Hello

I am Ebin from Cochin, Kerala.

This is my first post in this forum and I hope I am posting it in the right secition. I went through the links but I could not find a specific place to post issues regarding a particular model.

I have been flying RC helicopter for the past two years [only 3channel chinese helicopter] and recently I bought Silverlit Space Pheonix RC helicopter from Singapore - Changi airport. I was very excited as I got this one for 2500INR equivalent and was happy that I got a good deal.

I reached India with in hours after I bought the helicopter and I put in charge [around one hour] and found that and it doesn't fly well ! It shows a lack of power and does not simply take off from the ground, instead it just wanders on the floor unstable. I was told by some of my friends that the first charge time is 3 hours...but even after that its the same. The helicopter has "lack of power" to gain altitude. But it lifts of from the ground...may be 5 cms...thats it

I charge it for 30 minutes and when I try to fly it shows lack of power to fly up and it just wanders here and there on the floor. The manual says there is a green light on the helicopter while it charges...I don't see on the helicopter, but I see on the remote.

I contacted the Silverlite dealer in India  but they have limited help because I directly bought this from Singapore. When I contacted the dealer in Singapore they asked me to send it back to them so they can inspect it [which I will not as the shipping is higher than the cost of the helicopter] or go to Singapore with the helicopter !

I found a local guy who fixes all these RC helicopters and gave it to him. He opened it and told me that the batteries were dried may be due to a fact that the helicopter was lying in the airport for a long time. We replaced the batteries with new ones but the same issue is still there.

I am out of options now and the helicopter is just sitting at home. I am frustrated that I lost my money and I cant fly the helicopter.

I have attached two images of my helicopter.

Any help on this would be appreciated.

Unfortunately this turned out to be another case of not doing enough research and spending 50% money on a model that does not really work, instead of getting a proper model with parts support for 100% money.  What happens is that you spend the 50%, it does not work, and invariably you end up spending the 100% later on, taking the total cost to 150% !

Look at the reviews of the item... overwhelmingly negative ! 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B004PEHLF4

If you have verified the battery, and you have no added weight on the model, then there may not be much left to be tried   Unlike other proper models, it is not easy to try alternate motors etc in these models.

I would say do a bit of research, and get a better model, even if it is 3 channel.

Trying a loooooooooooooooong shot here, assuming that you've not tried this already. I've had this problem with a 9098 Micro Heli and this is how I solved it. On my Tx there is a Rotary Knob for adjustments. Sometimes in transportation, this knob accidentally  gets turned clockwise or anti clockwise and the Heli just refuses to lift off. Once I adjust it, everything works fine.

I am attaching 2 pictures. One of my TX and one of yours. Both the rotary knobs are marked. After charging the model, switch everything on and give it a full throttle. Now turn the knob clockwise or anti and pray!

All the best.

I've gone through the negative reports on Amazon, nowhere do they say that the model does not even lift off. They are talking about it being uncontrollable in flight and that is a different story altogether. Here it seems to be a calibration / charging error that is causing the model to be a non lifter.

It just speaks in general of how the model has worked for them.  Seems like all but one are bad reviews, that says something.

Even if it lifted off, what is the point if the first hit takes out something ?  The tilt rotor mechanism on these dual copters seems like a bad idea on these flimsy models.

I hope some kind of knob exists that helps with the situation... although I would expect the owner to have tried such obvious items already.

Quote from: anwar on June 18, 2012, 09:52:04 PM
I would say do a bit of research, and get a better model, even if it is 3 channel.

Dear Anwar,

Thanks for the response. I had a good impression of Silverlit helicopters and I still believe they make good quality helicopters. I did go through the reviews and also few videos on youtube. Yes, there is a mixed bag of negative and positive reviews.

Lessons learned :

1)Give a good research before buying a RC helicopter.

2)Never buy a RC helicopter from Airports as they must be in the shelves for a long period of time and the battery will dry out or leak.

Quote from: VC on June 18, 2012, 10:51:12 PM
Once I adjust it, everything works fine.

Dear VC

Thanks for posting the picture and I really appreciate that. This helicopter has two trims and yes, the knob you mentioned controls the rotor rpm and it increases or decreases the rpm.

I tried all that and turned the trim knob clock and anti clockwise and its changes the rpm higher or lower. Doesnt make a difference in the lifting even though the rpm increases.

If fully charged [30 mins plugged in + green charging light goes off] the helicopter can fly for less than one minute if i lift it with my hand..it will climb up too.....but with in one minute the power drops and the heli eventually lands on its own...even on full throttle. I believe its something bad with the battery or the charging mechanism.

Try this last trick:

Completely drain out the battery by applying throttle till the props stop spinning and come to a complete halt. Now put it back on charge. Let it charge for an hour and then try flying it. It could also be a slipping gear pinion, but then you will have to take it apart to rectify that.

Did that last week. Stuck the throttle stick with a heavy bag and drained the battery off...took about 6 to 7 minutes. Charged with the USB cable from computer...may be like 45 mins or more becase the charge light on USB cable stopped.

Same case. No change.

