Please help! My submarine has gone crazy!

[jdbostrom]

Tonight I got all of my equipment out to do some testing; my almost-finished homemade cylinder, radio, battery, etc.
I plugged everything in and nothing worked. I finally traced it down to a bad connector, and after that was replaced everything started working okay. Then I decided to test my SubTech failsafe. I switched the transmitter off. All the servos went crazy and the motor revved back and forth. After about thirty seconds of this the servo hooked up to the failsafe had STILL not activated to turn on the microswitch that leads to the air pump. I turned the transmitter back on and tried again. This time the servos went nuts again but after 6 seconds the servo turned the switch on like it was supposed to.
After switching the transmitter on and off several times I finally just decided to see how things ran under normal conditions -i.e. not switching the tx off to simulate a loss of signal. Then to my dismay I found that all of the servos started "chattering" when ever I turned the motor on.
Now what is so bewildering about the whole thing is that just a few days ago everything ran fine, except I did not have the failsafe hooked up for some reason, so I did not test that then.

Any suggestions on what to do? I am very concerned....


Jonathan



Edited By JDBostrom on 1113534983

[wingtip]

what radio system? am, fm,

what radio system? am, fm, pcm?

[jdbostrom]

It is a Hitec Laser

It is a Hitec Laser 4 FM radio.

I forgot to add that when I disconnect everything else but the Subsafe from the receiver, the failsafe works like a charm.

[bcliffe]

Are you still using the

Are you still using the stock antenna on the receiver or have you modified it in any way?
Where is the antenna location with respect to other electronics in the WTC?

[PaulC]

We've had several threads about

We've had several threads about this in the past. The diagnosis offered ranged from local cel tower interferance to low transmitter and/or receiver batteries.

If you don't get enough info, try searching the old posts for "servo chatter".

[jdbostrom]

Okay, I've got the chatter

Okay, I've got the chatter problem solved, but now I have no idea what is the matter with the failsafe. When I have multiple things plugged into the rx, it doesn't activate like it should.

[tsenecal]

another possible situation that I

another possible situation that I have seen cause problems is if your speed control has BEC, and you are using a seperate battery for the reciever as well. you can't have the reciever powered by both a seperate battery and the ESC...

[jdbostrom]

Thank you, I think that

Thank you, I think that is the problem. My speed control is a no-name brand and I really don't know much about it. This afternoon I managed to kill it however (on accident!). So I guess I will be getting a new speed control . Any recommendations? I would prefer something WITHOUT a built in BEC, but I guess it really doesn't matter. I want something inexpensive too.

Thanks!

[jdbostrom]

How bout this one]http://store.yahoo.com/hobby-warehouse/mtsoeco20fes.html

Jonathan

How bout this one]http://store.yahoo.com/hobby-warehouse/mtsoeco20fes.html[/url]

Jonathan

[tsenecal]

A quick and dirty way

A quick and dirty way to eliminate the BEC capability of an ESC is to simply detach the positive wire from the connector that connects the ESC to the reciever. Most ESCs only need the signal and ground wires to properly operate. Most ESCs also have a universal connector, and the entire pin can be slid out of the plastic shell relatively easily, allowing the operation to be reversed.

[Stephen Vick]

Try an M-Sonics Marine Eco

Try an M-Sonics Marine Eco 15...
It costs about $35 is very reliable, totally waterproof as well. you can get them through Hobby People. They are BEC, but I prefer BEC anyway, why waste space on a receiver battery. If you really don't like BEC just disconnect the positive terminal. Most good ESC's are BEC these days, and I dont think very highly of the ones I've seen without BEC.
Take Care,
Steve

[jdbostrom]

Huh, that's funny. I just

Huh, that's funny. I just ordered this one]http://store.yahoo.com/hobby-warehouse/mtsoeco20fes.html[/url] , an Mtroniks Sonik3 Echo 20. Sounds very similar to the one you described, but without the BEC. They do sell one on the same site that has a BEC though.

[jdbostrom]

Well, today I got my

Well, today I got my speed control. Tested everything, and it all worked GREAT, even with the modified antenna. So thanks to all of you that encouraged me to bite the bullet and modify the antenna, I am sure I will be glad I did.

Jonathan