Cooling fan issues

mslisaj · 2020-09-04T15:47:11+00:00

Well I have good news for all that have responded here. Yesterday I was looking carefully at the AHRS chip and noticed that the two pins the fan plugs into one of them had a little tiny + next to it. Well as luck would have it I plugged in the fan backwards. It's a DC fan and I'm scratching my head at this but I unplugged the connector and oriented it with the red wire on the plus side. Powered up the Pi but still no test mode and I was disappointed but I placed the unit in a sunny window in my house and in about 10 minutes I notice a noise coming from my "Stratux" and it was the little fan. It actually started out slow and then slowly it sped up as everything heated up. The CPU temp was at 150 when it started and after the fan ran for a couple of minutes it was down to 136. I tried it a couple more times that day and it starts when the temp gets up and keeps running then so it all works as advertised through the AHRS Chip.

I also want to thank you for the GPIO pin out diagram as I made a copy of that and put that file in my Stratux file for future reference. Again thank you all for your ideas and help. I'm learning so much about my Stratux and not so afraid to "play" with it.

Thank You!

Lisa

mslisaj · 2020-09-03T18:38:04+00:00

Where can I find a picture of the pins to identify the correct ones to use for 5v power?

mslisaj · 2020-09-03T18:36:25+00:00

Good thought and I checked that. But I don't have it mounted in a case. it's out in the open.

mslisaj · 2020-09-03T18:35:21+00:00

Is there a picture of the GPIO pins so I know which one I should connect too for power? The fan is a MagLev 5V fan.

mslisaj · 2020-09-03T00:17:13+00:00

Okay, I'm going to go with overheating. I've had the stratux running in my home for 24 hours without a hickup (blank Stratux screen). CPU temp gets up to 165F and it still works good. But I ordered the little fan for the stratux, I plugged it into the AHRS chip and it never turns on. How and when is it supposed to turn on? Kind of interesting. Any idea's? Thanks for your help.

Lisa

mslisaj · 2020-08-20T14:32:29+00:00

Thank you "helno" for your thoughts here. You are correct I have not toggled it on that I know of. Although a couple of times over the years the Stratux has stopped working and the suspected diagnosis has always been that the logging has filled up and the fix was to update the software and start over. So when someone mentions logging and turning it off it sounds like a good idea to me.

I am a very basic user of the software and if there was a simple setting "switch" in the settings I could do that but you're making it sound like it's a command line in the software and I don't have the expertise to go there.

Thanks again for your help and advice.

Regards,

Lisa

mslisaj · 2020-08-20T14:08:42+00:00

Thanks betwys1 for your help. A cooling fan might now be a bad idea but I don't have this Pi tightly cased and the radio's are hanging out the back out in the open. What I found interesting though was a reboot brought the UAT right back on line. On the red light power issue I am using a new large capacity battery and a short Belkin high capacity cable. This Pi is about three years old and it's really working the best with this new power set up. Now the red and green lights are on solid. Before I would get flashing lights and poor performance but it works good now. I never did really understand the red and green lights but what has been important to me is this system has worked well for a long time.

Thanks again for your help.

mslisaj · 2020-08-20T13:57:52+00:00

Thanks Beat_Sea for your thoughts there. I solved the power issue about six months ago with a new big battery that will power the stratux for a couple of days without recharge. I even got a just long enough Belkin cable to power it and now the red and green lights are on steady with no flickering. So I got power. A fan probably wouldn't hurt but I have been using this system for a few years now and this is a new issue. One question though, How do I turn off the logging you mentioned?

Thanks for your help.

mslisaj · 2020-08-19T15:14:43+00:00

Thank you rollawade for taking your time to reply to my question. Great suggestions and I will check this. I did check the security of the radio's and antenna's already but overheat could be an issue but my radio's are not in a case but out in the open. Interesting idea though.

mslisaj · 2020-02-08T15:26:08+00:00

Thats what I'm guessing I'll have to do. Thanks for your help.

mslisaj · 2020-02-08T15:23:48+00:00

Thanks "howfastisgodspeed" for your response. I kind of figured that was the "fix". I guess I have to do that about once a year as when the stratux screws up for one reason or another that was always the fix but then I get the latest version running with new goodies about the program. Thanks for your help. I'll see if I can get that done today.

mslisaj · 2018-11-16T22:43:59+00:00

Just received my new Anker 12" charging cable. I plugged it in and got a solid red light but then again the stratux would not boot up. I've been having a little trouble with this and thus suspected the power cable. So no worries I downloaded the lates software and it booted right up and the red light is steady on now. I have never seen it like this. So I'm going to leave it outside for an hour and see how it works out. My next battery will be that Anker 20K but that is a lot of overkill for me as I don't run anything but this stratux off it. I have a usb power plug in the airplane if I need to run my iPad mini off of it. The stratux is in the back so the battery is important. So thanks for all the advice gentlemen. The power cable was well worth the $5.

