G-RX8 RX is there an upgrade coming for these soon?

[AussieBob]

G-RX8 RX is there an upgrade coming for these soon?
And when will they be back in stock?
thanks

 

[Wayne]

I really hope that FrSky does fix the polarity issue with these receivers. I am not sure when we will get in our restocking on these. China is still closed for a little bit longer, then a while for shipping to catch back up.

 

[RCdiy]

Could you explain the polarity issue?

 

[AussieBob]

FrSky in their quest to fit an 8 chan rx with vario in small package, left out reverse polarity protection.
I have blown 2 in 2 weeks, both entirely my fault, one I plugged into RX whilst trying to bind, the other when cleaning a wing joiner plug with a knife I shorted the 2 pins.

 

[Konrad]

Help me out. How would polarity protection protect from shorting out (over current) the pins?

But yes, Fr Sky needs to add reverse polarity protection to many products. In the heat of battle I too have been known to plug things in the wrong way around!

I'm such a poster kid for human factors, that once I'd learned of this poor design, I've literally smashed many Fr Sky product on the bench rather than risk a field issue. $10 in hardware is a lot less expensive than a lost day of flying!
https://alofthobbies.com/smart-port-mini-lipo-voltage-sensor.html

All the best,
Konrad

 

[AussieBob]

I Dont know why my RX shorted, I am here seeking answers myself, i just know that I had my glider with RX installed and plugs from ch 1-6. ch 3-6 are for flaps and ailerons, and are connected to the 6 pin connectors in the wing, where I was cleaning out some debris and accidently touched some pins of the connector, I didn't realize the power was still on, and small spark, POOF, no more G-RX8 RX.

 

[Konrad]

Ok, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something about polarity protection. Generally polarity protection will not protect against over current damage. A short usually results in over current damage. I often get lucky and just burn a bus bar trace on the PCB. This can be fixed with a solder bridge across the burned spot. Now if you are unlucky the current rush may have damaged the voltage regulator. To replace that one would need more information about the circuit and board. For $35 it isn't worth trying to find and replace it.

Reverse polarity will often damage the silicon junction of a lot of transistors!
https://alofthobbies.com/frsky-g-rx8.html

 

[AussieBob]

Hello, do you have an updated due date for the G-RX8 receiver to be back in stock yet?
Thanks

 

[Wayne]

Well, I don't have a date for you, but hopefully soon. I do have some great news though, polarity protection is now in place.

 

[AussieBob]

Wow, so the next batch of receivers will have this?

 

[Wayne]

They should.

 

[RCdiy]

Polarity protection - positive negative mistake or ground signal pin mistakes?
A servo lead has positive centered. So I often reversed the ground and signal without smoke.
When you say polarity protection which scenario are you referring to?

 

[AussieBob]

We may need to seek information about the upgrades for clarification.

 

[Konrad]

Having burned up some Fr Sky products. It is the reverse current issue from reversing the power polarity.

Grounding the signal wire may reset some software programing features but does not damage the hardware. In fact this grounding of the signal is what gets many products into programing mode.

 

[Wayne]

This receiver would die when plugged in wrong. Plenty of people have done it. This should not be an issue anymore.

 

[Konrad]

As in grounding the signal pin? Or is it missing the signal pin and with a reversed plug and plugging only the power pins in backwards, reversed polarity. With the free pin (non-housed) RX and other components, I've done this more time than I'd care to admit.

 

[AussieBob]

This is very good news!

 

[RCdiy]

This receiver would die when plugged in wrong. Plenty of people have done it. This should not be an issue anymore.

Which wrong?
Servo wire from BEC wrong way (signal gets grounded)?
+ve -ve from BEC wrong (+ve to -Ve)? Don't how one would do this unless making own BEC servo wires.

 

[Pilotpete]

All too easy with a receiver such as the G-RX8, that has no case. Even with a receiver in a case, if the servo plug is a JR style, rather than a Futaba J, it's all too easy to plug in bassakwards.
I'm very pleased to hear that this issue has been addressed!

 

[Wayne]

Should have them in this week. Yay!