My First Build

[LiamAnderson]

Hi guys, I'm new to multirotor flight and have decided to build a quadcopter. I have done plenty of research on my own and believe I have a working design, but I would appreciate some confirmation before I go out and spend the money.

Flight Control Board:
- Hobbyking KK2.1.5 Multi-rotor LCD Flight Control Board
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/...th_6050MPU_And_Atmel_644PA_US_Warehouse_.html

Battery:
- 2x Multistar High Capacity 3S 4000mAh connected in parallel
http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor...0mAh_Multi_Rotor_Lipo_Pack_AR_Warehouse_.html

ESCs:
- 4x Turnigy Multistar 20A V2 (has BEC connector)
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/...im_BLHeli_Multi_Rotor_Brushless_ESC_2_6S.html

Motors:
- 4x Turnigy Multistar 2216-800Kv
http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor...16_800Kv_14Pole_Multi_Rotor_Outrunner_V2.html

Transmitter/Receiver:
- Turnigy 9X 9Ch Transmitter w/ Module & 8ch Receiver (might just go with the 6 channel model)
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/..._Module_8ch_Receiver_Mode_1_v2_Firmware_.html

Structural parts are a carbon fiber frame, 10" props w/ guards, wiring, and a series of mounts and screws.

However, I'm more concerned about the electronics. I have attached a picture that shows my current understanding of the wiring. Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide.

 

[ringolong]

Which frame are you planning on using?

 

[GJH105775]

You should get at least a 25 amp ESC, also if you ever want to switch motors, most that size will want a bigger ESC. The reason is that they last longer when not asked to work too hard; heat is hard on electronics. Turnigy makes great stuff, and their mutisttar line is just for quadcopters. I have never had a problem with anything I have bought from them. Also you might want to try wooden props, as CF props are either expensive or terribly made, and no matter where you get them you will need to balance them. Plastic props are a lot more consistent and don't really need balancing, but are weak. Wood however are usually pretty close to balanced, and not too expensive.


If I were designing my next quadcopter I'd probably be using many/most of these parts, so you have my vote on them haha I have the mutistar 5.2Ah battery, it does a lot better than another 3000mAh battery I have as it is a little lighter and a little bigger. I would suggest you get 2x 5.2 Ah batteries, and just swap them out in flight(longer flight time, as there is less weight)

Power distribution cable.
Power distribution board

 

[LiamAnderson]

You should get at least a 25 amp ESC, also if you ever want to switch motors, most that size will want a bigger ESC. The reason is that they last longer when not asked to work too hard; heat is hard on electronics. Turnigy makes great stuff, and their mutisttar line is just for quadcopters. I have never had a problem with anything I have bought from them. Also you might want to try wooden props, as CF props are either expensive or terribly made, and no matter where you get them you will need to balance them. Plastic props are a lot more consistent and don't really need balancing, but are weak. Wood however are usually pretty close to balanced, and not too expensive.


If I were designing my next quadcopter I'd probably be using many/most of these parts, so you have my vote on them haha I have the mutistar 5.2Ah battery, it does a lot better than another 3000mAh battery I have as it is a little lighter and a little bigger. I would suggest you get 2x 5.2 Ah batteries, and just swap them out in flight(longer flight time, as there is less weight)

Power distribution cable.
Power distribution board

Thanks for your detailed response, I appreciate it.

I'll swap out the 20A ESCs for a 30A ones. Would making this change affect any other component? Or do they just have to be a minimum of 20A, with higher being better?

I'll look into finding some good wooden props.

As for the battery, when you say "2x 5.2 Ah batteries," do you mean two batteries on board, connected in parallel? How do I "swap them out in flight"? Or, do you mean have one on board, then when it's almost drained swap it out for the second and continue flying? I was planning on going with the 4.0 Ah battery linked in my original post, with a second identical one connected in parallel for longer flight time.

And lastly, for the power distribution, is there any advantage of using the cable or the board? I suppose the cable would save more space.

 

[GJH105775]

Thanks for your detailed response, I appreciate it.

I'll swap out the 20A ESCs for a 30A ones. Would making this change affect any other component? Or do they just have to be a minimum of 20A, with higher being better?

I'll look into finding some good wooden props.

As for the battery, when you say "2x 5.2 Ah batteries," do you mean two batteries on board, connected in parallel? How do I "swap them out in flight"? Or, do you mean have one on board, then when it's almost drained swap it out for the second and continue flying? I was planning on going with the 4.0 Ah battery linked in my original post, with a second identical one connected in parallel for longer flight time.

And lastly, for the power distribution, is there any advantage of using the cable or the board? I suppose the cable would save more space.

I suggest using plastic props for testing (cheap and expendable in the even of props touching the ground), and if you don't want to pay too much for CF then wood are a great option.


With amperage you only need a supply that will meat the draw, too big is fine.

Depends on the frame, boards are generally lighter and neater.

Depends how toy want to fly, two 4 Ah in parallel will give you longer continuous flight, but two 4 Ah batteries used separate will give you longer field time. The difference is that you have to land in between and are not carrying half of the capacity while flying. But for long distance flying you'd want the parallel.