Derek's HK Dart 250 FPV Mini Quad

[Tony]

I'm sure you will get it working Derek... Weather was nice here today but we had to wait in for builder to look at that hole the squirrels have made. Think we are going to have that facia box changed for a metal one...

[Derek]

Yeah, those squirrels can be pesky critters. I had a raccoon in my attic last year. That was an experience!!! lol

[Derek]

This is unbelievable!!! The other day, I ordered two of the 12v Fixed Voltage Regulators that Tony recommended. I order them from www.radioshack.com, along with a new flux pen. I ordered them at the same time, on the same day, with the same payment. The flux pen showed up today but no regulators. I get in touch with Radio Shack and they tell me that the regulators were shipped separately from the flux pen. I asked, "Why?" They said because they were shipped from different warehouses. So, my flux pen is here and I check the tracking information for the regulators....they are still in Texas....more than 1500 miles away. Unbelievable!!!

[Tony]

Wow, that's rediculous.... Why do you use flux....? I think I used to use it in the 70's, but never used it for at least 30 years... I solder thousands of components on pcbs. Through hole, smd... You name it... If you get 4 core solder it has flux in it.... Or use solder paste on smd parts...

[Derek]

It's insanely ridiculous. I can't believe that I can order parts from the same place but they get shipped from different warehouses. Even worse...it's the regulators that I need "right now".

as for the flux...I use flux each time I solder anything. I bought the flux pen to, possibly, help when I solder up the next Naze32 board. Was it necessary? No, not really.

[Derek]

HA HA HA!!! Tony....I got the regulator out of the package and gave it a good look over. Grabbed my quad and soldering stuff with intentions of soldering in the regulator. I stared at your diagrams for about 5 minutes. I just wanted to be SURE that I understood what I was going to be doing. I began to cut "here" and tin" there. Speed the story up, lol...I just got done with a hover test here in my garage with my usual 3S pack and a 4S pack that I have. Everything is still working and no magic smoke, lol. So, the regulator is in place and the only difference that I noticed was that my quad lifted off the ground a bit sooner with the 4S pack than the 3S pack. Very cool! I'm very much looking forward to flying again next week. I have to work the next 4 days. I dunno...maybe I'll charge up a few packs and fly a bit over the grass at my work prior to my shift.

Anyway...thanks for all the help man! I appreciate it!!!

Now....time to go do laundry, lol.

[Tony]

Awesome news mate.... Well done.... Have you checked the voltage at the leds with voltmeter?

I've had flux pens for absolutely years, never even opened them, and I've soldered tens of thousands of components on pcbs...

[Derek]

I'm probably gonna need a bit of direction on how to check the voltage. Never done it before

[Tony]

Have you got a voltmeter, or better still a DMM (digital muli meter).. If not you should invest in one, you can get some really cheap ones and they do the job great..

You just set it for the DC voltage above the volts you want to test, say 20VDC for 12 volt... Stick your probes on the positive and negative wires that go to leds... Simple..

Here is a cool meter, measures current, resistance, volts... And really cheap

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vi ... 0538749861

This one has auto range so you just set it to DC and stick your probes on, little more up market tool

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vi ... 1133117131

In all honesty I'd just get the first one, cheap as chips and will do the job perfectly well

[Derek]

oh ok....yes...I have a DMM. It was also cheap as chips. I don't use it very much at all. But....I'm sure I can do what you are describing. Should I do it while the quad is simply powered up (Naze32 disarmed, of course) or should I check the voltage under load?

[Tony]

Just check it with the LEDs on, doesn't matter whether Naze is on or not... I'd put the 4s on first, volts on leds should be 12 volts... The 3s may be less though, but that's ok and expected..

[Derek]

Thanks Tony! I'll do that. I'm working tonight and tomorrow night but I'll check in that as soon as I can. I'll surely check it when I'm off on Monday, at the latest. I'm hoping the weather cooperates because I haven't flown anything in over a week.

[Tony]

No probs mate, let me know if you have any issues... Haven't flown mine for weeks now....

[Graham Lawrie]

Derek if you have bluetooth and android phone i highly recommend you get EZ-Gui Groundstation app, you will love it:)

[Derek]

I don't have a Bluetooth adapter but I do have an android phone. Do we have a thread that shows the specific Bluetooth adapter and how to use it?

If be interested to learn.

[Graham Lawrie]

http://makeitbuildit.co.uk/index.php?ro ... =bluetooth

[Derek]

Can that go into the BIND port of my rx? That's my only available port. If not, I'll have to get a bigger rx.

[Derek]

Tony....I just checked the voltage on the LED solder pads. It's showing 11.81v on the LED's with a 4S pack plugged in. Very cool!!!

Thanks a lot!!!

[Tony]

The bluetooth modules plug into your FC board Derek...

That voltage is a bit low Derek, what's your lipo voltage... Can you send me the part number for the regulator... Cheers. It will still work ok at that voltage but it's not within spec, unless lipo is low...

[Derek]

Here is the part number for the regulator:

http://www.radioshack.com/radioshack-12 ... VjoQsvbLhA