Droidworx WKM Builds - Power Distribution

R

robvree

Member
I just started a new Droidworx AD-4 HL build using a DJI WKM as the flight controller and Maytech 30A ESCs. I'm trying to find a good power distribution solution and I can't seem to nail one down.

- Wiring harness
- Distribution board
- Magic
- Big copper ring

If you have completed a DW build, please chime in and let us know your solution. Even if it didn't go so well, it would be great to know what works and what doesn't.


Cheers!
Rob
 

Cabe

Cabe

Member
Wiring harness is the most messy, but most weight efficient (unless you start putting huge connectors on it....)

A distro board is probably the next best and cirtainly the cleanest install but you need enough copper on it not to turn into a big fuse :)

Copper rings could work, but you would need to isolate them from everything else carefully.

Personally I'm a fan of magic :)
 


R

robvree

Member
BorisS said:
Rob read on from this thread there are several methods uses have used for hexa or octos

http://www.multirotorforums.com/sho...Carbon-900-mm-boom&p=9380&viewfull=1#post9380

Boris
Click to expand...

Thanks Boris... I have read through that entire thread. I just don't seem to have a final answer yet. The copper ring solution looks quick and dirty and might be what I am leaning towards. I would like a cleaner look and something that is flexible for expansion. I like this (http://www.multiwiicopter.com/products/voltair-esc-wiring-board) off the shelf board but unfortunately it is only rated to 60A. The nice thing about that board is that it will fit inside the DW frame using the stock mounting holes provided.

It seems like power distribution is such a common problem that there would be more off the shelf solutions. While I do love to tinker and build things, I'm not all that hard core when it comes to soldering and fabricating my own parts (but boy can I write software).
 

BorisS

BorisS

Drone Enthusiast
I havent tried it yet but i will be doing is adding two dist board together and distributing the loads between them. I am pretty sure that this will still be lighter than any cooper ring or spider wire dist, since the ESCs cables will be a lot shorter than with any of the mentioned solutions. Most important to me is not to loose the clean and nice setup. Also considering that a ESC can go bad anytime i want a quick and easy way to desolder one of the ESCs and solder on to it again without remove loads of solder and isolation.

So a full flechted octo with 6KG AXI 2218/22 12 3.8 APC props with have around:

A to hover 64.71

A maximum 142.52

So two boards are more than sufficient considering that you will only reach around 140 A if ever for every short bursts. And this should not do anything more than heating of the board, which only becomes problematic of longer periods of time.

Boris
 

R

RTRyder

Merlin of Multirotors
I thought I had posted some photos from the conversion of my AD6 from Mk to WKM but it appears I never actually did. In any case, this pic is from my CineStar 6 build and is exactly the same setup I used on the Droidworx. The distribution board is from here... http://www.kkmulticopter.kr/index.h...selected=Center&sn=power_board_octo&id_no=120

IMG_2033a.jpg


IMG_2034a.jpg


IMG_2028a.jpg


IMG_2029a.jpg


Ken
 


R

robvree

Member
@Ken, that's a nice clean setup. I looked at the KK board but I don't see any amp rating and its way too big to fit inside the DW. Are you at worried about cooling for the ESC's? Occasionally I'll be flying in some very dry and hot (90-100F) areas (dry lake beds in Nevada) so I'm a little nervous about putting the ESCs in or under the center plates.

@Boris, I'm with you on the clean setup. I'm totally anal about having everything clean and organized. I can't see how 2 boards would work in a DW. Space is seriously limited between the center plates. Even 1 - 50x50mm board with wires will be a tight squeeze.

According to ecalc, my bird fully loaded (3kg - Avroto M2814-11S - 12 3.8 3.8 props) will be pulling:
Hover - 31.56 A
Max - 88.32 A

In reality, with some aggressive flying, how close to the Max do you think you ever get? Would you not even consider a 60A (72A 15sec burst) board for a setup like mine? My gut tells me not to risk it.


