Pixhawk gimbal connection

[Chalagi]

I'M ready to connect my single axis gimbal to the pixhawk and I was reading the instructions here.

Connecting the Servos to a Pixhawk
Connect the gimbal to Pixhawk’s auxiliary output pins. Connect tilt (pitch) to aux out signal (s) pin 1, roll to aux out signal (s) pin 2, and ground to an aux out ground (-) pin.

So I take it that I need to remove the (red) positive wire from the servo cable. Because reading the instructions it only uses the ground and signal pins correct.

 

[Mactadpole]

If this is a servo-driven gimbal then you should power it separately and not through the rail on the Pixhawk. I still like to use servo-gimbals for survey work still photography and I make up a wiring harness with a common ground that powers the gimbal servos separately off a CC BEC and lets the pixhawk do the stabilization.

 

[Chalagi]

So I should use a (5V) bec and run the positive and ground from the bec to the servo? This is my frist time ever to use a bec.

 

[Mactadpole]

Yes. I also have the ground for the servos tied into the Pixhawk rail grounds as well. So you will have signal and ground connected to the Pixhawk but no positive. I am not an electrical engineer and not sure that is necessary, as you might be able to just have the signal wire for the servo connected to the pixhawk and just run the positive and ground from bec to servo.

 

[Chalagi]

Well this is how I have mine setup right now. I have my rx bound to D16 with 16 channels (8 PWM w/sbus) and (8 std. channles from rx). So I will be running my servo gimbal from the rx using the radio.

 

[Mactadpole]

So you don't need the Pixhawk to do any sort of stabilization for you? If that's the case then you are fine as long as this is just a light weight gimbal and camera setup. I don't like putting much power load on the rx and I would recommend a bec if its a heavier setup.

 

[Chalagi]

This gimbal setup will be no more than a standard helicopter servo pitch and roll axis. the rx is still getting power from the main hexa source but it's out put will only be the std. 5V for a servo and no strain on the rx.