This may be the most common question I see asked about multirotors, so clearly it’s one that deserves an explanation. Why do your quadcopter motors spin faster and slower when you arm the copter with the props off? Or sometimes, two motors spin faster and two motors spin slower? This phenomenon happens in Cleanflight, Betaflight, and probably KISS and Raceflight too (although I can’t confirm it).
Here’s the answer.
The answer is that the PID controller is trying to compensate for the random vibrations that are coming from the motors. Since the motors don’t have props on, the PID controller can’t have any effect. Since it’s having no effect, it keeps trying harder and harder (the motors spin faster). This creates a feedback loop which results in the motors spinning up and up.
What should you do when this happens? I’ll tell you in this video.
PS: Since I know you’re going to ask, the copter in the video is the Holybro Shuriken X1.
Related Posts
Emax Tiny Hawk FPV acro racing.
3D printed 4 inch fredstyle drone (flight)
Rake kills a fire drone, a breakdown
Weekly FPV Drone Racing Video
Great info! I learned something!
Hi Joshua, thanks for doing all the videos.
Although your answer is correct, it is not complete. While it is true that the motors spin up because the PID controller is reacting to noise, it is not strictly speaking the PID controller, rather it is the I-part of the PID controller. Motor spin up is a form of “drift” and when you integrate noise, you get drift. You can demonstrate this by setting all your I-terms to zero – if you do this you won’t get motor spinup.
Nice vid, Just like my father used to say: Learn everyday, die stupid. I just put a X210 together (my first racer with a BetaFLight) and this is exactly what I was experiencing. I was ready to take it for a maiden but was worried that it might flip out due to the motors spooling up all the way to the max without my input. Thank you Joshua, my mind is at ease… I will take her to the skies!!!
Dont forget about the effect of having airmode enabled. The FC will read a slight stick input and offset the throttle accordingly (all be it momentarily) which will exaggerate this effect.
lol
Hey Joshua good video but FYI… I did two builds using betaflight 301 with air mode but while I’m flying the motors started to increase speed and I could not control the throttle but everything else was fine. So I reprogram the quads and I took off air mode and the problem was gone. Then I put air mode back and it did it again. I think their is a bug in bf301. Have you come across with this issue? Thanks for the videos 🙂
Hi Josh. I had the same issue when building my qav210 and after lots of googling figured out this was my issue.
However after I finished the set up I took it out with props on and noticed that once I armed it and slightly throttled up, if I didn’t take off straight away the same thing would happen even though I had props on.
The quad flys fine (should probably read crashes fine. I’m not very good). So is it something I should worry about or just make sure I go into a hover straight away after throttling up?
Cheers
And the end points and Trims? Sometimes if the channels aren’t at 1500 on center will make the pid loop tried to compensate more and more.
I’ve recently read about soft mounting motors should help with some oscillations. Can you make a video about it?
Hey Josh, thanks for making these videos, i’ve watched all the ones relating to the eachine wizard and betaflight. Could I pick your brains for a minute?
I ordered 2 wizards both RTF, one of them has this motor issue but when the props are on, the other one does not show any LED’s on the bottom and i’m not getting any power to my reciever. Could it be a FC issue or PDB?
Interesting…now what might cause the same behavior even with props on?
Hi … You are doing a great job, it helps a lot of enthusiasts!
searching your video list for a video that could help me solve my problem, I came across this video which is very reminiscent of my problem!
My drone behaves exactly as I try to lift it up! Engines start to spin at just faster and faster speeds and Quadcopter is very unstable (rocking)
Components FC-CLraicing f4 V1.6 ESC-BLheli 12A
Motors-DYS be1806-2300kv
ESC / Motor Protocol- Oneshot125
ESC-calibrated!
also watched
And many more!
wouldn’t you please tell me the approximate settings from where i should start tuning!
I’m a beginner and still have a hard time understanding it!
Thank you AGAIN Mr Bardwell for helping the insecure me belive 😀
You know you’re a noob when you need to watch this video!
Thanks for all the videos you put out for us. My problem is this is happening even with props on. It idles smooth as glass and steady. But the second your give it more than half throttle or move the quad in any direction..the motors ramp up to almost full then torques and dies. Rearm. Smooth as butter. Throttle. GOING HAYWIRE! any suggestions?
All routes lead to JB. My newb nerves and insecurities settled once again. Thank you.
Thanks! yep it works… LOL
dear sir
I am making a drone with 4 motors with KK 2.15 flight controller and three motors are running at good speed but one motor that is starting motor is running at more than speed how can I control the speed of first motor please help me sir
My motors still spin with the pros on ??♂️.. I will need to check polarity and prop placement.
