Newbie-> from U818 to Bugs 3...and the learning to fly process for me

[Rick M]

...
I may consider some more batteries. I had 7 on that small drone. But they were 5 min batteries, but I had multi chargers and could have 3 charging while I used the other 3. Not too long of a wait to have fresh batteries. The batteries on this one, while lasting 15 min, are very slow to charge. I do have a 3 charger ordered...but I think it is synchronous charging, not parallel.

Appreciating the feedback guys.

All you need is a parallel charging board and adapters from the board connector to any kind of battery you want to charge. An example is here:

https://www.amazon.com/RCmall-Paral...6885&sr=8-11&keywords=parallel+charging+board

This one uses a Dean's "T" connector. Then you buy or make some T connector to XT30 cables and you can charge up to 6 simultaneously. Ebay is a good source for adapters, or connectors if you want to make your own.

 

[Roger EWing]

Cool! Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[Roger EWing]

Did my 3 battery flight this afternoon. Wind was around 12 mph, so more to learn in I'm practicing the first set of suggested practice in the Quadcopter Drone Flying Lessons by Quadcopter 101.

I am improving. Just starting to try the part of practice where I go out, hover (wind challenging here, especially while turning), come back. So, I definitely have the practice to go for when I am heading a different direction. I plan to also practice when it is, for example, heading to the left or right, and getting it straightened out.

I'm getting better at landing.

Below is a few second video to let you hear the other motor that I think is going out. It is starting to make more noise.

 

[Rick M]

Definitely not normal. You're the first person I know to have these issues with the Bugs 3 motors, but I'd be ordering a replacement for that one.

Sorry you're having the motor issues. I never hesitate to recommend this quad, but Chinese manufacturers' quality assurance sometimes leaves a bit to be desired. On the bright side, it sounds like you are making real progress.

 

[Roger EWing]

I believe I do have a replacement. I need to check and be sure it is the right direction of motor.

I don't know if its problematic motors or of it's due to the rough early flights.

 

[dronedudz2015]

One thing that is key in my experience is to do plenty of research before you purchase any drone so I would recommend anyone in the market for a drone look up something reviewing several different types of drones to figure out whats best for them. I found dronedudenews really helpful but thats just one man's opinion.

 

[Roger EWing]

Today was a real challenge. The weather info only showed 9 mph winds, but it was definitely more here.

I would fly out, having to give it quite a bit of throttle to fly into the wind, but then coming back it came back fast. I just let it float back a couple times. When I did get out there, turn around and head back, the wind would take it quite high (for me...I'm actually practicing quite low, as I'm afraid if I get to high and go haywire, it'll end up in trees or high bushes.

So with wanting to get into turning around and flying back, the wind added about too much challenge for me, while trying to remember to push the throttles opposite direction etc.

I didn't gain much from todays outing, as instead of practicing the heading toward me and directional response, I was fighting the wind taking it too high, and it even turning some (I'm sure some of that was me pushing the throttle sideways) I need more practice w/o wind so I can just get accustomed to directional flying w/o fighting the wind. I will say, that I am getting some experience handling the wind, but it doesn't much feel like it.

It is definitely fun. Will be more fun as I (or if I ) get better

 

[Roger EWing]

Just finished a 3 battery practice session. My blades were a bit fussed up on the ends, one had been bent and I straightened it out. I doubted (and still do after today's session) that it was necessary. Video of the blades I took off below.

So, I am progressing some with handling the winds but still have a long way to go. When I ended up headed to the ground, I successfully made the 'landing' better...even 2-3 times actually landing completely upright and ready to take back off. Intentional landings are working much better, but occasionally still hit hard enough to bounch over. Doesn't take much of a bounce.

Tell me if I'm wrong on this: With my hover and turn arounds (no true hover with the winds)I found it turning around and nosing down toward the ground. Sometimes I couldn't recover. I decided my turn arounds are too fast. I actually was doing them fast in order to be coming straight back and not head toward the bushes I lost the earlier drone in. So at any rate, I started trying slower turn arounds and didn't experience the nose down hell diver attitude.

I'm not ready to practice the banked turns. I feel I need to get more basic control under the belt.

