New 550 Builds

[apollo7]

you might be about right on the 500m, i dont think i will be able to see it at 600, the super bright lights help

[axelz]

Check out https://www.caa.co.uk/Consumers/Model-aircraft-and-drones/The-Dronecode/

[LuMan]

I';ve really got to read up on the finer points of the ZYX RTH and fail safe features. As I understand it, RTH hoists you up to a safe height and then heads back to your gps start position (if you remember to set it, of course). Does it just then hover there until the battery cops out? I';d rather it attempted a controlled, if not rapid, descent.

Homework, I think.. 

[guest325]

AFAIK it lands and motors stop, same as the APM.

[LuMan]

AFAIK it lands and motors stop, same as the APM.

[apollo7]

Oh dear, the 550 is down, lost output on a motor, lucky it was only about 20ft up and close in so ended up a "controlled crash" nothing broken, i guessed the esc had failed so plugged a cheap motor into it and it armed and spun, back to the sunny and not working properly, looks like i will have to fly the phantom for a bit till i get it sorted

[apollo7]

done some investigation and turns out the nearly new 4s 5200 lipo has a fault, one cell is showing zero, the suspect motor spins with a decent lipo (but has a rattle to it) i dont think i will risk trying to charge and use suspect lipo

[LuMan]

Sorry to hear your 550 is grounded, apollo. Luckily you seem to have figured it out, though. Hopefully you';ll have her up and airborne again soon. 

I managed to mess up the power connector (XT60) on mine - a bit eager with the soldering iron!! I just got some more connectors, so I';ll have it fixed soon enough and will start getting used to it. I';ll try to get more footage when I take her to the field.

[LuMan]

Well, I finally got the S550 onto the field and shoved 2, 5200mAh packs through it. I tore it about as best I could, trying my best to get it to fail, but it was totally solid. It made a bloody great noise as it ripped past me at about 8 foot off the floor at full tilt!

I flung it upwards, as fast as it would go, and then panicked, as it became a bit of a dot against the clouds. Easing off, I allowed it to fall, rather gracefully, back to a manageable height.

I';ll shove my camera on it for my next flight 

[apollo7]

Well, I finally got the S550 onto the field and shoved 2, 5200mAh packs through it. I tore it about as best I could, trying my best to get it to fail, but it was totally solid. It made a bloody great noise as it ripped past me at about 8 foot off the floor at full tilt!

I flung it upwards, as fast as it would go, and then panicked, as it became a bit of a dot against the clouds. Easing off, I allowed it to fall, rather gracefully, back to a manageable height.

I';ll shove my camera on it for my next flight 

Nice, they do fly rather well and have a pretty good turn of speed, i flew mine into the wind and then flicked it into atti mode and full tilt back, it sounded like Airwolf as it screamed past, flicked back to GPS and was surprised at the huge stopping distance........i really want mine back in the air, still waiting for new motor, as i dont trust the one that rattles, and now the Titus 600 is taking shape

[nate80]

Hi guys,

Determined to stay positive but still feel like a bit of a moan.  I';m still working toward completing my hex - slowly but surely.  I';m building a semi-custom landing gear, battery holder and gimbal rig from carbon fibre which bolts onto the standard dji f550 platform without any drilling or damage to the original frame.  It';s taken quite a lot more research to design and build than I expected, but it';s almost there.

Meanwhile I';ve been continuing with the hardware installation and programming side of things.  It';s been a bit of a nightmare if I';m honest.  Other than RC cars back in the 90';s (which were really simple) I';ve never built an RC model, so this is proving a baptism of fire.  I';ve learnt loads (and it';s satisfying), but there';s always the next pile of issues or questions to overcome (which can be draining).  Like, yesterday I finally got to the stage of connecting the Naza V2 to my laptop.  But it wouldn';t connect.

I thought I';d searched the www for every scrap of data about how to connect to it correctly and successfully.  I';d downloaded the Naza software from the DJI website and installed it on my Windows 10 2in1, but the software couldn';t see the Naza V2 hardware.  On further reading of the DJI manual it says you must install the USB drivers before installing the Naza Assistant, which is actually incorrect.  But not knowing this was nonsense I removed the Naza Assistant, downloaded and installed a DJI driver package and then installed the Naza Assistant again.  It still wouldn';t talk to the Naza V2.  Turns out that although the driver software said it installed successfully DJI hasn';t released a ';Signed'; (authorised) driver for their Naza products, so Windows 10 refused to recognise it.  This was a needle in a haystack issue to diagnose.  DJI should provide a signed driver, or at least explain on their downloads page that the driver isn';t signed off by microsoft and so won';t work properly with Windows 8 or 10 without performing some fairly critical changes to the operating system.  You have to boot into safe mode and turn off the unsigned driver blocker.  This involves pressing one of the F keys.  I have a tablet laptop with a bluetooth keyboard that isn';t active when in safe mode, the bios or the boot loader, and so can';t be used to press the F keys.  So I had to enter the BIOS and disable the secure boot protocol via touchscreen before restarting the computer and then instructing it to disable the signed authorisation protocol via the Admin Command Prompt window.  Once I';d figured out the correct coding, and this had completed successfully, I was finally able to go into the Device Driver and force the port Com 3 to update to the DJI supplied unsigned driver in order to get the Naza Assistant software talking to the Naza V2.   