2/4 of blades of my copter kept on spinning until i pulled my baterries off. what should i do?
Does it work with Arduino multiwii 2.4
What about when the props are installed, quad is held down to work bench with your hand or straps. In acro or air more, which ever you want to call it, after throttling up then back down to 0 throttle, the motors are still spinning near full speed. DOES NOT do it in stability or horizon mode, acts completely normal to throttle input.
I have a problem. One of the motor spins even it is not armed and spins when armed only when the throttle is zero. When the throttle is incresed this motor stops. Could you please suggest a solution for this?
That makes completely sense now.. LOL thanks buddy, you help me at 2010 <- new drone pilot.
hello my friend..any idea about this problem ?
Thank you thia does help. Only diff is mine speed up super fast like crazy fast but ill try what you said thank you so much your videos are the only thing on here that help me. I will let you know back that your right. Lololol
THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL FOR STARTER
THANKS
I GOT MINE AND BENCH TESTING IT WITH OUT PROPS
EXACTLY HAPPENS YOU HAVE EXPLAINED
WHEN I ARMED FIRST TIME DRONE JUMPS INTO 5 OR MAYBE 3 FEET THEN I UNARMED IT
THAT WAS SCARY !
IT WAS SO QUICK MAN THAT WAS COOL TOO ?
IS THAT OKAY OR ANYTHING IS WRONG ?
WAITING FOR YOUR REPLY
TO GET IN AIR
DRONE IS EMAX HAWK SPORT 5 INCH
OMG do you know how many hours I’ve spent wrestling with this,why didn’t I watch your videos. Ok I’m going to unplug all of these coptor plugs and watching everything you’ve published on line. good lord I need a helmit and a cork to put on my fork I am officially mentally handycapped…..Oh thank you Mr. Bardwell please excuse my frustration.haha
this year 2020, and i say thanks
Hi Joshua, on the bench test I throttle up motor started to spin and go faster and faster that I understand the issue on video. But when I throttle down to zero, motor is still turning as fast as before. It does not calm down.
That is the exact issue I’m discussing.
Thanks man. My new buzz did that and i almost freaked out.
greetings from Poland :):)
Hey there first of all thanks for all infos it realy helpfull. My problem is if u may help, I have just build Eachion Tyro119 drone and connect Flysky i6x transmiter and the İa10b receiver over PPM connection and have done all betaflight settings everything seams fine on beta but vhen ı connect the battery 3s 4s the trottle stucks and motors doesnt stops vhen I pulled down the trottl, I have tried bouth with the props on and without the props all the same reaction. Please help. And also when ı move the roll stic suddenly motors stops suddenly and starts after arming again.
What if I have still that with props ?
Joshua Bardwell
Yes unfortunately I have already seen your video about flip on take off and follow all the instructions and check many many times but but it’s not good ?
All is good when I use the master on betaflight but not when I use my remote
Sorry to say but it is one of those four things. It always is :-/
You are amazing Brother..
Thanks a lot!!
Thanks a lot!!
My throttle does the same but it does it with props too,it has like 5% throttle idle and when i push like 2% it goes full throttle.
Hi Joshua, do you have a video for motors or escs that when you try and take off, it just stays on the ground and sort of wobbles around? It would be amazing if you could reply. I love your videos!
Props on upside down?
hi, so happy you replied! im pretty sure they were on the right way, but i will make sure. thank you so much!
Hey could you help me?
My drones motors will spin (when connected to battery) without me wanting them to and without being connected to a controller.
Thanks
Dude you literally are so right IDK if you say it in this video our your other hundreds but go over everything 10times…. I swore I checked my motor orientation and how my props were set…. Low and behold right when I was ready to say f this Imma give up I released my motors were reversed…. love u dude ur the best
Thankyou!
Also, you can recalibrate the accelerometer on a flat surface just to make sure everything is set, my motors stopped turning immediately.
I been stuck for 3 days I bought a tinyhawk 1s and it was btf I had no clue wot I was doing or buying I got fpv goggles and a controller d8 and it bind I have played with beta flight and only front 2 motors spin I have tried everything my thinking is it think it a plane not quad I checked resistance impedance all seem all ok they all approx the same another weard thing rear to props are side on the board not front or back the esc but one front one back is the back so it must be firmware I’ve updated it out cli mockingbird on it still help anyone know why just front 2 spin not back please I dont want to buy another
My amp2.8 flight controller when i armed then all motor r spining without increase the throtol now how can i stop it.
Thanks, this has answered my question exactly. I will go airborne with my first build tomorrow.
