I finally won an eBay auction......BUT!!

[reddeviluk]

Hi Guys, I finally won an eBay auction for my first quad (to learn the ropes), but now I know I';ll need other things, I was wondering if you Guys could have a look and see what';s missing.

I already have a Spektrum DX5e and an OrangeRX Receiver, so that';s covered.....
I also bought a KK2.0 board, but on reading up I think I';ll try the MultiWii board that comes with the quad as it looks to have more features.  Can I get GPS with this particular MultiWii Board?, I think I can, but no clue what to buy to activate it.

Anyway, I know I';ll need batteries, chargers, but other than that I am clueless......Seller mentions a 3s lipo with XT60 connector....

The quad I bought can be found HERE

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151068950661?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Many thanks for any advice offered.

Rich

[guest325]

I couldn';t say for sure but I think you need a programmable Tx such as dx6i or Turnigy 9x for this model, you possibly don';t have enough channels either, it looks a nice model for what you paid for it though!
I';m sure that someone more knowledgeable on this FC will be able to confirm what I';ve said or put you right.

[teslahed]

If the dx5 has 5 channels (2 sticks and a switch) you will be limited to simple flight controllers like the KK2 or basic multiwii without GPS.

You can use the 2 sticks to control the quadcopter and the 1 switch to turn ';something'; on and off where ';something'; is likely to be auto-level. If you want to get GPS and other stuff working (and turning on and off) you';d need more switches. A 6 channel radio is bare minimum really and if you can get 8 that would be better.

[reddeviluk]

Ah yes, I forgot about the channels.  I know the DX5 was very limited when I bought it, but too be honest, I';ve zero hours flight time, so bought it because it was cheap and basic, so I figured I could get used to the controls first before attempting anything else too complex.  Once I';ve got the controls sorted (and I';m a bit more experienced), I will be buying bigger and better, but for now I thought it best to keep it as simple as possible.

So guess the GPS will wait for the meantime, any advice on cheap chargers and powercells?

Cheers,

Rich

[philtrum]

with the multiwii board, you can set your rates and expo curve on the board itself, so you can get away without the tx being programmable, providing its giving enough "servo travel", large enough range/end points to successsfully arm/disarm the quad

I';ve got 7 channels, using 6 at the moment, the normal 4 for flying one for level, one  for gps hold/home with level and alt hold

you could have a gps and switch it on that one switch, but i think level would be more useful for you

my suggestion would be to use the dx5 to get you in the air, then if you want to add gps (which is no were near as good on a multiwii board as on an apm for example) then look to upgrade transmitter and possibly flight controller

for the moment, get yourself setup on the dx5 and multiwii, play, learn, enjoy

PHil

[Leigh]

Welcome to the hobby!  And so begins the fun and madness

In terms of chargers and LiPos, I would recommend you stay away from second hand gear in this regard, as you will have no idea if you are buying someone else';s problems - and with these components, safety is critical - the last thing you want is a LiPo fire in your house.

Some tips I have picked up from others along the way:

- buy new - sourced from a reputable hobby shop locally near you, or alternatively hobbyking and other online shops like it (giantshark, etc) can be a good source.  Shop only at the UK stores if you are in the UK to avoid dissapointment in terms of delivery times.

- Get yourself a second hand ammunition box to store your LiPo batteries.  Then store the box in a space where there is no timber, carpet or other flammables within a meter or so of the box in all directions / e.g. in a concrete garage.   You can get them from a salvage shop or on ebay - for example: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/30-cal-7-62mm-Metal-Ammo-Ammunition-Snap-Down-U-S-Army-Storage-Box-x-1-/130799080913?_trksid=p3284.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D21%26pmod%3D180894467158%26ps%3D54 - this will let you sleep at night!

- Get a high quality charger now, not later.  It will save you money in the long term.  If you can afford it, get a multi-battery charger and good power supply to go with it - that will save you time when charging.

- Do not charge your batteries un-attended. Ever.  full stop!  if charging indoors, make sure you do it near an open window and use a LiPo bag or LiPo sack - even a cheap one will give you enough time to throw a burning sack out the window safely.

- Do not charge above the rating for your batteries.  E.g.: 2200mAh batteries should be charged at 2.2A max.  Some batteries may take more amps but this is not guaranteed and is asking for trouble in my opinion.  Others will jump in and criticise me on this, but your batteries will last a whole lot longer in terms of cycle count if you don';t abuse them.

- Calibrate your charger with a high quality (or at least a known calibrated) multimeter before you use it to avoid over-charging your batteries - this will prevent accidental fires from overcharging.

