New setup x180 - Tweaker FPV

[Trimitsos]

Below you may find the links from parts I have purchased for my build up!


Flight Controller
http://www.hobbyrc.co.uk/lumenier-lux-flight-controller

Flight Controller Anti-Vibration Plate for Naze32
http://www.hobbyrc.co.uk/flight-controller-anti-vibration-plate-for-naze32

Matek 5 in 1 LED & Power Hub V3 Advanced PDB 1-2
http://www.hobbyrc.co.uk/matek-5-in-1-led-power-hub-v3-advanced-pdb

Little Bee 20A Mini ESC with BLHeli, OneShot125 and Damped Light (2-4S)
http://www.hobbyrc.co.uk/little-bee-20a-mini-esc-with-blheli-oneshot125-and-damped-light-2-4s

Emax 1806 2280KV Motor (MT1806)
http://www.hobbyrc.co.uk/emax-1806-2280kv-motor-mt1806

Tweaker FPVA
http://www.racequadgear.de/Tweaker-FPVA

TATTU 1000mAh 11.1V 45C 3S1P Lipo Battery Pack
http://www.alphasportrc.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=68_193_206&products_id=5864
TATTU 1300mAh 11.1V 45C 3S1P Lipo Battery Pack
http://www.alphasportrc.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=68_193_206&products_id=5843
TL2716 Parallel charging Board for 6 packs 2~6S
http://www.alphasportrc.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=68_99&products_id=2469
SkyRC IMAX e6650 AC/DC Charger
http://www.alphasportrc.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=32&products_id=2968

[Cheredanine]

Hi,
Got a love tweakers :)

Some useful looking 3D bits at multirotor spares (just ordered antenna mounts for my Tweaker)

Don';t see how you are going to use that anti vibration mount, the frame doesn';t have holes at the right place

Assume you are going to upgrade the motors at some point

You don';t say what radio/receiver you are using?

No fpv kit?

Mine:
http://www.multi-rotor.co.uk/index.php?topic=17808.0

If you need any help just shout :)

[Trimitsos]

Don';t see how you are going to use that anti vibration mount, the frame doesn';t have holes at the right place

Well this was supposed to be used with the flight controller.
It was cheap, and though it could also be usefull in future projects in case it wouldn';t fit.
Now, the Lux came with some small rubber O-rings so the anti-vibration will stay in my stock...

Assume you are going to upgrade the motors at some point

Well motor Amps was a concern with little bees 20A.
And yes, I wanted to start slow!!! So as to have something to upgrade in future.
The red bottoms were always smiling at me ;D, but some FPV video I saw was prety scary!!!

Also, I am not sure if a 22xx motor will fry or not the Bees.
Those calculations looks scary for me at the moment  , so I decided to stay safe!!!

You don';t say what radio/receiver you are using?

Radio Receiver is Taranis X9D Plus with X4R SB receiver (Brand new and unused... yet)

No fpv kit?

For the FPV setup I have already prepaired the following and works great.
http://www.banggood.com/FPV-5_8G-200mW-Wireless-Audio-Video-Transmitter-Module-TX5823-p-84780.html
http://www.banggood.com/600TVL-8_0MP-14-2_8mm-CMOS-FPV-170-Degree-Wide-Anlge-Lens-Camera-PALNTSC-p-984345.html
http://www.banggood.com/FPV-5_8GHz-Micro-CL-TX-Anternna-0_8g-Lightweight-p-973291.html

Thinking of powering it with a Separate small battery or will added on the PDB and see what happens.
The googles will have to wait for my next salary payment
but suggestions are always great...

[Digit]

I';m using RCX2205s with 4045s and littlebee 20s on my QAV180 and cobra 2204s with dal 5045x3 with littlebee 20s and they both perform great.

Thinking of powering it with a Separate small battery or will added on the PDB and see what happens.

Don';t use a separate battery for FPV gear, it just adds unneeded complexity and weight to the build. You can power off the PDB (use a regulator/capacitor if using littlebees as they can cause voltage spike) or power off the balance lead of the battery.

[Cheredanine]

Agree with digit, 20a littlebees are good, they are rated at 20amps constant and 30amp burst, most people use them for 5 or even 6 inch props (I have a set I run cobra 2206 2100kv racing edition with 6040 props on 4s, never struggled) they are not gonna have a problem with 4 inch props.

