Quadrocopter Build - Part 7 - Details, Details, Details

I am still working through all of the issues I have been hitting. There are many, small and big. Here is a list of the ones I can remember at this moment:

- Shipping from China takes 14 to 35+ days.

- My transmitter interferes with WiFi. As soon as it is on, my WiFi stops working.

- My transmitter interferes with the ContourHD. It causes a 'humming' sound unless I keep them far apart. This could cause issues once I try to use the ContourHD on the quad...

- My battery barely lasts at all. More on that later....

- The original LiPo alarm I got sucks. New one has arrived.

- Chinese bulk sellers do make mistakes (forget items, miss parts)

- Chinese bulk sellers They are also very hard to get a hold of and service a LOT of customers

- Chinese bulk sellers also have some of the best prices you will find

- There are a lot of other very helpful people also building quadrocopters. More on that later too.

- There is a lot of information to learn. Have fun doing it or you will go crazy.

Details on the battery issue:

I have reached out for help on the issue from YouTube and the people I have been talking to there who have also been building quadrocopters. Here is my video:

2012-03-30 - Quadrocopter - Battery issue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKR8ynO57lg

A few possible causes I can think of:

- The battery is 'bad'/defective

- The battery does not give enough current (the 'C' rating times 'mah', to get Amps per Cycle)

- Motors are drawing more current than they should

- anything else....

Please leave a comment with your thoughts!

Facts:

- At the start of the video, the battery was fully charged to ~12.4 volts. LiPo monitor shows 12.3 volts at the start.

- Drops to 11.8 volts when motors are stated at minimum throttle

- at 10.4 volts the lipo alarm goes off. Alarm was set for 3.3 volts for one cell. I have since changed it to 3.1 volts to give me a bit more time during testing. Will change back later when I actually fly it to give time to land without battery damage.

- Returns to 11.9 volts with the motors off/throttle all the way down

- After a total of 33 seconds of the motors running (not even flying!) until the lipo alarm went off due to cell number 3 dropping below 3.3 volts. It returned to 3.92 once the motors were stopped.

- When cell 3 went below 3.3v, cells 1 and 2 were at 3.43v and 3.73v.

- battery specs are: 11.1v 2280mah 30C (35C max), made by "GE Power", purchased from GoodLuckBuy

I have done a 'balance' charge on my LiPo. I hope that this will help, but I bet that it will still drain the battery in no time. Will be doing more testing and I will post and update or another video if the problem changes.

Here are some of the people I have been talking to on YouTube about quadrocopters and some people who I have just enjoyed videos from:

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheFlyingRookie/videos

https://www.youtube.com/user/MobileMediaProducts/videos

https://www.youtube.com/user/gundamnitpete/videos

https://www.youtube.com/user/willimesserschmitt/videos

https://www.youtube.com/user/XtremeWingRC/videos

https://www.youtube.com/user/PatheticComputing/videos

https://www.youtube.com/user/xframesvideo/videos

https://www.youtube.com/user/buffythesaint/videos

https://www.youtube.com/user/RCModelReviews/videos

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheDmel/videos

https://www.youtube.com/user/AerospaceControlsLab/videos

https://www.youtube.com/user/ParallaxInc/videos

Quadrocopter Build - Part 6 - Stable-ish

Good news, I have got it to come very close to what you would call 'fly' :p http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYOsrRToJtg
I had to invert the yaw gyro on the board. I have to correct all of the controls on the transmitter (they were very off, and one was incorrectly inverted).
I went back to an X mode/config. Battery is close to dead but I really wanted to get one strait flight after all the things I fixed. I am on KK multicopter firmware v4.7.
Next will be an outdoor flight on a fully charged battery.

Here is a list of all items ordered to date. Some were not needed, some just for the fun of it. If I knew everything I would have needed up front I also could have saved on shipping.
Order 1 - HobbyKing
Hobby King 2.4Ghz 6Ch Tx & Rx V2 (Mode 2)
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=9042