- Balance charge your multi-cell packs (2S, 3S, etc) regularly (every 2-3 charges is what I do) to avoid overcharging cells that are out of balance.  Yes it takes more time, but over the life of the hobby, what takes more time?  This or rebuilding your house after a fire? 

- Don';t let your batteries drop below 20% charge during flight.  LiPos live longer that way.  I usually aim to land at 30-40% so that my recharge time is less - with 3 batteries, I can charge my 2200mAh 3S packs off my leisure battery at the field while I fly and pretty much go all day with only 5-10 minute breaks between flights!

- Do not store your batteries for more than a few days at either full or low charge levels.  LiPos last longer and are safer when stored at their nominal chemistry level of approx 40-50% charge.

- last, but not least, enjoy your hobby - all the hard work above is only worth it if you are having fun - think safe, act safe and enjoy yourself!

Cheers

Leigh

[reddeviluk]

Thanks for the tips guys, ammo box has just been ordered and now the hunt for power (and charger) continue...

The Quad comes with XT60 connector, for ease I';m going to buy the same so was thinking about this cell:

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__9612__Rhino_2250mAh_3S_11_1v_40C_Lipoly_Pack.html

or would I be better going for something like this (cheaper to start with)

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__9274__Turnigy_1800mAh_3S_20C_Lipo_Pack.html

I';ve seen a few Guys talking about this one, but I';d need to buy an adapter as the power cell comes with Bullet connectors

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idproduct=32097&aff=364745


Charger wise, I am drawing a blank, would be nice to be able to charge 2 lipos minimum at once....Anyone fancy suggesting one for me??.......lol

Cheers,

Rich

[guest325]

These are a very good buy and are smaller and lighter than some of the 2200mah ones.
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__40098__ZIPPY_Compact_2700mAh_3S_35C_Lipo_Pack_UK_Warehouse_.html

[Leigh]

G';day Rich,

The Quad comes with XT60 connector, for ease I';m going to buy the same so was thinking about this cell:

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__9612__Rhino_2250mAh_3S_11_1v_40C_Lipoly_Pack.html

or would I be better going for something like this (cheaper to start with)

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__9274__Turnigy_1800mAh_3S_20C_Lipo_Pack.html

XT60 is my personal preference for 3S at the moment - very easy to connect and quite well designed IMHO.  To decide what C rating you need, you need to understand what power will be drawn by your motor/prop/ESC combination.  The motors look to be these, which are rated at 832kv and list no constant current but a max burst of 16A per motor.  This would depend a lot on the props, but for that size motor I wouldn';t recommend going much above 10x5 sized props.  In fact, I';d be trying 8x6 first, and working up through 9x6 SFP and 10x5 SFP (or 10x4.5 SFP) on a watt-meter to test first to ensure it doesn';t draw above 16A or else you';ll melt your windings in the motors 

But in terms of battery C rating with those motors (4 x 16A = absolute peak 64A load), the rhino above would cope with easilly - 40C @ 2250mAh should be good for up to 90A loads if I';m not getting my math wrong   .  Similarly, the 1800mAh @ 20C would only be good for 36A constant (54A peak for <10sec) so I wouldn';t got that low just to be safe.  Admittedly, you don';t fly a quad wide open throttle all the time, but still.

Any of the following would fit the bill:

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__31967__Zippy_Flightmax_2100mAh_3S_35C_Lipo_Pack_UK_Warehouse_.html
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__26749__Turnigy_2200mAh_3S_35C_Lipo_Pack_UK_Warehouse_.html
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__34603__ZIPPY_Compact_2200mAh_3S_35C_Lipo_Pack_UK_Warehouse_.html

35-40C constant and around the 2000-3000mAh rating should see you with 6-10min flight times depending on efficiency and how you fly.

Charger wise, I am drawing a blank, would be nice to be able to charge 2 lipos minimum at once....Anyone fancy suggesting one for me??.......lol

The IMAX B8+ charger has served me well over the past six months, but only does one battery at a time:

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=28150

based on the B8+';s rating of 150W, I wouldn';t recommend anything less than 100W, even for a single battery charger, just so you have room to grow into larger cell counts and mAh ratings.

Most of the chargers on HK';s site are on backorder - my personal favourite (future wish-list item for myself) is the imax 4B606-Pro - the hobbyking clone is the 4B6 which is out of stock in the intl and UK warehouses (but not the USA, not sure if you can order from there or not if you are in the UK)

Power supply wise, you can either get a leisure battery with larger enough rating (and a mains charger to keep it topped up while at home) or alternatively get an AC PSU - but at 200W rating, they can get expensive.  I converted an ATX PSU using the instructions at wikihow: http://www.wikihow.com/Convert-a-Computer-ATX-Power-Supply-to-a-Lab-Power-Supply

hope that helps!

