450 frame build - advice

As I said.... the lipo was damaged. I mentioned the metre readings I saw - I agree its wrong - which was why I mentioned it. Anyway whatever was wrong - I am pleased to say the ebay seller replaced it without quibble and having stripped the wires from it - its disposed of.
Quad building has it a brick wall.... Devo binds but does not rsepond in OpenPilot - motors dont spin - so possible the rubbish ESCs from BangGood - which I found on RCGroups to be copies of an HK 12 - 18a ESC are probably the reason.
Have a set of ZTW 30m Opto small from HK on the way and just recieved a KK 2.1.5 board.... no wiring or "manual" - add to that the boss wants the patio extending to give of grandson mnore play area! So I am on hands and knees laying paving stones!
 
HDtallrider said:
Haha! The paving will make a great landing pad during nap time! Always a silver lining in there somewhere my friend............
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Finished the paving yesterday - the paving finished my back the day before!

For those following my "project Titanic" frame build...( what I build does not last long!) I now have some ZTW 30a Opto small ESCs, a KK2.1.5 FC and DJI 2213 920kv motors which will be going onto the 450 frame and it seems once wired up.. I can test if the Devo is functional. I have restored the original Walkera software - and find that with all the "extra" db gain added - the display shows it at slightly above half power out! It binds ( or at least the steady light on the receiver indicates as such) but those who use Open Pilot setup will know the transmitter test... mine does not respond to the on screen tests!

Buying a radio in Aussy is &*^*&^ hard work. Emailed 2 Spektrum sellers.... none replied. Cannot even find an online or high street store selling them in all Australia! Which cannot be real.
At the moment its looking like either an $80 6 channel cheapo or bite the bullet and get a FrSky Taranis. Which I can get get from HK - but none in the au store - and a couple of racing teams are now selling online and I can get one from them.

With the paving done - the boss may unlock my "play" room and allow me my toys!
BUT... now she has a newly extended patio... she want some solar lights - a couple of big pots with with flowers! AND a new reclining chair so she can read in comfort!
And I get moans about my spending on "kids toy helicopters"!o_O
 
Hahaha!! Ain't it the truth! I didn't notice in your posts but did you also get a UBEC to go with the ZTW ESC's? If so, you're golden. If not you'll need one to power the KK and the Rx.
I wish there were a cheap way to send you stuff from the US. If you come up with an idea on how to do it, give me a ping and I'll be happy to shop for you. No one should have to go through what you are.
Cheers mate!
 
HDtallrider said:
Hahaha!! Ain't it the truth! I didn't notice in your posts but did you also get a UBEC to go with the ZTW ESC's? If so, you're golden. If not you'll need one to power the KK and the Rx.
I wish there were a cheap way to send you stuff from the US. If you come up with an idea on how to do it, give me a ping and I'll be happy to shop for you. No one should have to go through what you are.
Cheers mate!
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I do have a HobbyWIng UBEC 3- 5a 3-6sLiPo. But stuffed with the KK2 for wiring. None came with it and I have a packet of 5. What I may do is stay with the CC3D and hope teh Devo is working as it should.

I have have enough stuff now to put together two quads! So I sent off for a 500 Alien frame kit.

I have 4 DJI 2213 920Kv motors
4 Mars 2212 980Kv Motors

4 iMax #) a ESC - in transit
4 ZTW 30a Opto one shot

CC3d FC
KK 2.1.5 FC

1 4500 3s lipo
1 1300 3s lipo ) testing and messing about iwth it)

1 450 X frame
1 500 Alien Frame

1 set each - black and white DJI clone landing legs

a heap of bits and lengths of cables, T60, Deans plugs
heat shrink tubes in a all colours and cable ties in a rainbow or colours

uBask cables

and lots of other stuff!

I am planning to layout all the packing and where I can.. the bits they delivered and do some pics and then do pics of the finished kits.... whether they can fly or not!

Hopefully all done by next Friday!
 
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Wow! You're moving right along. Looks like getting your radio to work is the last bit of the puzzle. Did you say that it worked with the KK? If so, you might consider mounting it, the UBEC and the Rx on a board with velcro on the bottom so you can move them from quad to quad. Make sure the ESC signal wires on each quad are labeled and just plug them in and go fly. That way you use only one radio for multiple quads.
 