And don';t use a seperate battery, noone does on a quad of this size

[Trimitsos]

Is there a suggested video for setting up the Lumenier Lux?
I am having trouble trying to connect it to clean flight.
(well its my first time doing so!!!)
[attach=4]
I would also like some help for setting up the Matek 5in1 PDB \
there are some capabilities (buzzer-led trigger etc) which confuses me...
[attachimg=2]

[Jazzz]

I use 20amp littleBee on 2206 2200 . Hellfire motors
230 size quad and 6040 props have had no problems
So far

[Trimitsos]

I have flashed the FC in DFU mode,
but afterwards can';t connect to the flight controller for some reason.
Have tried rebooting, unplugging and re-plugging the FC but still nothing

In clean flight I get COM1 & Manual Selection
Any ideas?

[atomiclama]

Do you get a com port listed in the windows device manager once it is plugged in?

What are the leds doing?

How are you powering the FC? from the USB?

if so try plugging in slowly until the leds come on let the leds stop flashing that shows the FC has completed booting up then plug the rest of the way in.
This will allow FC to boot up before trying to setup the VCP connection.

[Trimitsos]

Do you get a com port listed in the windows device manager once it is plugged in?
What are the leds doing?
How are you powering the FC? from the USB?
if so try plugging in slowly until the leds come on let the leds stop flashing that shows the FC has completed booting up then plug the rest of the way in.
This will allow FC to boot up before trying to setup the VCP connection.

Com port is listed as STM32 virtual com port
Led blue is on continuesly
Yes USB is used for power
Tried your tip, worked as you described it but still can';t configure the FC

[atomiclama]

try running a terminal program like putty

connect to the VCP @ 115200 8,n,1

press enter a few times and you should get a prompt.

I';ve had the configurator not attach to the FC but would be ok in the CLI 

[Cheredanine]

Ok sorry working away today and tomorrow so not on much until tomorrow evening.

Points to note: follow the instructions in the lux manual exactly and from memory all should be good except you may need to replace your driver
(Read the software installation/setup section of the manual and do exactly what it says)

There is a decent guide in flashing with betaflight on you tube by josh Bardwell. If you want to use cf you just skip the first bit about downloading the hex file and loading the local file and use the load online button

If only the blue light is on then it sounds like you are powering the board in dfu mode, you only need to do that when you are going to flash the board, not to just connect

(When you have the board connected and configurator opened at the top right it tells you if it is in dfu mode, if a com port is available, if there is anything else you need to replace the driver as per the manual)

If you feel you have messed up the order delete the device in device manager and then unplug and start again

Do not mess around plugging stuff in slowly (sorry, would play nicely but in a rush)
Matek 5 in 1 has an on,one manual somewhere, only amendment would be the lux is powered from battery voltage, not 5v, use the esc pads to also provide power the lux bat pads, NOT the 5v pads the 5 in 1 provides for FCs

[Cheredanine]

Ps about to head out for a meal, if you still have problems with lux try here:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2554204&page=164

[Trimitsos]

1) Points to note: follow the instructions in the lux manual exactly and from memory all should be good except you may need to replace your driver
(Read the software installation/setup section of the manual and do exactly what it says)
2) There is a decent guide in flashing with betaflight on you tube by josh Bardwell. If you want to use cf you just skip the first bit about downloading the hex file and loading the local file and use the load online button
3) If only the blue light is on then it sounds like you are powering the board in dfu mode, you only need to do that when you are going to flash the board, not to just connect
(When you have the board connected and configurator opened at the top right it tells you if it is in dfu mode, if a com port is available, if there is anything else you need to replace the driver as per the manual)
4) If you feel you have messed up the order delete the device in device manager and then unplug and start again
5) Do not mess around plugging stuff in slowly (sorry, would play nicely but in a rush)
6)Matek 5 in 1 has an on,one manual somewhere, only amendment would be the lux is powered from battery voltage, not 5v, use the esc pads to also provide power the lux bat pads, NOT the 5v pads the 5 in 1 provides for FCs

1) Done that
2) I';ve been communication with josh Bardwell at the same time through Youtube messages.
The Guy is very very helpful, but we are still in the process of trying things out!
3) When I plug the FC in DFU mode then the indication in Cleanflight is correctly DFU mode.
But when i plug it normally, I see no change in the drop down menu.
I can see only COM1 & Manual (also tried to remove other USB devices, to avoid any possible conflicts)
4) In device manager I see only "STM32 Virtual COM Port" when I Plug in the FC
and have removed and reinstalled it more than once!!!
5) Unfortunately I have already tried this trick out, but thanks for the tip!


