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  1. GlassKnees

    ESC Wires - To Twist Or Not To Twist??

    I think the thing that worked the best was replacing the ESC's with some that could easily be programmed. When I made sure that the timing was "Intermediate", I got much better results. Click here.
  2. GlassKnees

    ESC Wires - To Twist Or Not To Twist??

    This will be my last post on this subject. I have had several successful test flights and today I flew a waypoint mission - a little over three minute flight but it was flawless. I don't know if twisting the wires did anything, but the aircraft seems to fly well. Here is a video of today's...
  3. GlassKnees

    How do I start building my first drone?

    Here is my experience for what it's worth. I have built a Parallax Elev-8, Tarot 680 Hexcopter, a Tarot 650 Sport and 650 Ironman. I have also crashed the Elev-8 multiple times and completely rebuilt it. First off, you have to decide what you want to do with your homebuilt aircraft - learn to...
  4. GlassKnees

    Bought A Used Mavic Pro - My Impressions

    I have been wanting to get a Mavic ever since DJI introduced it, but it was too pricey for my budget. so I contented myself with building a Tarot Ironman - I wanted a stabilized aerial video platform. But I had an accident with the Tarot - that's another story, suffice to say, 17" carbon fiber...
  5. GlassKnees

    ESC Wires - To Twist Or Not To Twist??

    Well, after all the technical issues I finally had two successful test flights! I resolved the Bad GPS warning problem - I had to plug the GPS into a port below the compass port. I also programmed the ESCs for Intermediate Timing, which seemed to resolve my motor surge issues. The first test...
  6. GlassKnees

    Throttle Failsafe Mystery Solved

    I took my modified Elev-8 out for a flight a few days ago and it behaved strangely - would not hold position in Loiter mode and and started to fly way when I switched to RTL, so I had to take over and land manually. I pulled the flight controller off and opened up the case to make sure that the...
  7. GlassKnees

    ESC Wires - To Twist Or Not To Twist??

    So, I replaced the ESC's with some T-Motor AIR 40A ESCs that I found at a reduced price on ebay. I flew the Tarot and found that the surge problem seemed to be better but the aircraft would not maintain altitude during either Loiter or Alt Hold flight modes. A check of the dataflash logs showed...
  8. GlassKnees

    ESC Wires - To Twist Or Not To Twist??

    I finally put the aircraft back together - replaced a bullet connector on two motors that had questionable solder connections. I also lengthened the ESC/motor leads and twisted them. I took it out for a short flight and the problem persists - now I suspect an ESC synch issue. I am going to...
  9. GlassKnees

    ESC Wires - To Twist Or Not To Twist??

    I have completed a build of a Tarot 650 Ironman, but during initial test flights, I'm experiencing random twitches and surges from the motors. I've asked for help on this and the DIY Drone forums with no advice. I've reflashed the flight controller, redid all the calibrations, including the ESCs...
  10. GlassKnees

    Planning A New Build

    Build is complate. Now I have to install the firmware and go through the calibrations.
  11. GlassKnees

    Planning A New Build

    Okay, I have finally wired up the ESCs and motors. I had to reposition the MATEK pcb and APM power module as the boorms were interfering with the wires, so I had to take take it apart and move the MATEK underneath the bottom chassis plate. I put the booms on and now I'm happy with the wiring...
  12. GlassKnees

    Planning A New Build

    I need some advice/opinions. I have decided to mount my 40A OPTO ESCs underneath the main chassis as shown: I have attached velcro squares to the ESCs and onto the Tarot battery plates and sandwiched them together. My question is will I run into heat issues with this arrangement? the...
  13. GlassKnees

    Planning A New Build

    The frame, ESCs , 100 mW telemetry raios and Pixhawk arrived. I agonized over what to do for power distribution but finally decided to go with a Matek FCHub power distribution board - I think that it will provide cleaner and more reliable connections and I like having on board 5V and 10V power...
  14. GlassKnees

    Planning A New Build

    It has been awhile since I've reported and since then I have moved. But I thought I'd take a moment and bring you up to date. first of all, the bad news - my aircraft crashed on its second flight. According to the logs I suffered a brownout and the motors quit and it just fell out of the sky...
  15. GlassKnees

    Scary Flight

    It is when you're a wimp like me!
  16. GlassKnees

    Scary Flight

    Probably around -3.5 C.
  17. GlassKnees

    Scary Flight

    I have given it some thought, but before I attempt that I want to fly both at the same time - enter similar waypoints but have one follow the other at a higher altitude and of course have separate landing spots.
  18. GlassKnees

    Scary Flight

    I just moved to Loveland, Colorado - my house backs up to a golf course. This morning, I decided to fly one of my modified Elev-8 quads over the course as it was a nice, sunny morning but very cold - no golfers out on the course. I uploaded a simple waypoint mission - the aircraft was to climb...
  19. GlassKnees

    Why I don't Like Tarot Frames

    Jeremy, regarding landing gear, I used nylon rods, which I bought on Amazon. They are stronger and flex which absorbs a lot of shock on hard landings:
  20. GlassKnees

    4 crashes in 1 minute video. The ones I have caight on film

    I remember some time ago reading about parachute systems for drones - here a few links I found: https://fruitychutes.com/uav_rpv_drone_recovery_parachutes.htm?gclid=CjwKCAiAx4fhBRB6EiwA3cV4KqNyZEXyICmTIUfMuxVnQsxuCNy_WJmlvC3YOhgunKwlamqL5RDqWhoCkkYQAvD_BwE https://www.marsparachutes.com/...
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