Multirotor, multicopter and quadcopter discussion - The Drone thread

SteveOBHave said:
I think he's talking about the USB ASP connector headers on the KK2 board used for reflashing the firmware.
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Was my post that unclear :o sorry chaps!

Yeah this is for flashing the speed controllers with Simonk. I've got the blueseries ESCs like in the second picture Steve posted, so I can't connect the usbasp straight to them easily unless I buy the socket tool I linked (and addicted linked above this post).

Those next level programming pins look so much better! I could deal with soldering to that, plus you could probably quite easily just make your own adaptor that grabs hold of the esc holding the cables to the contacts.

Edit - the wiki link that pazza has just posted suggests the Hobbyking Blueseries 30As that I have do actually have pads, albeit not in a line. Saves me soldering to the chip which was the bit I was worried about :eek:
 
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PinkFloyd said:
Was my post that unclear :o sorry chaps!

Yeah this is for flashing the speed controllers with Simonk. I've got the blueseries ESCs like in the second picture Steve posted, so I can't connect the usbasp straight to them easily unless I buy the socket tool I linked (and addicted linked above this post).

Those next level programming pins look so much better! I could deal with soldering to that, plus you could probably quite easily just make your own adaptor that grabs hold of the esc holding the cables to the contacts.

Edit - the wiki link that pazza has just posted suggests the Hobbyking Blueseries 30As that I have do actually have pads, albeit not in a line. Saves me soldering to the chip which was the bit I was worried about :eek:
Click to expand...

Yes those 30 amp blue series are very easy to flash with the adapter,thats the ones i allways use.
 
Sorry PinkFloyd, I got the completely wrong end of the stick!

Think I may put ANOTHER order into HobbyKing and get that little programmer thingybob the same time. Wont hurt to have another few metres of cable :D
 
I think I'm going to change my radio gear to the new FrSky Taranis X9D system.
From what I'm reading is seems to be excellent but what I'm really interested in is the new X8R receiver. You can use an SBUS connection from it to a Naza/WKM/SuperX and get 8 channels and at the same time use another 8 channels from traditional servo outputs.
This is absolutely ideal for what I need as I can control a 3-axis gimbal from the sliders and knobs on the tx while still leaving loads of channels for flight control, video switching, landing gear retracts etc.
 
I managed to fix my bricked 9x, made a bridge out of some wire and somehow managed to tack it directly on to the Atmel chip leg without shorting anything and straight to the tiny transistor or whatever it is, it looks hilarious, but it works :D This was a seriously microscopic case of blind-luck more than any skill but I figured I had nothing to lose if it all went wrong... :p

Also flashed it to ER9x while I was in the mood, shame there's a 9x replacement on it's way to me from China now, sure I can sell it on though or keep it as a spare.

If you flash ESCs to SimonK or HeliGuy(?) Firmware you don't need a Programming Card right (The flash does all the settings)? Just calibrate the throttle and you're good to go?
 
Thats right no need to program the simonk firmware,just calibrate,not sure about heliguy havent tried that one.
 
So I take it depending on which SimonK firmware you flash to the ESC, it is already preset with the necessary settings suitable for a Tri?
 
Good job on the 9x fix doofer! Would be handy having a spare as you can use it to slave from your main controller - good for potentially letting others have a go on a quad of yours whilst knowing you can stop it crashing should it come to it?
I'd be very surprised if you couldn't easily sell it for more than you paid once it's in the UK anyway.


I'm not sure that it would matter whether it was a Tri or otherwise on the speed controllers. I might be wrong though!

My understanding is that Simonk allows the ESCs to do is react quicker to follow the instructions from the Flight Controller. This means the Flight Controller is less likely to overcorrect and can fly with higher gains etc.

If that turns out to be wrong let me know. (I'll nuke this post if so to avoid confusion!)
 
Thats correct the simonk firmware makes the esc update more times per second making the tri/quad more responsive.

It doesnt matter what setup you have tricopter,quad etc the esc will just act the same.
 
This was the damage I managed to do with my derp soldering skills, what happened was the the horrible blob on the pad to the left just would not tin up and caused a huge blob of solder to drop on to the wrong pad and the actual chip when I pulled the soldering iron away, you can see where it is singed, pulling this blob off resulted in the trace and the other pad to lift completely off so I thought it was toast..

