The hydrogen fuel cell is not running, or stopped answering
What ArduPilot says:
- Generator: IE using … protocol
- Generator: …
- IE Fuel cell detected, PCM: …, Ver: …, SN: …
- Generator: Not healthy
- Fuel cell: reduced power; conditioning needed?
- Fuel cell error cleared
Also explained here: 1 more
- Status not running
An Intelligent Energy fuel cell (GEN_TYPE 1 or 2) reports its state over a serial port, and ArduPilot arms only while that state is Running. “Generator: Status not running”: it is starting, only on its battery, or in a fault. “Generator: Not healthy”: no valid data for 5 s (repeated every 20 s). “Generator: Starting / Ready / Running / Fault / Battery Only” (and FCPM Off, Stopping, Sleep on the 2.4 kW unit) are state changes. “Fuel cell: reduced power; conditioning needed?” (4.7): the cell says it cannot give full power.
What to do, most likely first
The fuel cell has not been started, or has not finished starting.
FixStart it as its manual says and wait for “Generator: Running” before arming.
The serial link to the fuel cell is down.
CheckThe port needs
SERIALn_PROTOCOL30. A link that works announces the unit once: “IE Fuel cell detected …”.FixCorrect the wiring, and set the port and its baud rate; reboot.
The fuel cell is in a fault, or is running on its battery because the hydrogen is low.
FixCheck the tank pressure and the unit's own fault display; in flight, “Battery Only” or “Fault” means land now.
Parameters to look at
| Parameter | What it is |
|---|---|
GEN_TYPE | Generator type |
SERIAL1_PROTOCOL | Telem1 protocol selection |
SERIAL2_PROTOCOL | Telemetry 2 protocol selection |
SERIAL3_PROTOCOL | Serial 3 (GPS) protocol selection |
SERIAL4_PROTOCOL | Serial4 protocol selection |
The code that sends it
Generator: IE using … protocol
libraries/AP_Generator/AP_Generator_IE_2400.cpp AP_Generator_IE_2400::assign_measurements() · Open in ArduPilot Copter-4.7.1
Generator: …
libraries/AP_Generator/AP_Generator_IE_2400.cpp AP_Generator_IE_2400::update_state_msg() · Open in ArduPilot Copter-4.7.1
libraries/AP_Generator/AP_Generator_IE_FuelCell.cpp AP_Generator_IE_FuelCell::update_state_msg() · Open in ArduPilot Copter-4.7.1
IE Fuel cell detected, PCM: …, Ver: …, SN: …
libraries/AP_Generator/AP_Generator_IE_2400.cpp AP_Generator_IE_2400::assign_measurements() · Open in ArduPilot Copter-4.7.1
Generator: Not healthy
libraries/AP_Generator/AP_Generator_IE_FuelCell.cpp AP_Generator_IE_FuelCell::check_status() · Open in ArduPilot Copter-4.7.1
And 3 more messages, sent from the same places.