[Leigh]

PS: if you haven';t already, you should also read these threads:

http://www.multi-rotor.co.uk/index.php?topic=894.0

http://www.multi-rotor.co.uk/index.php?topic=1050.0

http://www.multi-rotor.co.uk/index.php?topic=894.0

[reddeviluk]

Well, the quad has arrived, the charger is on its way, I';ve upgraded to a Turnigy 9x, the one damn thing I am missing are any lipos, HK is out of stock, eBay is useless, any thoughts?

Anyway, here it is, unflown (by me) and unpowered.....lol

I guess I may get a test flight next week if work is easy and the weather is good, fingers crossed.

Got to read up on the multiwii and see what';s possible now that I have extra channels.

Cheers Guys,

Rich

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

[nub]

aye looks not to bad at all nice1

well as long as its all working okies anyways i';d take a look into getting your ESC';s flashed too.

[Biffa]

...the one damn thing I am missing are any lipos, HK is out of stock, eBay is useless, any thoughts?

What spec packs are you looking for?

[reddeviluk]

What spec packs are you looking for?

I was going to follow Harts advice and go for these:

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idproduct=34603

But nowhere seems to have them in, HK don';t seem to have much of ANYTHING in......lol

[nub]

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__16478__ZIPPY_Flightmax_2200mAh_3S1P_45C.html

they';d probably do the job, even the 20C';s would be okies unless u start to really push it then they might get a little warm.

[reddeviluk]

I found a few 20c versions, but thought I';d best heed the advice of others and stick to what';s been suggested.  Really wanting a XT60 connector on it though, just to make the search EXTRA tricky......lol

Cheers Guys, keep em coming.

Rich

[Leigh]

I found a few 20c versions, but thought I';d best heed the advice of others and stick to what';s been suggested.  Really wanting a XT60 connector on it though, just to make the search EXTRA tricky......lol

Cheers Guys, keep em coming.

Rich

Yeah xt60';s are my personal favourite.

I went out and had a fly with some new friends in my local area on Monday night - one of which built a similar T-copter to me (I met him in my local park while I was walking my dog, he was flying his T) - anyway, he let me try a 4S battery on my T-copter and WOWWWWWOO!   what a difference it made!  Awesome.  Anyway, I ordered 3 hobbyking zippy compact 2700mAh 4S batteries last night - fingers crossed, they should be here by Thursday... :-)

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=31981

PS - where are you in the UK, roughly?

[reddeviluk]

Hi Hart, I am in Teesside, North East.

So those 4s cells would do me (or an XT60 equivalent)?

Cheers,

Rich

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

[Leigh]

Ahhh, bugger - I';m the same lattitude, but on the other side of the Irish sea.  :)

the 4S is a huge boost to the 3S in terms of "punch" - but they can also be a lot more efficient if the motors are rated to cope with 4S - not all are, unfortunately, but lucky for me, my sunnysky 980kv';s are.   

do you have any experience with soldering?  It doesn';t take much to learn how to solder an XT60 properly :-)

just remember to only do ONE battery lead at a time so that you don';t risk shorting out the battery leads :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH32jwFc8Js

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Yj-DHxKS6c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y9GD9RG6JE

note: that last video is a bad example because his soldering iron isn';t anywhere near hot enough - the solder should flow and this last example is a poor one... but search for more examples, you';ll pick it up quick enough.  See the other recent thread on here about soldering irons for info on what to buy there :-)

Hi Hart, I am in Teesside, North East.

So those 4s cells would do me (or an XT60 equivalent)?

Cheers,

Rich

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

[Leigh]

PS - looking at the specs for the motors you got (http://www.r2hobbies.com/turborix-rc-plane-832kv-rpm-v-cf2822-outrunner-bl-brushless-motor.html) I don';t think they';ll cope with 4S - a google search showed no results of success in that regard - so stick to the 3S for now I reckon - maybe upgrade later when you';ve got your skills up :-)

[reddeviluk]

Right Gents, managed to find some alternative 3S';s this morning and they';re all on route, so depending on Postman Pat I should be up and running next week.......YAHOO.

Thanks for all the help and advice Gents, if ever we meet I owe you all a pint.  I';ll stick a video up of my maiden crash and no doubt I will be pestering you all over the coming weeks and months.

Many thanks,

Rich

[reddeviluk]

 ::) ::) ::)

Fallen at the first hurdle........Any thoughts anyone?,

Details here http://www.multi-rotor.co.uk/index.php?topic=3362.0