CGO3+ Gimbal fails after updating firmware to the latest, please help!

Lionheart · Nov 26, 2022

Hi typhoon h fans,

I have updated the firmware to the latest (Gimbal version 1.25). After restarting the drone, the gimbal stopped working.
The camera worked just fine, there are video feed on the ST-16 monitor. but the gimbal has no movement, just hang there from turning on to turning off.

Beep situation: once the drone is turned on, there are three fast beeps from cgo3+, and a pause like 3 sec, and then a melody of three beeps like "1-2-3".
The blinking like: first white steady light, and then read steady light plus yellow blinking light. After that, it's yellow blinking light all the time.

Please help!

Steve Carr · Nov 26, 2022

Which files did you put on the sd card to update the camera?

Lionheart · Nov 26, 2022

Thanks for the reply @Steve Carr. The file name is "TyphoonH_Ver3.04_A.bin".
BTW, I used a 2GB very small sd card according to the instruction. I don't know if this is the cause.

DoomMeister · Nov 26, 2022

What instructions were you following @Lionheart ?

What version were the camera, gimbal, and autopilot at before updating?

What version is displayed for the camera, gimbal, and autopilot since updating?

WTFDproject · Nov 26, 2022

Lionheart said:
I have updated the firmware to the latest (Gimbal version 1.25). After restarting the drone, the gimbal stopped working. ...........Please help!

DoomMeister said:
What version were the camera, gimbal, and autopilot at before updating?

Unfortunately, there are two "latest versions" of the gimbal firmware. And the two versions are not compatible.
Almost all CGo3+ cameras use the Ver 1.25 you loaded. But some few were built with a C23 type IMU and require version 1.27 gimbal firmware. If you can confidently answer the version question asked by @DoomMeister, it would help a lot.
If you are not sure which was the original version, it may be worth it to remove the nose piece or the front camera shell to check which IMU type is installed above the lens. (Sorry about the damaged cameras in the image. It was all I had available.)

If the camera has the Black / Box type IMU and you installed Version 1.25 gimbal firmware, I'm pretty sure it's going to be a problem.

Lionheart · Nov 26, 2022

@WTFDproject @DoomMeister thanks for replying. The thing I regretted most now is that I didn't record the original version. Seems like I have to open the camera housing and check the IMU.

I wonder if mine is black/box IMU and I flashed a V1.25 on it, is there any chance I could make it right? (like re-flash it to 1.27)?

FYI, the instruction I fellow is Jeff's one 5 yr ago:

Lionheart · Nov 27, 2022

Hi @WTFDproject , just as you suspected, it uses black/box IMU (red circle in pic 1) and requires version 1.27. I wonder if you have those firmware files and instruction of how to update it to 1.27? Many thanks!

Also, I'm not quite sure what are those two red/black lines (green circles in pic 2)? Are those mics? I don't know where to place them when I put the housing back, so I just left them there.

h-elsner · Nov 27, 2022

Yes, that are the stereo mics that you can switch on in menu. It belongs to the two holes in the front part of the camera housing.

br HE

WTFDproject · Nov 27, 2022

It's been awhile, and I seem to remember it was a lot harder to fix than it is to break. I will have to try some things before I feel confident enough to speak.
Maybe @h-elsner or someone else may already know the answers?
I don't currently have a functioning CGo3+ with the Black/box IMU. I do think I have enough parts to assemble the important bits. Then I will "break it" in a way to make it as much like yours as possible. That will allow me to experiment with reloading the firmware.

I will try to get something together today or this evening.

Vaklin · Nov 27, 2022

Just swapping to the old IMU will not help, yes?

WTFDproject · Nov 27, 2022

Vaklin said:
Just swapping to the old IMU will not help, yes?

No. If I recall correctly, the IMU temp calibration does not exist in version 1.27, so it is not present when 1.25 is loaded. I'm really not sure. I've got a lot of re-learning to do here.

