SPF3 FC Arming Issue! Halp!!!

d8agod

New member
Hey guys / gals!

I recently swapped out some parts on my Wizard 220mm frame and am running into an arming issue.

I have had a dozen successful flights prior to this and it has me puzzled. I can flash, calibrate my esc's and RC no problem in BetaFlight. While plugged into the USB and on battery power after calibration, I can arm no problem. Once I remove the USB and try to arm on only battery power I get nothing.

See vid: https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/y1peKzGfUAqe6lZnAEvW6V8y6QR0AOKyVGW0dCjhKRM

As mentioned my arming sequence is fine while on USB power, and I see my RC ranges are healthy in the min = 1000, mid = 1500 , max = 2000 for all channels.

If there is anything else I can provide to help troubleshoot let me know.

Any assistance is much appreciated! I have been spinning on this for quite some time with no luck. I have been through a half dozen calibrations on this frame alone, never had any issues. :confused::confused::confused::confused:

It should be mentioned, on batt power, I am receiving 5v to the FC from the pdb.
 

ElectriSean

Eternal Student
Mentor
By default, Betaflight won't arm if the FC is greater than 25 degrees off from level. When you were trying with just the battery, you were close to 90 degrees, but when you had the usb plugged in you were holding it fairly level. Try mounting the FC in the stack and trying again. You can also disable this safety feature by going to the CLI tab and typing in set small_angle=180 and saving.
 

PsyBorg

Wake up! Time to fly!
Second what Sean said. Mount the FC in the stack where it is level and stable and you should have no issues.
 

d8agod

New member
Thank you for the input! I will say in the video I def had it at angles I am not normally trying to arm it at. I have had it level in the stack and still no dice. But! I have not set small angle to 180, didn't think that would of mattered since I turned off the accelerometer all together. Either way, I am going to try this here in a few and will post results. Thanks!
 

d8agod

New member
Alright... I set small_angle to 180, had the FC set in the stack, no dice. Once the battery was plugged in, just like in the video, I did not get all the anticipated beeps out of the esc's. I did notice that the red led on the FC was real faint once I plugged in the battery, then it dissipated. I am starting to wonder if my FC is shot (voltage regulator?)?

Any ideas? I am including my dump from BF.

# dump
# Betaflight / SPRACINGF3 3.1.7 Apr 3 2017 / 22:27:23 (e1c4b5c)
name -
resource BEEPER 1 C15
resource MOTOR 1 A06
resource MOTOR 2 A07
resource MOTOR 3 A11
resource MOTOR 4 A12
resource MOTOR 5 B08
resource MOTOR 6 B09
resource MOTOR 7 A02
resource MOTOR 8 A03
resource MOTOR 9 NONE
resource MOTOR 10 NONE
resource MOTOR 11 NONE
resource MOTOR 12 NONE
resource SERVO 1 NONE
resource SERVO 2 NONE
resource SERVO 3 NONE
resource SERVO 4 NONE
resource SERVO 5 NONE
resource SERVO 6 NONE
resource SERVO 7 NONE
resource SERVO 8 NONE
resource PPM 1 A00
resource PWM 1 A00
resource PWM 2 A01
resource PWM 3 B11
resource PWM 4 B10
resource PWM 5 B04
resource PWM 6 B05
resource PWM 7 B00
resource PWM 8 B01
resource LED_STRIP 1 A08
resource SERIAL_TX 1 A09
resource SERIAL_TX 2 A14
resource SERIAL_TX 3 B10
resource SERIAL_TX 4 NONE
resource SERIAL_TX 5 NONE
resource SERIAL_TX 6 NONE
resource SERIAL_TX 7 NONE
resource SERIAL_TX 8 NONE
resource SERIAL_TX 9 NONE
resource SERIAL_TX 10 NONE
resource SERIAL_TX 11 B05
resource SERIAL_TX 12 B01
resource SERIAL_RX 1 A10
resource SERIAL_RX 2 A15
resource SERIAL_RX 3 B11
resource SERIAL_RX 4 NONE
resource SERIAL_RX 5 NONE
resource SERIAL_RX 6 NONE
resource SERIAL_RX 7 NONE
resource SERIAL_RX 8 NONE
resource SERIAL_RX 9 NONE
resource SERIAL_RX 10 NONE
resource SERIAL_RX 11 B04
resource SERIAL_RX 12 B00
mixer QUADX

