Problems with brand new F450 + NAZA

[ChopperAddict]

OK, I am a newbie to MRC's, but I do understand wiring, radio binding and setup, and all the other things a long standing helicopter pilot would know, but my brand new F450 + NAZA has got me beat right now ?

Basically, I have just build the F450 - no problems, done all the wiring as per the diagrams etc. Whatever I seem to do when I connect a lipo to it all I get is a single beep every second or so. My AR9000 Rx (with 2 satellites attached) does not light up as it should, and the NAZA software clearly does not see the system depite it being plugged into the USB. Even the LED on the USB adaptor unit does not come on. ??????????????

I disconnected the AR9000 completely, rebound it successfully using a secondary BEC as power supply, double checked it was bound OK and then took the Throttle power ONLY from the NAZA to the AR9000. Powered up Tx first, then NAZA, but got the same result exactly.

Got me totally beat as the docs are not too helpful on troubleshooting so any help out there in Forum land would be very well received. I am sure it must be something simple, but I cannot get any further right now.
Ian

 

[vinnygogo]

sounds like your pmu isnot connected...

 

[ChopperAddict]

By PMU do you mean the black unit with the USB port on it and an LED. If so it is soldered to the base plate with the main power supply take off cables, and they are providing power for sure ?

Just looking at some other threads and found this answer from you :-

you have to cut all the red wire's. the led unit is a bec and puts out 5 volt for naza and receiver.

I have not cut these red wires - could this be the problem ???????

 

[tstrike]

If it's the stock naza dji flamewheel kit with the dji opto esc's, you shouldn't have to cut anything. Are the plugs in right side up (right side being dark brown wire on top/light brown wire on bottom?

 

[BorisS]

Ian best ist do post some pictures of your copter and cables that we can see it all. Than the helping becomes less of a guessing game !

Boris

 

[DucktileMedia]

I had to get 3 of those PMUs to make mine work. Turned out the unit was bad. Second one the usb plug pulled out of the PMU itself. 3rd was a charm. But one word of advise would be to file off the barbs on the USB plug itself as they are not needed and you risk pulling the cheaply soldered female end off the board!

The other issue that was very frustrating was the actual install of the USB driver. Does your software say MC output-off or on? The software will install but to see the Naza it needs the USB driver to be properly installed. This tends to either go really smoothly or be a total catastrophe.

 

[quadcopters]

Sounds like receiver issues to me have you got another one you can try ?
Also have you managed to connect to assistant software ?

Did you buy it from me Ian ? If so your welcome to pop it round and I will take a look at it for you as might be something and nothing .

Geoff

 

[kloner]

are all the sattelites dsmx?

 

[ChopperAddict]

*** Ok guys, a sort of mass reply here ***

Maybe a thought here. My software has the MCOUTPUT- ON and flashing ?? is that what it should do ?
As to the driver installation, I still have no idea if it is or is not installed, I have tried the EXE file, the BAT file (after reading it) and even the INF, which would not install. I assume that even if the USB is faulty, the system should initialise and my Rx LED's will light up and I should not get these ongoing 1 second beeps anyway ?

Very unfriendly for sure.

I will pop out into the hangar and take some pics right now and post them as soon as I can. I have tried cutting all four red wires from the OPTO ESC's to the NAZA, no difference at all.

I have also tried an AR6100E with the same result, so believe that I have ruled the RX out as being the culprit. The satellites are DSM2, as is the Rx. I am using a JR PCX9 Tx with it.

Ian

I had to get 3 of those PMUs to make mine work. Turned out the unit was bad. Second one the usb plug pulled out of the PMU itself. 3rd was a charm. But one word of advise would be to file off the barbs on the USB plug itself as they are not needed and you risk pulling the cheaply soldered female end off the board!

The other issue that was very frustrating was the actual install of the USB driver. Does your software say MC output-off or on? The software will install but to see the Naza it needs the USB driver to be properly installed. This tends to either go really smoothly or be a total catastrophe.

 

[Tomstoy2]

The driver is a .rar file, ( damn Chinese ). You need a zip that will download .rar, like 7-zip, which you can download for free. Just identify the file as .rar and download lit, no problem. Should cure all your probelms.

In assistant, 'mc output on' means it is not seeing the mc, as in the driver is not installed. Once the driver is installed correctly, it will say " mc output off', preventing accidental motor activation of the motors.
To be safe, just make sure you have no propellers installed, period!

 

[ChopperAddict]

Hi Tomstoy. My full version of Winzip opens the RAR file quite happily, and I have extracted the files to a separate folder (with sub folders etc) The BAT file looks in SOURCE for the EXE strangely.

So it looks like my driver is not installed then ? Will try again to get it to behave properly.
Stand by One......

 

[ChopperAddict]

OK then, here's a raft of pics that show it all (hopefully)

View attachment 4031View attachment 4032View attachment 4033View attachment 4030View attachment 4034View attachment 4035View attachment 4036View attachment 4037

Well, that was relatively painless :nevreness: I hope someone may spot something with that lot.

I just tried reinstalling that dratted driver again, using the BAT file. This time I got a new hardware window in front of a DOS window, but when I told it to go ahead, it flashed the second page briefly, and then showed me the name of the USB driver needed, but told me that there was no device that needed it !!!!!!! That was with the MC and the tx powered up for what it was worth.

I get the feeling something here is broke ?
Ian

 

[vinnygogo]

why didn't you connect the second wire of the naza pmu to the naza?

 

[ChopperAddict]

I have tried that in there - both ways around as well but it still makes no difference ?

why didn't you connect the second wire of the naza pmu to the naza?

 

[BorisS]

Ian are you getting any reaction from the LED on the PMU when you hook up the LIPO, different colors show etc ?

Boris

 

[ChopperAddict]

Hi Geoff

Unfortunately I did not buy it from you as I got a great price direct from China of £302 for the whole lot shipped. Sorry about that, but I promise I will buy my other stuff from you in future !

I have tried it with a perfectly good AR6100 as well, and get the same result. If I power the Rx from a remote BEC, leaving all other NAZA wires connected except for the throttle, the Rx come to life, and I get the LED's etc. Equally if I take the AR9000 off and connect it remotely, it works just fine. It just doesn't seem to like the power coming from the NAZA, or the other BEC unit.

As to the Assistant, I cannot install that driver because it obviously checks for the device that needs it, and then gives me the correct name/description, but says the device cannot be found.
Cheers - Ian

Sounds like receiver issues to me have you got another one you can try ?
Also have you managed to connect to assistant software ?

Did you buy it from me Ian ? If so your welcome to pop it round and I will take a look at it for you as might be something and nothing .

Geoff

 

[ChopperAddict]

Hi Boris
Not a one, I have never seen any response from the LED on the PMU. I have even resoldered the PMU connection to the base plate JIC, but I am pretty good at soldering usually. I expected to get some LED activity for sure.
Ian

Ian are you getting any reaction from the LED on the PMU when you hook up the LIPO, different colors show etc ?

Boris

 

[vinnygogo]

looks like your pmu is dead... when you power it up, all colors of the leds should blink once..

 

[ChopperAddict]

Where can I buy another one in the UK ?
ian

looks like your pmu is dead... when you power it up, all colors of the leds should blink once..

 

[kloner]

if you dont remember the .rar file then ya, you skipped over that part. if you did do it, in your pc, look at start, devices and printers and with naza plugged in it'll show as being so there. That's the pc seeing the imu plugged in and the driver part installed correctly