Throttle Issue with Power pack C

[nickg4bruins]

I got my son a FT Mustang along with Powerpack C a couple of years ago and the first flight didn't go exactly as planned. He had plenty of experience with the cheap small planes from Amazon but this was a different league. I'm trying to get this figured out so he can get back into flying.

Here's the setup: FT Mustang, Powerpack C, Radiomaster Zorro ELRS TX, Radiomaster ER5A receiver. Today I updated EdgeTX and have been playing around in EdgeTX Companion to adjust models as I find it easier on the computer than TX. I also performed an ESC calibration. I've read a lot of articles, watched a bunch of videos and can't seem to figure this out.

After we did the post-crash debrief, we've found that the throttle response seems really odd. When the stick is all the way down, throttle is off (yay!). Moving it up slowly, the throttle doesn't kick on until the stick is ~ center which I'll call it 50% (from the bottom). It ramps up pretty quick between 50% to ~70%, but then between 70% to 100% (max), it is the same output. So when he's flying, it is essentially off, spinning barely enough to move the plane while it's on the ground, to full throttle.

I've tried everything from a basic new model, to creating a custom linear curve, and nothing ever really seems to make it different/better. I can't figure out if it is an issue with the model, Powerpack/ESC, or something else. I would appreciate any thoughts on how we can get it working right so it is a pretty smooth response all the way from 0 to 100. I can share some screenshots from EdgeTX if that would be helpful. Thank you.

 

[HVB79]

I also performed an ESC calibration.

This is likely the cause of the issue. Are you sure you did this step correctly? You need to calibrate the ESC endpoints. See this video: v=whgtBSsWJ2w

 

[Foamforce]

Are you sure you did the calibration correctly? Prop off. Turn on radio. Make sure your kill switch is off. Throttle at top. Plug in ESC. Wait for tones. Throttle to bottom. Wait for more tones. If you’re not hearing the tones, something is wrong. Figure this out first.

If it’s not that, I would check your input settings, mixes, and output settings for your throttle channel. Make sure you didn’t accidentally put your rates switch on your throttle or something. Also, make sure there is no trim or subtrim on that channel. There should be no mixes on your throttle channel either.

If it’s not that, you can test the throttle output on the receiver by moving your ESC to an unused channel, just so it can provide power. Then plug a servo into your throttle channel. Now your throttle should move the servo through a full 90 degree arc. If it does, then it’s not a Tx issue and either it’s still not calibrated properly, or something funny is wrong with the ESC (unlikely).

 

[nickg4bruins]

I appreciate your input so far. I went through and performed a calibration based on the video posted by HVB79, which matched Foamforce's method. I also found a Flitetest video as these seem to put out quite a few tones when going through this process so I wanted to be sure I was bringing throttle to bottom at the right time. Calibration didn't change anything.

Then I tried putting the ESC on a different channel and put the aileron onto channel 3 (I don't have any spare servos which might make a difference compared to one that is on the plane). When the throttle was centered, the ailerons were flush with the wings. When I moved the stick up and down, the ailerons shifted, but maybe only when I was +/- ~30% from center. I did the same thing with the elevator and got a very similar result. So that might seem like it's something with the Tx? I could try to set it back to factory and try to create a new model if anybody thinks that might be a good place to start.

I've attached a few screenshots from EdgeTx Companion in case anything seems obviously wrong in Inputs, Mixes, and Outputs. I removed the Mix for channel 3 and that also didn't make any difference. No curves or switches.

Appreciate everybody's help and thoughts.

 

[nickg4bruins]

I believe some persistence paid off. I did a calibration, but within the Tx SYS menu after yet another Youtube video and now the motor starts shortly after moving it up and it's pretty darn steady all the way to the max. Glad it was something simple and not something requiring extensive hardware replacements. Appreciate the responses. Have a great weekend.

 

[Foamforce]

I believe some persistence paid off. I did a calibration, but within the Tx SYS menu after yet another Youtube video and now the motor starts shortly after moving it up and it's pretty darn steady all the way to the max. Glad it was something simple and not something requiring extensive hardware replacements. Appreciate the responses. Have a great weekend.

Ah, so your sticks needed calibration? I’ve never heard if sticks being that out of calibration, good catch!

 

[nickg4bruins]

Ah, so your sticks needed calibration? I’ve never heard if sticks being that out of calibration, good catch!

I feel like shortly after we got it my son did a calibration and maybe something went wrong there. When I watched the video yesterday on how to do it correctly, I don't think that's how we originally did it. As long as it works, I'm happy now!

 

[Merv]

...Today, I updated EdgeTX...

Good catch. Everytime time you update the software on the Tx, you need to recalibrate the Tx. The sticks, pots, switches, everything.

I've had all of my flite modes messed up by an EdgeTX update messing with the 6 position switch.

Now that you have the Tx corrected, you should consider recalibrateing the ESC to match the new throttle range.