Order 2 - GoodLuckBuy
2200mAh 30C - 35C 11.1v LiPo RC Battery For Trex 450 V2
http://www.goodluckbuy.com/2200mah-30c-35c-11-1v-lipo-rc-battery-for-trex-450-v2.html
8x4.5" 8045 8045R CW/CCW Rotating Propeller For MultiCoptor 2 Pairs
http://www.goodluckbuy.com/8x4-5-8045-8045r-cw-ccw-rotating-propeller-for-multicoptor-2-pairs-.html
GWS 9050 9x5 3-blade Rotating Propeller CW 4-Pack
http://www.goodluckbuy.com/gws-9050-9x5-3-blade-rotating-propeller-ccw-4-pack.html
GWS 9050 9x5 9050R 3-blade Rotating Reversed Propeller CCW 4-Pack
http://www.goodluckbuy.com/gws-9050-9x5-9050r-3-blade-rotating-reversed-propeller-ccw-4-pack.html
Hobbywing Skywalker 20A 2A-BEC Brushless ESC for Quadcopter Multicopter 4-Pack
http://www.goodluckbuy.com/hobbywing-skywalker-20a-2a-bec-brushless-esc-for-quadcopter-multicopter-4-pack.html
KK MK X525 V3 QuadCopter Folding Frame Friber Glass MultiCoptor Red/Balck
http://www.goodluckbuy.com/kk-mk-x525-quadcopter-folding-frame-quad-rotor-friber-glass-multicoptor.html
KKmulticontroller V5.5 Controller Board V2.2 Program with Config: QuadCopter
http://www.goodluckbuy.com/kkmulticontroller-v5-5-controller-board-v2-1-program-with-config-quadcopter-.html
M3 6 + 15mm Plastic Nylon Pillar Hex Spacer Male/Female 20pcs
http://www.goodluckbuy.com/m3-6-15mm-plastic-nylon-pillar-hex-spacer-male-female-20pcs.html
MultiCopter Copter Power Battery to 8 ESC 8 Led Strip Connection Board
http://www.goodluckbuy.com/multicopter-copter-power-battery-to-8-esc-8-led-strip-connection-board.html
Reinforced Protection Cover Plate for KK MK MultiCopter Controller
Circuit Board (2-Pack)
http://www.goodluckbuy.com/reinforced-protection-cover-plate-for-kk-mk-multicopter-controller-circuit-board-2-pack-1.html
VANTAGE 50W B6S+ LiPo NiMH Battery Balance Charger
http://www.goodluckbuy.com/vantage-50w-b6s-lipo-nimh-battery-balance-charger-.html
XAircraft X650 L1010 Battery Fastener 2pcs
http://www.goodluckbuy.com/xaircraft-x650-l1010-battery-fastener-2pcs.html
XXD A2208 1200KV Brushless Motor for Quadcopter Multicopter 4-Pack
http://www.goodluckbuy.com/xxd-a2208-1200kv-brushless-motor-for-quadcopter-multicopter-4-pack.html

Order 3 - HobbyKing
Car Cigarette Lighter Adapter for Battery Chargers
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=8819
Nylon T-Connectors Female (10pcs/Bag)
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=11962
Nylon T-Connectors Male (10pcs/Bag)
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=11981
3.5mm 3 wire Bullet-connector for motor (5pairs/bag)
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=10255
Hobby King Battery Monitor 3S
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7223
Turnigy Pure-Silicone Wire 12AWG (1mtr) BLACK
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=9674
Turnigy Pure-Silicone Wire 12AWG (1mtr) RED
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=9673
Turnigy Pure-Silicone Wire 14AWG (1mtr - 69A) BLUE
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=9648

Order 4 - DealExtreme
12-LED Red / Blue Fast Strobe Light Flexible Strips (DC 12V / Pair)
Got two pairs. That 4 total, wired and sold in pairs.

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/12-led-red-blue-fast-strobe-light-flexible-strips-dc-12v-pair-117626G4

1W 95-Lumen 6500K 21-LED Dome White Light Bulb (DC 12V)
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/g4-1w-95-lumen-6500k-21-led-dome-white-light-bulb-dc-12v-51039

Order 5 - eBay
F00113 Hobbywing Program Card for Heli Brushless ESC
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/130617998623?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_1898wt_1396

Order 6 - HobbyKing
TURNIGY Transmitter Strap
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=11982
Hobby King 2.4Ghz 6Ch Tx USB Cable
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=9043
450 Size Heli Blade Balancer Adapter (3mm)
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=14928

