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-   -   Vertical Power VP200 CU failures (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=130186)

cjensen 01-28-2016 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex48 (Post 1049310)
<snip>Talk to Chad and he seems to be familiar with the flap problem, if the board was a specific serial number then they would swap the board. <snip>

This is incorrect...we have seen a rare issue that has to do with a particular flap controller. It has nothing to do with specific serial numbers.

Warranty on any VPX is from the date of purchase, whether from the old Vertical Power company, or from Ballard Technology. Nothing new or out of the ordinary here.

However, I am very interested in Alex's questions at the end of his post, specifically hours flown.

Cheers,

alex48 02-07-2016 10:34 AM

The right thing
 
The hours flown in aircraft as of today 5.2. I did have a fellow builder stop by and he has flown over 200 hours using VPX and has no problems. Mine was definitely defective from the beginning but I could not recognize the problem. I kept thinking that it was the potentiometer (sends flap position info back to VPX) causing the problem so I kept adjusting the position on the VPX, eventually damaging the unit.
At the end the company came about and issued credit for $350. For future builders you can get the wiring kit first, run all your wires and then buy the VPX. This way it would be under warranty on your first flight.
Received the unit today can't wait to install and fly the plane.
As far as support from the company, I can't say more about Chad, he is a super guy and offers outstanding support.:)

cjensen 02-08-2016 09:46 AM

Thank you Alex! I'm really happy with the outcome, and I appreciate the feedback!

Guilhermepilot 02-08-2016 09:56 AM

I would never give up my CB's to put this stuff, it is expensive, unreliable! We are flying nice and simple machines, keep it simple.

Auburntsts 02-08-2016 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guilhermepilot (Post 1052183)
I would never give up my CB's to put this stuff, it is expensive, unreliable! We are flying nice and simple machines, keep it simple.

To each his own. However, to say it's unreliable is a bit of a stretch IMO. Also a VP200 is way more than just electronic CBs. Switching it out for analog CBs is way more complicated than you make it out to be.

ccrawford 02-08-2016 02:08 PM

I wonder if Ballard would be interested in releasing the software source code for the VP units under a GPL license. It sure would be nice for the community to be able to support itself on the software side.

They could even release the schematics for the boards under an open source license and let us get our own boards made (or even modified!) so we can keep the systems flying.

rleffler 02-08-2016 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccrawford (Post 1052262)
I wonder if Ballard would be interested in releasing the software source code for the VP units under a GPL license. It sure would be nice for the community to be able to support itself on the software side.

They could even release the schematics for the boards under an open source license and let us get our own boards made (or even modified!) so we can keep the systems flying.

That's assuming that the code for the vp-200 is owned by Ballard. I suspect it may not be.

SMO 02-08-2016 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccrawford (Post 1052262)
I wonder if Ballard would be interested in releasing the software source code for the VP units under a GPL license. It sure would be nice for the community to be able to support itself on the software side.

They could even release the schematics for the boards under an open source license and let us get our own boards made (or even modified!) so we can keep the systems flying.

I have discussed this with Chad, initial answer was "maybe" under the terms of an NDA, however we have not gotten a "yes" yet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rleffler (Post 1052305)
That's assuming that the code for the vp-200 is owned by Ballard. I suspect it may not be.

Astronics Ballard Technology is the organization that would need to release the Intellectual Property.

cjensen 02-10-2016 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMO (Post 1052349)
I have discussed this with Chad, initial answer was "maybe" under the terms of an NDA, however we have not gotten a "yes" yet.



Astronics Ballard Technology is the organization that would need to release the Intellectual Property.

This is still an open discussion internally...I still have your email in my inbox Mark. Priority hasn't been with this at Ballard, but it isn't forgotten.


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