Hi there guys!
I had a "well, that wasn't that hard" crash against a machine, it was on a muddy construction field.
The quad ended up really dirty, but everything on the electronics was clean, actually, i had video all the time while i was running to rescue it. What i could notice is that the command for get into the VTX and put it into Pit mode wasn't working (not sure now if i have to arm the quad for that but i'm almost sure i don't have to).

The pond in the background is for adding "drama" to the picture, don't worry, it didn't landed into it.



I've cleaned everything by now with a barely wet cloth, making sure to not touch the electronics, just the exterior and the frame. Everything got clean and i've proceeded to put it together again.

Just to be sure i plugged in my smoke stopper before the battery just to find out something wasn't right.

I get the three first beebs and the FC lights up, but the final beeps never sound, on top of that, which intrigues me more is that the bulb remains on, like indicating that there is a short.

I tried the following:

Disconnecting the receiver and the camera and leaving the FC connected to the FC (I have the Superfly KK FC by LDARC, which is a 4 in 1 ESC with FC and VTX integrated): Everything lights up, but the final two beeps never sound. It makes a try but stops. 
I've checked for mud between the cables but there is not.
I've disconnected the receiver and plugged the FC to the ESC: Same result.
I've disconnected the VTX antenna, the receiver and leaave the FC and the ESC connected: Same result.

The bulb remain on and the two final beeps never sound. Here is a video of what i'm facing, the first part is with the FC connected, and the second part have the FC disconnected.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdN-cGUA...e=youtu.be

I hope you can help me to pin point this issue. Thank you so much in advance

Edit: The FC is recognized by BF when i connect it to the PC, the model also moves normally, so i know it's not fried.

I think you have to have the receiver properly working to hear the last two beeps. They are throttle signal detected and throttle at zero. Confirm that the receiver is working on lipo and not causing the short. Also check the 5V rail with lipo connected.

Disconnect everything from ESC board and apply LiPo power to see if your smoke stopper bulb still remains ON. If it does then you know the problem is somewhere in the ESC board. If not then you can carry on looking further by checking for continuity between the LiPo +ve and GND rails, and also between the 5V and GND rails. Do those continuity checks with the FC both connected and disconnected from the ESC board.

I would also clean the boards thoroughly with Isopropyl alcohol and a fine bristled toothbrush while being careful not to be too rough so you don't dislodge any components from the board. Then afterwards inspect thoroughly with a magnifying glass for any possible foreign objects between pins/logs of components.

(15-Sep-2019, 06:51 AM)voodoo614 Wrote: I think you have to have the receiver properly working to hear the last two beeps. They are throttle signal detected and throttle at zero. Confirm that the receiver is working on lipo and not causing the short. Also check the 5V rail with lipo connected.

The problem is that, even with the receiver disconnected and while using the smoke stopper, i can hear the 3 first beeps, the FC lights up but the bulb of the smoke stopper remains on, it is like if there is a short between the ESC and the FC, but i can't see anything by eye, everything looks clean, nothing is touching.

I've tried to see if the receiver is working on a Lipo with the smoke stopper plugged but is not, all remains the same as described before but the TX won't detect the drone.

(15-Sep-2019, 09:49 AM)SnowLeopardFPV Wrote: Disconnect everything from ESC board and apply LiPo power to see if your smoke stopper bulb still remains ON. If it does then you know the problem is somewhere in the ESC board. If not then you can carry on looking further by checking for continuity between the LiPo +ve and GND rails, and also between the 5V and GND rails. Do those continuity checks with the FC both connected and disconnected from the ESC board.

I would also clean the boards thoroughly with Isopropyl alcohol and a fine bristled toothbrush while being careful not to be too rough so you don't dislodge any components from the board. Then afterwards inspect thoroughly with a magnifying glass for any possible foreign objects between pins/logs of components.

With everything disconnected, the smoke stopper remains OFF.
Please excuse my ignorance but what is +ve? This is my FC diagram in case it is something related to the FC: http://ldarc.com/en/pd.jsp?id=141

I need to get the Isopropyl, it's hard to find it on this town, spent one hour looking for it after the crash with o avail; anyway, i want to add that as for the ESC and the FC, everything is clean, there was no mud attached to it, but for some reason the bulb of the smoke stopper remains ON when the FC is connected,

Thank you both for your help.

Edit: I must add that after the crash, I got a OSD message which said "RXLOST" but right after it touched the field, even before, I've disarmed

Edit 2: Could be possible that a drop of water landed on the ESC or the FC while cleaning and it's causing this even after evaporated?