HDtallrider said:
Wow! You're moving right along. Looks like getting your radio to work is the last bit of the puzzle. Did you say that it worked with the KK? If so, you might consider mounting it, the UBEC and the Rx on a board with velcro on the bottom so you can move them from quad to quad. Make sure the ESC signal wires on each quad are labeled and just plug them in and go fly. That way you use only one radio for multiple quads.
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Its looking like I have been more in "villiage idiot" mode - than normal. Mixed in with a total lack of knowledge with the stuff I am dealing with.

Basically I mistrusted the Devo 10 due to its origins with EverBuying. I mistrusted the ESCs from BangGood after reading they were in fact copies of some obscure HobbyKing 12a - 18a.
BUT, although I recall reading about NOT using Heli mode - I did. I could not find any info about it - I set swash to zero - assuming it would cut out the helicopter stuff.
After a few weeks I got a reply to a post I made on the Deviation forum and unlike ther advice... this reply started by warning NOT to use Heli mode - use airplane. ( did you feel the wind created by about 1000 eyes rolling?)

We have our Kidz coming up today and our very bright 2 year grandson. He like to fly my cheerson xc 30. He gets the radio - wacks the throttle to full and it shoots up to the ceiling and spins around - until it gets to a wall and the props get knocked off and it crashes. He gets exited - I get a bad back scrabbling around on hands and knees looking for flyaway props. Thinking of doing a video of him flying the Phantom - perhaps not just jet though.... anyway come Monday I have the house to myself and its quad building time again.

Just a note on buying from China.
Pigged off with EverBuying I went to Foxtech - who seem to have a good reputation - ordered 4 DJI motors about a week later I used up the last of my credit on EverBuying - added a few$ and purchased 4 Mars motors - theoretically to test out the build and not worry about losing/damaging quality motors.
The DJI motors went missing and according to tracking never left China - EverBuying sent the Mars motors out after a 2 day "process" time and they arrived in 8 days!
Foxtech would do nothing for 21 days - even though I paid for 5 - 7 days shipping - BUT when they could not get any sense out of their shipping office.. they sent out a second set of motors express DHL - which arrived in just 3 days and also issued me a $25 credit voucher!
 
HDtallrider said:
Hahaha!! Ain't it the truth! I didn't notice in your posts but did you also get a UBEC to go with the ZTW ESC's? If so, you're golden. If not you'll need one to power the KK and the Rx.
I wish there were a cheap way to send you stuff from the US. If you come up with an idea on how to do it, give me a ping and I'll be happy to shop for you. No one should have to go through what you are.
Cheers mate!
Click to expand...


Are you say I should use the uBeck as a "standalone" power supply via the KK2 for the RX and KK - and NOT have it connected to any motor.
I assumed that both would get power from one of the motor connection to the FC - as does the CC3D.

450 build update: had a spurt and soldered bullet connectors to the ESCs - motors already have them - and soldered Deans connectors to teh EScs to Distribution board. SO everything can come apart and be moved around/tested on other frames etc,.
Kidz due anytime so had to pack up ... just needs to sort out the CC3D to start with - if I get this setup running OK, I will start on the other frame and try the KK2.

Did a PP balance yesterday starting day one with paying for a quad with EverBuying - to paying the last item on eBay.

Total spend is us$ 758.90. at todays conversion rates from au$ Wife not over pleased!!!!!!!
 
Quadcopter102 said:
Are you say I should use the uBeck as a "standalone" power supply via the KK2 for the RX and KK - and NOT have it connected to any motor.
I assumed that both would get power from one of the motor connection to the FC - as does the CC3D.

450 build update: had a spurt and soldered bullet connectors to the ESCs - motors already have them - and soldered Deans connectors to teh EScs to Distribution board. SO everything can come apart and be moved around/tested on other frames etc,.
Kidz due anytime so had to pack up ... just needs to sort out the CC3D to start with - if I get this setup running OK, I will start on the other frame and try the KK2.

Did a PP balance yesterday starting day one with paying for a quad with EverBuying - to paying the last item on eBay.