Vaklin · Nov 27, 2022

Misunderstanding going from my opinion. The broken camera is with 1.25 FW, probably loaded correctly. If the difference in the HW is only the IMU, so we probably add a white one.

h-elsner · Nov 27, 2022

I have never seen a CGO3+ with black-box IMU. Only those with the white PCB equipped with MPU6050.

br HE

Lionheart · Nov 27, 2022

Vaklin said:
Misunderstanding going from my opinion. The broken camera is with 1.25 FW, probably loaded correctly. If the difference in the HW is only the IMU, so we probably add a white one.

HI Vaklin, the firmware works for the camera, only the gimbal stopped working.

Lionheart · Nov 27, 2022

WTFDproject said:
No. If I recall correctly, the IMU temp calibration does not exist in version 1.27, so it is not present when 1.25 is loaded. I'm really not sure. I've got a lot of re-learning to do here.

Thanks a lot @WTFDproject, please take your time. Don't wanna ruin your holiday.

Vaklin · Nov 27, 2022

Lionheart said:
HI Vaklin, the firmware works for the camera, only the gimbal stopped working.

The camera and the gimbal FW are different as they are different devices. You have updated the gimbal with an unsuitable version. Now you have two solutions. To flash the gimbal with the right FW or to try to prepare the hardware under the present firmware. Here we can think to sniff the camera to gimbal communication with the idea to understand the flashing process of the gimbal...

Lionheart · Nov 27, 2022

Vaklin said:
The camera and the gimbal FW are different as they are different devices. You have updated the gimbal with an unsuitable version. Now you have two solutions. To flash the gimbal with the right FW or to try to prepare the hardware under the present firmware. Here we can think to sniff the camera to gimbal communication with the idea to understand the flashing process of the gimbal...

Right now I believe the easier way is to flash the right FW. Unfortunately I cannot find any firmware that have V1.27 in it.

WTFDproject · Nov 27, 2022

All I can offer is a little progress report. I now have a functioning black/box IMU CGo3+ to work with. And had some limited success in duplicating the failure. Installing version 1.25 did kill the gimbal, but it did not produce any beep codes. I also did not find a way to restore version 1.27 using only software available to the general public.
You mentioned not finding a copy of the 1.27 firmware. It is available on John Mitchells Yuneec Skins website, but the firmware itself will not load by itself. I believe it has to be part of an upgrade package that has the needed bootloader software built in. Since there were no later versions made available after the initial version 1.27, there is no upgrade package. I spent a lot of time trying to replace the version 1.25 firmware in the latest upgrade package with the 1.27 firmware. It looks real good but so far doesn't work at all. Will work more on it.
You may wind up sending the camera for repair anyway. I know John Mitchell's shop can do the work. Some other shops, such as Vertigo Drones may also have everything that is needed.
John can be contacted at:

Yuneec CGO3-Plus Camera Repair Estimate Service

CGO3+ Camera Repair Estimate Service. - Shipping Instructions (see Photos): Find a Box Approximately: 8" x 6" x 5". Only Ship your Camera and Camera Cover/Lock, Including All Broken and/or Detached Pieces of Camera. Do Not Include Memory Cards, Cables, Lens Filters or Accessories they will not...

yuneecskins.com

Vaklin · Nov 28, 2022

Reasonable is to try with a "white" IMU on a downgraded gimbal. Doesn't matter it will be not calibrated. If the gimbal starts at least, the calibration is the second stage, which should be possible with less or more effort from the community.

Try this possibility, please. I understand the exact gimbal can not be cured by the owner with this method, but this is a very possible way to repair it for cents, not for $$$.

Lionheart · Nov 28, 2022

Vaklin said:
Reasonable is to try with a "white" IMU on a downgraded gimbal. Doesn't matter it will be not calibrated. If the gimbal starts at least, the calibration is the second stage, which should be possible with less or more effort from the community.

Try this possibility, please. I understand the exact gimbal can not be cured by the owner with this method, but this is a very possible way to repair it for cents, not for $$$.

Hi Vaklin,
Two question: 1. where can I get the white IMU;2. is the IMU plug & play, or I need follow some instructions to replace the old one with new? Thanks!