mmix reset

servo 0 1000 2000 1500 90 90 100 -1
servo 1 1000 2000 1500 90 90 100 -1
servo 2 1000 2000 1500 90 90 100 -1
servo 3 1000 2000 1500 90 90 100 -1
servo 4 1000 2000 1500 90 90 100 -1
servo 5 1000 2000 1500 90 90 100 -1
servo 6 1000 2000 1500 90 90 100 -1
servo 7 1000 2000 1500 90 90 100 -1
smix reset


feature -RX_PPM
feature -VBAT
feature -INFLIGHT_ACC_CAL
feature -RX_SERIAL
feature -MOTOR_STOP
feature -SERVO_TILT
feature -SOFTSERIAL
feature -GPS
feature -FAILSAFE
feature -SONAR
feature -TELEMETRY
feature -CURRENT_METER
feature -3D
feature -RX_PARALLEL_PWM
feature -RX_MSP
feature -RSSI_ADC
feature -LED_STRIP
feature -DISPLAY
feature -OSD
feature -BLACKBOX
feature -CHANNEL_FORWARDING
feature -TRANSPONDER
feature -AIRMODE
feature -SDCARD
feature -VTX
feature -RX_SPI
feature -SOFTSPI
feature -ESC_SENSOR
feature -FEATURE_ANTI_GRAVITY
feature RX_PPM
feature FAILSAFE
feature RSSI_ADC
beeper GYRO_CALIBRATED
beeper RX_LOST
beeper RX_LOST_LANDING
beeper DISARMING
beeper ARMING
beeper ARMING_GPS_FIX
beeper BAT_CRIT_LOW
beeper BAT_LOW
beeper GPS_STATUS
beeper RX_SET
beeper ACC_CALIBRATION
beeper ACC_CALIBRATION_FAIL
beeper READY_BEEP
beeper MULTI_BEEPS
beeper DISARM_REPEAT
beeper ARMED
beeper SYSTEM_INIT
beeper ON_USB
map AETR1234
serial 0 1 115200 57600 0 115200
serial 1 0 115200 57600 0 115200
serial 2 0 115200 57600 0 115200
led 0 0,0::C:0
led 1 0,0::C:0
led 2 0,0::C:0
led 3 0,0::C:0
led 4 0,0::C:0
led 5 0,0::C:0
led 6 0,0::C:0
led 7 0,0::C:0
led 8 0,0::C:0
led 9 0,0::C:0
led 10 0,0::C:0
led 11 0,0::C:0
led 12 0,0::C:0
led 13 0,0::C:0
led 14 0,0::C:0
led 15 0,0::C:0
led 16 0,0::C:0
led 17 0,0::C:0
led 18 0,0::C:0
led 19 0,0::C:0
led 20 0,0::C:0
led 21 0,0::C:0
led 22 0,0::C:0
led 23 0,0::C:0
led 24 0,0::C:0
led 25 0,0::C:0
led 26 0,0::C:0
led 27 0,0::C:0
led 28 0,0::C:0
led 29 0,0::C:0
led 30 0,0::C:0
led 31 0,0::C:0
color 0 0,0,0
color 1 0,255,255
color 2 0,0,255
color 3 30,0,255
color 4 60,0,255
color 5 90,0,255
color 6 120,0,255
color 7 150,0,255
color 8 180,0,255
color 9 210,0,255
color 10 240,0,255
color 11 270,0,255
color 12 300,0,255
color 13 330,0,255
color 14 0,0,0
color 15 0,0,0
mode_color 0 0 1
mode_color 0 1 11
mode_color 0 2 2
mode_color 0 3 13
mode_color 0 4 10
mode_color 0 5 3
mode_color 1 0 5
mode_color 1 1 11
mode_color 1 2 3
mode_color 1 3 13
mode_color 1 4 10
mode_color 1 5 3
mode_color 2 0 10
mode_color 2 1 11
mode_color 2 2 4
mode_color 2 3 13
mode_color 2 4 10
mode_color 2 5 3
mode_color 3 0 8
mode_color 3 1 11
mode_color 3 2 4
mode_color 3 3 13
mode_color 3 4 10
mode_color 3 5 3
mode_color 4 0 7
mode_color 4 1 11
mode_color 4 2 3
mode_color 4 3 13
mode_color 4 4 10
mode_color 4 5 3
mode_color 5 0 9
mode_color 5 1 11
mode_color 5 2 2
mode_color 5 3 13
mode_color 5 4 10
mode_color 5 5 3
mode_color 6 0 6
mode_color 6 1 10
mode_color 6 2 1
mode_color 6 3 0
mode_color 6 4 0
mode_color 6 5 2
mode_color 6 6 3
mode_color 6 7 6
mode_color 6 8 0
mode_color 6 9 0
mode_color 6 10 0
mode_color 7 0 3
aux 0 0 0 1850 2100
aux 1 27 1 1850 2100
aux 2 0 0 900 900
aux 3 0 0 900 900
aux 4 0 0 900 900
aux 5 0 0 900 900
aux 6 0 0 900 900
aux 7 0 0 900 900
aux 8 0 0 900 900
aux 9 0 0 900 900
aux 10 0 0 900 900
aux 11 0 0 900 900
aux 12 0 0 900 900
aux 13 0 0 900 900
aux 14 0 0 900 900
aux 15 0 0 900 900
aux 16 0 0 900 900
aux 17 0 0 900 900
aux 18 0 0 900 900
aux 19 0 0 900 900
adjrange 0 0 0 900 900 0 0
adjrange 1 0 0 900 900 0 0
adjrange 2 0 0 900 900 0 0
adjrange 3 0 0 900 900 0 0
adjrange 4 0 0 900 900 0 0
adjrange 5 0 0 900 900 0 0
adjrange 6 0 0 900 900 0 0
adjrange 7 0 0 900 900 0 0
adjrange 8 0 0 900 900 0 0
adjrange 9 0 0 900 900 0 0
adjrange 10 0 0 900 900 0 0
adjrange 11 0 0 900 900 0 0
adjrange 12 0 0 900 900 0 0
adjrange 13 0 0 900 900 0 0
adjrange 14 0 0 900 900 0 0
rxrange 0 1000 2000
rxrange 1 1000 2000
rxrange 2 1000 2000
rxrange 3 1000 2000
