Unbranded 5" build log

[steveo9007]

OK so am plunging into the depths of building my own quad from various components that i have chosen myself, i have previously bought quads all ready built or supplied with all the parts, this time its all my own doing..

The parts i have ordered are as Follows:-

Puda Chameleon 5" Frame £31.99 Arrived in Post
RunCam Micro Eagle800TVl, 2.1mm £36.99 (waiting) Arrived in Post
HypeTrain Le Drib 2306 2650KV Motor V2 EZO x4 (waiting (Arrived in Post)
Foxeer F405 AIO Betaflight F/C STM32 MPU6000 OSD 5V/2A BEC PDB £29.99 (Arrived in post)
Spedix GS30 Blheli_32 30A ESC (2-4S) Dshot 1200 £39.96 (Arrived in Post)
RUSH VTX TANK 5.8G 48CH Smart Audio Switchable AV Transmitter MMCX £29.99 (Arrived in Post)
TBS Triumph Stub 5.8GHz Antenna RHCP (SMA) (Waiting) Arrived in Post
R9MM Reciver with Dipole Antenna £25.99 (Waiting) Arrived in Post
GPS / Compass combined unit (All ready had in spares box)

Had to order some different length screws as the ones in the frame screws were to short for my needs.

Still to order:-

Buzzer
Led Lights

I may also looking at getting the Taranis X9 Plus with R9 module for longer range but not sure yet. Have purchased a Taranis QX7S with R9M module.

I will post pictures along the journey. Have to say the Puda Chameleon frame looks good so far, but all will be in the build i guess.

[ched]

Have a look at the Jumper T12 as an alternative to the Taranis . It has a 4 in one module that covers Flysky and Frsky. It runs a version of Open tx (virtually same as Taranis). It also has hall effect gimbals that are mush better than standard potentiometer ones. It is also a similar size to the Flysky i6.
It can also take the R9 module!!!!

[steveo9007]

Mmm thanks Ched, will take a look and compare. I think the older Jumpers T8 can control my Hubsan quads aswell.

[ched]

I think you will find the T12 will control your Hubsan as well. I think they have similar module, maybe the T8 it's built in where as I think T12 is a plug in module. The main plus point for the T12 is Open TX, the Taranis used OpenTX and the Jumper T12 uses a fork of OpenTX, essentially the same software as Taranis but with the ability to control FrSky and FlySky out of the box. Plus hall effect gimbals 
The T12 gets good reviews I think Albert Kim uses it mostly, and AndyRC liked it I think. Anyway it's something to consider. Also have a look at the QX7.

[steveo9007]

I think you will find the T12 will control your Hubsan as well. I think they have similar module, maybe the T8 it's built in where as I think T12 is a plug in module. The main plus point for the T12 is Open TX, the Taranis used OpenTX and the Jumper T12 uses a fork of OpenTX, essentially the same software as Taranis but with the ability to control FrSky and FlySky out of the box. Plus hall effect gimbals 
The T12 gets good reviews I think Albert Kim uses it mostly, and AndyRC liked it I think. Anyway it's something to consider. Also have a look at the QX7.

can you get multi protocol module for the qx7, as all of my receivers are flysky ones ??

[ched]

can you get multi protocol module for the qx7, as all of my receivers are flysky ones ??

You would have to check but I think this is the module in the Jumper T12 radio and it is a JR fitting so should fit Taranis. The listing appears to say it works with Taranis and supports FlySky & Hubsan protocols.
As far as I know  both Taranis x9D and QX7 have  JR type module bays so should work but you would have to check that as I seem to remember there being something to be hacked to get teh X7 to do the R9 module. So have a bit of a search...

[atomiclama]

If you haven' got a buzzer yet then look at this type: -
https://www.unmannedtechshop.co.uk/product/jhe42b-finder-lost-model-buzzer-alarm/
Has a battery backup so will still work when the main lipo ejects in a crash.
Makes finding it a bit easier.

[ched]

Forgot there is also the Jumper T16 coming out or just out. That is similar size to Taranis x9d but colour screen etc... Seems to be getting good reviews Josh B has just posted his review but I have not seen it yet.

[steveo9007]

After looking at different specs I have gone with the QX7 with the R9 module. There will always be a newer model out at least I will be able to setup all my quads on this one with a multi protocol module. Should be here by the weekend.

[steveo9007]

So i have nearly got all the pieces to my build just a few more things to wait for and im good to go..

[steveo9007]

Dry run today and Frame build up, seems pretty robust so far..

All the pieces played out.


Fc and VTX fit nicely in place with plenty of room for air and cables.


Micro Eagle cam fitted.

No soldering this time, just kinda getting a feel as to where everything is going to be placed. Next will be soldering but will take time doing that to get it right first time.