Order 7 - GoodLuckBuy
1-6S LiPo Battery Voltage Checker Tester with Dual-Speaker Low Voltage
Buzzer Alarm
http://www.goodluckbuy.com/1-6s-lipo-battery-voltage-checker-tester-with-dual-speaker-low-voltage-buzzer-alarm.html
GWS 9050 9x5 3-blade Rotating Propeller CW 4-Pack
http://www.goodluckbuy.com/gws-9050-9x5-3-blade-rotating-propeller-ccw-4-pack.html
GWS 9050 9x5 9050R 3-blade Rotating Reversed Propeller CCW 4-Pack
http://www.goodluckbuy.com/gws-9050-9x5-9050r-3-blade-rotating-reversed-propeller-ccw-4-pack.html
M3 Plastic Nylon Hex Nuts for Multicopter Flight 20pcs
http://www.goodluckbuy.com/m3-plastic-nylon-hex-nuts-for-multicopter-flight-20pcs.html

Order 8 - BuyInCoins
Power 12V 5A Supply Adapter for iMAX B5 B6 RC Charger
http://www.buyincoins.com/details/power-12v-5a-supply-adapter-for-imax-b5-b6-rc-charger-product-4866.html
New RC Helicopter Plane CCPM Servo ESC Checker Tester
http://www.buyincoins.com/details/new-rc-helicopter-plane-ccpm-servo-esc-checker-tester-product-4861.html

Quadrocopter Build - Part 5 - Upgrade and start over

I have upgraded the firmware to 4.7 on the KK multicopter board. I ran into several issues but the short story is, use these guides to help you avoid the issues I had:

"quadcopter (x-mode build log)"

http://multicopter.forestblue.nl/quadcopter_build_log.html

"KK flight-controller setup guide"

http://rcexplorer.se/Educational/kkguide/kkguide.html

To extent on the short story, 4.7 has a lot of changes and the are annoying but they result in a much better flight with more control.

Go read the two sties or at least just the first one.

I have broke too many props, and it turns out that the set of two blade props that I bought have too small of a shaft hole (*giggle*).

New props are on order from China... I may stop by a local hobby shop and see if they have any I can buy way over priced just so I can get this thing off the ground.

Oh, also, make sure your transmitter have all axes are centered and not are inverted. If you have a very simple/cheap Tx but you can get a USB cable to configure it, do.

Quadrocopter Build - Part 4 - Outdoor

I thought that I likely damaged enough furniture trying to fly indoors, so I would try outdoor. At this point the reversed gyro on the KK board was not sitting well with me. I for sure can reverse it in the 4.7+ software via the PC + USB cable, but that has a bug with M4. A lot of good that does me...

Outdoor test flight number one. Unsuccessful attempt to fly outdoors. It was quite windy and the battery was low.

Not exciting, but a good test of using a GorillaPod (flexible camera tripod) on the ContourHD. I think it vibrates too much. Will need to mount the camera on top or bottom.

Forward and backwards were reversed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJB9I1IMYng

I have gone back to version 2.2 of the software/firmware. This *should* be what came on the board when I got it, however it doesn't seem to be allowing me to reverse the pitch gyro using the directions everyone talks about, seen here:

http://www.kkmulticopter.kr/index.html?modea=manual

Under "4. Gyro(Servo) direction reversing"

This did work for me on firmware version 4.7. However we all now know about the M4 issue in that. I have yet to try firmware v4.5, ect. I Need to get time this week to try that out.

I also need to balance more propellers. I also need to order more propellers... I have a set of two blade props, but the recommended props for these motors were three blade. Also, I hear that three blade are quieter. Sounds good, if its true :)

Two motors are way off balance because I put on unbalanced propellers. This was a temporary fix.

Next outdoor attempts. Just trying to get trim and gyros right, and reverse gyro direction for pitch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trCoMyGas8U

When trying to use the 'Gyro direction reversing' steps, I somehow changed something with the yaw, causing it to spin up and out of control when I used yaw.

I reset the KK board settings using 'Clear all settings [servo & stick centering]'.

Part 2 of trying to fly that day. Nothing is resolved. Not owrking great.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFfBIsglmTQ

I also have a battery drain issue. I am sure that the battery is not powerful enough. Here is my calculation... try to follow me here...

ESCs are rated at 20A Max. There are four of them. 4 * 20 = 80A Max draw (plus board and Rx).

The battery is rated at 30C Constant draw, and 35C Max/burst. 35C is 35 times the current rating, aka the mAh rating of the battery. This battery is 2.28 Ah (2280mAh). Therefore in one C (aka cycle) this battery can output a maximum of 35*2.28 Amps. That it 79.8 Amp Max. That is less than that max of my speed controllers.

