APM 2.5 Doesn't Talk to ESC MDrive-18

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APM 2.5 won’t run ESC MDrive-18.  Spektrum DX8; Octocopter V (will change 
motor flight parameters later since I have an Oct H).  All flight modes set to 
simple & verified. Using APM Power module.  This is what I see during ESC 
calibration:
o All power off; turn receiver on; push to full throttle; turn battery on
o APM LED slow RYB (.8 sec cycle)
o ESC dee-da-da [dee means on and da-da means using setup 2) 
o Turn off battery; turn battery on (throttle still up)
o APM LED fast RYB (.4 sec cycle)
o ESC dee-da-da [ditto]
o throttle down [before it goes into program mode]
o ESC de-de-do-do-da-da [means armed]
o All motors turn when given up throttle so direct radio going through the APM 
works.  So far so good.  
o Turn off battery; throttle at low or mid (same result); turn battery on (also 
tried powering the APM with the USB first and then turning the battery on just 
before the next Left stick Lwr-Rt arming move with the same result)
o ESC dee-da-da [means on and in mode 2]
o APM LED super fast RB alternate blink
o APM LED fast RB alternate blink
o APM LED B off + slow R blink
o APM LED solid B [GPS lock] w/ slow R blink
o Left (mode 2) stick to lower right to Arm
o APM LED Blue fast blink (yellow is off)
o APM LED BR alternate blink (yellow is off)
o APM LED BR goes dark for a second
o APM LED BR goes solid on [which indicates the APM has armed & verified in 
Mission Planner FailSafe] (yellow is off)
o but ESC does not arm [no de-de-do-do-da-da sound from the ESC]
o throttle up does nothing
o but left stick low-left disarms [APM red LED flashes]
o when the APM is armed in Mission Planner Flight Data, the ch1out – ch8out 
behave as expected, but the motors do not turn.

My radio controls are correct as the APM responds as expected to the radio 
throttle commands.  The APM is arming, but not sending what it needs or is 
confusing these ESCs.   I’m able to successfully arm a Turnigy-20 that I had 
laying around.

Tried auto.  Nothing.  Tried manual (each motor runs fine via the receiver). 
Then tried APM arm and get same behavior described above.  Tried lowering the 
trim on throttle. Followed by auto config and still get nothing.  Tried 
powering with USB first.  Nothing.

Suggestions?  Should I try another brand of ESC?  I have an oscilloscope is 
that helps and a little knowledge of electronics if you need to nurse me 
through making some tests to gather data.  These ESCs can be programmed and 
controlled by a computer software interface, which makes them a little unique.

Original issue reported on code.google.com by forrestf...@gmail.com on 14 Feb 2013 at 8:03

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I bought 8 Turnigy ESC to replace the MDrive ESCs.  No problem with the Turnigy.

Original comment by forrestf...@gmail.com on 5 Mar 2013 at 9:05

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Closing all issues on the old issues list by marking them WontFix.

If this is still a valid issue please re-raise it on the new GitHub issues 
list: https://github.com/diydrones/ardupilot/issues

Thanks!

Original comment by rmackay...@gmail.com on 21 Jul 2013 at 2:14

• Changed state: WontFix