Hi DJI,

Question: should I send the Mavic back straight away or is there anything I can do?

Situation:
Unpacked the combo package, installed everything and all looks fine (latest firmware, latest Go app, did IMU calibration, charged everything)
The motors (without props) started shortly, but stopped with giving error "Esc error, contact DJI if problem persists."

Motors do not want to start anymore with the same message.
Tried all 3 batteries (combo)
Tried with props on, without props on.
The engines turn fine manually.


I've had a Phantom 3 Adv and a 3 Professional, so not totally new to this.

Any help is appreciated.

Rover

did you give it throttle while the blades were off.

Hi Rover, please try to restore factory defaults via DJI assistant and refresh the firmware again.
Please keep us posted.

Ok Mindy, will do.

and yes, I did throttle with blades off. Shouldn't I have done that?

Hi Mindy, done the factory reset through DJI assistant, uploaded the new firmware. Same error. Any other suggestions?

Rover

fans92b36800 Posted at 2016-12-6 05:13
Ok Mindy, will do.

and yes, I did throttle with blades off. Shouldn't I have done that?

It definitely doesn't seem like a good idea to run the motors without the props on. The props add resistance to the motor so it spins at the optimum speed, with no props, they spin at full speed and could potentially damage the motors or ESCs, especially with all of the info that these "smart" drones monitor.

When building scratch-built quads, we run the motors up (without props) to check motor direction, but at the minimum speed and only for a few seconds.

FPVJunkie Posted at 2016-12-6 18:59
It definitely doesn't seem like a good idea to run the motors without the props on. The props add resistance to the motor so it spins at the optimum speed, with no props, they spin at full speed and could potentially damage the motors or ESCs, especially with all of the info that these "smart" drones monitor.

When building scratch-built quads, we run the motors up (without props) to check motor direction, but at the minimum speed and only for a few seconds.

I've done it tens of times with the Phantom 3 (and so did my dealer) and never had any issue. But you might be right as I can not think of any other cause. On the other hand one can expect from DJI that with so many failsafe measures, this could/should be one.

Yeah, may I ask why you did it so many times with your Phantom? I could possibly understand with a new drone, making sure everything turns on prior to attaching the blades so it doesn't try to hover with 3 motors and crash.

It likely tripped an ESC over-current warning or something, but with DJI-Mindy's suggestion, I would think it would have reset all the faults.

Have you tried uploading your "flight" logs to healthydrones? You might be able to see exactly what error is occurring to provide additional info to DJI before they tell you just to return it without fully troubleshooting the issue. Would you mind posting them to this thread? I'd be interested to see what types of messages are triggered when the props aren't installed.

The props being off shouldn't have been an issue. It's actually suggested when replacing motors or ESC on the Phantom line of drones.  You have an issue and should contact DJI and send it back.

Testing props and motors is perfectly fine on a Phantom, for those asking. Wind resistance is no different than hovering as a tripod indoors.

@fpv junkie: I have the DJI logs, and the go app was synchronising with HealthyDrones, but somehow HD did not accept the 'flights'. So no other data then the error message itself.

I've made notice to the DJI technical service, maybe they come up with something.

fans92b36800 Posted at 2016-12-7 01:25
Hi Mindy, done the factory reset through DJI assistant, uploaded the new firmware. Same error. Any other suggestions?

Rover

If the error persists, please send it in for further evaluation.
Please send an e-mail to support@dji.com with the following info, the subject should be " Forum support" . We'll help you create a case.
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Hi Mindy, a bit late reply. But the Mavic was accepted as DOA and got a new one in 3 days. Very good service all the way, also from you.

tnx!