Regarding this not being the best 'learning drone'. I'm curious what characteristics a good learning drone would exhibit over this one. I've been taking the advice of "learn to fly before purchasing an expensive drone with flight autonomy. I have to say that it's tempting to get one that 'does it for you'. But I recognize the need to be able to control it yourself, and besides, I am having fun. Although I need to get more batteries, and get the better charger situation covered.

So below is the video. I suspect maybe filing off the bent over ends/straightening would be good enough for now.

 

[Rick M]

I'd look for a good source of props and replace those. No matter what you do they will be out of balance. The props are the same ones on the Hubsan H501s, and you will probably find them easier and cheaper by searching that way.

 

[Roger EWing]

Do you bother to balance them? I have seen videos on that.

 

[Jackson]

the other motor that I think is going out. It is starting to make more noise.

Double check the motor mount screws. Loosen them a tad and spin it again.

 

[Roger EWing]

Double check the motor mount screws. Loosen them a tad and spin it again.

I'll give it a try.

Here's an interesting bit of info: On that motor, I tried to pull the small allen screw. I in fact was able to pull it out, but the motor cover would not lift off. I put the screw back in and tightened it (yet to put on the blue locktite), and it turned quiet...until I flew it again. My next thing I'll try will be to pull that screw and put some loctite on.

BTW...either the screws or the allen wrenches are made to loose tolerance (Both are China products). It wont' take much force for it to slip in the screw.

 

[Roger EWing]

All you need is a parallel charging board and adapters from the board connector to any kind of battery you want to charge. An example is here:

https://www.amazon.com/RCmall-Paral...6885&sr=8-11&keywords=parallel+charging+board

This one uses a Dean's "T" connector. Then you buy or make some T connector to XT30 cables and you can charge up to 6 simultaneously. Ebay is a good source for adapters, or connectors if you want to make your own.

I've taken a closer look at that tonight. I surely need something else too. I see no way to plug that charging board into anything. In fact it has a cable with another type of plug on it.

I noticed at the bottom of that link in the "Often purchased with this" a link to this 6 amp balancing battery charger, but in the question section I saw this:

Hello KBMAN,
SkyRC iMax B6AC V2 can only charge 1 lipo pack at a time; parallel charging is not suggested.
SkyRC
SkyRC Technology Co., Ltd. SELLER answered on November 17, 2016

So, at the moment, I'm holding off ordering battery stuff.

 

[Rick M]

No charger manufacturer will recommend using a charging board, since it's a possible point of failure they can't control that is hooked to their product. The plug on a parallel charging board plugs into the 6S balance charge connection port on the charger and the Dean's "T" connector on the board plugs into the cable supplied with the charger you linked. On the iMax chargers the balance connector is in the bank of connection points on the right side of the charger.

The iMax B6 chargers are good, cheap chargers and many, many people (me included) use them. Be careful that you are buying a genuine version (SkyRC is the brand). There are many clones out there. The clones may be fine, but I'd prefer to stay with the real, branded one with a verifiable serial number.

With the right connectors/adapters you can charge all the batteries for a fleet of different quads with that charger and charging board.

 

[Roger EWing]

To be sure I understand correctly, first...no other charger being listed or referenced in your original post on the topic, I had assumed no other charger needed. But looking at the ports left me wondering. so...:

The plug on a parallel charging board plugs into the 6S balance charge connection port on the charger

Are you saying the parallel board plugs into the plug on the charger that comes with the Bugs 3? Looking at the pics of the plug of the parallel board (at the end of the red/black wires), it does not look like the right plug. I very likely don't know what a 6S balance charge connection port is. But studying the info on the board on AMazon, it looks to me like the 6S balance connection would be what my battery plugs into on the board.

I'm sorry, I must be dense on this one. I'm still confused how I would put power to the board...unless I do in fact purchase the iMax B6 charger. Which I suspect would be a good idea. If the other option is to ultimately plug the charger that came with the Bugs into the parallel board, I can't imagine it would sufficiently supply power for up to 6 batteries at the same time to charge.

Here's a Youtube video on the topic, but the board looks completely different:

 

[Rick M]

To be sure I understand correctly, first...no other charger being listed or referenced in your original post on the topic, I had assumed no other charger needed. But looking at the ports left me wondering. so...:



Are you saying the parallel board plugs into the plug on the charger that comes with the Bugs 3? Looking at the pics of the plug of the parallel board (at the end of the red/black wires), it does not look like the right plug. I very likely don't know what a 6S balance charge connection port is. But studying the info on the board on AMazon, it looks to me like the 6S balance connection would be what my battery plugs into on the board.

