Scorpion xl fault??

[andrewmahoney]

Just been testing Cyberon with my new scorpion xl,and I think I have found a batch fault.
The fault I have is the same as Whirlpool....which is the controller works fine for 2 minutes then the little signal strength light starts to flicker slow at first, ending as a fast flicker.During this time the reciever is very intermittent making the robot judder. The circuit board itself is still cold on the bottom but very slightly warm on top. Whirlpool discovered that if they put a little fan blowing onto the top circuit board, the problem seemed to get better. I have just done a test with my wifes hairdryer and found that, if I blow cold air on top of the circuit board the flashing light slows down and radio reception works. If I switch to heat setting, within a second the controller freezes. The problem I have is that my wife wont let me keep the hairdryer ! So I will have to fit a small fan if my robot is to stand a chance on Saturday. Do you think this is a batch problem or that all Scorpions should be fitted with fans ?!

I sure hope not. I just bought 3 of them.

[typhoon_driver]

What motors are you using?

I am guessing that you are pulling more than the recommended continuous current, hense the heat and so the controller cuts out when it gets too toasty. This would also explain why a fan helps ie it removes the heat and stops it from building up.

[geeza]

I agree with Gary it does sound like an overheating problem. Is it possible to get a bigger heat sink on it, also like said add a fan to keep it cool.

[andrewmahoney]

No its not an overheating problem,....The motors are 24v gold,....The pcb is cold,but to be safe I fitted a larg heat sink with heat conductive paste on to all 4 big black thingies(tech talk)and that stays cold as well.The only thing that gets warm is the little components on top of the pcb,when I say warm i mean just above cold.The fan whirlpool fitted was a tiny computer fan about 30mm body not a big thing,but it must be just enough.... Another clue!.. When i first tryed the scorpion i had it configured with the battery eliminater link in place so i did not need a receiver battery.This caused the same fault to happen but a lot quicker..flashing light within a minute.So i cut the link and fitted a battery.problem solved,robot works fine or so i thaught,as long as you switch on the receiver last minute just before the battle you will make it through without it freezing.

any ideas?:sad:

I think i maybe having the same problem. Even though im only using the controller for my linear Actuator which is only about 3amps, but the heat and confinded space from my drive motors and batteries etc might be doing the same.

And the top of my board is just, well warmer than cold, but rest is cold.

Did you say the light flickers fast? Coz mine starts flickering fast and then starts to cut out.

If you remove power from the controller and then start it up again (take link out and put it bk in) does the problem go away for a bit?


Mr Stu

[big_nipper]

Andrew, hope its not a fault but to me it sounds like a calibration error as the light is only supposed to flash if the input signal is out of range. Set your trims on you transmitter to the middle, power up the receiver first (if not using the BEC), then the scorpion (with the calibrate jumper already in place) and move all your sticks to thier full extents several times then return back to the middle and power down the scorption, then recevier. Finally remove the calibration jumper and test it again. Hope that works. Could you also tell me what type of receiver you are using?

[andrewmahoney]

Hi Mark and Stu,I think you are right!!same advice from James.
I have a br6000/dx6
I think the problem is something to do with the compatibility between the dx6 and the scorpion xl
yes Stu,my scorpion works or should I say does not work just like you describe.
I have just re calibrated my scorpion as you said Mark..and it worked!..great! even with my wifes hair dryer on full heat not a stutter.Strange thing to..the scorpions bottom actually gets warm,but this was after a good 5 min of testing.... I was just about to have a beer,then the old flickering light agin,followed by complete shut down.back on the bench the scorpion was just warm,switched the hair dryer on to cold and a few seconds later working again,if a remove power that seems to reset everything back to normal for a while,but now even 2 seconds of heat from the trusty hair dryer and .. shutdown!
I called at cpc tonight an collected a 24v 50x50 fan,so thats my next job.I think if i go through the calibration thing before each battle I probably dont need the fan....i think i will fit it anyway.
What do you think?

Sounds strange, but I wouldnt put too much heat on it I think the processor is rated to 85C max, but still thats high.

[leorcc]

Do you have to re-calibrate every time?