equipped helicopters without incident previously and also on the same day. Thanks for having a look. Don PS: I only have a vibe log and nothing else. |
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11-29-2015, 03:25 PM | #2 (permalink) |
Registered Users
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Smyrna, GA
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Only DSM2 protocol flashes when signal is lost. DSMX will not, so you cannot rely on the sats to indicate this anymore.
The SK data viewer will show any sats frame losses, complete lost sats and which sat port was lost(A or B) using the event log drop down on the top left of the viewer, however you must be set to "playback" and not vibe for this info.
__________________
Tony Synergy 516, Gaui R-5 Speed (RIP), Cypher Vtol Jet (RIP), Spirit FBL, Hobbywing and Scorpion Tribunus ESC, Xnova motors. The girl in my DX9 tells them all what to do |
11-29-2015, 04:11 PM | #3 (permalink) | |
Registered Users
Join Date: Feb 2012
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Quote:
Don, for all small cables apply Plasti Dip to the ends of the cable at the connector to keep the wires and connectors from working loose during flight and to act as strain relief while installing and working on cables in cramped locations inside the model. Carlos |
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11-29-2015, 05:29 PM | #4 (permalink) |
Registered Users
Join Date: Dec 2012
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Do you have the 720 set up for "lost signal" as in a few degrees of negative pitch, ship level and throttle off when it sees "no signal"?
Loss of one sat shouldn't be an shut down issue. What supplies power to the Skookum?
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Velos Rotors<<SAB<<Compas<<Align<<Walkera <<Propel |
11-30-2015, 12:25 AM | #5 (permalink) |
HF Scale Support
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
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Xrated: Unfortunately, I was set for vibe logging only. No happy info available there. It is setup for DSM2, not DSMX, for more than one reason and for three years, it has been just wonderful.
CZorzella: Good tip about adding something to the cable at the connector. A Viking: I have set it in bind for low throttle, hence low pitch, and level for the rest. It is the lack of indication at the satellites with the 720 flashing red and resetting. I actually heard the reset to level occur as I was only a couple of feet away when it hit the ground and I moved very quickly to the crash. I just had another look at the extension and there is insulation damage at the other end, too. Seems the wires are very easily damaged as that end of the wire was never touched since it was installed. It is entirely possible for me to have grabbed the frame where the satellite is and caused stress on the cable as it has been in and out of the body too many times to even guess but it would be in the dozens of times plus any time it was out of the body being worked on or test flown. It could well be that I have to handle these things like they were tiny glass rods. I will now have a look at all of the satellite installations and if there are any connectors that show even the slightest damage, they will be replaced. It's a whole lot cheaper to replace them all rather than repair just one of the remaining helicopters. I will change them all back to flight logging rather than just vibration. Thanks guys. It's all good help. Don |
11-30-2015, 09:20 AM | #6 (permalink) |
Registered Users
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Smyrna, GA
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Several guys are reporting that these aftermarket cables are much more robust. Larger and more pliable silicone wiring, better crimped and locks into the ports much better.
http://www.experiencerc.com/store/ad...ellite&x=0&y=0 I haven't had issues so far, but these guys are U.S. based, so I'm planning on pro actively changing mine out since they are few years old now.
__________________
Tony Synergy 516, Gaui R-5 Speed (RIP), Cypher Vtol Jet (RIP), Spirit FBL, Hobbywing and Scorpion Tribunus ESC, Xnova motors. The girl in my DX9 tells them all what to do |
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