APM 2.6 LiPo Battery Issues

[JAdame]

I am using a LiPo 3 Cell battery and APM 2.6.

When I try to power on the APM using a usb cable, it powers on with the LEDs flashing. When I hook it up to the 3DR power module and the LiPo battery, the LEDs don';t flash and I';m not sure if the APM powered on.

Is there something I';m missing? I heard something about needing JP1 to be soldered to complete the circuit required for the APM to receive power but am unsure.

[apollo7]

If your esc`s have just 2 wires in the little plugs that go to the APM, then you will need a Ubec soldered in place to power the APM

[JAdame]

I read something about having to complete the circuit if I have JP1 open. I have to connect the ESCs to the APM to close the circuit and cause the APM to get power? Can you confirm something like this?

[Powernumpty]

Doing a quick google search..

Jumper JP1 connects the power rails between the sensor ports and the output ports, normally you would not use that if the APM is in any way powered from the ESC output ports.
As said already if you have ESC';s that lack power (two wires only) you will need to supply power to the APM separately.
If you have a spare port on the output just connect a BEC power and ground pins to that.

At a guess the reason JP1 exists is to allow the items on the side ports (including analogue) can have separate power, if you want the power pins across the board to be connected (assuming your supply can handle full load) then JP1 can be fitted. Without JP1 you will need to power the items on the sensor ports separately.

Warning this is a pre morning coffee post.

[JAdame]

My ESCs come with the 3 wires connecting to the motors, a positive red wire and a ground black wire connecting to the batteries, and a signal wire with 3 cables on it (Which I assume are the signal, 5 v, and gnd wires).

So that means I have the three wires and I should do what I said in my previous post?

[orfordness]

If your esc`s have just 2 wires in the little plugs that go to the APM, then you will need a Ubec soldered in place to power the APM

Why would you need a UBEC if he';s using a 3DR power modlue?

When I hook it up to the 3DR power module and the LiPo battery, the LEDs don';t flash and I';m not sure if the APM powered on.

I';d investigate the JP1 jumper if I were you....have you checked that you have 3.3 v coming from the 3DR unit into the APM? its also woth chacking that the connections are correctly wired (Some cheap chinese clones did ship with reversed cables!)

Steve

[pheasant_plucker]

Some APM power modules do not provide power they just monitor volts/Current and feed that information back in to the APM.
You need to have one with the built in UBEC.

Gerry

[JAdame]

This is what I read on the wiki that led me to the ESC thoughts:
Power Module and no servos
•   If you have a power module and you are not using servos.
•   Ensure JP1 is not installed.
•   Provide the necessary power via the power module connected to the APM's power module connector.
•   When connecting your ESCs to the OUTPUT connector clip the BEC power leads on each ESC's 3 wire connector.
•   Or connect only the ESC's signal wires to the OUTPUT connector.

I tested the power module on just the ESCs and they do react to it as they beep when they';re connected. I haven';t tried connecting the ESC to the APM yet though. The ESC come with their own BEC and their signal connector has the signal, 5 v, and gnd wires.

[JAdame]

Just tried it and the APM still won';t power on through the Power Module. I';m thinking it just might be a faulty PM. The ESCs and Motors do get their power from the PM yet the APM never did.