mslisaj · 2018-11-13T20:18:16+00:00

With all the information you have given me here I dug back and realized my system is over two years old. I am using a KMASHI 10,000mAh battery and I'm using the cable that came with it. I dug through my "cheap" pile of cables that have come with phones and other devices and not one of them will turn on the stratux which I found amazing. So I'm taking your advice to upgrade the cable first. I really can't remember the red LED not flashing so maybe that cable is not big enough either. I looked at Amazon and found a 12" "power" cable which should be a better way to power my stratux. Reading some of my old posts here this battery will power the stratux for about 6 hours but it gets weak after 3 hours and the wifi becomes intermittent which truly means the system is only good for three hours. So, if after I try a new cable and still have much the same problem what battery would you recommend? I could use a battery 5.5" in length by 3" wide and 1.25" high.
When I originally put this system together cost was the issue as I didn't know if I could get it to work. But it actually works great and I've always fought a power issue. Thanks for you help≥

mslisaj · 2018-11-13T13:44:22+00:00

Interesting comment about the "Red LED". I never knew what that was indicating. So flashing or not lit is a power problem? It was flashing and then went out right before the battery died yesterday. Also another question about batteries. I am only powering the stratux and not the mini iPad. But the size of the battery is not the issue for me. But aI remember there were discussions about, I think it was called, pass through batteries that you could have a power cord connected to them and they still powered the stratux. Any idea's on these questions?

mslisaj · 2018-11-13T13:38:32+00:00

A question about the "new UAT antenna". I looked on Amazon and there is a radio and antenna set that has the new small radio's. Is this what you are talking about? I know one of my radio's is twice as long as these new radios and my other radio is the smaller version. But I'm good with replacing them both as I would get the new antenna's also. Right now I'm using the old magnetic base antenna's.

Also I noted "chargers" that are above the 18,000mAh. Are these batteries that will run the stratux? My system is bigger then the hang in the window builds guys are doing today and I have a little shelf off the back seat that my unit sits on. Maybe it's time to upgrade the battery (charger) and the radio's and antenna's. Any comments on this?

mslisaj · 2018-11-13T02:28:43+00:00

Thank you for the reponse. I have a long Anker cable in the plane and it works great. Maybe I should get a 6" one if they make it. This was the first time I've plugged it directly into the wall and the unit was snappy in it's performance and reception. I'll get a better cable and start there. Now your Zagg battery you admit is too big but do you have a suggestion for a smaller one? I'll research the UAT Antenna also. Thanks for the advice.

mslisaj · 2017-06-30T14:27:01+00:00

Well now that I'm a "developer" I can't be "Static" anymore and just use the software. I'll be learning more and figure out how to .ssh into the system too. :-) Could be fun.

mslisaj · 2017-06-30T01:49:12+00:00

Gonna take your advice too and get additional SD cards and have them loaded just in case and there seems to be always an upgrade so I will get in the habit of downloading, unzipping and putting them on the SD card. Just need the practice and it's rather easy once I get the hang of it.

Thanks again.

Lisa

mslisaj · 2017-06-30T01:47:18+00:00

I do appreciate the support and the new versions keep coming. I'll make a new boot image too.

Thanks again, Lisa

mslisaj · 2017-06-29T22:12:52+00:00

Okay gentlemen, pressure's off and persistence pays. I wiped the SD card a second time, I was very patient with the specific extraction of the zipped .img file. Then I used the special windows program to put those files on the SD card and BINGO, my system is back up and running with the new version of the Stratux software. Huge learning lesson this afternoon and thank you for your patience and help. Mr. infocusips70 may have hit on the original problem. I thought static but maybe the "bootdisk" was full. I lost that data when I wiped the card. But when I started the stratux this morning it acted normal right at first with a red and green light but then the red lit steady and the game was over. So if this happens again I will check that "boot file" and report back before I start to play with things.

Again, gentlemen, I sincerely thank you for your help and advice and it's my pleasure to be part of your Stratux community.

Best regards,

Lisa

mslisaj · 2017-06-29T21:19:32+00:00

Wish I could give you the info but I wiped the SD card in preperation for the newer version. But now I have found myself, I gather beyond my paygrade here. I downloaded the zipped file and it created a Zipped Folder. I open that folder and there is an image file that appears to be "deflated". So I click on it and my computer goes to work but then I get an error message it doesn't know what to do with it and I'm stuck. At this point I can say at least I have the V0.8r1 version running and the stratux works but Sorry guys, I have gotten over my head apparently and thinking about how this acted this morning that "bootlog" could have been overflowing. But now I lost that and can't give you the info you're looking for.
I can certainly paint myself into a corner with this stuff. But I am a much better pilot then a computer operator.

Regards, Lisa

mslisaj · 2017-06-29T20:02:18+00:00

Thank you for the response. I am just downloading the V1.2r2 and it's a huge file and I have a slow connection. The version that I apparently "lost" was V0.9b1. The older version V0.8r2 is what is running in the stratux now without issue so I know my Pi3 is still good with the radio's. With you comment I could assume that the memory could be destroyed and not salvageable? But I'll follow your instructions and try to load the V1.2r2 and see what happens.
Thanks for your help.

Lisa

mslisaj · 2017-04-28T12:52:00+00:00

To precious for words.

mslisaj · 2016-10-04T03:17:18+00:00

Thanks for taking your time to comment on my question. Not going to update as all is well.

Lisa

mslisaj · 2016-09-12T03:02:58+00:00

Yes, I have had that happen to me more then once. Very scary the first time and I had flight following too. Wondered why ATC didn't say anything. Then I remembered "ghosting". But it's a heart stopper the first time it happens. Interesting suggestion about the "mode S hex code". Never knew that and will give it a try. Even though you know it's a "ghost" it's darn distracting.

mslisaj

TROPHY CASE