Rob
 

R

robvree

Member
The more I think about this, the more I wonder if the power board would really be the weak link in my setup if it was rated 60A (72A burst). From my understanding, the 12 awg wire on the battery and even the deans plug are not rated high enough to handle the mathematical maximum (88.32A) of the system. Now I could be completely wrong as my knowledge about the actual workings of electronics is only enough to make me dangerous. :black_eyed:
 

R

RTRyder

Merlin of Multirotors
robvree said:
@Ken, that's a nice clean setup. I looked at the KK board but I don't see any amp rating and its way too big to fit inside the DW. Are you at worried about cooling for the ESC's? Occasionally I'll be flying in some very dry and hot (90-100F) areas (dry lake beds in Nevada) so I'm a little nervous about putting the ESCs in or under the center plates.

@Boris, I'm with you on the clean setup. I'm totally anal about having everything clean and organized. I can't see how 2 boards would work in a DW. Space is seriously limited between the center plates. Even 1 - 50x50mm board with wires will be a tight squeeze.

According to ecalc, my bird fully loaded (3kg - Avroto M2814-11S - 12 3.8 3.8 props) will be pulling:
Hover - 31.56 A
Max - 88.32 A

In reality, with some aggressive flying, how close to the Max do you think you ever get? Would you not even consider a 60A (72A 15sec burst) board for a setup like mine? My gut tells me not to risk it.


Rob
Click to expand...

Actually the board fits quite nicely inside the Droidworx, the hole spacing is the same as an MK flight controller board so it sits on standoffs in existing holes in the centerplate. All I did was add another set of standoffs on top of it and then a smaller centerplate from another frame I have to put the WKM components on. As for ESCs and heat, I don't anticipate any problems at all, RC planes, helis, and cars don't have their ESCs out in the wind, I see no reason the ESCs on a multi need to be either. As long as they're wrapped in heatshrink tubing they're going to dissipate heat at the same rate whether they're under the dome or tied to an arm. In any case I've flown setups like this in 90 degree weather and while the electronics do get warm I've never had a problem with them getting over temp. As long as everything is spec'd correctly and nothing is drawing excessive amps there shouldn't be any problem with the ESCs mounted where I have them.

As for the dist board, I'm using it on both the AD6 and CineStar with no issues on either, there's a hefty strip of copper under the coating and while I don;t know the exact rating, I suspect it can handle anything either of my hex could throw at it, otherwise I wouldn't be using it.

Ken
 



R

robvree

Member
RTRyder said:
Actually the board fits quite nicely inside the Droidworx, the hole spacing is the same as an MK flight controller board so it sits on standoffs in existing holes in the centerplate.
Click to expand...

Are you talking about on top of the center plate or in-between the plates? It certainly doesn't look like it would fit in-between and that's where I was hoping to put it. In my V3 DW frame, the hole spacing is 45x45mm and it "should allow" a 50x50mm board (my measurements show I only have 48mm between the ends of the booms). I'm leaning towards going with the VoltAir board and I suspect I'll have to trim it very slightly to prevent it from touching the booms.


Cheers and thanks for the discussions.

Rob
 

R

RTRyder

Merlin of Multirotors
redridinghood said:
Just found this on a website.

http://mikrokopter.altigator.com/al...bution-wiring-8-awg-for-8-motors-p-40496.html
Click to expand...

Looks heavy and I bet it is, that much wire adds up quickly. I like to use as little as I can get away with which also seems to aid the GPS in getting full lock much quicker.

robvree said:
Are you talking about on top of the center plate or in-between the plates? It certainly doesn't look like it would fit in-between and that's where I was hoping to put it. In my V3 DW frame, the hole spacing is 45x45mm and it "should allow" a 50x50mm board (my measurements show I only have 48mm between the ends of the booms). I'm leaning towards going with the VoltAir board and I suspect I'll have to trim it very slightly to prevent it from touching the booms.


Cheers and thanks for the discussions.

Rob
Click to expand...

