HI,
I fly a T-Rex500E with Spirit Pro (version 3.1.0) and Geolink (version 1.2.0) Futaba T8J +R2008SB.
Flew first battery, everything ok. Second battery, all of a sudden the evil takes posses of the hely
and for one-two seconds servos move randomly without any input on my side.
The "possession" happened a few times before I could land the heli (luckily without any damage).
The hely showed randomly this pattern some more times during very simple flights (some hovering or figure of 8).
Looking at the flight files, negative values of altitude are consistently shown.
Trying to diagnose the root reason, I already ruled out
- Calibration
- Interference from external signals
- Electrostatic discharge
- Defective servos
- Defective transmitter/receiver
- Insufficient ESC/BEC
I don't have hypothesis left. There could be a defective GeoLink module as reason for the negative altitudes read,
but this is not explaing the odd behaviour of the servo.
Any hint?
Thanks

Hi,

I would guess for electrostatic discharges - this heli is belt driven.
I think there is nothing deffective. Your description fits perfectly for discharges.

If you are unsure about components, just plug them off. GeoLink can be unplugged easily first.

Can you check the flight log once this will happen?

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Spirit System developer

Hi
electrostatic discharges were my first guess, so I already put in electric contact tail boom (plastic) with carbon fiber heli frame,
obtaining no effect. In the attached photo you can see the black electric cable.
This morning I unplugged the GeoLink from Spirit Pro (and deselected GeoLink in the software) and flew the heli.
Same odd servo movements and also some "throttle pump up".
The flight log didn't show any error.
I attach my .4ds files and a .4dl file (previous day, GEoLink was on) where the problems occur.
The evil presence is still there
Thanks

hi

that`s exactly the same is doing on two of my 500, one with belt and the other Torque Tube.
servos start to jump up and down with no input from my radio.
after some seconds will stop. but I always wonder why?
sometimes happens on the other helis. from a 450 till a 700. so is not only on the 500`s

Hello,

could you start the motor with blades off and observe swashplate behavior?

If you will see nothing it is more likely it is still electrostatic issue, because model is grounded.
In some cases grounding cable might not help unfortunately.

Do you remember when the issue started to appear?

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Spirit System developer

It could be very different problem, but without any additional information I cant help unfortunately. Please describe everything about your models, especially what is your receiver, configured protocol, servos...

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Spirit System developer

hi Tomas.
am using a Futaba radio. s.bus protocol, the list of servos is too big. but happens randomly on all the 11 helis

Theo

Talk about evil taking over! I only have Spirit on two heli’s and they work great even after the update or is that especially? I do have another unit on the way so I can set up both my 500’s with them.

I think what Thomas is getting at is that something is different in your setup and is trying to understand what that may be so they can work on a solution. This is why it is important to be as specific as you can be. Take just one of your heli’s that does this and list the items and maybe include a picture or a link to a video...

This would help tremendously

Please be more specific so I can help you.
Now we at least know you are both running Futaba with SBUS.
Unfortunately you have not mentioned even when the issue appeared, if it is visible only when flying or not.

_________________
Spirit System developer

I was flying version 2.7.0 and had a crash (mid Feb., my fault) Changed main rotor holder from plastic to metal, changed tail boom. Flew
satisfactorily (no evil) a couple of battery with the "new" parts (end Feb) . Then COVID19 (the real evil) interrupted any flying activity.
As I flew again it started showing the odd behaviour. In my memory I saw it happen even on the ground while spooling up before takeoff (trying to bank with no input).After that I found also GeoLink negative altitude readings, so I updated to latest versions of S/W and F/W.
I will take the blades off so to confirm what happens on the ground.