rxfail 0 a
rxfail 1 a
rxfail 2 a
rxfail 3 a
rxfail 4 h
rxfail 5 h
rxfail 6 h
rxfail 7 h
rxfail 8 h
rxfail 9 h
rxfail 10 h
rxfail 11 h
rxfail 12 h
rxfail 13 h
rxfail 14 h
rxfail 15 h
rxfail 16 h
rxfail 17 h
set task_statistics = ON
set mid_rc = 1500
set min_check = 1005
set max_check = 2000
set rssi_channel = 0
set rssi_scale = 30
set rc_interp = AUTO
set rc_interp_ch = RP
set rc_interp_int = 19
set rssi_invert = OFF
set input_filtering_mode = OFF
set fpv_mix_degrees = 0
set max_aux_channels = 14
set debug_mode = NONE
set min_throttle = 1070
set max_throttle = 2000
set min_command = 1000
set digital_idle_percent = 4.500
set 3d_deadband_low = 1406
set 3d_deadband_high = 1514
set 3d_neutral = 1460
set 3d_deadband_throttle = 50
set use_unsynced_pwm = OFF
set motor_pwm_protocol = ONESHOT125
set motor_pwm_rate = 480
set disarm_kill_switch = ON
set gyro_cal_on_first_arm = OFF
set auto_disarm_delay = 5
set small_angle = 180
set fixedwing_althold_dir = 1
set reboot_character = 82
set serial_update_rate_hz = 100
set gps_provider = NMEA
set gps_sbas_mode = AUTO
set gps_auto_config = ON
set gps_auto_baud = OFF
set gps_wp_radius = 200
set nav_controls_heading = ON
set nav_speed_min = 100
set nav_speed_max = 300
set nav_slew_rate = 30
set beeper_inversion = ON
set beeper_od = OFF
set serialrx_provider = SPEK1024
set sbus_inversion = ON
set spektrum_sat_bind = 0
set spektrum_sat_bind_autorst = 1
set tlm_switch = OFF
set tlm_inversion = ON
set sport_halfduplex = ON
set frsky_default_lat = 0.000
set frsky_default_long = 0.000
set frsky_gps_format = 0
set frsky_unit = IMPERIAL
set frsky_vfas_precision = 0
set frsky_vfas_cell_voltage = OFF
set hott_alarm_int = 5
set pid_in_tlm = OFF
set bat_capacity = 0
set vbat_scale = 110
set vbat_max_cell_voltage = 43
set vbat_min_cell_voltage = 33
set vbat_warning_cell_voltage = 35
set vbat_hysteresis = 1
set ibat_scale = 400
set ibat_offset = 0
set mwii_ibat_output = OFF
set current_meter_type = ADC
set battery_meter_type = ADC
set bat_detect_thresh = 55
set use_vbat_alerts = ON
set use_cbat_alerts = OFF
set cbat_alert_percent = 10
set align_gyro = DEFAULT
set align_acc = DEFAULT
set align_mag = DEFAULT
set align_board_roll = 0
set align_board_pitch = 0
set align_board_yaw = 270
set gyro_lpf = OFF
set gyro_sync_denom = 4
set gyro_use_32khz = OFF
set gyro_lowpass_type = PT1
set gyro_lowpass = 90
set gyro_notch1_hz = 400
set gyro_notch1_cut = 300
set gyro_notch2_hz = 200
set gyro_notch2_cut = 100
set moron_threshold = 48
set imu_dcm_kp = 2500
set imu_dcm_ki = 0
set alt_hold_deadband = 40
set alt_hold_fast_change = ON
set deadband = 0
set yaw_deadband = 0
set thr_corr_value = 0
set thr_corr_angle = 800
set yaw_control_direction = 1
set yaw_motor_direction = 1
set servo_center_pulse = 1500
set tri_unarmed_servo = ON
set servo_lowpass_hz = 400
set servo_lowpass = OFF
set servo_pwm_rate = 50
set gimbal_mode = NORMAL
set channel_forwarding_start = 4
set airmode_start_throttle = 1350
set failsafe_delay = 10
set failsafe_off_delay = 10
set failsafe_throttle = 1000
set failsafe_kill_switch = OFF
set failsafe_throttle_low_delay = 100
set failsafe_procedure = DROP
set rx_min_usec = 885
set rx_max_usec = 2115
set acc_hardware = NONE
set acc_lpf_hz = 10
set accxy_deadband = 40
set accz_deadband = 40
set acc_unarmedcal = ON
set acc_trim_pitch = 0
set acc_trim_roll = 0
set baro_tab_size = 21
set baro_noise_lpf = 0.600
set baro_cf_vel = 0.985
set baro_cf_alt = 0.965
set baro_hardware = NONE
set mag_hardware = NONE
set mag_declination = 0
set pid_process_denom = 1
set blackbox_rate_num = 1
set blackbox_rate_denom = 1
set blackbox_device = SPIFLASH
set blackbox_on_motor_test = OFF
set magzero_x = 0
set magzero_y = 0
set magzero_z = 0
set ledstrip_visual_beeper = OFF
set displayport_msp_col_adjust = 0
set displayport_msp_row_adjust = 0
profile 0

