Posts: 53 Threads: 9 Likes Received: 3 in 2 posts Likes Given: 10 Joined: Jul 2019 Reputation: 0 Hey everyone! I'm working on a new build and just smoked my new ESC! I'm not sure why though, I did have a smoke stopper on the plug, so I'm hoping for some insight as to why this could have happened? I have the RDQ Bardwell 4-in1 ESC, it didn't come with a capacitor so I installed a panasonic 1000uF 35V with the huge negative symbols to the negative pad on the ESC. When I plugged in the battery, it immediately smoked! The receiver received power though (I'm also using the RDQ Bardwell Flight Controller plugged into the ESC with the cable that came with it) and it bound to my transmitter instantly.
Any ideas what I may have done wrong? ![[-]](https://intofpv.com/images/collapse.png) • Posts: 21,418 Threads: 596 Likes Received: 9,039 in 6,690 posts Likes Given: 1,428 Joined: Jun 2018 Reputation: 796 13-Dec-2019, 11:26 PM (This post was last modified: 13-Dec-2019, 11:27 PM by SnowLeopardFPV.) I guess the first question is, what type of smoke stopper did you use. If it was one of those poly fuse ones then they're about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
Did you perform a continuity check with a multimeter between the positive and negative LiPo connections and also between the 5V rail and GND before you plugged in a LiPo? • Posts: 53 Threads: 9 Likes Received: 3 in 2 posts Likes Given: 10 Joined: Jul 2019 Reputation: 0 (13-Dec-2019, 11:26 PM)SnowLeopardFPV Wrote: I guess the first question is, what type of smoke stopper did you use. If it was one of those poly fuse ones then they're about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
Did you perform a continuity check with a multimeter between the positive and negative LiPo connections and also between the 5V rail and GND before you plugged in a LiPo? Thank you for responding so quickly!! I use the RDQ XT60 smoke stopper with the LED https://www.racedayquads.com/products/sm...e397&_ss=r I did not do a continuity check.. my bad. I’ll check that, hopefully I didn’t smoke the FC too, I have a feeling I did though since it doesn’t want to respond when I plug in the USB port and try to pull up BF. Can you tell me what I would want to check for the 5V rail to the Ground? Which pads do I test? • Posts: 21,418 Threads: 596 Likes Received: 9,039 in 6,690 posts Likes Given: 1,428 Joined: Jun 2018 Reputation: 796 13-Dec-2019, 11:47 PM (This post was last modified: 13-Dec-2019, 11:48 PM by SnowLeopardFPV.) (13-Dec-2019, 11:37 PM)eforden Wrote: I use the RDQ XT60 smoke stopper with the LED
https://www.racedayquads.com/products/sm...e397&_ss=r Yep, those fancy looking smoke stoppers are useless. They don't trip quick enough in the event of a short circuit (see this post). Throw it away and build yourself an automotive bulb smoke stopper instead. See Oscar's article on how to make one HERE. (13-Dec-2019, 11:37 PM)eforden Wrote: I did not do a continuity check.. my bad. I’ll check that, hopefully I didn’t smoke the FC too, I have a feeling I did though since it doesn’t want to respond when I plug in the USB port and try to pull up BF.
Can you tell me what I would want to check for the 5V rail to the Ground? Which pads do I test? Just put your multimeter into continuity ("beep") mode and then put one probe on a 5V pad and another probe on a GND pad. You shouldn't get a beep. Do the same with the LiPo pad connections. Also, prior to powering up, always inspect the boards with a magnifying glass to check for any solder balls or splatters of solder that may have ended up between or across pins of components or pads. • Posts: 53 Threads: 9 Likes Received: 3 in 2 posts Likes Given: 10 Joined: Jul 2019 Reputation: 0 (13-Dec-2019, 11:47 PM)SnowLeopardFPV Wrote: Yep, those fancy looking smoke stoppers are useless. They don't trip quick enough in the event of a short circuit (see this post). Throw it away and build yourself an automotive bulb smoke stopper instead. See Oscar's article on how to make one HERE.
Just put your multimeter into continuity ("beep") mode and then put one probe on a 5V pad and another probe on a GND pad. You shouldn't get a beep. Do the same with the LiPo pad connections.