There's not a lot of room to work with in the middle between the booms and if you run the motor wires down the inside then there's even less when they come out the ends, seems like it would be an awful lot of effort to install and get it wired up when it can just as easily go on top when using the WKM.

Ken
 

Droider

Droider

Drone Enthusiast
In reality I doubt wether you will ever pull more than 60/70amps total. I have a ADX6 HL and in a hover with 2 5000mah batts and a 550d and PH AV130 it is pulling 48/50 amps. This is on a MK FC. I doubt if you will ever pull 120 so if you can find a board rated at 120 I am sure it will cope no mither.

Where are you on the planet. Geoff at QC.co.uk just took delivery of some very neet ones.

Droidworx themselves make one for the CX so you may also take a look at that,

Dave

http://www.droidworx.com.au/conceptx.html
 

E

eyeball

Member
The spec on my DW Hex is as follows...
Auw inc camera 550d 6100g about 13lb a touch heavier with the 5D mounted..
Motors are Axi 2826-12
Props 13x6.5 Apc E
Esc's ZTW 60A
2x nanotech 45-90C 5000 4s
Av200 with 360
Full Vtx system
2nd person operating the whole gimbal side of things ie 2nd rx, battery.
Im using a j drones dissy board
And last week myself and Geoff at quadcopter.co.uk(great guy and is more than highly recommended for advise, sale's and servive) :tennis:flew this at his place and whilst airborn this was reading about 55amps total and fully loaded in the hover and this reading was taken from an Amp meter mounted between in 2 batteries and the dissy board.
So you'll probably find you'll not be burning as many amps as you think.
I know I tried holding the Hex down whilst running amp meter a few weeks ago and this was with no flight controller just motors to esc's to rx and running it like this I saw 100Amps at half throttle and then when I tries to go from half to full throttle my Amp meter breathed out the magic smoke...turns out the meter only went to 120Amps..lol. So I dont think you'll ever reach the heights of 120A not unless you are giving it major beans...
 
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Droider

Droider

Drone Enthusiast
@UP Eyeball welcome to MRF.. Nice to see your posting on here and one of our vendors is getting a recomendation AGAIN! May you need to search out the Vendor of the year award thread and jump in with your thoughts..

Anyhow I am sure if you have problems and you need an independent view this is the place to get it..

Dave

PS were in the UK are you
 


E

eyeball

Member
Droider said:
@UP Eyeball welcome to MRF.. Nice to see your posting on here and one of our vendors is getting a recomendation AGAIN! May you need to search out the Vendor of the year award thread and jump in with your thoughts..

Anyhow I am sure if you have problems and you need an independent view this is the place to get it..

Dave


PS were in the UK are you
Click to expand...

Hiya Dave,

Thanks for the warm welcome...To be honest Ive been more of a reader for quite some time rather than a poster on these forums. My multi rotor flying experience is somewhat limited but Ive been very much involved with fixed wing for more years than I care to mention. I now have a couple of multicopters and there controlled by a couple of Nazza'a and Wkm...also a Fy91q but we wont go into that..lol
Here's a link to my latest build...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmJh9FTIBQo&context=C3406a34ADOEgsToPDskLIRyO-sOYv4czC1ddd8rn-
Flight times are a litttle low so Im kind of leaning to fitting the zippy 8000 4s x2 that should give me about 8mins??eek!!
As for good old Geoff (QC.co.uk)..he's a decent guy and wouldnt hesitate in recommending him to my fellow modellers.... and I have. Im sure he'd score very high in the Vendor of the year...I we creep enough do you think we'll get discount???lol
My location im afraid is top secret but lets just say...im not a million miles away from you.lol
 
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quadcopters

quadcopters

Quadcopters.co.uk Drone Specialists
Hi Eyeball ,, Seeing the build and the clue you were round at QC head quarters last week I know who you are :)
Just watched the video and its flying well , I would think your almost there with it now .

Thanks for the recommendations and kind words :)
Geoff
 

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