I experienced problem like this before, no FC beep, tried to connect to betaflight also not detected

Check with DMM alarm mode

Mine has a short in FC and ESC,
DMM keep beeping as if + and - touch each other

At the end.. I replace FC and one of my ESC

Now working properly

If the bulb isn't lighting up with the FC disconnected from the ESC board then it looks like your ESC board is probably OK and that the short is likely somewhere in the FC.

"+ve" is just shorthand for "positive". In the case of the LiPo connections on the ESC, this is the huge "+" connection that the LiPo pigtail is soldered to, or the "BAT" pin on the white 7-pin connector.

As we've ascertained that the problem likely lies in the FC, with the FC disconnected from the ESC board, do continuity checks between the following pins on the connectors of the FC board that I've highlighted in yellow in the image below:-

1. Check continuity between the 3.3V and the GND pins on the 4-pin receiver connector
   
2. Check continuity between the VCC and the GND pins on the 4-pin receiver connector.
   
3. Check continuity between the BAT and GND pins on the 7-pin ESC connector.
   

(15-Sep-2019, 11:14 AM)w3njember Wrote: I experienced problem like this before, no FC beep, tried to connect to betaflight also not detected

Check with DMM alarm mode

Mine has a short in FC and ESC,
DMM keep beeping as if + and - touch each other

At the end.. I replace FC and one of my ESC

Now working properly

Sadly my whole FC and VTX system is integrated. I hope for the best.

(15-Sep-2019, 11:23 AM)SnowLeopardFPV Wrote: If the bulb isn't lighting up with the FC disconnected from the ESC board then it looks like your ESC board is probably OK and that the short is likely somewhere in the FC.

"+ve" is just shorthand for "positive". In the case of the LiPo connections on the ESC, this is the huge "+" connection that the LiPo pigtail is soldered to, or the "BAT" pin on the white 7-pin connector.

As we've ascertained that the problem likely lies in the FC, with the FC disconnected from the ESC board, do continuity checks between the following pins on the connectors of the FC board that I've highlighted in yellow in the image below:-

1. Check continuity between the 3.3V and the GND pins on the 4-pin receiver connector
   
2. Check continuity between the VCC and the GND pins on the 4-pin receiver connector.
   
3. Check continuity between the BAT and GND pins on the 7-pin ESC connector.
   

Thank you so much for your inputs. I don't have a multimeter now but i'll get one tomorrow to try out all the steps above. In the meantime, I want to add that i did a test to narrow more the problem: I connected the ESC to the FC and the camera as well. Turned my Goggles ON and connected the battery to the whole system through the smoke stopper, i can get to see the Betaflight logo and video feed for around 5 seconds, after that, and while the system is still booting up (beeping 3 times, and then waiting for the remaining two beeps), the video feed is gone, all i get is grey.
Here is what i see:



Any ideas?

That picture LOL... Sorry I just wanted to chime in on that picture it is a great picture ;D IDk why I like it so much xD

Also a short can happen internally and doesn't necessarily have to be visable to the eye. I'm not sure if those types of mosfet shorts would make a smoke stopper light up though.

Seriously this comment is just to say I love that picture you posted.

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(15-Sep-2019, 01:41 PM)CM17X Wrote: Sadly my whole FC and VTX system is integrated. I hope for the best.


Thank you so much for your inputs. I don't have a multimeter now but i'll get one tomorrow to try out all the steps above. In the meantime, I want to add that i did a test to narrow more the problem: I connected the ESC to the FC and the camera as well. Turned my Goggles ON and connected the battery to the whole system through the smoke stopper, i can get to see the Betaflight logo and video feed for around 5 seconds, after that, and while the system is still booting up (beeping 3 times, and then waiting for the remaining two beeps), the video feed is gone, all i get is grey.
Here is what i see:



Any ideas?

Is that the noise you hear!?!? That sounds like the T-Rex from Jurassic park movies what the hell!?

(15-Sep-2019, 01:54 PM)bLoWsMokE Wrote: That picture LOL... Sorry I just wanted to chime in on that picture it is a great picture ;D IDk why I like it so much xD

Also a short can happen internally and doesn't necessarily have to be visable to the eye. I'm not sure if those types of mosfet shorts would make a smoke stopper light up though.

Seriously this comment is just to say I love that picture you posted.

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Is that the noise you hear!?!? That sounds like the T-Rex from Jurassic park movies what the hell!?

The video i've recorded from the goggles DVR is always doing that sound, it actually happens when i record my Mobula7 flights, but you're right about something and is that after the video feed goes on blue screen, there is a horrifying sound i've never noticed.

About the picture, glad you like it There is some beauty on a mess that is not yours Joking. Have a good day.

(15-Sep-2019, 03:18 PM)CM17X Wrote: The video i've recorded from the goggles DVR is always doing that sound, it actually happens when i record my Mobula7 flights, but you're right about something and is that after the video feed goes on blue screen, there is a horrifying sound i've never noticed.