5drz.jpg


To give some sort of scale to the mess, here's the tip of a ballpoint pen next to it :p

cx0d.jpg


Yeah..Looks a lot worse now doesn't it..

This resulted in a constant 'Switch Error' no matter what position any of the switches were in, so I thought that was it.. Ordered a new one from HobbyKing China along with some other parts.

Then I thought I'd have a bash at fixing it as I had nothing to lose and I somehow managed to make a bridge out of the tiny 10-pin wire I'd cut away, solder it to the leg/pad of the chip and then tack it to the tiny resistor or whatever it is, tried the power and..it worked! :) So then I proceeded to solder in the connections for the 10-Pin plug so I could flash it, and it's a complete mess- anything electronical is a black art to me -but it worked!

um7a.jpg


Followed a guide on YouTube then on how to load the firmware using the EEPE thing with the USBAsp and hey presto!

uvtx.jpg


It's a big improvement over the stock 9x GUI but I'm finding it not very intuitive for now getting into Menus I need to change settings, I ended up watching a Russian YouTube guide on just how to reverse a channel (I just followed his button pressing and screen selection, didn't have a clue what he was saying lol!) So some of it is a lot better but I think some of it is worse (Maybe because I'm just not used to it at all?)

Definitely a better screen to look at though..

q44w.jpg
 
rhysduck said:
Sorry PinkFloyd, I got the completely wrong end of the stick!

Think I may put ANOTHER order into HobbyKing and get that little programmer thingybob the same time. Wont hurt to have another few metres of cable :D
Click to expand...
In that photo of your tricopter parts you have Turnigy Plush ESCs which use SiLabs chips and can't be flashed with SimonK. You have to use BLheli firmware and flash with an Arduino, the Hobby King tool and USBasp AVR programmer aren't compatible with SiLabs, only ATMEL chips.

Saying that though, you'll need the USBasp for your KK2.0.
 
doofer said:
It's a big improvement over the stock 9x GUI but I'm finding it not very intuitive for now getting into Menus I need to change settings, I ended up watching a Russian YouTube guide on just how to reverse a channel (I just followed his button pressing and screen selection, didn't have a clue what he was saying lol!) So some of it is a lot better but I think some of it is worse (Maybe because I'm just not used to it at all?)

Definitely a better screen to look at though..

http://imageshack.us/a/img593/2343/q44w.jpg[IMG][/QUOTE]

ER9X is the mutts - I love it. Once you understand the programming and nesting of programming then it just clicks - having said that. EVERY time you add a mix, test your controls again - I've lawn darted my Carbon Kevlar DLG because I added a minor switch trim to increase undercamber and in the process managed to reverse my aileron controls... doh!
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Col_M said:
In that photo of your tricopter parts you have Turnigy Plush ESCs which use SiLabs chips and can't be flashed with SimonK. You have to use BLheli firmware and flash with an Arduino, the Hobby King tool and USBasp AVR programmer aren't compatible with SiLabs, only ATMEL chips.

Saying that though, you'll need the USBasp for your KK2.0.
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Thanks for that!

Started the ESC's last night, should finish them tonight hopefully.
 
To those with bigger (higher power/current) Multirotors here.... What battery connectors do you use?
I'm getting a bit fed up with my slightly bodged together 4mm bullets plugging into the huge 4mm connector on the battery, I've managed to break one of the solder joints again bending it around as I didn't give it enough slack.
I've been looking at alternative connectors like Deans and XT60s. I'm seeing mixed comments on how much ampage they can cope with and I'm worried of over doing it, melting the connector...

Thoughts?
 
How many Amps are you pulling PF?

XT60's I use on planes and such, good up to 60A (rated at 80A some) but I never pull anywhere near that.
 
If you're looking at XT60 but exceed the 60A limit have a look at XT90 connectors, essentially the same just beefier :)
 
Not checked it with an ampmeter, but the motors can pull 17A each going by the specs, although I've seen a few people suggest they actually pull a bit more than that. So I guess I'll be beyond standard XT60s. I'll check out the XT90s - I do prefer the plug design to the deans - look a bit tidier.
 
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