set gps_pos_p = 15
set gps_pos_i = 0
set gps_pos_d = 0
set gps_posr_p = 34
set gps_posr_i = 14
set gps_posr_d = 53
set gps_nav_p = 25
set gps_nav_i = 33
set gps_nav_d = 83
set pidsum_limit = 0.500
set pidsum_limit_yaw = 0.500
set d_lowpass_type = BIQUAD
set d_lowpass = 100
set d_notch_hz = 260
set d_notch_cut = 160
set vbat_pid_gain = OFF
set pid_at_min_throttle = ON
set anti_gravity_thresh = 350
set anti_gravity_gain = 3.000
set setpoint_relax_ratio = 100
set d_setpoint_weight = 60
set yaw_accel_limit = 10.000
set accel_limit = 0.000
set iterm_windup = 50
set yaw_lowpass = 0
set p_pitch = 58
set i_pitch = 50
set d_pitch = 35
set p_roll = 44
set i_roll = 40
set d_roll = 30
set p_yaw = 70
set i_yaw = 45
set d_yaw = 20
set p_alt = 50
set i_alt = 0
set d_alt = 0
set p_level = 50
set i_level = 50
set d_level = 100
set p_vel = 55
set i_vel = 55
set d_vel = 75
set level_sensitivity = 55
set level_limit = 55
rateprofile 0
rateprofile 0

