Nighthawk250

• Building a FPV Drone

Current setup

• Power calculator

• Frame: Nighthawk 250 Pro V2 CF
• ESC: Afro 12A SimonK (2-4s lipo), BEC: 0.5A Linear 5.0v
• Motor: DYS BE1806 2300KV
• Props:
  • 2 blades: Gemfan 5030
  • 3 blades (unused): Gemfan 5030
• FCU: CC3D Evo 4.8-15V 70mA
• Batteries
  • 3x 3S 1300mAh 35-60C from DroneFactory
  • 3S 1000mAh 20-30C Turnigy
  • 3S 2200mAh 30-45C Turnigy
• FPV
  • FPV Camera: 1/3 Sony CCD 7-13V (3S) current 70mA
  • FPV Transmitter: 7-24V 190mA manual -> FR1 CH8
  • Video Receiver: current 12V 200mA
• Video "goggles"
• Weight: 515g w/ battery (60C)

Upgrade planning

• Props 5045
• better frame
  • expensive 150$ http://www.minihquad.com/frames/blackout-mini-h-quad/
  • cheap 20$-40$
    • fiber glass http://www.banggood.com/ZMR250-H250-250mm-Fiberglass-Mini-Quadcopter-Multicopter-Frame-Kit-p-933189.html
    • carbon http://www.banggood.com/H250-ZMR250-250mm-Carbon-Fiber-Mini-Quadcopter-Multicopter-Frame-Kit-p-933185.html
• Better FPV antennas, stock are shitty with Skyzone kit (according to comments on HK)
• Motor: EMAX MT2204 2300KV 7.5A, 2-3s, max 90W

Old setup

• Frame: HobbyKing Spec Class 250fpv
• Motor: 4.4A max, 2-3s lipo, max 49W
• FCU: CC3D Atom 4.8-15V 70mA

Assembly

Frame

• Basic assembly guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8ALzUluyXM
• An other assembly guide: http://www.cardella.tk/2014/09/fpv250-quadcopter-build.html

Configure FCU: CC3D Atom

• Install OpenPilot GCS (install of openpilot fails but openpilotgcs is working) https://wiki.openpilot.org/display/WIKI/Downloading+and+Installing+the+Ground+Control+Station
• Hardware setup: https://wiki.openpilot.org/display/WIKI/CopterControl+-+CC3D+-+Atom+Hardware+Setup
• Full introduction to building a quad with the CC3D https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYsWjANuAm4r-E61stLchCR4bzY3NmDNh
• Flash CleanFlight is very easy, via USB: http://nathan.vertile.com/blog/2015/04/27/flash-cleanflight-on-cc3d/

Batteries

• https://www.reddit.com/r/Multicopter/wiki/power
• LiPo are dangerous! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCWdnjLqVWw
• C rating : the higher, the higher current you can draw http://www.rcheliwiki.com/C_rating
  • C*Capacity in Ah=Current
  • Current: 20C * 2.2Ah = 44A
  • Power: 44A * 11.1V = 488.4W
• S is the number of cells in series, and is representing the tension (1S=3.7V, 2S=7.4, 3S=11.1V, ...). P is in parallel. Usually LiPo are in series and P=1
• Balancing: Cells need to be a the same charge level so we can avoid overcharging.
  • It's a good idea to always use the balance mode to charge a multiple cells battery
  • http://www.rcheliwiki.com/Balance_charger
  • Use the charger to check and rebalance cells https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AChoy_PsVEg
  • A good trick to test is to charge the cells individually using the balance cable, it's much faster than the balance mode that needs to discharge overcharged cells a lot

Issue/Fix/WIP

• Having some problems with the vTX right now, apparently at full throttle. Electrical perturbations ? Good, got some new antennas
• http://blog.oscarliang.net/lc-filter-fpv/

Gallery

• 1st flight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCSfAMZ6bm0

V1 Hobbking frame

• 
• 
• 

  cabling is hard

• 

  1st build

• 

  fpv tests

• 

  rebuilt everything, better antenna placement, battery cables, fix the feet, ...

• 

  Broken an arm trying to roll

• 

  Arm fixed using epoxy, flying well, we'll see if it handles vibrations and the next crash

V2 Nighthawk CF

• 

  V2 because HK frame broke again after ~10 landings, CF frame, looks nice (not tested yet)

• 
• 

  V2.1 Cleaner build, new motors, new VTX, new FC

• 

  V2.1

See also

• Drone