Battery telemetry lead for Spektrum receiver

[@Cakey831]

I just fried my sensor lead when trying this for the first time. This video was a major help. Thank you

[@SteffenRC]

It’s a tricky thing. Now I only use the red wire to the sensor. No ground. Works great. Btw, I did another video on this topic and a warning about using the ground wire.

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Great tip Will. There isn't much a bit of modeling skill can't lick.

[@SteffenRC]

Thanks Adam. You know how I love to tinker with this... Funny thing, the day I posted the video, the part on HH was back in stock.. :-)

[@JeffWok]

Just found your channel. Great stuff. I don't know what's going on with our supplies but every time I order drone parts that aren't really RC parts the polarity is wrong. So, always check is a great rule.

[@SteffenRC]

Yep.. Funny thing.. As soon as I posted this video.. That part was available.. classic luck.....

[@PatrickVannie]

Just a word of warning. I just destroyed an AR637TA receiver while hooking up this voltage sensor. Apparantly you should only connect the red wire and not the black wire when the receiver is already connected to the flight battery through the ESC. I connected black and red through the balancing port and the insulation of the black wire melted away in smoke. It also destroyed the reciever and part of the black cable coming from the ESC connector.

[@SteffenRC]

Holy cow. That’s awful. Did you use the Spektrum version or made your own? I had an issue of the Amazon no name plugs. They were reversed polarity to what Spektrum port requires.

[@PatrickVannie]

@@SteffenRC i used the Spektrum version that was delivered with an AR637T receiver that i bought for another plane. Spektrum really should put a warning on the black wire to avoid people making this mistake. You should only use red and black for a battery that is in no other way connected to the receiver. Costly morning and the plane is on the bench until the new receiver arrives.

[@SteffenRC]

@@PatrickVannie that’s crazy. I would’ve thought they’d document that. Btw the test I did had power to the RX through a UBEC. But I didn’t have any issues.

[@SteffenRC]

Patrick, I used my harness this am and was concerned about the experience you had, but mine worked just fine. The rx is powered by the battery through the UBEC and I also connected the harness to the red/blk on the balance lead without issues. Could it be possible that the wires on your Spektrum product had reversed polarity? Did Spektrum respond to your review/comment on their website? I've asked HH/Spektrum for the documentation on this lead to make sure I'm instructing people how to do this correctly.

[@PatrickVannie]

@@SteffenRC hello Steffen, i am sure that the polarity was not reversed but Spektrum did not answer to my comment on their website. In a forum however a spektrum representative told me to only connect the red wire and the voltage sensor should work like that without any risk. I am not going to try it again and will live without the voltage sensor. My new receiver came in today and i replaced to fried receiver and everything is working fine. So will leave it like that.

[@difand1]

Thanks, good video. As i understand, you read the battery voltage from its balance plug, but why not from ESC cable? Of cause, it would require to make some adapter. The second question: have you ever tried to connect a thitd party baro for altitude and vario? I've tried to connect a bqnano from flywoo, but didn't reach any success...

[@SteffenRC]

Yes, I could've soldered the leads to the ESC battery cable, but didn't want to mess with that process. If I have a new ESC that requires me to solder a connector, I'd add these leads then. I think there are few ways to connect this lead (ESC, UBEC, or balance). I haven't tried another sensor on the Spektrum system. I have a handful of voltage sensors from FrSKY, but didn't try it.. I guess I could, but I worry about damaging the electronics..

[@jollyroger2226]

Another interesting project. Well done. If I can back up just a bit - I was curious about your comparison of the various glue options you tested. I understand that using E 6000 had some degree of working on the foam such that it became softer. Did the foam remain soft or did it firm back up after a time? Do you think it had an effect on the strength of the foam component? - It looked like the way you had to grab the test blocks to try and break them apart - that the foam pieces were still fairly strong. ? Thanks - Rog.

[@SteffenRC]

Thanks Roger, The E6000 softens the foam around the joint and I think that melting of foam, when dry and cured (its not brittle, but flexible) it makes for a crazy strong bond. Like the Hot Glue.. Melts the foam too.. I've been trying to apply it sparingly on the outside edge to not create a visible line where the foam melts.. A little can go a long way.... - Will

[@matthewjames4268]

Can this be done with a Corona CR8D receiver?

[@SteffenRC]

I don’t think that RX has a way of sending telemetry back to the Tx. This is more of a Spektrum RX solution

[@matthewjames4268]

Thought so. I'll upgrade to a Spektrum soon enough@@SteffenRC

[@HFamilyDad]

I don't think you explained where you plug the other end of the lead into?

[@SteffenRC]

I mentioned the plug on the Spektrum RC that labeled Volts.. But, could've been a little more clear on that.. Thanks... Will