Powerlab 6 Problem

[rascal329]

Anyone ever experienced this (see pic) and what does it take to recover?

[BobK]

Originally Posted by rascal329

Anyone ever experienced this (see pic) and what does it take to recover?

Can't help you as I have an Hitec I can't figure out. Haven't seen that one yet but its early. Bob

[Lee2782]

Originally Posted by rascal329

Anyone ever experienced this (see pic) and what does it take to recover?

I had this once when I was updating the firmware I accidently unplugged the USB cable before the firmware update was complete and that screen appeared when I turned the PL6 on

what I did to recover was redo the firmware update and it fixed it

[rascal329]

I got the software to connect and was able to redo the fw update and the PL6 is working again.

[Ace Dude]

Good job!

[Lee2782]

My PL6 now has this screen, I just turned it on then this screen appeared i can't even connect to software its just turned into a brick! Is there any master reset via the console?

[Gregor99]

Originally Posted by Lee2782

My PL6 now has this screen, I just turned it on then this screen appeared i can't even connect to software its just turned into a brick! Is there any master reset via the console?

The Powerlab has bootstrap firmware that will allow recovery from firmware corruption. Connect the CCS and go to the firmware tab. Select update firmware. It will take a minute

[Lee2782]

When I connect the CCS it does not recognize my PL6 and a warning come up to restart the PL6 and reconnect again

[Gregor99]

What was the warning message?

It might be worth contacting support http://www.revolectrix.com/support_options.htm

[Ace Dude]

Originally Posted by Lee2782

When I connect the CCS it does not recognize my PL6 and a warning come up to restart the PL6 and reconnect again

Have you tried manually selecting/changing the port in the CCS?

[Lee2782]

Yeah tried selecting ports but still nothing Revo John Said it will have to get reset at his work place so I sent to him this week

[dr dremel]

Originally Posted by rascal329

I got the software to connect and was able to redo the fw update and the PL6 is working again.

Same here. I contacted support and they said to connect to computer via CCS. Of course that meant to purchase the otherwise useless to me interface.

Not too thrilled, but at least it´s working again.

[hemp]

Originally Posted by dr dremel

Same here. I contacted support and they said to connect to computer via CCS. Of course that meant to purchase the otherwise useless to me interface.

It's certainly not useless as it can be used to monitor chargers, modify configuration that isn't available directly on the charger, and apply firmware updates.

And if you don't want to keep it, you can always sell it on the classifieds.

[Ace Dude]

I use my FUIM3 on my Dual PowerLab 8x2 all the time.

[sutty]

There may be uses, but his point is he had made a concious choice not to buy one, as it isn't needed. It might be recommended, but it is not essential, or it would surely come with it.

I've managed without ever connecting my FMA charger to a PC, and I think I have one of those adapters from my CPII with hard deck, which if I understand correctly it will work, yet I have still never connected it, and still my packs charge, and successfully. Who'd av thought it.

He's now been 'forced' to buy one, due to a failure, and he would not have dones so by choice.

If I didn't have one, and was forced to buy one, to repair my unit, I'd be none too pleased as well.

[Ace Dude]

Originally Posted by sutty

There may be uses, but his point is he had made a concious choice not to buy one, as it isn't needed. It might be recommended, but it is not essential, or it would surely come with it.

I've managed without ever connecting my FMA charger to a PC, and I think I have one of those adapters from my CPII with hard deck, which if I understand correctly it will work, yet I have still never connected it, and still my packs charge, and successfully. Who'd av thought it.

He's now been 'forced' to buy one, due to a failure, and he would not have dones so by choice.

If I didn't have one, and was forced to buy one, to repair my unit, I'd be none too pleased as well.

Whether it's needed or not is a personal choice. For my requirements, it's needed as I like to take advantage of new features as they're added to the firmware, create custom presets, and use the charger's ability to create graphs in real time. If you wish to use all the features the charger has to offer then it's required.

The reason it's not bundled with every individual charger is so folks who purchase more than charger don't have to pay for multiple interfaces as usually one is enough for most users. Revolectrix does offer combo packages that include the FUIM3 USB interface.

[Gregor99]

Originally Posted by sutty

He's now been 'forced' to buy one, due to a failure, and he would not have dones so by choice.

Not forced. He still has choices. He can send in for service which is what some other brands require. He can check with his local club or hobbyists in the area and see if he can borrow one. He can see if there is Revolectrix ambassador in his area that may have a FUIM3 and can take care of it.

Do note that many brands do not even offer a recovery solution for this. Let alone a recovery method that can be deployed in the field.

Also, a Powerlab in this state is not dead, nor "bricked". If it was actually "bricked" you could not recover in the field. What's actually happening is that at startup, the charger is validating integrity of the firmware. Its not just trying to load the firmware and hitting a failure, its doing an integrity check to make sure that every bit in the firmware is set correctly. If that check fails, you get the errors seen in this thread.

Other brands of chargers only attempt load the firmware and fail if the load process not complete. This could result in loading firmware that has some corruption. The corruption may be small enough that the firmware still loads, but silent errors occurring during the charge cycle. The Powerlab firmware integrity check prevents this scenario.

[dr dremel]

Sorry I did not want to start a controversy. Yes the FMUIC interface is of course useless for me. I know the features of the CSS, I just don´t need them. I bought the charger because it is powerful, a safe product and also has easy ways to get my lipos charged without having to connect it to a computer. I don´t even have a Windows PC, I had to ship the charger out to a friend who did the reflash for me.

All quite a bit of hassle and a bit money out of my pocket, but in the end the recommended method worked, so I´m just glad that I did not have to send the charger to Singapore at the beginning of my flying season.

Does anybody know how these failed firmware start ups are triggered? Surge current?

[Ace Dude]

I always keep one of my two FUIM3's in my toolbox when I travel to events just in case anyone needs to borrow it.

[hemp]

Originally Posted by Ace Dude

I always keep one of my two FUIM3's in my toolbox when I travel to events just in case anyone needs to borrow it.

Ditto.