Hi Dave, I have a question. I have the CS 8 with 3 axis gimbal and looking to convert it into CS8 HL. Can you please advise me on what I need, from blades to gimbal all the way. I know I have to change the motors, but that's all I know for now.
Arrey welcome to the forums. Would you be kind enough to change your user name to your real first name and last name, please? The reasons for this (and how to do it) are explained here: http://forum.freeflysystems.com/index.php?threads/real-names.497/.
One thing to do is to look at the parts list for the Cinestar Heavy Lifters that Quadrocopter is selling now. There is surprisingly little that you can re-use (other than the frame). https://www.quadrocopter.com/CineStar-8-MK-Heavy-Lift-RTF_p_1156.html
More info is needed. Are you planning on using a new gimbal? The first thing you really need to do is figure out your payload which will help you filgure out what your flight weight will be. Everything you use is dependant on total flying weight.
I'm fine with keeping just the frame, just wondering if I really have to change the booms. Are you also saying that the original 3axis gimbal is obsolete?
My payload right now is about 5lbs but looking to lift 15lbs (Red camera with lens control/ wireless transmitter).
Emdy What exactly are you trying to do? I assume you plan on flying a heavier camera? Yes the 3 axis gimbal with the radians are obsolete. Everyone is moving toward brushless motor gimbals like the MOVI. Brushless motors are heavier and can increase your payload 3-4 pounds depending upon the options you go for and the type of battery you decide to power it. Not every brushless gimbal is the same because it depends on what camera you want to go with and whether or not you are willing to use belt drive systems to increase torque. If you decide to use motors only and not belt drives in many cases you need motors per axis which adds weight and cost. Bigger booms are needed to run bigger props. For example to run 15 inch props you need 500mm booms. To run 16 inch props you need 550 booms. For reference the Stock CS comes with 450mm booms and the largest props you can use are 14 inch. So the question becomes when do you need bigger props? It depends on the motor-prop combo you decide on. How do you decide on which motors-props to use? It's all dependant on how much weight you need to lift. Tiger has really good specs for their motors, they give you trust numbers for throttle percentage at different prop sizes. Quadrocopter has come up with some really nice packages for mid to mid to heavy lifters up to 22 pounds. My copter's total flying weight will be approx 25 pounds. My copter weighs 14.5 pounds (with new motors and all accessories on it), and my payload will be about 10-11 pounds. I say approx because I am still building a brushless motor that will carry a REd Scarlet and I am estimating every ounce and adding it all together. Quadrocopter has some good choices for customers who are looking to upgrade to a heavy lifter. The bad news is that not much can be reused. The power board, the flight control board, booms, props and batteries all need to be changed. This is why I sold my copter I flew last year and started fresh with a brand new copter.
H Dave I have not follow this thread lately now that I do I see you are in to U7 wow my question is what made you go to the U7 last time i check you had U5 thanks
My hover throttle with the 15 inch props was around 68%. Instead of trying larger booms and bigger props which should take me into the 62% range I decided to go with the bigger motors for more headroom. However it looks like the U7's need a lot of BL adjustments to say the least and I am not going to be the test mule while trying to use a red for jobs. I"m going to go back to the U5's with 16 props and it will help the hover throttle. I think if its not quite enough I'll just drop down to 1 QC10,000 battery to reduce the weight considerably.
I think you would need to go to 600s. I have some 550s and when I put them on top of an octo center plate, I could put 16 inch props in place and have about an inch between the tips.
can anyone give me a good suggestion on how to mount a 10 pound dumbell to the bottom of the copter? I see QC flying with them but I can't see how they are mounting it? I don't want to put any undo stress on the bottom center plate by doing it incorrectly.
I've used gaffer tape wrapped around the boom arms while supporting the weight (flat 10 lbs plate) underneath the copter. A couple layers of tape would do.
It’s an interesting question. If it was me (and I’m not looking to fly that kind of weight), I’d balance it the same way I’d balance a gimbal with a camera. As far as connecting it. I’d build something with CF arms and use barbell plates or something. Maybe even PVC pipe (which should be plenty strong in very short lengths, and it’s easy to work with). If it’s not balanced and secured (see Beer Lift videos!), havoc will ensue.
I only suggested a dumbell because I seen QC flying them. I can't tell how they are attached. I want to do some more tests before I stick my new gimbal or camera on it.
Dave, it appears they are using zipties. The very first picture you posted and the blue weight seem to show a ziptie...
Here is my conversion... Unfortunately one of the MosFets "smoked" when I started the motors the first time.. They did fine on the individual motor test??? Hopefully its just a fluke.. I don't think it would have been the I2C wiring.. I did bring the ground all the way to the flight control.. If you notice a reason for the 'smoke' please let me know..
Cedar, I had the same thing happen with a Double Quadro 2XL (same 3.0 speed controllers). I had no issues with the bench power supply. I applied 15V and started up the Flight Control and did a few quick motor tests. But when I attached a real 6S LiPo, one of the mosfets blew up. Still not sure what happened. I replaced the board, and the new one works fine. Still waiting on one replacement motor (one of my 8 was horked).
I to have had a couple of the bl-ctl 2.0 do the same in the past... Seems if they survive the first power up then they will last forever... Lets hope so...