New to MRC, Just built a F550 (compass problems)

[thurcombe]

Hi!

As much I'd love to be able to fly real RC heli it just doesn't click but I had a play with a phantom & fpv about 6 months ago and was amazed at the stability and controllability of it. As a keen photographer I'd like to get a decent stills camera in the air, something like this http://vimeo.com/60855316 would be awesome but I fear out of my price range but I figure getting a reasonable point and shoot (preferably something with hacked firmware to shoot raw if anyone has suggestions?).

Anyway, I decided on a F550 (the S800 I really wanted was out of budget, one day though), really easy to build luckily I can solder ok but the power leads on the turnigy 3s 3000 lipos were massive and a nightmare to solder to a deans, what's with that? The power leads supplied by DJI for the board are nowhere near that gauge (and so much easier to solder)!?

There were no instructions with my 550 kit, not surprising though, very simple and this video was useful for reference http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4M95kRo_AM Had a scary moment... Charged the lipo when I plugged it in... Spark from the connector and nothing? :O Metered the lipo, 11.8 volts, plugged it back in, nothing but no power to the board so just a bad connection with those huge lipos cables.

I also bought the aeroxcraft landing gear, I have loads of bits left over although mine looks just like the photo, just without the gimbal but I don't see how they could be related.

I'll post up some pics tomorrow. I can't wait for it's maiden flight but right now I can't get the naza (its a v2 with gps) to enter compass calibration mode. I only have a DX6i so I don't have the luxury of the 3 way switch assignment for flight modes. Using the DJI assistant, I simply assigned GPS and GPS Atti on my "Gear" switch and could see the switch changing the flight mode in the assistant. I don't see myself flying manual for a long time (if ever) so not a problem, or so I thought.

When I came to do the calibration of the compass, I can't get the naza to enter calibration mode. I flicked the gear switch on my TX 10 times (20 times, different rates) as per the wiki and no sign of a solid yellow light. do i need to have a 3 position switch to do this?

 

[tstrike]

You could try setting it up for gps/manual then when you toggle your switch it will go between those 2 positions and should let you enter calibration. Then go back and readjust your endpoints back to gps/atti.
But first thing you need to do is take your battery's someplace and get them soldered up properly. You put a lot of stress on the connector putting it together and taking it apart, if your connections are weak just getting on the charger...I'm not psychic but I foresee very short flight in your future.

 

[thurcombe]

You could try setting it up for gps/manual then when you toggle your switch it will go between those 2 positions and should let you enter calibration. Then go back and readjust your endpoints back to gps/atti.
But first thing you need to do is take your battery's someplace and get them soldered up properly. You put a lot of stress on the connector putting it together and taking it apart, if your connections are weak just getting on the charger...I'm not psychic but I foresee very short flight in your future.

Yeah I have it calibrated now but I'd still like to get the three assignments but I'll work it out later.

I'm not sure about this connector thing... it happened again, and again just after the lipo was charged. Something in the lipo tripping out maybe, or the spark burning the connector causing a bad connection?

Either way I've ordered new connectors (xt60) but they are still going to be a pain in the *** to solder because they are really designed for 8AWG but Turnigy saw fit to put 10AWG on their lipos.