[ched]

Looks good.
Might be worth using some 'wet and dry' to take the edge off the corners of the frame as they look a little sharp.
I assume the gps receiver isn't going there? If it is then the frame might block the signals?

Check the motor screws are not too long!!! Cost me 4 motors and 2 x 4in1 esc over the last 2 weeks. I didn't notice 2 of each motor bolt was 1mm longer and they hit the windings. I even checked each motor bolt for continuity with frame and all looked fine!!!!

[steveo9007]

Gps/compass module is going up on the front above the camera for now, think I will be ok with the motor screws as I am waiting for some soft motor mounts to come through. But will be careful though.

[steveo9007]

So today on my build i am soldering equipment to boards and fitting motors and ESC's.

Most of the pads have solder on them ready for wires to be added from Cam,VTX,ESC's.

Cam and VTX joined up, and connected TBS Smartaudio, not using Cam Control.

Motors mounted and Capacitor soldered and underslung belly of frame.

[ched]

Looking good. Might be worth insulating the capacitor leads as they could short battery on the carbon frame!!!!

[steveo9007]

OK i have checked and the capacitor is not touching the carbon, or will it still jump across a small gap.

Also i have just fitted the motors and escs, so looking at lot more like a quad now..




All going good so far and im getting better as soldering..lol

[steveo9007]

Had to order some more bits so waiting for them to come through, so as it stands at the moment i can't go any further until them bits are here..

[ched]

Looking good.
In a crash the capacitor could flex and short. Always best to make 100% sure nothing can short as that could cause a fire!!!!

[steveo9007]

Looking good.
In a crash the capacitor could flex and short. Always best to make 100% sure nothing can short as that could cause a fire!!!!

gotcha, i may move it so it sits inside cage along the bottom..

[atomiclama]

Yeah don't like that cap mounting at all.
You may also find it de-solders it's self when you try and solder the main power leads.
The way I do it is to attach the lead then add the cap you can then fix the cap to the frame or the leads to stop it flapping around.

[steveo9007]

Going to move it. And place on top with main battery cable. 👍

[atomiclama]

Alternatively and a better solution would be to place a cap on each ESC.

[steveo9007]

Ok so quick update, Got battery cable connected and smoke stopper in place and fired the quad up to check motor rotation. 2 out of the 4 where wrong so changed this in Bl-heli32 suite and all good with motors and no shorts to the board neither. Configuring Betaflight now, GPS is working and receiving 9 Sats indoors with a true Fix achieved.

next step is to get my head around the R9MM RX that i have installed as i am not currently able to bind to my taranis, i am thinking that i need to flash new firmware to my RX to enable it to work through the Fport.  Looking on the frsky website there is a new firmware for this.  Just a question on the Taranis if any is able to help me, i know that the 3 pin port on the bottom is now connected but am unsure as to what pins are which (V+,GND,Sport) as i don't want to connect it to the back by removing the module, any one have an idea ???

[ched]

It might be worth starting a new thread on the R9MM as I am sure there are quite a few here that can help. I believe that you do need both tx and rx to be on same firmware version but that's about all I know.

[steveo9007]

Yeah that's what I'm thinking Ched, I know there is a firmware update to flash the fport on the RX to get it working through the S-port instead of connecting the sbus cable. I can't do anything at the mo with it as I'm waiting on some clips to come.

[steveo9007]

Well today i have got the quad up in the air, it was a bit of a steep learning curve with the Taranis and R9 long range RX   to get my head round all the jargon but i got there in the end with lots of webpages open and flicking this, switching that, soldering/unsoldering but all done and i got a pretty good test flight all be it 44 secs of it.

It now just needs to be fine tuned in BF and tidied up around the quad (wires and tie wraps added) and she is good to go for a proper flight test in a big open wide field.

https://youtu.be/Ykk-ltdan78

[ched]

Well done. It's a great sense of achievement when you pull it all together and it flies.

If it were me I would empty the bird bath as I would end up crashing into the water :-)

[atomiclama]

she is good to go for a proper flight test in a big open wide field.

Have you got a beeper installed yet? Get that working it will save you hours of searching in the long grass. Looks like you have a good field at the bottom of your garden, lucky you.

[steveo9007]

Not installed a beeper, as I have GPS fitted to it and it is setup in GPS rescue as a fail safe, also I use Dshot beeper on a switch on my taranis if I can't find via GPS coords

[steveo9007]

Well done. It's a great sense of achievement when you pull it all together and it flies.

If it were me I would empty the bird bath as I would end up crashing into the water :-)

Was a very big learning curve for me to understand the ins and outs of the Taranis and Betaflight 4.0, but yeah massive grin on my face to get it hovering. And there is still lots to learn aswell.