Hi all.
So far so good when building my first f450 quadcopter. I’m using a ardupilot 2.8 with Simonk 30a escs.
Everything is fully assembled but I’m having a problem. The quadcopter seems to be arming properly but the motors will not spin not matter what I do. It also won’t calibrate the escs.
Im hoping that I’m just doing something wrong in the set up.
Any help would be appreciated
actually, you are using ArduCopter software of an unknown version ( you didn’t say ) , and an unsupported/unknown version of hardware that some people call “APM 2.8”. The last supported version of “APM” hardware was 2.6, and that was retired quite some time ago. details here: http://ardupilot.org/copter/docs/common-apm25-and-26-overview.html
recommendation: ArduCopter moved on, it runs on a number of “pixhawk” branded flight controller/s now, as well as other things too.
If you want cheap/small, get a pixracer: http://www.auav.co/product-p/xr-v1.htm ,
if you want proven performer with much experience, get a pixhawk1: http://store.jdrones.com/pixhawk_pixhawk_3dr_apm_flight_controller_p/pixhawkv1.htm
if you want brand new and shiny, order a pre-release pixhawk2: http://store.jdrones.com/pixhawk2_p/pixhawkv2.htm
if you want linux inside, it’s more work, but you might want one of these: https://emlid.com/shop/navio2/
Just to make sure - do you know that you cannot load the most recent version of Arducopter onto the APMs?
I use an APM 2.6 and so had to load a legacy version of ArduCopter. It was tough to figure out that APM 2.8 is not really a thing, but I assume that if APM 2.6 works with older arducopter APM 2.8 should as well.
I have been building my first drone for the last few weeks and learned a lot - let me know if you want to swap beginner notes or have other questions!
One thing I have noticed is that for calibrating ESCs I sometimes have to un plug and plug the copter in more than once while at full throttle to get it into calibration mode. Or maybe wait longer after putting the battery in.
My major failure is that one of my esc “works” but only for like 60-90 seconds. I never tried running in for that long on my desk so that led to a initially confusing crash.
The 2.8 APM was a HobbyKing clone, and I have one, and works ok.
The FW for all the APM is stopped at 3.2.1, which is fine, as it is quite functional.
I have a number of commercial machines in the field running this on APM2.6
APM’s were always consistent with ESC calibration, just make sure you wait long enough in the power down cycle, waiting to 15 second. Do a count, it helps.
calibrate = Tx on - copter on - Tx throttle to max - unplug copter - wait - plug in copter - wait for ESC programming beeps to finish - Tx throttle to min - wait for ESC beeps to indicate calibration complete - unplug copter.