Hello Joshua. First off, I enjoy your videos and you help make sense of things quadcopter related. With that being said I would like to get clarification on the subject. So, when I arm the motors and give a little throttle and then return the throttle all the way back down the motors continue to accelerate on their own if I am correct it is because of the vibrations you spoke of but once I put the propellers back on and lift off the ground it should hover and not shoot to the moon correct?
What if it does exactly that but with props?
Still normal mostly. Can you hover? If so, go fly and don’t worry.
Hi sir thanks for your nice video can you help me with quad after upgrade with 4.1 beta flight if i give full trottle it will not come back to normal idle in other words if you saw in beta flight the 4 motor not the same speed ., Hope to read this ., Your fan
Hey Josh great video keep up the good work
Is it normal when you arm your drone with props the motors start up and they always spin nonstop
And when you try to land the drone jumps up and down from the ground.
Drone tinyhawk 2 rtf kit
And when its upside down the motors go full throttle.
Edit:Fixed it by disabling airmode in configuration tab
Hope it helps!
So helpful thank you so much
I think YouTube is spying on me because I was just talking to my Dad about this problem and it suddenly just popped up on my recommended
Newbie freaking out about motor spin up on the bench and then I watched this. Thank you, I will sleep better tonight and tomorrow I will go hover. 🙂
You are the king. You have the all answers. Thanks.
this is so funny I build my second quadcopter. wanted to put inav on it. dint find the right target on inav but get one working. but testing on a bench this problem came out (wasn’t a problem i learnt now). this behavior dint find on the internet what it was there was noway I put props on that quad. weeks of searching make the decision tro inav of the flight controller put beta on it whit the right target and guess what. nothing change take a look on your cannels and found this video now i feel so stupid
you the man thanks for this video i was feaking out
Several years later and I’m very glad you made this video. Thanks for doing what you do.
I didn’t think I was a newb anymore, but I fell for this newb mistake. This is about the fourth or fifth quad I’ve built, but the first time that this has happened to me.
I had just finished setting up my first Betaflight 4.2 quad and the motor revs would slowly creep out of control once I throttled up on the bench (only when air mode was on). I decided to try with props on, but it was late, and by the morning I was worried about a flyaway and decided to play it safe. I reverted all of my settings, thinking I’d messed something up moving from BF 3.x to 4.2, but the problem wouldn’t go away.
Finally found this video and then went flying :-).
Thanks again.
My first props.on start i tethered it with a metal stiff wire that went though a hole in the center of a bench in case it wasn’t what i guessed it was auto pilot type stuff with no props . It lifted and then the springyness of the stiff wire caused a side to side reaction bouncing and counter swaying . So i took off the tether and it just worked beautifully. But yeah i had my finger on the disarm and no one near in a grass field standing back more than usual just in case it was really a crazy drone .
how do i fix my drone bc when i arm it n give it justice n stop i keeps going none stop
Definitely alot of time
You are the man Josh
But mine doesn’t do that wen I turn iff airmode
Once i turn on airmode it just wants to throttle up crazy
When I arm my quad it goes full throttle very fast. 🙁
Thanks. This video still helping NOOB 4 years later. Thank you.
Thank you thank you thank you in 2020
Thank you Joshua!
Four years later and this video is still helping people!
Helped me today
Thanks for this. I’m new to FPV and I’m sure you’re sick of it, but these silly little things are so frustrating when you don’t even know what they’re called. So thanks for these videos.
I absolutely love no matter what question you have about drones and you type it in to Google, Bardwell has a video on it! You sir are much appreciated.
Well when I throttle all way up or yaw all the way left or right my drone starts beeping what’s that about?
And it’s doing exactly what u just showed. I dont get why my motors are do this and I’ve done everything u mentioned.
Woooow thank you Joshua! I was worried about that!
in the video you didn’t give thortl to the maximum, if I give thortl to the maximum, then this button has no reaction of any kind the drone flies … how do I lower it back …? so .. you push thortl until half is ok .. it reacts back but if I pushed until over half … ready it hurts and thortl doesn’t react anymore … how do I lower it?
THANKS =D
My quad did not throttle down on take off and I had to disarm using switch used air mode in cc3d it fell back to the ground it went 100 feet till I disabled it
fantastic video for a complete novice thank you.
When I give full throttle it’s not rotating all motor what’s the problem
Use the Motors tab sliders to spin the motors. If the motor does not spin then pinch the motor in your fingers and feel the vibration when you plug in the battery. If you feel no beeps then the ESC is dead; if you feel 3 beeps then the ESC works but is not getting signal from the FC; if you feel five beeps then the ESC is working correctly.
