KK2 ... The return

[XH558]

Just to try and pull together all the threads on my attempt to get a quad up in the air with some form of KK board ...

I tried the black KK board ... just couldn';t make it work.

I had the advice to try the KK2 with the inbuilt programming screen.

So I ordered one and I just couldn';t get it to do what it was supposed to.

So the first advice was to reflash it with the updated firmware ... so I battled my way through that and still not right.

Next advice was to try reflashing the cheapo Mystery Cloud 30 escs I have with the SimonK software.

This was a task all of its own but last week - with the HK esc flashing tool I finally achieved that.

So last night it got put back together again .....

The escs certainly respond much better .... BUT ....

With the ';X'; pointing forward and numbers 3 & 4 props being at the back this is what happens ....

1) the left 2 motors run really fast and the whole thing wants to flip right big time as a result.
2) escs 3 & 4 get uber hot very quickly under any load - 1 & 2 get very warm but not hot.
3) throttle works fine - and responds very well instantly.
4) there is no response from roll (aileron) input or pitch (elevator) input - yaw (rudder) makes some slight difference.

You can take it from me that the screens have been meticulously set up - the receiver tested - the escs calibrated ok

So yet again I';m pulling my hair out

I am in the happy position of having another unused KK2 board I got from a Buddy Link on here - not flashed - just factory settings.

Do I try that first with the reflashed escs?? 

Any other ideas ... I don';t really understand this KK stuff and it';s not exactly plug and play like NAZA is it 

[Balders]

When you calibrated the esc';s did you do them one by one plugged into the Rx or using the buttons 1&4 method on the KK2?

You may also wish to change the setting which controls minimum throttle (can';t remember what it';s called off top of my head, think it';s in misc settings).

Can';t be anything too major.

[teslahed]

ESCs not individually calibrated would be the simplest explanation / fix.

http://youtu.be/DfTdCVwZYHQ

[Balders]

Other thing it could be is, re-do the calibration and self level...make sure it';s level as possible when doing it.  Finaly, do a receiver test from the board. It should show zero or close for eveything (possibly bar auto level if you have aux connected.

[XH558]

Guess what ???




















I';ve only gone and done it





I put the spare new KK2 board - factory settings - on the quad - recalibrated the escs - checked it all out again ...... and then discovered a basic, stupid, moronic, idiotic and just plain elementary error ...
The motors were all spinning the right way but I had 2 props on wrong ... one motor was spinning CW with a CCW prop and one motor was spinning CCW with a CW prop   :embarrassed :embarrassed :embarrassed :embarrassed :embarrassed :embarrassed :embarrassed :embarrassed 


So once that was put right I was able to hold the quad from underneath in the workshop whilst sitting in my chair and with the throttle at about 50% and for a few seconds I could quite safely actually let go of it and it stayed there. The escs get quite warm but none get over hot ... and they will be clipped directly to the aluminium frame so that will be a good heat sink.

Because of the confines of the space I didn';t do more than that and now it';s working it needs all the connections and cable runs tidying up and firming up before I can have a go outside ... the weather is a bit crap here though and there';s not much light so I';ll try and get a video as soon as I can - but it may take till the weekend and it';s weather dependent.

There';s nothing like this hobby for adrenaline fueled achievement as a reward for the hours of fettling     

[eyeflying]

...... and then discovered a basic, stupid, moronic, idiotic and just plain elementary error ...
The motors were all spinning the right way but I had 2 props on wrong ... one motor was spinning CW with a CCW prop and one motor was spinning CCW with a CW prop   :embarrassed :embarrassed :embarrassed :embarrassed :embarrassed :embarrassed :embarrassed :embarrassed 

We';ve all done it - and I still do 

[Balders]

yey!  Well done.

It';s amazing how many times in this hobby we get frustrated at all sorts of things and it turns out to be something silly :)

[Biffa]

Been there and done stupid things like that myself and then spent a considerable time kicking myself afterwards.

Good job on persisting and sorting it though, a lesser man would have given up

[teslahed]

Next we want some video!

And i look forward to hearing if you feel much difference with the SimonK ESCs too.

[Gaza07]

Very well done as others have said we have all done it before   

[johnrs]

been there done that with props when I first started a few months back

[XH558]

Next we want some video!

And i look forward to hearing if you feel much difference with the SimonK ESCs too.

Well so far I CAN say they certainly respond quicker, and as demonstrated on various videos on the web if you move the throttle stick up and down very quickly the escs follow you immediately - there';s no time drag at all ...

[XH558]

Got it all neat and tidy and as it was calm and dry (although pitch dark) I had a go at a maiden under the house security light (that goes on and off by PIR)   

It took off beautifully ... but I will say it';s a twitchy little bugg devil   

I had a few hairy moments whilst I got used to the controls... it';s not AT ALL like NAZA ... much more seat of the pants   

I suppose there';s ways of calming down the controls but I';ll have to get to that .... I landed it and got my breath back and the second go was much better ... the auto leveler is good    It hovers very well ... very stable with very little drift.

It just needs tweaking now to make it less of a handful - but all in all I';m VERY pleased with it and glad I conquered KK   

[teslahed]

You want to add expo and reduce the rates. I';m not sure the best way to do that with the KK2 board so I';ll let someone with more experience guide you on that.

Once you get the thing flashed to 1.5 i believe the autolevel works a lot better - so that in combination with reduced rates and a bit of expo should turn the quadcopter into a very stable easier to fly aircraft.

[QuadBod]

Once you get the thing flashed to 1.5 i believe the autolevel works a lot better - so that in combination with reduced rates and a bit of expo should turn the quadcopter into a very stable easier to fly aircraft.

Spot on. It';s hard to get the KK not to fly - which is frustrating if you want to get it tuned to perfection, because it';s hard to tell good from bad; but it makes for a great first time experience. Damn thing flies itself!

[Balders]

have a play with the settings in P Gain on the various channels (you';ve probably find aileron and elevator are linked already, so change to one changes both).

There shouldn';t really be a need to use expo in the radio (depending on your style of flying I suppose).  I have always had mine linear, even on my Trex600, not everyone';s cup of tea, but I learn';t like that so it';s natural to me. 

I have a note here somewhere of what my settings were, although they are probably useless when talking about simonk flashed escs, as mine are non-flashed.

[XH558]

Yes I agree about Expo - I';ve always though that counterproductive - one should learn to get control of the stick not have the stick do it for you - I';ll have a go at the P gain things using the various video tutorials out there on YT... I won';t know what I';m doing ... but hey ... what';s new ??

[Balders]

improvise, adapt, overcome

We all learned from somewhere mate.

[XH558]

Ah yes - the Round Table Motto .... "Adopt - Adapt - Improve"

Monty Python - Lingerie Robbery