About the picture, glad you like it There is some beauty on a mess that is not yours Joking. Have a good day.

lol well, mine is stuck in a 70ft tall tree with no hope of getting down and I have no money to get a new one, and I literally had just gotten EVERYTHING I needed for it the day before.

I flew for 1.5 month with no FPV waiting and saving the whole time to FINALLY get FPV... I got the goggls FINALLY then the camera broke..... I waited two days for the camera FINALLY got it, then 5 packs later lost the whole quad and now have nothing at all. So I'm in the worst position ever in this hobby lmfao.... I wanted to quit completely, but everyone saying everyone goesthrough this so I'm TRYING to stay positive and I love this hobby so I don't wanna quit...... It's actually more like I CAN'T even if I try.

Your picture is good because of the pile that is still on top like you took the picture IMMEDIATELY without brushing anything off of it it's just a great photo, I meant no offence.

(15-Sep-2019, 04:07 PM)bLoWsMokE Wrote: lol well, mine is stuck in a 70ft tall tree with no hope of getting down and I have no money to get a new one, and I literally had just gotten EVERYTHING I needed for it the day before.

I flew for 1.5 month with no FPV waiting and saving the whole time to FINALLY get FPV... I got the goggls FINALLY then the camera broke..... I waited two days for the camera FINALLY got it, then 5 packs later lost the whole quad and now have nothing at all. So I'm in the worst position ever in this hobby lmfao.... I wanted to quit completely, but everyone saying everyone goesthrough this so I'm TRYING to stay positive and I love this hobby so I don't wanna quit...... It's actually more like I CAN'T even if I try.

Your picture is good because of the pile that is still on top like you took the picture IMMEDIATELY without brushing anything off of it it's just a great photo, I meant no offence.

Don't worry, mate, I was just making fun of this issue. I hope you can get your stuff back and in the air again.

(15-Sep-2019, 05:19 PM)CM17X Wrote: Don't worry, mate, I was just making fun of this issue. I hope you can get your stuff back and in the air again.

It's rained a few times already.... best case scenario is the motors still work and I can obviously salvage the frame..... although when it falls it might break.

(15-Sep-2019, 11:23 AM)SnowLeopardFPV Wrote: If the bulb isn't lighting up with the FC disconnected from the ESC board then it looks like your ESC board is probably OK and that the short is likely somewhere in the FC.

"+ve" is just shorthand for "positive". In the case of the LiPo connections on the ESC, this is the huge "+" connection that the LiPo pigtail is soldered to, or the "BAT" pin on the white 7-pin connector.

As we've ascertained that the problem likely lies in the FC, with the FC disconnected from the ESC board, do continuity checks between the following pins on the connectors of the FC board that I've highlighted in yellow in the image below:-

1. Check continuity between the 3.3V and the GND pins on the 4-pin receiver connector
   
2. Check continuity between the VCC and the GND pins on the 4-pin receiver connector.
   
3. Check continuity between the BAT and GND pins on the 7-pin ESC connector.
   

Hi there, @snowleopard.
I've checked for continuity in all the pins you suggested, actually, i've tested the whole FC with no continuity at all. I just cleaned the FC with isopropyl alcohol and i'm waiting for it to dry and test again.

Also, i did perform a continuity check with every single cable connecting the FC to thge ESC an they have continuity, meaning that none of them is loose or broken.
Edit: Well, after clean it with alcohol and try again, the problem still . If someone have more ideas, i'm willing to try. Thank you.

(17-Sep-2019, 12:37 AM)CM17X Wrote: Hi there, @snowleopard.
I've checked for continuity in all the pins you suggested, actually, i've tested the whole FC with no continuity at all. I just cleaned the FC with isopropyl alcohol and i'm waiting for it to dry and test again.

Also, i did perform a continuity check with every single cable connecting the FC to thge ESC an they have continuity, meaning that none of them is loose or broken.
Edit: Well, after clean it with alcohol and try again, the problem still . If someone have more ideas, i'm willing to try. Thank you.

Did you have any luck resolving this?  I'm having the same issue on a new quad.  No light on Smoke Stopper until I plug in the VTX.  VTX powers up with blue light but then I bulb lights up.

(20-Oct-2019, 07:47 PM)mwbyrd Wrote: Did you have any luck resolving this?  I'm having the same issue on a new quad.  No light on Smoke Stopper until I plug in the VTX.  VTX powers up with blue light but then I bulb lights up.

Sadly no.
I did every check suggested by Snowleopard and the other guys but I'm still getting the same "short" out of nowhere. I have already one month without flying and it's killing me. Waiting for a replacement.
Do you have the same FC?