It’s beeping 3time but all three motors are not rotating at the same time when I give 40% throttle is this because of acc bubble which is not at center point
Thank you so very much. I was like, “dang, what am I goofing up now?!? Turns out… nothing. I appreciate you.
Im using betaflight i have multiple matak systems fcs that makes the throttle surge on my fcs and wont comunicate to some of my escs for some reason but some other brand fcs i have no issues
Greetings from the Future! thx helped me out in 2020
Thanks ?
I’ll admit it, I am a 20,000 plus hour pro pilot of 40-years flying experience, but without a doubt a total numb-nutts ( ZERO experience) setting up my first programmable drone (A Eachine Cvatar Chinewhoop & all other needed paraphernalia my wife purchased as a gift for me through Joushua’s links) Specifically, it has been a venture into maddening frustration for us from initial Programing the Radiomaster TX16S to binding the drone, to minimally grasping Betaflight to such a point I was and still am afraid to ask any one any further questions (Joshua Bardwell in particular). But single handedly this old video here certainly answers my One question of great concern of what in the world is happening when I flick the arm switch and the motors start running the running away. RECCOMENDATION if you would: I would replace this well described Video with a new one of more depth and in connection to changes to improvements to Betaflight. However, I sincerely appreciate that it is posted. Thanks Very Much. Bob Griffith, Winter Haven, FL
Is this a setting in betaflight and would it be practical to turn it off if there is? I know it’s to help fly it easier but I’d rather be in control of it rather than it speeding up on it’s own.
Thanks Joshua very helpfull
Three or four years later your video has proven to still be a quality answer. Absolutely for me and I’m sure for many others as well.
YAH BUT!…honestly…yah but you didn’t say whether if they race away on you, should you be able to throttle down or will it seem like you have lost complete control of the motors? You just say they will speed up. I arm it, give a little throttle, RPM goes up, I lower the throttle – RPM goes down…up again…away the motors run!!! then I can’t slow them down. I can drop the throttle to zero and It’s like I didn’t give any inputs. Is this what Joshua is talking about? Anyone?
Just answered my question. Thanks!
Dear Joshua, thank you so much. I just started this quad stuf and love it. Your video’s help me so much and are great. I can take my own time to view and stop or test. I have this problem to, with the rotors, you explained and took away the doubt. Love it. Keep up this good work.
Hey don’t know if you have a video for this but when I arm my quad and put it in air/arco mode it jumps off the ground and if I Drop throttle to do any kind of flip it throttles up like a power loop
Thanks man.
thank you
I am getting back into quads after 18 months; and I had this issue. Thanks for the video Joshua!!! Like always…..your support is much appreciated.
2020 and still helping you the man
Then how do the motors spin up without being armed im just wondering because i have this issue only happening with a certain model of fc
Thankyou sir
All of this seems like the issue I’m having except when I ” zero the throttle ” it has no impact on the motors and they continue to ramp up… is this a problem or is this normal behavior. I noticed you could stop your motors from ramping by simply lowering the throttle before disarming but i must disarm my quad to stop the motors from ramping and spinning. i should note its a factory Iflight chimera 7 inch 6s 1300 kv motor quad. So idk if that plays a role in it.
also have Rewatched this many times so i did follow the instructions. 🙁
I’ll be like: I’m not gonna mount props until i solve the problem.. the problem: You don’t have a props..
Thank you M@STER Teacher! ¶ :-)–~
Thank you M@STER Teacher! ¶ :-)–~
Sei un grande 🙂
WoW, thank you for your knowledge and sharing it.
Spent four hours trying to figure this one out….. THANK YOU!
Thanks ? it solved my issue.. I can sleep peacefully now???
4 years later and it helped me. new to FPV. Thanks for the explanation!
Wow! This video saved me some precious sleep time! Without this one I would’ve kept banging my head and reaching for answers all night long. Thank you for explaining!
Omg I was just freaking out lol. I’m new to this and I just killed a battery(6s) running beta flight and biheli setting up my controller switches and checking everything out, so I watched a JB video on charging lipos and I was lucky because I have the Hota d6 pro charger and it charged each cell perfect to 4.2 volts. I will keep an eye on it for a while to make sure its safe(it will sleep out side tonight lol). Then I don’t know why but my quad wouldn’t arm( it was working before the battery died) and the switches worked fine in beta flight, so I watched a JB video and reset all my rxrange parameters in beta flight and now it is arming again( I still don’t know if it was because of the dead battery?). So now I’m happy, until I gave it some throttle and the motors just kept speeding up and I lowered the throttle but it wouldn’t slow down so I had to disarm it( props are off) so now I watched this JB video and like he said you won’t get it completely and he right but I trust him. I haven’t flew my quad yet, I’m still waiting for my V2 goggles to come in, but I will try a line of site flight soon to make sure its ok:) I did buy 90% of all my gear from his links so he would make a little something from the sales it was the least I could do, after all I did learn something today and yesterday and the day before that lol. Keep up the great work JB, I don’t think I would have gotten into this hobby if it wasn’t for you:)P.S. I do love your JB parallel 6s charging board.