6) Can you rephrase please I am confused! Should I power Lux directly from the Battery? and not from Matek 5V?
I didn';t get the thing about the lux bat pads!?


NOTE:
The FC is working for sure! I have managed to get it to connect with my work Laptop, were I have no Admin rights and so No driver installation is possible! How about that?!!!
Maybe I need a computer upgrade. I am certain this is a windows & Drivers conflict or something similar!

[Trimitsos]

After removing for the 10th time the drivers and restarting the PC same number of times!
For some reason GOD felt pity for me and made it work!!!

it was an amazing evening with lots of pleasant PC restarts, loading and waiting  going on!!!!
Lets hope the rest of the setup process will be a little bit more fun!
Also lets hope, my wife doesn';t divorce me for neglecting her all day long..... hehehe

Everyones help is deeply appreciated.

[atomiclama]

Yeay 

[Cheredanine]

Back and quite drunk, glad you got it working.

Most flight controllers are powered at 5v, this requires 2 wires (5v and ground from some sort of step down on the pdb.  In order for ther flight controller to measure battery voltage you usually need 2 further connections (+ and ground) to the pdb, the + needs to be at battery voltage

BUT the lux has combined these two functions by having its own 5 volt regulator built in.
The lux should be powered by a + wire connected to the battery voltage and a ground wire.
The matek 5 in 1 only really has one place to do this, the same solder pads used to connect the ESCs, one of these if +ve and the other is ground, as well as connecting these to the ESCs, connect the + to the bat pad on the front, bottom of the lux and the ground to the ground pad next to the bat pad.  That will power the lux, give you voltage measurement and supply 5v the the 5v rail on the lux so you can power your Rx and other stuff from the fc

[Trimitsos]

BUT the lux has combined these two functions by having its own 5 volt regulator built in.
The lux should be powered by a + wire connected to the battery voltage and a ground wire.
The matek 5 in 1 only really has one place to do this, the same solder pads used to connect the ESCs, one of these if +ve and the other is ground, as well as connecting these to the ESCs, connect the + to the bat pad on the front, bottom of the lux and the ground to the ground pad next to the bat pad.  That will power the lux, give you voltage measurement and supply 5v the the 5v rail on the lux so you can power your Rx and other stuff from the fc

Is "BAT pad" the voltage input on the Lux and its OK to be same as the 3S battery voltage 11V?
After connecting 11V to the bat pad all 5V pads will also give 5v power, right?

So it is OK to just power the FC along with one of the ESCs? Won';t this cause any issues to the ESC that it will be connected to?
Is it wrong to power the FC directly from the place were the battery cables connect to the PDB?

[atomiclama]

Just trying to get the VCP stuff working on my works laptop.

Man what a pain, managed it once, but going through it again to do a write up and I can';t get it going at all.

[Cheredanine]

Is "BAT pad" the voltage input on the Lux and its OK to be same as the 3S battery voltage 11V?
After connecting 11V to the bat pad all 5V pads will also give 5v power, right?

yes ish, the bat pad should be connected to the pdb on a solder pad that provides battery voltage +ve (the full battery power, not a regulated 5 or 12v).You need to connect a ground to (you didn';t explicitly state, so thought I would make sure)
That will power the lux, provide battery voltage monitoring and mean the lux is putting out 5v on all its 5v pads

So it is OK to just power the FC along with one of the ESCs? Won';t this cause any issues to the ESC that it will be connected to?
Is it wrong to power the FC directly from the place were the battery cables connect to the PDB?

Yes. No and no in that order
In fact on your last one you can happily do that, that would be fine

[atomiclama]

Ah got it, the "VCP_V1.4.0_Setup.exe" does not install the driver, you then have to update the driver and tell it to get it from: -
C:\Program Files (x86)\STMicroelectronics\Software\Virtual comport driver

simple

[Trimitsos]

yes ish, the bat pad should be connected to the pdb on a solder pad that provides battery voltage +ve (the full battery power, not a regulated 5 or 12v).You need to connect a ground to (you didn';t explicitly state, so thought I would make sure)
That will power the lux, provide battery voltage monitoring and mean the lux is putting out 5v on all its 5v padsYes. No and no in that order
In fact on your last one you can happily do that, that would be fine

Sorry for the silly questions! But just a little afraid of frying up the FC and having to wait an other month for postage!!!

