Own Build Hex-Tech Questions

[t0m541]

I am building a hex of my own design, I've posted under Newbies about it.
I have a couple of questions that I'm hoping folks can help with.
I am planning on using dual 4s 5200mah batteries, each one running 3 motors through a 3 way distribution board.
The original idea was to have the 2 batteries both feeding into a 6 way board and feeding all 6 motors together as per normal.
Has anyone tried or done this before and how did it compare.
Does the flight controller monitor the battery power at the dist. board or at the ESC's.
I'm also running a 3rd smaller battery, purely to power the electronics to maximise the amount the main batteries can give for flight.
Secondly, the motors on a hex, are the configured LHS all CW, RHS all CCW or are they CW-CCW-CW-CCW going round the copter.
I am considering having the batteries running a 2+1 config on each side, the thinking behind this is, should either battery fail mid flight, I should still have some sort of balance in the lift so the copter doesn't flip over onto its side and plummet like a very expensive stone to the ground.   

[Reman]

I'd wire (In parallel) both packs to a single PDB myself. I did this on my first hex because if a pack goes bad and you lose 3 motors at once you're going to be dropping out of the sky whatever the other 3 do. It also makes it easier to monitor the average voltage of the packs.

If your FC has a voltage monitor pin I'd connect it to the PDB.

Personally, I wouldn't run a separate control system battery as it adds yet another thing to go wrong. If the main batterys go bad in flight the hex is crashing regardless of if the FC and RX are still active. Visa versa, If the RX pack runs flat you're fully charged flight packs aren't going to help. The control electronics don't use much power, So an RX/FC pack's just extra weight.

The motor directions alternate CW and CCW around the hex. The front right goes CCW when viewed from above.

Hope that helps

[LuMan]

+1 Reman.

I did consider using a dedicated battery per 3 motors on my hex (S550), but I figured that it's better to use a flight controller that recognises a motor failure and flies you back home on the remaining 5. This is better than trying to share the load out equally. Plus, if a battery DOES fail, the other is still powering everything, so you should sill get some sort of controlled landing.

Check your FC software for how your motors should be set up, and test them with the software before you add the props!! 

[Geolivey]

I would like to say that I feel very good here.