I think it';s pretty stupid that DJI don';t supply a comprehensive instruction manual for the build and setup of their own F550 with their own FC and PMU hardware.  Instead, every item has it';s own manual.  The F550 has a ridiculously short build manual that';s missing loads of vital info.  The Naza V2 has a manual that';s poorly written in chinglish and that contradicts itself again and again.  I probably feel it';s so bad because it';s all so new to me and I don';t want to get the build and setup wrong, so I';m having to waste days searching the internet for multiple guides (many of which aren';t relevant anymore and are missing important details) before moving forward with any kind of confidence.

I';m just really looking forward to getting the F550 in the air safely.  But before I can do that I have to figure out how the Taranis X9D plus works regarding the OpenTX companion, firmware, internal module firmware, X8R firmware etc.

Cheers for putting up with my moan!     It';s only temporary irritation.  I am really looking forward to getting my rig airborne.   ::)

[nate80]

I';m just really looking forward to getting the F550 in the air safely.  But before I can do that I have to figure out how the Taranis X9D plus works regarding the OpenTX companion, firmware, internal module firmware, X8R firmware etc.

Taranis 9XD Plus Firmware, Bootloader and Internal Module all upgraded and the X8R Receiver flashed with the newest firmware too.   

Now onto the fun stuff!  Setting up the Naza V2.   ::)

[LuMan]

Don';t worry about ranting, Nate. We all need to rant at some point. It clears our heads and enables us to think properly again 

Glad you';re back on track 

I must agree with the current state of documentation that comes with all the various components required to build a multi rotor. While I was building my 550 I had Hell';s own job figuring out what to do and how to put it all together. But, in the end, I felt a whole lot more competent for doing it. It really is a geek hobby and you have to learn on your feet in order to get the solutions you want.

I can guarantee that when you';ve flown your 550 you';ll be wanting to build other craft. I threw a 250 together in a day, based on what I';d learnt. I';m going to rebuild the bits into a different frame (still a 250) and then build my Bobcat (when it arrives).

Good luck with your maiden. Remember the pics and vids 

[nate80]

Thanks very much LuMan.  New build photos coming soon.  And I';ll be sure to catch the maiden flight on video.   

You';re so right.  All the extra effort to figure out what';s what can be challenging, but it does lead to learning loads.  I feel more capable every day.  And I reckon you';re spot on about finishing your first and then wanting to build the next... and the next... and the next..!  I';m already getting itchy feet and I haven';t even finished my first build yet!   

Cheers

Nate

[apollo7]

Well, my old girl is fully fixed, and even better 
New motor replacing the one with a rattle, no point taking chances, i will strip old motor and see if i can sort it as a spare.
A couple of extra lights, like it really needs them 
and new gimbal, to see if i can get rid of the last tiny bit of fuzz on camera image, should have her in the air tomorrow morning

[LuMan]

Cracking pics, apollo. 

Thanks to a new job I don';t get chance to check the forum as much as I used to (when I used to post during work hours - heehee!!), so to come on and see great progress like this really makes it worthwhile.

I pass some good fields on my way to work, so I may stick my hex in the boot for some early-morning, frosty pics 

Next steps for my build are:
1. Fit the GPS mast that';s been sitting under the stairs for the last month..
2. Fit the LEDs.. once I find the right ones..
3. Fit the camera gimbal
4. Replace the motors with even heavier-lift variants
5. Swap the 1050 carbon-fibre reinforced props for 1045 full-carbon

It';ll be done by Spring! 

[apollo7]

re the led`s, there is an ebay seller (UK) that sells led strips in various lengths i find these the best, i love the super bright red and green but to be honest they are too bright

[apollo7]

Wahoo, yay, wahoo    ::)
My S550 is just about ready again after some old git nicked the Naza V1 out of it  :embarrassed
Just finished fitting a brand spanking shiney new Naza m lite, other laptop is booted up so i can tell the naza how i want it.........hopefyully test flying at weekend weather permitting  ::)

[Dippi]

That look like a great bird. Keep posting about your experience.
Any suggestions on where to buy reliable and economical stuff for drones in general.

[apollo7]

Okay, its only taken about a year, finally got round to tidying the wiring up on the 550, when i built it i just bunched up all the spare motor wires and taped them down, very shoddy!
i have finished cutting them down and re soldering the bullets......36 connections grr
Its looking proper job now, still got to get the silly M lite working right but should be easy


how upload image

[Dippi]

Looks cool!
By the way what battery do you use i.e.(3 or 4s and how many MAH).
How many minutes of flight do you get out of it.

[apollo7]

Looks cool!
By the way what battery do you use i.e.(3 or 4s and how many MAH).
How many minutes of flight do you get out of it.

I use 4s lipo, get 19 mins from 5200mah and 21 mins from 6600mah, it could handle 8000mah but happy with flight times, still got more work to do

[nate80]

Hi guys,

I';ve ordered some new bits today to complete my F550.  Some are coming from China so it';s gonna be a bit of a wait, but in the mean time I';m gonna finish the base build and fly that.  I';ll add the retractable legs, orientation LED';s, Gimbal and FPV camera when the supporting parts all arrive.

I';ve put two wiring diagrams together.  The led light one I did a while back and I';m happy with but the other one';s new.  Does my wiring plan for the F550 look right?  I';m not sure where is absolutely best to take power from, for example.  I';ve got it so that the gimbal and LED';s are taking power from the 12v UBEC, the Xiaomi Yi camera is taking power from the 5V UBEC and the VTX is taking power directly from a pair of the Power Pads.

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]