Also, prior to powering up, always inspect the boards with a magnifying glass to check for any solder balls or splatters of solder that may have ended up between or across pins of components or pads. I do also have the light bulb one, but didn’t use it this time - I should have. I’m not getting continuity on the 5V and GND, but when I touch the battery lead there is a super quick beep but nothing constant.. • Posts: 223 Threads: 23 Likes Received: 91 in 53 posts Likes Given: 126 Joined: Aug 2019 Reputation: 1 (13-Dec-2019, 11:47 PM)SnowLeopardFPV Wrote: Also, prior to powering up, always inspect the boards with a magnifying glass to check for any solder balls or splatters of solder that may have ended up between or across pins of components or pads. Super good advice. I had solder ball on my FC and it started fire. just saying..  • Posts: 53 Threads: 9 Likes Received: 3 in 2 posts Likes Given: 10 Joined: Jul 2019 Reputation: 0 (14-Dec-2019, 12:14 AM)notafraid_fpv Wrote: Super good advice. I had solder ball on my FC and it started fire. just saying.. Yes it is, and I did this a few times with a magnifying glass, I was super careful and made sure there weren’t any solder balls or splatter. • Posts: 12,098 Threads: 125 Likes Received: 3,739 in 2,836 posts Likes Given: 99 Joined: Feb 2017 Reputation: 388 (14-Dec-2019, 12:07 AM)eforden Wrote: I’m not getting continuity on the 5V and GND, but when I touch the battery lead there is a super quick beep but nothing constant.. The quick beep is just the circuit charging capacitance. A continuous beep is indicated of a short. • Posts: 21,418 Threads: 596 Likes Received: 9,039 in 6,690 posts Likes Given: 1,428 Joined: Jun 2018 Reputation: 796 (14-Dec-2019, 12:07 AM)eforden Wrote: I’m not getting continuity on the 5V and GND, but when I touch the battery lead there is a super quick beep but nothing constant.. Unfortunately it's a bit late to be checking continuity now with something already smoked because there may have been continuity before but whatever fried may have broken that continuity. It needs to be checked before connecting up any power. • Posts: 53 Threads: 9 Likes Received: 3 in 2 posts Likes Given: 10 Joined: Jul 2019 Reputation: 0 (14-Dec-2019, 12:26 PM)SnowLeopardFPV Wrote: Unfortunately it's a bit late to be checking continuity now with something already smoked because there may have been continuity before but whatever fried may have broken that continuity. It needs to be checked before connecting up any power. Alright, I'm back in business. I thankfully ordered a backup ESC and FC, got things resoldered to the new boards and everything is good. I checked the continuity before plugging anything in and didn't get any beeps from anything. I used the lightbulb and it did not stay lit! I'm able to successfully connect to BF now. • Posts: 53 Threads: 9 Likes Received: 3 in 2 posts Likes Given: 10 Joined: Jul 2019 Reputation: 0 14-Dec-2019, 08:08 PM (This post was last modified: 14-Dec-2019, 08:14 PM by eforden.) This is a separate topic, but I have a 2 position On/Off switch that I got off eBay with XT60 connectors.. after not too much use, it stopped working reliably. Any suggestions on where I can pickup a new switch so I can just build my own? • Posts: 12,098 Threads: 125 Likes Received: 3,739 in 2,836 posts Likes Given: 99 Joined: Feb 2017 Reputation: 388 (14-Dec-2019, 08:08 PM)eforden Wrote: This is a separate topic, but I have a 2 position On/Off switch that I got off eBay with XT60 connectors.. after not too much use, it stopped working reliably. Any suggestions on where I can pickup a new switch so I can just build my own? You can pretty get a SPST switch anywhere. Your local hardware store. Just make sure it is rated for whatever you want to use it for. • Posts: 53 Threads: 9 Likes Received: 3 in 2 posts Likes Given: 10 Joined: Jul 2019 Reputation: 0 (14-Dec-2019, 08:48 PM)voodoo614 Wrote: You can pretty get a SPST switch anywhere. Your local hardware store. Just make sure it is rated for whatever you want to use it for. Ok cool, thanks! What rating would I want if I’m using it for 4S LiPos? • Posts: 12,098 Threads: 125 Likes Received: 3,739 in 2,836 posts Likes Given: 99 Joined: Feb 2017 Reputation: 388 14-Dec-2019, 10:47 PM (This post was last modified: 14-Dec-2019, 10:51 PM by voodoo614.) (14-Dec-2019, 10:34 PM)eforden Wrote: Ok cool, thanks! What rating would I want if I’m using it for 4S LiPos? Most switch, unless it is a micro switch, will be able to handle 4S. The rule of thumb, if a switch is rated at 15A 125VAC, will handle 15A at 30VDC. Posts: 21,418 Threads: 596 Likes Received: 9,039 in 6,690 posts Likes Given: 1,428 Joined: Jun 2018 Reputation: 796 14-Dec-2019, 10:53 PM (This post was last modified: 14-Dec-2019, 10:53 PM by SnowLeopardFPV.) (14-Dec-2019, 10:34 PM)eforden Wrote: Ok cool, thanks! What rating would I want if I’m using it for 4S LiPos? Base it on the bulb you are using. Assuming you are using a 27W bulb and a 4S LiPo (16.8V), the maximum current the smoke stopper will allow through it is 1.6A (27 / 16.8). Most SPST toggle switches will easily handle in excess of 15A. |