I'm sorry, I must be dense on this one. I'm still confused how I would put power to the board...unless I do in fact purchase the iMax B6 charger. Which I suspect would be a good idea. If the other option is to ultimately plug the charger that came with the Bugs into the parallel board, I can't imagine it would sufficiently supply power for up to 6 batteries at the same time to charge.

Here's a Youtube video on the topic, but the board looks completely different:...

No...I was in fact referring to a balance charger like the iMax B6. You're not dense - batteries, connector types, and charging are a bit bewildering when you're getting started. The only way you're gong to use the Bugs 3 stock charger is to charge one Bugs 3 battery at a time, and it will not balance voltage across the cells. You're also charging "blind" meaning you have no way of seeing the charge rate or ending voltage (until you take it off the charger and use a tester).

The reason that board in your photo looks different is that instead of using the (red) Dean's T connectors like the one I posted, the one in the photo is using (yellow) XT60 connectors. Both are fine, because you will ultimately end up with different batteries and different connectors, so you will buy or make adapters to whatever connection your charging board has. The connector on the stock Bugs 3 battery is an XT30 (it's like the little brother of the XT60) on your charging board photo. You would buy or make XT30-to-XT60 adapters and you could charge up to 6 of the Bugs 3 batteries at a time.

 

[Roger EWing]

Thanks Rick. I am following now. I didn't interpret the need for the purchase of a charger also in the original post, so that was part of my confusion.

So, I've added the charger, board, and adapters to my list in Amazon. Now trying to decide on a bag to charge in.

Somewhat back on thread topic...barely...random thoughts

Today I became a bit disillusioned. It seems that the learning process is going somewhat slow. I think learning in the wind is a good thing though. I probably need to find a yet larger area to practice in.

I've been reading posts in the DJI forums, and find it not unusual for people to lose and crash their expensive drones. I'm beginning to question whether I want to spend the $ on one of those. Serious problems seem more common than I had thought.

As I'm into photography, I had even considered the possibility of selling photography services with one. Even was thinking, of course, of the FAA 107 license. But questioning that thought process as well.

After playing with this a bit, racing drones sound like a lot of fun. But, I'm not finding much of anyone doing anything with drones in my area. I'd be trying to do that from Daytona, to St. Augustine, to Jacksonville, Fl.

 

[Roger EWing]

After the above post I read this inspiring article.

NOTE: You will have to scroll down. The link to that site for some reason presents poorly.

 

[Roger EWing]

I started to go out to use my current 3 battery charge, opened the door, felt pretty windy. Checked the apps, and depending on which I check, it's 13 or 15 mph, with 21 mph gusts. I think I'll wait.

May be boring, but my next attempt is to see how few crashes I have during my session. That means I'm going to keep it pretty low (which frankly has been my method anyway for the most part) and move slow, turn around slow, practice some slow controlled landings.

15-20 mph winds would leave me doomed at this point.

I imagine most of my info I'm posting here won't be much help to other noobs looking for info. But I'll keep posting. Enjoying talking to those who offer advice and input.

 

[Rick M]

You'll find with the quad you're flying that once you progress in flying skills you will be able to fly in that wind without any issues. The difference is you will be flying in high rate and with authority. The Bugs 3 will do well in 15-20 mph wind when you're flying at higher power and getting the nose down. The problem is that creates its own issues while learning. For now, discretion is probably the better part of valor. It gets windy here, too. Doesn't bother some of my quads much, but the smaller and lighter ones I reserve for those times when the wind is low, which is usually in the morning. This morning I got a couple of rare outdoor flights with a brushed micro FPV "tiny whoop", and a neighborhood fly-around session with a Syma X5SC. I still find those fun to fly. I have a wide range of quads from brushless FPV (which is what I'm worst and least knowledgeable at!) to a Phantom 4, to a Syma X11. I have fun flying all of them.

At the moment, I'm sitting on an Aurora 100 which I managed to hose the FC on and can't connect to Betaflight at this point. I've been missing flying that thing, so I need to get off my butt and start hitting up the FPV experts in the crowd for suggestions.