improving flight times ?

[glowingturnip]

So since adding gimbal, camera and long legs to my quad, the flight times have dropped from about 8-9 minutes per battery to only about 6 minutes, and I'm wondering how I can improve that.

The all-in weight of quad+camera+battery etc comes to around 1.3kg at the moment. KV980 motors, EMAX 25A ESC's, 1045 props, 2200mAh battery, kk2.1.5, 450 frame.

Would it be a simple matter of getting say a 3000mAh battery instead, or are there complex weight vs charge calculations I need to do to see if that works ? Anything else I can tweak to improve flight time ? I will be swapping out those legs, which will save me 150g or so.

Interesting that the motors and battery are actually cooler after a flight than they were before - I guess the increased power they're producing is outweighed by the shorter time they're doing it in so they don't heat up as much.

 

[Jackson]

Would it be a simple matter of getting say a 3000mAh battery instead, or are there complex weight

That makes the most sense to me. What is the weight of your current LiPo? I have a 2800mAh 35C battery that weighs in at 212 grams.

This 3000mAh one may be a good choice.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lectron-Pro...antom-Drone-/400973932302?hash=item5d5be8a70e

Clocks in at only 195 grams. A similar Zippy is 239 grams.

 

[glowingturnip]

they're zippy 2200's, so 215 grams. Same dimensions too - job done !

 

[holtneil]

Hi mate you can try 10x4.7 props that will give more lift so your need less throttle , as you have 25 amp ESC you may be able to run 11 inch props, your frame will take 12 inch props but these will draw a high load on the esc , so i would check set up with ecalc.com
http://www.hobbyking.co.uk/hobbykin..._Propellers_L_H_and_R_H_Rotation_1_pair_.html
http://www.hobbyking.co.uk/hobbykin...ropellers_11X4_7_LH_and_RH_Rotation_Pair.html
http://www.hobbyking.co.uk/hobbykin..._Propellers_12X6_LH_and_RH_Rotation_Pair.html

 

[glowingturnip]

I've got a big bag of 1045 carbon props to work my way through first, so will wait till I've got through them before I experiment with different props. Will give that a go at some point though.

Typical isn't it - I was going through plastic props like nobody's business when learning to fly, but seemed to get the knack of it as soon as i put the carbons on and have hardly crashed since, have broken just one (famous last words)

 

[Jackson]

but seemed to get the knack of it as soon as i put the carbons on and have hardly crashed since,

Got them barrel rolls going now?

 

[glowingturnip]

hahaha, nope. That should be a good way to get through all those props, shouldn't it