Problem setting up receiver on RC boat

This topic is empty.

Viewing 16 posts - 1 through 16 (of 16 total)

Author

Posts
22 September 2019 at 02:19 #83908
Mee Tuu
Participant
@meetuu21233
Hi, I'm new to RC boating having recently graduated from helicopters. I bought a boat second hand that "just needed my own receiver and transmitter" which sounded easy enough. I bought a FlySky FS GT3B that came with a FSGR3E receiver. I followed the instructions to bind them, and the rudder servo responds perfectly. However as soon as I connect the battery to the receiver the motor (there is only one) immediately goes into full throttle – regardless of whether the on/off switch is off or no. I have set the failsafe according to the instructions, but it doesn't make any difference. Moving the throttle control on the transmitter leads to a very slight drop in speed at one point, but still nearly full throttle. At no point does it stop. The ESC has a red light that flashes all the time. It seems the ESC and receiver are not communicating. I've search for the solution on the net and watched several videos, but none of them help. Can anyone guide me through a solution for this please?
Advert

22 September 2019 at 02:19 #2867
Mee Tuu
Participant
@meetuu21233
22 September 2019 at 10:19 #83909
Dave Milbourn
Participant
@davemilbourn48782
You haven't said which type of speed controller you are having trouble with. Some types require "calibrating" by using the transmitter throttle stick in conjunction with an on-board button e.g. MTroniks. In all cases you should switch on the transmitter before the receiver, and switch the receiver off before the transmitter.

Dave M
22 September 2019 at 10:20 #83910
Charles Oates
Participant
@charlesoates31738
Hi there, what type of speed controller are you using?
22 September 2019 at 10:56 #83911
Malcolm Frary
Participant
@malcolmfrary95515
Most radios that are intended for flight control have some sort of "failsafe" that turns the throttle to minimum in the event of signal loss. OK with a forward only ESC, but the same signal from the receiver that thell a forward only ESC to stop means "go full speed reverse" on an ESC with reverse.

2 fairly essential tools are a Y lead with a spare servo to see what the ESC is seeing, and a servo tester to offer known conditions without the uncertainty introduced by the radio. Both cheap.

In the past, simple radios just took instructions from the stick and passed the information on as a signal to tell the servo to mimic the stick position without messing about with it. Modern electronics has allowed all sorts of cleverness to creep in, which is not always helpful.. Unexpected facilities (like semi active failsafes that are only safe in the right circumstances) can appear as faults, especially if the instructions either pass over the details, or use terms that are misleading to the reader.

As Chas & Dave said, knowing the ESC make & model will help.
22 September 2019 at 13:40 #83912
Ray Wood 3
Participant
@raywood3
I think the clue maybe why it was "Second Hand" no guarantee ESC was'nt faulty anyway ?

Regards Ray
22 September 2019 at 16:45 #83913
Dave Milbourn
Participant
@davemilbourn48782
Mr Wood!

How could you even think such an uncharitable thing??

DM
22 September 2019 at 16:54 #83914
Ray Wood 3
Participant
@raywood3
Sorry Boss,

Discount the the obvious, then tackle the 100 technical issues it could be 😀 I find the throw away culture works for me 😃 bring back Bob's board.

Regards Ray
22 September 2019 at 19:52 #83919
Dave Milbourn
Participant
@davemilbourn48782
…..bring back Bob's boards.

Caused far more problems than they solved, Ray, because they were unsuitable for anything faster than a model canal boat or coble. Matching the board to the motor to the battery to the prop to the model was a black art which few managed to master. I could tell you tales…..

Dave M
22 September 2019 at 20:08 #83920
Ray Wood 3
Participant
@raywood3
Hi Dave,

Yes your right of course 😀 but I'm constantly trying to recreate things from the 50's & 60's happy times I guess as school boys 😁 my wife gives me a lot of stick when I say I'm listening to the wireless !! You can't beat the home service or light programme in my book 😇

Regards Ray
22 September 2019 at 20:10 #83921
Colin Bishop
Moderator
@colinbishop34627
Bob's Boards had their place in their time if you had a low power low voltage application. My 33 inch long Shanklin was a very successful MPBA regatta boat in the early 1980s and depended on two Bob's Boards and several microswitches to give very effective mixing to the extent it could turn in its own length on 27Meg 2 channel radio.

I don't understand the wiring circuits anymore though!

Colin
22 September 2019 at 21:50 #83922
Mee Tuu
Participant
@meetuu21233
Hi all and thanks for the responses. The ESC is unbranded, and there is nothing that can be adjusted as far as I can see. The larger of the two black components (see photo) is marked Omron, according to a web search it is a signal relay. That doesn't help me though….

I'm wondering if I should just invest in a new, branded ESC? If so, grateful for suggestions. The boat is a coastal tanker about 15" in length and driven by one small electric motor. There is a small servo for the rudder (which works fine). It uses 8 x AA batteries.

Photos follow shortly.

Thanks
22 September 2019 at 21:51 #83923
Mee Tuu
Participant
@meetuu21233
22 September 2019 at 23:11 #83924
Dave Milbourn
Participant
@davemilbourn48782
Yep. What you have there contains a reversing relay, a MOSFET power device and a microprocessor – I've no idea who the manufacturer is/was but I'd bet my lunch-money on that being the root of the problem. If the battery has once been connected the wrong way round then the symptoms would be pretty much what you have described. Bin it and move on.

I've used an MTroniks 10A micro speed controller before, and I've bought another one for a Graupner Pollux 2 which I'm building for grandson #4. Works for me and should be fine for your boat, too.

Dave M
23 September 2019 at 01:47 #83928
Mee Tuu
Participant
@meetuu21233
Many thanks Dave. I have just ordered the micro speed controller you refer to. Hopefully I will be able to get the boat in the water before too long.
23 September 2019 at 08:21 #83929
Gary Hill 1
Participant
@garyhill1
Hi, one other possibility is that the transmitter has had the throttle channel reversed. I think FlySky use a version of OpenTx so it should be possible to fix.

Gary
Author

Posts