Flyduino Quad With Drotek Controller

[Gaza07]

Well don't stare at them you might get dazzled and crash  ::)

[teslahed]

Looks very nice.

I'm using the same motors as you on a (probably slightly heavier) self made PVC frame. I have found they work very well but that the E-Clips / Circlips that keep them together are spindly and a bit rubbish. You'll probably have to replace them sooner or later when you find your motors start making rattling noises - after a couple of mine did i replaced all of them.

http://www.multi-rotor.co.uk/index.php/topic,223.15.html

Also I've found the motors work very well with 9 inch props if you decide you want a bit more power, these ones are working well for me at the moment (for some reason 9 inch props are harder to find than 8 or 10);

http://flyduino.net/9x47-Propeller-Set-Green-4-pcs-2-CW-and-2-CCW

but if your frame is lighter than my PVC frame you may be fine with 8 inch props.

[MadMax]

Looking good gerry those skids look rather heavy duty 

[pheasant_plucker]

Looks very nice.

I'm using the same motors as you on a (probably slightly heavier) self made PVC frame. I have found they work very well but that the E-Clips / Circlips that keep them together are spindly and a bit rubbish. You'll probably have to replace them sooner or later when you find your motors start making rattling noises - after a couple of mine did i replaced all of them.

http://www.multi-rotor.co.uk/index.php/topic,223.15.html

Also I've found the motors work very well with 9 inch props if you decide you want a bit more power, these ones are working well for me at the moment (for some reason 9 inch props are harder to find than 8 or 10);

http://flyduino.net/9x47-Propeller-Set-Green-4-pcs-2-CW-and-2-CCW

but if your frame is lighter than my PVC frame you may be fine with 8 inch props.

Thanks, I'm actually using 10" props at the moment but I have a few sets of 8" which I need to balance before I try them. It works well on the 10" but I haven't tried a watt meter yet to measure the current draw (I'll check today with both sizes and report back). I imagine the 8" will give me a quicker throttle response.

Looking good gerry those skids look rather heavy duty

They're from my old concept 30, I will buy some new ones as i want to keep the Concept intact. Any suggestions, Links?

Gerry

[pheasant_plucker]

You'll probably have to replace them sooner or later when you find your motors start making rattling noises

The Circlips are simply a shaft retainer, I can't see how they can cause a rattle. Two of mine were noisy from the start. I fixed that by balancing them and they are as smooth as silk now.

Gerry

[Gaza07]

Iv'e used the hk450 landing skids on mine from giant shark but they don't seem to stock the ones I had now, the hk500 skids might be better a bit bigger 

[pheasant_plucker]

Iv'e used the hk450 landing skids on mine from giant shark but they don't seem to stock the ones I had now, the hk500 skids might be better a bit bigger

Cheers Gaz I'll try them 

I'm actually using 10" props at the moment but I have a few sets of 8" which I need to balance before I try them. It works well on the 10" but I haven't tried a watt meter yet to measure the current draw (I'll check today with both sizes and report back).

A quick check with the 10" props using a watt meter gives 305watt average with 26 amp average current draw at full throttle with the quad held down. I would imagine this will drop considerably in flight as the props will not have to work as hard. So 26/4 = 6.5amps per 18amp ESC so well within the comfort zone. My Turnigy 3s 2200 25c packs are well up to the job too. (good job as I have six of them)
I have found that I get 10minutes comfortably hovering around with gentle manoeuvres just to get the feel and look of it. I have just done 10minutes and checked the pack, each cell is showing 3.72v.
I have tried to use one of those LiPo alarms but it keeps triggering intermittently in use. so I think I'll stick to the timer and monitoing the cells for now.
I'll try the 8" props and watt meter when I get time/bored and report back on current consumption.

Gerry

[teslahed]

A quick check with the 10" props using a watt meter gives 305watt average with 26 amp average current draw at full throttle with the quad held down. I would imagine this will drop considerably in flight as the props will not have to work as hard. So 26/4 = 6.5amps per 18amp ESC so well within the comfort zone.

I'm surprised if it's 26 amps for all 4 motors with 10 inch props - I'd have thought they'd draw more than that as they are rated for 15 amps max and 9 inch props. I do wonder if you can get away with using larger props with quadcopters than with a plane as you only use short bursts of full power.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__3732__hacker_Style_Brushless_Outrunner_20_26M.html

My Turnigy 3s 2200 25c packs are well up to the job too. (good job as I have six of them)
I have found that I get 10minutes comfortably hovering around with gentle manoeuvres just to get the feel and look of it. I have just done 10minutes and checked the pack, each cell is showing 3.72v.
I have tried to use one of those LiPo alarms but it keeps triggering intermittently in use. so I think I'll stick to the timer and monitoing the cells for now.

The voltage in a lipo drops when you draw more current so your packs may not be up to the job if your low voltage alarm is triggering in flight. If it triggers when you use full throttle then that is probably because the voltage is dropping below safe levels when your lipos can't cope with the current draw. If you measure the voltage when you've landed you'll measure higher than the voltage alarm does in flight.

Some of my packs are getting a bit old now. I can still get about 8 mins of gentle flight out of them but if i start looping my quadcopter i get battery alarms going off after 3 mins on every ascent.

[MadMax]

Giant shark seem to have dropped a lot of products since it was Giant Cod 

Iv'e used the hk450 landing skids on mine from giant shark but they don't seem to stock the ones I had now, the hk500 skids might be better a bit bigger 

[pheasant_plucker]

I tried the 8" props with the watt meter attached and they draw slightly more current at full throttle 29amps. Performance isn't that much different but response to the throttle is quicker.

Gerry

[Gaza07]

It would be interesting to see the thrust generated by each one, I've seen some one use digital kitchen scales, setup so the motor was on an arm with a pivot so the other end of the arm would press down on the scales as the power was increased it would press down harder to give a reading 

[Gaza07]

Like this one

http://youtu.be/xz7QVw9G29Q

[MadMax]

Thats a good idea and looks like he made a good job of it, but is it really a good way to measure the thrust ?
I would think its pretty accurate as long as the scales are zeroed with the rig in place