set rc_rate = 100
set rc_rate_yaw = 100
set rc_expo = 0
set rc_yaw_expo = 0
set thr_mid = 50
set thr_expo = 0
set roll_srate = 70
set pitch_srate = 70
set yaw_srate = 70
set tpa_rate = 10
set tpa_breakpoint = 1650
 

ElectriSean

Eternal Student
Mentor
You are correct that with the accelerometer disabled small_angle has no effect. I think the only regulator on the FC is to step down to 3.3V for the STM32 chip, and that would have to be fine for it to function at all. I'm not sure what circuitry is in place to separate the USB power from the 5V in from the PDB but it's possible that something there has fried. I'm not sure what else it could be assuming you are getting a steady 5V from your PDB.
 

d8agod

New member
As far as I can tell, I am getting a steady 5v from the pdb. I tested a few different sections of the FC for voltage to see if I could identify any dead areas with no luck. I ordered another F3, after everything I have been over on this issue I am pretty sure the FC is shot. Once the new controller comes in (Thursday :) ), I'll post up the end results. If there is anything else anyone can think of, please do say.

I was even thinking, is there a way to bypass "X", assuming "X" is some type of regulator or diode that got fried, to evenly supply 5v to this controller without smoking up all the components. My guess up front is no, just based off of @ElictriSean's comment on the step down for the stm32.
 

ElectriSean

Eternal Student
Mentor
If you have a spare USB cable you could try hacking it up to pull 5V from the PDB that way. Definitely ugly, especially with the side plates on the Wizard.
 

d8agod

New member
Hm ok. I will look into that, I wouldn't mind figuring out how to do that elegantly. I usually dont rock the side plates on my wizard, so hiding that wire mess may be interesting. But worth a shot, especially if the board is indeed shot.
 

d8agod

New member
It worked. Very ugly, haha, but it worked. I am going to do a test flight later, will let you know how it goes. Thank you for that advice!
 

d8agod

New member
Just had the bird out at the field, flys like a charm! Tho it was only a temporary fix, I really do appreciate the insight @Electrisean, thank you for the help!

Until next time guys!

--
Mike