Newbie quadcopter recommendations!

Craftydan

Hostage Taker of Quads
Staff member
Moderator
Mentor
Sorry, I don't live in the UK, so I wouldn't know. You'll have to deal with that company for any issues with the UK -- they've been fairly responsive for a company on the other side of the world.

It wouldn't hurt to pick up some additional hardware. the motors themselves come with some mounting screws, only two per motor can reach the threads, but no washers. the 1806 motors come with a pair of 2x.4x7mm bolts (tiny things) but I've been able to replace them with a 2x.4x8mm bolt and washer without issue. Don't get longer.

I'd also recommend picking up some M5 nylon locknuts -- they've got a nice flange version -- to replace the prop spinners. Also pick up one 5mm bolt to pre-stress the nylon insert -- these motors are too tiny to take the stress of bolting on a fresh locknut and torquing it down.

beyond that:

- 4 different colors of LED light strips -- it's tiny. Any orientation help you can get you'll appreciate.
- Basic building stock: Hookup wire, battery connectors, small zipties, male-male servo connectors for the RX, and velcro sitckyback and strap. Don't recall much else I used in building mine.
- More props -- 16 seems like a lot, it's not. Buy more. MANY more. I started out with 48 and after a couple of weeks I was ordering more just to make sure I didn't run out. Buy many, buy cheap. Eventually you're breakage rate will go down, then start considering getting nicer props, but you won't notice why better pilots call these cheap garbage until you can keep from breaking them anyways. Nicer props won't make you a better pilot at this point . . . just a poorer one.
- prop balancer -- you'll need it. Again, buy cheap -- the nicer balancing frames will have a hard time letting this small of a prop spin frictionlessly. get the cheap thumb balancer and use two drinking glasses on a level surface.
 

cranialrectosis

Faster than a speeding face plant!
Mentor
Use a BEC to power your flight controller or you use a voltage regulator such as the Pololu. The voltage regulator is more complicated but makes for a cleaner build.

Afro ESCs have Simon K firmware pre-installed on the ESC. Simon K beats non-Simon K except for Kiss or maybe BlHeli. Afros may be the best ESCs HK sells simply because of the firmware.
 

cranialrectosis

Faster than a speeding face plant!
Mentor
Do the ESCs you are using have a BEC? If so, you have one that is simple to use.

If not, you want a BEC or voltage regulator such as the Pololu. The Pololu is smaller. Be sure to get at least the 1A version if you are powering a tricopter. The BEC will have a capacitor and will be larger.
 

Trisnpod

Member
Ok, so this is my basket so far:
http://www.myrcmart.com/nylon-pillar-hex-spacer-double-flat-head-m3x5mm-20pcs-p-6839.html
http://www.myrcmart.com/rcx-screw-m...-philips-stainless-steel-antirust-p-8439.html
http://www.myrcmart.com/rcx-battery...designed-for-550600700-helicopter-p-4708.html
http://www.myrcmart.com/nylon-hex-locknuts-m3-20pcs-p-6860.html
http://www.myrcmart.com/nylon-xt60-connector-cable-10cm-12awg-male-p-4056.html
http://www.myrcmart.com/nylon-screw-philips-black-m3x5mm-20pcs-p-8441.html
http://www.myrcmart.com/servo-cable-jr-female-to-female-10cm-p-5701.html
http://www.myrcmart.com/cable-tie-20pcs-wire-tie-strap-black-3x100mm-p-6704.html
http://www.myrcmart.com/product_info.php?products_id=8216{26}140{23}152
I am not really sure whether I have the right parts for the nylon screw, nut and spacer but I think everything else is ok. I do have a soldering iron so I can solder the power distribution board. For fpv, do you plug the transmitter straight into the balance cable, or does it go into the power distribution board?
Please don't feel that I am expecting someone to check through that whole list for me, but if anyone can spot anything missing please tell me.
Thanks, Tristan
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    189.5 KB · Views: 14

Trisnpod

Member
I think the nylon spacers, screws and nuts are to mount the flight control board above the power distribution board, but I'm not really sure I have the right nylon parts. Does anyone know what parts I need, or whether I have got the fight ones in my basket?
Here is a clearer list of all the basket:
Nylon pillar hex spacer (double flat head) m3x5mm
RCX screw m2x6 with washer
RCX battery strap 25x330mm
Nylon hex locknuts m3
Nylon xt60 connector w/ cable 12 AWG male
Nylon screw m3x5mm
Servo cable JR to female
Cable tie 3x100mm
RCX FPV260 quad kit (the one in the link craftydan recomended)
Lipo low voltage/lost model buzzer (I have just added this so here is the link:http://www.myrcmart.com/lipolymer-b...lost-model-buzzer-24s-2in1-device-p-4203.html

For FPV gear I am getting the hobbyking Quanum complete FPV set http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/..._Video_TX_RX_CP_Antennas_and_Camera_PNF_.html
And the hobbyking super simple prop balancer : http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__14927__Simple_Prop_Balancer.html

Thanks CraftDan for recommending that quad package!
Tristan