[Trimitsos]

Ah got it, the "VCP_V1.4.0_Setup.exe" does not install the driver, you then have to update the driver and tell it to get it from: -
C:\Program Files (x86)\STMicroelectronics\Software\Virtual comport driver

simple

Simple NO! but managable YES.
In my 15th years of computer trouble shooting (as a home user!), that was a first for me....

[Trimitsos]

[attach=2]

1) So this must be 5V regulated from the PDB
2) 12V pads are regulated only from a 4S battery, or is it a step up from 11,1V (3S) to 12V (must be the first I Suppose)
I wish I had chosen a simpler PDB. Must be the first PDB more complex than the FC itself.... 

3) GND and VCC? What do I connect there? Is this for voltage monitoring? And how do I utilize this?

L) Does anyone know how to use those LED outputs? and set them UP properly in CleanFlight? (most probably will live this out for the time being)

There is also a buzzer for quad finder but this must be set up inside cleanflight I Suppose

[Cheredanine]

[attach=2]

1) So this must be 5V regulated from the PDB

may be my eye sight but don';t see numbers on pic, 5v regulated is on the left towards the top.  What are you planning to hook up to this? (Don';t think you need it)

2) 12V pads are regulated only from a 4S battery, or is it a step up from 11,1V (3S) to 12V (must be the first I Suppose)

Don';t believe it is a step up, if you plug a 3s battery in you withe the regulator in place you will lose a little voltage but not much, I would expect this to probably be powering the vtx which in turn I would generally power the camera from)

I wish I had chosen a simpler PDB. Must be the first PDB more complex than the FC itself.... 


3) GND and VCC? What do I connect there? Is this for voltage monitoring? And how do I utilize this?

Not needed, with other FCs you are right but with lux voltage monitoring is done from the main supply

L) Does anyone know how to use those LED outputs? and set them UP properly in CleanFlight? (most probably will live this out for the time being)

There is also a buzzer for quad finder but this must be set up inside cleanflight I Suppose

You need to pull the manual.
Those LEDs are not ws2812 programmable from memory, they are designed to be set up on the board its self or run from a servo connection to switch between the pre programmed setting on the board

Buzzers are easy, connect the correct two buzzer connections on the FC to the correct buzzer pins.
Configure in cf

[Trimitsos]

Buzzers are easy, connect the correct two buzzer connections on the FC to the correct buzzer pins.
Configure in cf

The thing is I don';t see any puds/pins for buzzer on the PDB and thinking if this is a signal sent through Rxand has to be programmed in CleanFlight

[Cheredanine]

No mate, I don';t either, as such cf can not control (cf turns a buzzer on or off by providing power to the buzzer pads on the FC. You are right, don';t see any buzzer pads on this, don';t think cf buzzer functionality will work

[atomiclama]

The buzzer and leds are controlled via a channel from the rx hooked up to that 3 pin header on the PDB. one range of pwm give leds one does buzzer and the final gives both.

Can';t remember what the ranges are.

just hook you rx aux chanell up to it and give it ago.

Or you could pass through from CF maybe 

[Trimitsos]

The buzzer and leds are controlled via a channel from the rx hooked up to that 3 pin header on the PDB. one range of pwm give leds one does buzzer and the final gives both.
Can';t remember what the ranges are.
just hook you rx aux chanell up to it and give it ago.

You must be right. I totally forgot these pins!!!
After looking the manual its says:
F3 LED light controller (1700-2000)
F2 Lost plane finder (1000-1300)
F3 Low voltage alarm  - is automatically set!

All these will give me headakes I think...
These must be set up in the Taranis X9D radio control, correct?
I have to set a specific switch output in the receiver menu etc...??

[atomiclama]

All these will give me headakes I think...
These must be set up in the Taranis X9D radio control, correct?
I have to set a specific switch output in the receiver menu etc...??

Sounds about right, 3 position switch should do it, can';t help you though don';t have a Taranis.