Omg I was just freaking out lol. I’m new to this and I just killed a battery(6s) running beta flight and biheli setting up my controller switches and checking everything out, so I watched a JB video on charging lipos and I was lucky because I have the Hota d6 pro charger and it charged each cell perfect to 4.2 volts. I will keep an eye on it for a while to make sure its safe(it will sleep out side tonight lol). Then I don’t know why but my quad wouldn’t arm( it was working before the battery died) and the switches worked fine in beta flight, so I watched a JB video and reset all my rxrange parameters in beta flight and now it is arming again( I still don’t know if it was because of the dead battery?). So now I’m happy, until I gave it some throttle and the motors just kept speeding up and I lowered the throttle but it wouldn’t slow down so I had to disarm it( props are off) so now I watched this JB video and like he said you won’t get it completely and he right but I trust him. I haven’t flew my quad yet, I’m still waiting for my V2 goggles to come in, but I will try a line of site flight soon to make sure its ok:) I did buy 90% of all my gear from his links so he would make a little something from the sales it was the least I could do, after all I did learn something today and yesterday and the day before that lol. Keep up the great work JB, I don’t think I would have gotten into this hobby if it wasn’t for you:)P.S. I do love your JB parallel 6s charging board.
YOU ARE THE GUY…! THANK YOU SO MUCH.!
I am still having this problem and with the props on 🙁
Glad i just found this
Still helping us. Thanks. Cheers!
My quad lifts of the ground, then goes to an infinite throttle and I can control the throttle on my controller. I’ve watched this video and watched the flip on take off all is good. It’s just the fact the throttle seems stuffed
this was so helpful I thinnk I would never finish setting up my drone without this man. Thanks so much Joshua
My quad does this but with the props on. I give it the tiniest bit of throttle and it shoots into the sky uncontrollably and at max power. I’ve flown other racing quads so I know it not overpowered (its just 3s). Any advice please??
Usually this means you set “motors are reversed” in Betaflight but you didn’t actually reverse the motors.
@Joshua Bardwell I’m pretty sure I selected the non reverse function, but I will double check. I’ve just changed the configuration from multishot to dshot600 and it seems to have helped the spin up problem but now it oscillates so much it can’t fly. Would this be really poor PIDs? Also thank you so much for replying
Update: after binge watching your PID videos I finally got it to fly. I think because its a custom frame that isn’t a perfect x shape, the stock PIDs just didn’t work. Thanks!
My. God. I’ve spent ALL DAY on this issue on my first ever build. Even gone through a lot of your tutorials in general about Betaflight, OpenTX, drones in general, etc. Could not solve the issue…until you explained why it was happening. Just tried actually flying it, hovered perfectly and promptly flew it straight into a wall 🙂
haha… I feel so sorry. I also did ask this question. Still the behaviour of my copter differs from this video. But I guess it depends on the model. There should be some sort of demo function in the FC. I mean.. as SO many people asking this, why not changing something? 🙂
I have one which was occasionally behaving just like that WITH the “appearently normal” props on.. it’s not Filiping but went vertically stable until it hit ceiling, or disarmed. It did that when i Throttled up until certain point, it went up u stoppable even if i lowered Throttle. Is it broken FC or something wrong with props/frame ? I noticed that it did that more often when my battery was fully charged. It sometimes jumping when idle, just like props off
I guess I have to go test it, seem like there is no throttle control, the motors don’t feel like they slowly go up or down, two motors will speed up with out me moving the throttle. when they get too high speed even if I turn down my throttle they still go up, bit too scared to test it
Thanks Joshua! I the newb was in beta flight this morning and continually learning getting familiarized, this very topic happened. The main worry was that I would throttle up and then back, but the motors would continue to spin up to near max. I then hooked up another fpv and it happened there too, so I figured there had to be a connection. When I googled this was video was at the top of the results and now don’t feel so worried.
Ok I seem to have the opposite problem.
On beta flight my motors all work fine even with the controller. But when I go outside to fly,if I go above say quarter throttle the thing just hits full throttle an up it goes! I shut the throttle fully an it keeps going for a second or so then the motors throttle down. Can anyone help me with this?
Do I have a faulty flight controller?
It’s a brand new nazgul5 v2 4s
Thanks in advance ?