Hi there. I just checked my gpx file using the Mk GPX tool and i noticed that motors in odd numbers appear to be getting a lot hotter than even numebers and I cant find a reason. Elevation(GPS) : 0 6.77 11.498 m (min/avg/max) Altitude(Barom.): -0.15 5.08 9.05 m Vertical speed : -1.35 0.15 1.06 m/s Max speed : 6.2 km/h Max target dist.: 11.6 m Sats : 9 8 9 Voltage : min. 15.1, max. 16.3 V Current : 8.5 61 75 A Wattage : 133 963 1155 W Capacity: 2595 mAh Motor1: 2.5 13.7 16.8 A Temp: 28 87 111 °C Motor2: 0.3 4.7 5.9 A Temp: 18 50 64 °C Motor3: 0.1 7.1 8.7 A Temp: 21 86 110 °C Motor4: 2.0 3.6 5.0 A Temp: 22 48 58 °C Motor5: 2.0 13.8 17.1 A Temp: 26 78 92 °C Motor6: 0.6 1.4 2.1 A Temp: 22 43 49 °C Motor7: 2.7 13.4 16.2 A Temp: 20 77 91 °C Motor8: 0.9 1.9 2.7 A Temp: 24 52 63 °C
Borja have you checked your copter using MKTools through a bluetooth, WI232 or Xbee wireless connection while it is hovering by looking at the balance window in the 3D mode? Perhaps you have a balance issue. Did this just start occurring? If so has the copter been flying well? No change in flight times using similar loads?
I would also check the orientation of the motors and make sure they're all perfectly vertical. You might have one that's tilted (causing the copter to want to rotate) and the other motors are trying to compensate. I had that happen once.
Gary and Steve have great suggestions. Microkopter has also said that a compass caibration problem can cause this type of problem becuase it will fight to keep pointing the copter in the direciton you want and you could essentially be running on half the motors. Checking your GPX files it looks like your calibration is fine. I say "looks fine" because I'm not so sure I trust that data in the GPX file 100%. I have had GPS lost warnings and when I look at the GPX file it says its good and never dropped below 6 satallites. As soon as I recalibrated it before the next flight the issues were instantly gone and never came back. So what I'm saying is that in my opinion, it never hurts to recalibrate the compass and recheck just to eliminate any GPS-compass issues.
I've leveled and releveled my motors, calibrated the compass etc.. and still see odd motors with higher temps. Not CRAZY higher, but clearly higher to the touch. At one point QC said it was "normal". Does anyone come down after a good hard flight in standard conditions and see all motors having the same temps? Just wondering. -m
Have you checked the copters balance through MKtools in flight? If you haven't you really should as its a very useful tool to verify if your CG is right.
Dave, Alas, I'm a laggard. I have no wireless (bluetooth, WI232 or Xbee wireless connection). Suggestion on which to get? I agree I should take a look. Do your motors all come back with relatively uniforms temps? Thanks! -m
Here's one of my files from last week. I suggest the Xbee from Quadrocopter http://www.quadrocopter.com/Xbee-3DR-Radio-Set_p_551.html Motor1: 1.8 4.7 14.3 A Temp: 30 43 52 °C Motor2: 3.6 9.8 25.4 A Temp: 28 48 61 °C Motor3: 2.2 6.2 25.4 A Temp: 28 46 56 °C Motor4: 8.4 13.1 20.1 A Temp: 25 56 75 °C Motor5: 5.2 8.7 18.6 A Temp: 27 62 75 °C Motor6: 7.6 14.7 25.4 A Temp: 26 73 82 °C Motor7: 0.9 2.8 8.5 A Temp: 27 47 58 °C Motor8: 2.6 10.2 25.4 A Temp: 27 54 71 °C
Mike check with QC. With the new items coming out like the Range Extender you may not want to buy the Xbee's as they won't be compatible with the new wireless tablet app that is coming.
Thanx everyone. I do have the Mk wi232 v2.0. I recalibrated the compass. I will check the 3d and i will check how well balance I'm. Thanx again. Borja Casal.
Hey Gary. Karsten said the Range extnder stuff was for the Synapse and encouraged me to get the xbee for now on the MK. -m
Strange. See this thread. http://forum.freeflysystems.com/index.php?threads/mikrokopter-android-tablet-tool.1345/
I would also look at the correlating temps on each motor. The temp for motor 1 111C at 16.8 is abnormally high compared to motor at 15.1A. This could be an indication of cold solder joints on the BL as well. I would agree with everyone above something is not correct with the motor placement. Motor 6 and 8 are barely providing any thrust. I would guess that Steve's insight is 100% accurate on this one. If you motors are rotated in a manner to induce a yawing moment than your other motors have to ramp significantly to generate enough gyroscopic force to counteract the aerodynamic induced yaw.