I just wanted to share with the forum a recent challenge I had with the M3E. I had a good working M3E and used it heavily and then late last year got the "maintenance required" check engine light suggesting it was time for a maintenance service. I sent it in for DJI servicing, and found that just like with the repair service, they actually just send back a replacement drone. I was good with this, and think this is a great way to do it.
Now the replacement drone I put into service in December. Upon using this for jobs, I found a number of "unknown errors" would pop up at very random times, but usually associated with me trying to change from wide to tele, or using hi-res grid shooting, or panos. Error messages always said unknown, and had (0x1C001002) and (0x1C001003). Usually when these would happen the camera would go unresponsive to further commands, I would fly it back, and then sometimes it would start working, other times, had to power down, etc.
At the time, I was not figuring out what was going on, and it was random enough i did not take time to investigate. After finally googling, I found the 1003 error in the SDK, but it was in Chinese only and had no english translation. I translated in Google Translate and it was "camera chip overheated" which totally explains now why it was failiing on some shots. I can especially see panoramas etc where no air is floing through the drone. The interesting thing is that even though i live in a desert climate, I had this starting in December when it can be quite chilly. So long story short, I think I just got a bum unit back from DJI on my maintenance service.
I am already getting it replaced by DJI service using an expresss service, so not worried about the outcome, but just wanted to share in case anyone else gets these unknown errors or camera glitches. My previous M3E definitely did NOT have the same issue even when flying in very warm weather, so I believe this is an isolated failure.
Now the replacement drone I put into service in December. Upon using this for jobs, I found a number of "unknown errors" would pop up at very random times, but usually associated with me trying to change from wide to tele, or using hi-res grid shooting, or panos. Error messages always said unknown, and had (0x1C001002) and (0x1C001003). Usually when these would happen the camera would go unresponsive to further commands, I would fly it back, and then sometimes it would start working, other times, had to power down, etc.
At the time, I was not figuring out what was going on, and it was random enough i did not take time to investigate. After finally googling, I found the 1003 error in the SDK, but it was in Chinese only and had no english translation. I translated in Google Translate and it was "camera chip overheated" which totally explains now why it was failiing on some shots. I can especially see panoramas etc where no air is floing through the drone. The interesting thing is that even though i live in a desert climate, I had this starting in December when it can be quite chilly. So long story short, I think I just got a bum unit back from DJI on my maintenance service.
I am already getting it replaced by DJI service using an expresss service, so not worried about the outcome, but just wanted to share in case anyone else gets these unknown errors or camera glitches. My previous M3E definitely did NOT have the same issue even when flying in very warm weather, so I believe this is an isolated failure.