Often, the battery is only lasting me a few minutes of testing. That's not even fly time.

When I am at about 3/4 throttle, the battery monitor starts to beep even when the battery is at a full charge. Has happened twice at least.

I have also had a few times where I increase the throttle but the motors do not speed up. This also leads me to thing it is either a battery or ESC issue.

I will need to buy a bigger battery. I planned to anyway, but though it would be to extend flight time not to maintain flight.

Last attempts for the day. Same issues. Thought I'd just try to fly it even with pitch backwards.

Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEqBNmGw0co

Until next time...

Quadrocopter Build - Part 3

Build is done! That went much faster than I thought it would. I guess all of my research, forum reading and video watching was useful.

I ran into an issue where the "XCopter v4.7 KK" doesn't properly power motor number 4. More info on the issue here:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1584924

Until the issue is fixed, use version 2.2 for an X4/XQuad.

Another issue that I ran into is that some KK blackboards come with the pitch gyroscope backwards. If you test the pitch (typically right hand stick's forward and back) and it is backwards, you need to reverse it. It may also be Transmitter specific. I'm not sure. Directions here:

http://www.kkmulticopter.kr/index.html?modea=manual

Under "Gyro(Servo) direction reversing"

I recorded the first flight with version 2.2 (which is what the KK board shipped with) before the M4 issue with two cameras. Here are the videos:

Quadrocopter - 2012-03-10 - X525 XQuad - First flight - Camera 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHmOIwNLe9c

Quadrocopter - 2012-03-10 - X525 XQuad - First flight - Camera 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSCyF9n6NZI

Tomorrow I plan to take it outside and try to calibrate the gyro potentiometers on the KK board to stop drifting in any direction (pitch, roll, yaw).

More videos and info to follow in the future.

Quadrocopter Build - Part 2

Great news! The majority of my parts have arrived!

I got:

propellers (2 and 3 prop sets with spares), flight controller (with usb cable) (with one extra by accident), battery charger, battery (2280mAh 35C), motors (1100kv), frame (X525), speed controllers (20A), power distribution board.

First and second shipments to arrive:

Third shipment to arrive:

More to come when I start building tomorrow!

Quadrocopter Build - Part 1.5

Just an update...

I got the Tx, Rx, Power wires, Power connectors, ESC wires and ESC connectors.

Still waiting on:

Frame, Flight Controller, Battery, LEDs, motors, props, ESCs, ESC programmer and Tx USB, Tx strap, prop balancing bar, and much more.

I found a good idea for my idea of "Switch on quad for battery to save from always disconnecting the battery (likely not possibly because of amperage required)".

Rather than a switch, I can use this removable positive wire idea this guy used:

http://static.rcgroups.net/forums/attachments/5/1/1/2/9/a2876469-216-power%20wiring.jpg

I hope the other shipments will be in soon!

I will also provide an update and hopefully video soon of me figuring out the Tx and Rx. Perhaps me making the power and ESC wires and connectors.

One question I have to find the answer to: What is the voltage for the Rx, and how do people power it? I still have no figured out how people power the flight control boards either.

I found that this Rx should be 4.8-6 volts, but do people just use a resister and I have never seen anyone ever talk about it in a build before?

Until next time.... Keep your stick on the ice :)

Update: Found some info that I noted to look into above. Flight controller gets power from ESCs. Receiver gets power from Flight controller. On the KK, they are all connected, as seen in this schematic: http://www.kkmulticopter.com/images/stories/kk55_board.jpg

More details here if you want them: http://www.kkmulticopter.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=161:kkmulticontroller-v55-qblackboardq&catid=57:pcb-schematics&Itemid=65

Other people have also had these questions about Rx and FC power. Some good answers were provided, but I think the schematic is the best. Here are a few forum posts where the questions were answered:

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=26594

http://www.fpvuk.org/forum/index.php?topic=3334.0

I expect some future questions to be answered on this other site I found while trying to learn more, it is known as "Quadrocopter and Tricopter Info Mega Link Index". It can be found here: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1097355

Some videos I plan to watch tonight to get make sure I know what to expect:

How to Solder Bullet Connectors to Brushless Motors and ESC

How to Solder Deans Connectors in under 1 minute