Now I am wondering about "slipping gear pinion". No idea what that is, but I am going to open the heli this weekend. Will post the pictures.

The prop is connected to a shaft. On the other end of the shaft is a gear. The driving motor shaft also has a gear. These two gears mate and make the shaft,therefore, the prop spin. Either of these gears may have come loose from the prop shat or motor shaft.

Quote from: ebinmoothedam on June 19, 2012, 10:41:26 AM
I believe its something bad with the battery or the charging mechanism.

That really indicates a battery problem. But we discounted it initially since you said you already replaced them. So, for clarification, did you replace the battery that is on the heli and the new one also exhibits the same problem ?

[Admin Note] Unnecessary quote of just prior post removed. Please use "Reply" (or the "Quick Reply" box at the bottom) instead of using "Quote" while responding to the last post in a thread.

Replaced the old battery with new new one. That is why I said I have a doubt in the recharging mechanism. That directs me to the internal motherboard of the helicopter.

I have decided to open up the helicopter and check the gear wheels as mentioned by VC. I do not know how to check if the recharge mechanism has an issue.

post a video of what's happening might make it more clear

If it is a charging problem, you may be able to confirm it by looking at the output voltage of the battery VERY CAREFULLY using a multimeter.  Your electronics repair friend should be able to help make that assessment.

Dear All,

As suggested I made video of the helicopter. The heli is on full charge.


1. Helicopter in still mode.

I give full throttle. But it doesn't lift off ...but just hovers a little above the floor. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZePLALlT2A&feature=youtu.be

2. Power loss while in flight.

Its me flying the heli and capturing the video..only two hands    anyways you can see the heli slowly climbing down even though the throttle is full. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA7TdjL6IdQ&feature=youtu.be

3. Full throttle remote control view + heli hovering 

I give quick full throttle but the heli simply hovers 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3NPX0tV9Ak&feature=youtu.be



Any suggestions would be appreciated. I am going to open the helicopter again this weekend and see the gear wheels have any issues as suggested by VC.

Thank you all

Before opening the same please look at the Tx circuit or If matched with similar Heli Tx.
Look, All IR Device work on IR Modules that work in different frequency band just like our FM Tx channels. So, any other IR Tx might work and/or might not.

If By Chance any one found matched and you get it, it might be a Tx Problem.
The throttle pulse width wont goes upto limit for
1. Bad Soldering joint making resistance.
2. High POT Resistance.
3. Broken POT in Adjustment POT.
4. Any faulty Capacitor for time constant.
And for other reason too...

And please check after disconnecting the LED Lights on Ship/Heli if availabe to supply more current in motors. And as you opened the receiver/ESC PCB, please check for any leaky cylindrical capacitor and you can sense by touching if it gone hot during charging/running even in zero throttle condition. Just replace it. as it eats currents required for motor.

HOWEVER THIS IS A CRITICAL PROBLEM  as we wont see it, and Patience required to solve it. However, as you love the model, it should be solved.

Dear KALYANPRODHAN

Thanks for the response.

I do not have a similar tx but I tried my old tx but it didnt work. I assume the frequency is different ?

This helicopter has two separate motors for each of the rotor unit. So I may be there is some issue with the current rating.

Also now I doubt the throttle pulse width. It can be a possibility but I assume I will need an oscilloscope !

I will open up the tx also and check your suggestions.

Thanks,

This is a common problem with these helis.
It happened to me on my first Heli as well, which surely was not an expensive model.

The problem that I have been able to figure out is that these mostly have NiCd batteries, which need constant current chargers to charge well. The chargers on the other hand are simple transformer based supplies, without a current regulator, often with low output voltages just to ensure the batteries are not vented during charge. Over a period of time, the batteries degrade and cannot provide enough current to the inrunner DC motors inside these helis and the chopper never takes off, just hovers above the ground and then later only sits like a duck with the props going on.

Besides the tech stuff, this is what you can do....
1. Get hold of a similar voltage LiPo (mostly a 7.4 v (2S)) fit it into the heli, tie the heli to the ground, move away your face and give it full throttle. If it powers up well and wants to fly, you know the battery is gone. Note that you might not be able to simply replace your current battery with the LiPo as it may unbalance the chpper's CG

2. Charge your nicd with adequate current *once*...and see if it works. Adequate current will depend on the specs of your battery. You will have to post them. If you charge it with a high current there is a chance of the battery being recovered, but its typically very less so mostly a new battery is what you will have to go for.

For 1. do not forget to match the voltage. very important you run it on the same voltage as your current battery

All,

Fixed the issue !!! A BIG THANKS TO VC FOR HELPING ME. I OWE YOU ONE ! 

It was the issue with the trim knob and it was not set in the optimum position. Well now it is ! Also this particular helicopter climbs up exponentially...means...the initial climb rate is slow and it just shoots up once it gains..err.. "momentum ?" 

Anyways I am too happy now...I am going back to fly the heli....

Thanks again VC !

Glad I could be of help. Happy flying my friend!



P.s. Sometimes in life seemingly complex problems, have very simple solutions.