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Drone Authority

FPV workshop · Diagnose

Name the symptom before replacing the part

A bound receiver can still have no UART path. A live camera can still have no OSD path. Start with the evidence and change one variable at a time.

FPV aircraft opened for diagnosis on a workbenchOBSERVE · ISOLATE · PROVE

Symptom desk

Start with what the aircraft is doing

Choose the visible symptom. Run one test at a time and keep the evidence from each step.

12 symptoms

Power path

Nothing powers from the flight battery

Stop first: Disconnect immediately if anything heats, smokes, smells sharp, or the smoke stopper trips. Do not keep cycling power to find the hot part.

  1. 01

    Remove every propeller and disconnect the battery

    Bench diagnosis starts with no source of thrust and no live soldering.

  2. 02

    Measure battery voltage at the XT60

    A valid pack moves the fault downstream. A low, damaged, or imbalanced pack leaves the aircraft out of the test.

  3. 03

    Inspect XT60 polarity, solder joints, and capacitor

    Reversed polarity, a fractured lead, or a solder bridge is a stop condition.

  4. 04

    Check continuity across BAT+ and BAT- before repowering

    A persistent low-resistance path needs component-level inspection before power.

  5. 05

    Use a current-limited smoke stopper for the next power-up

    If it holds, measure ESC battery voltage and each documented BEC rail in order.

Likely branches

  • •Battery or connector fault
  • •Broken XT60 lead or cold solder joint
  • •Shorted ESC or accessory
  • •Incorrect capacitor or lead polarity

Continue with evidence

Read LiPo and charging safetyOfficial reference: Betaflight safety
After the fault is isolatedRepair, test, and read blackbox evidenceNeed the original signal path?Return to the versioned Build Lab

Diagnosis and repair involve electrical, battery, soldering, and propeller hazards. Remove every propeller before bench work. Disconnect power before continuity or resistance measurements. Stop when components heat, smoke, smell abnormal, or do not match the exact manual. This reference cannot inspect your aircraft or establish that it is safe to fly.