Total spend is us$ 758.90. at todays conversion rates from au$ Wife not over pleased!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

The Spider ESC's are "opto" which means they do not have a BEC. Since you are using deans connectors for your ESC to PDB connection just solder the battery leads from the UBEC to one of the ESC deans connectors. The UBEC will power the FCB(the CC3D and the KK), which will power the Rx. To make a neater hookup from any opto ESC to your flight controllers you can remove the red wire at the connector(it does nothing), snip it at the ESC and discard it leaving only the black wire and the signal wire. Much easier to bundle.
 
The ZTWs did not have three wires- just the signal and -black. I have some of those little red two pin plug and socket which I soldered onto the ubec and that into motor 1 esc.
Sorted out the motor wires to get the correct rotation and setup the KK2.1.5. Its on "factory settings" and the now wonderfully working Devo 10 did its job and so with the help and advice given here and other threads..the 450 frame is done - to the point it needs tuning to sort out the flying side.

Its quirky just now I can get it up on hover... but its drifts badly - although not wobbly. If I try to counter the drift... it does a double speed flip into the deck!
So tomorrow will be taken up on you youTube - tuning the KK2.1.5 and Devo 10 stuff.

Final Build list:

450 DJI copy Frame ( eBay)
ditto landing legs ( I got two sets 1 white - one black and mix them)
Mars motors 2212 980kv
KK2.1.5 Flight Controller
ZTW Spider Opto oneshot 125 ESC
HobbyWing uBec
4500mAh 3s LiPo
Genuine DJI Phantom Props - started out white - I added colour tinting! ( available in Yellow, Orange, Dark mucky Red, Denim Blue( add yellow) Grass green.
Also
A truck load of cable ties, heat shrink tube in all sizes and colours, screwdrivers, battery straps ( all too big!) 30 m/f T60, 30 m/f Deans, 30 3mm bullet plugs m/f - same in 2mm - I ordered wrong off eBay...plus a lot of other bit s I thought I might need... and did not - such as a servo consistency gizmo and voltage indicator.

All I need do now.... is sort out the setting and let it fly!
I dont have any online accounts for uploading pix...sorry..

Thanks to all you guys who gave your time and patience to help through all this........ don't go away.... I still need you - I have another load of parts and 500 Alien frame to build! Then its 250 racer.:cool: (mmm on reflection and chaos with teh KK2 - maybe not!)
 
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Is the Devo 10 really defective?

I have been "tuning" the KK2.1.5 v 16 for a week almost! But the Ghost of the Syma X8W seems to have lingered around and entered into the 450 build!
It flips on take off.
The motors and props are all turning the correct way - at the moment I have used DJO P1/2 cloned props with metal hubs - and they have to be screwed on the correct rotaion.
I have copied 4 different KK2 setups off youTube 450 build vids using KK2 - all are different settings - all show to fly very stable.
I have got to the point of suspecting that the Devo 10 really is more defective than the original USB issue - which was a driver problem on my old PC... BUT the factory seal was broken when it arrived - so somebody had been inside for some reason. For those who know the Devo 10 - its running on ( message for MM - PLEASE turn off that ((*&(*&( auto save gizmo... I have re-written this sentence 4 times so far...) the current stable version.
I have used a simple 4 channel template - no good. I have tried tuning it....no good.
I have downloaded a 450 quad - model file created by Tom Zader - who has been a youTube regular for years - he has supplied dozens of model setup files for the Devo - for the RTF stuff and the kit builders.
Link that to getting the settings for the KK2 of youTube 450 DJI copy kits/build.... it flips!
Current KK2:
Roll. Pitch
P Gain 30 30 these are linked and both the same.
P Limit 100
I Gain 0
I Limit 20

Reciever Test: All trimmed to "0"
Mode: Link Roll - Pitch - Yes
CPPM Enabled - No

Stick Scaling:

Ail 30
Ele 30
Rud 50
Thrtle 75

Self Level

P Gain 60
P Limit 60
Acc Trim - Roll 0
Pitch 0


CPPM
AIl 1
Ele 2
Throt 3
Rud 4
Aux 5

Mixer

Ail -71
Ele 71
Rud 100
Offset 0
ESCs High Rate

Does any of this show what I am doing wrong??
Is the KK2 OK and the Devo causing the issues??
 
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