Quad QAV500 Build....

[Tasajara]

Got my props in today... they are a lot lighter than I thought they would be...



I added my current sensor this evening



And I tied in my TBS Core to the sensor.
I will try to get a few more things done Sat.

 

[Lee]

Very nice Craig.

 

[breeze400]

Looking good Craig. When do you think your air born?

 

[Tasajara]

Thanks Guys,
I was going to finish it this weekend BUT>>>> the weather was too nice had to go fly ....
I am going to work on it some this evening..... may be a few days... still taking my time, I want to get it all
laid out so not to have to come back and change anything... by bad placement of equipment.

 

[Tasajara]

Got my OSD/Switching power supply all wired up.
The OSD will power my VTX and FPV Camera along with the heads up display
Showing Voltage, Current, RSSI signal strength.

I like this setup because you don't have to
worry about an extra battery to power the FPV
equipment. And the switching power supply want
tend to put out much RF.

This is my TBS Core



Made all the connections for video, current sensor



This is it all connected up.

 

[Lee]

I like the TBS core system. I may have to get one. But too many toys and not enough $$$$$

 

[Tasajara]

I hear ya.... that is why it has been 5+ months on getting started on this build...
I was not wanting to short cut the quality of any components I was using...

 

[Tasajara]

Got a little more done today...

Got the TBS core shielded with the TBS shield tin.



also got my UHF antenna mounted far on the back of my quad.
Help keep it away from the GPS and VTX I will mount later.

 

[Tasajara]

Well put the QAV in the air today....Just did a little hovering in the backyard, it's Nice and smooth
even with the cheapo props. Tried out the auto leveling, heading hold and altitude hold, seems to do pretty good.
I still have to mount my GPS, VTX and my Camera in a frame I made.
I was using some cheapo props to test... Didn't have enough time to balance my Xoar props yet.
If I get time in the morning I will try to finish it up and take it on a maiden FPV flight.... Wooo Hoooo

 

[breeze400]

Looking good Craig! Finished mine this morning. I hope it's nice enough tomorrow to fly mine. I just have to calibrate the GPS when I take it outside.

 

[Tasajara]

Thanks.... It should be 75 deg Sunday and Sunny... I hope I get it all together by then...
I am going to Get an early start on finishing it up..

 

[breeze400]

We had snow flurries today. Tomorrow is sapposed to be 47 and sunny in wind.

 

[Tasajara]

Got to fly my QAV today... Didn't have time to set up the GPS yet but it flew pretty good.
I will do a little fine tuning later this week..
Here are a few pics from today. I will try to get some better picture later...

 

[breeze400]

Looking good Craig! How did she fly? I got mine up for 5 flights today. Video to come soon!

 

[Tony]

coating that antenna doesn't hurt the reception? Quad looks great. Love the wood props

 

[Tasajara]

Thanks.... Guys... The wood props were way lighter than I thought they would be....They fly nice...
But I am really wanting to try the Tiger Carbon MultiRotor props.... They are Sweeeeeeeet !!!!

Tony the Antenna came that way from IBCrazy, Alex Greve... It is one of his newest FPV antenna's Called "The Mad Mushroom"
Funny the one I got is blue to match my quad... LOL the new ones are black dipped.
I did a flight Sunday and I noticed the Mad Mushroom did do better than my skew planar aka clover leaf antenna I had been using.

Got to hook up the GPS this week ... but all in all flew pretty good. I will have to get use to the heavier quad.
My IFrame from BlueSky RC is much lighter.

I did get some better pics today....

 

[Lee]

Nice Craig,
I flew mine yesterday in the trees. Not sure i like the durability on the Xoars. My friend destroyed all four of his on nothing more than thick grass.

 

[Stambo]

I like the look of these for space to mount everything. On my 450 X quad there is not much room.
I am actually toying with the idea of a simple wooden H quad "plank" as they have similar mounting room and I have most of the stuff lying around to build it. Then eventually one of these maybe.
I am still not completely happy with the way my 450 flies but I am beginning to think my ESC/motor combination may be a problem.
I have a friend who is building the same setup with different ESCs so it will be interesting to see the difference.
I may put some video up at some stage and ask for suggestions.

 

[Lee]

If you are using the Opto DJI ESCs my friend used them and didn't think they had very good speed for controlling the motors. Just felt sluggish compared to his tiger ESCs.

 

[Stambo]

If you are using the Opto DJI ESCs my friend used them and didn't think they had very good speed for controlling the motors. Just felt sluggish compared to his tiger ESCs.

I am using these ESCs.
Turnigy AE-30A Brushless ESC
With these motors.
Turnigy D2836/8 1100KV Brushless Outrunner Motor
KK2 and 9x4.7 props and 4s 4500 on a 450 frame.
I have tried 3s 2200 x 2 in parallel as well.
Main difference is less power and flight time.