FPV Part 12: Installing Wiring APM 2.6, Telemetry Radio and MinumOSD

[@TheAdkFlyer10]

Hello Dave, Great job with this series! I am planning a similar setup using the Bixler1.1 and have watched and rewatched these videos as I await Christmas morning, and hopefully a HKMega 2.5 under the tree! You have done a wonderful job in explaining the (somewhat complicated) power setup to this board and it's peripheral equipment. Thank you! Fergy from the Adirondacks

[@DaveMerc]

Thanks for watching! Have a happy RC Christmas.

[@shawwjon]

Awesome video! I'm also building a y6 from 3drobotics, but this helped me out to visualize how the wiring went way better than the manual. I didn't realize how much there was to it until after I bought it.

[@DaveMerc]

Thant's great! I just looked up the y6 to see what it was and that is one cool looking copter. Good luck on your build.

[@CoyoteFPV]

No problem :) We use an external Bec for another reason too. If the ESC gos into a thermal shutdown it also cuts the power to its Bec, when this happens the plane is completely dead and normally crashes badly. With an external Bec if the ESC shuts down, you still have control of the servos ( or the AP has ) so even though it has no power, you or the AP still has the ability to level, turn or land the plane

[@CoyoteFPV]

Yes that`s correct, the Bec is connected away from the ESC so the ESC current flows down the intended cables into the current senor, not looping out of its own Bec ground wire into the APM

[@DickGibson]

Hey thanks for the plug! Carbon fiber is the enemy of GPS, I would recommend that you place the GPS on the top side somewhere. I and many people place theirs where you want to put the telemetry radio. I also recommend a UBEC. It looks like you will have plenty of room to slide your battery back and forth for balance. I put a long strip of velcro on the floor of the plane 6" or so, and a smaller piece on the battery so it is not too hard to move the battery. Lookin Good

[@CoyoteFPV]

You can, again because the input of the Bec will still give you a common ground, but the way it is fitted ( Bec input voltage wires connected to the current sensor output ) means the loop is then from the current sensors output to the current sensor. ) This is perfectly safe though. You connect to the current sensors output tabs simply so the current sensor measures the mah used by the Bec and accounts for this in the OSD readings.

[@CoyoteFPV]

Hi Dmerc, you do still have a complete circuit, the ground for the ESC is common with the ground of the APM at the APM`s current sensor. The only difference is that there is no longer a ground loop ( 2 commons (( ESC servo wire and current sensor ground)) making a loop ) anymore.

[@MrNeil351]

Ahh crap! Thanks for all ur help by the way but it just dawned on me wats wrong. I think wat iv done is plugged the outputs in wrong. I was looking at a pic and noticed how there numbered.

[@crackerjackxxxx]

Starting to look like a very nice set up :-)

[@chrisleech1565]

Great idea to use the print of the schematic. Don't see the diff btwn 2.5 and 2.6. But any way at least Hobby King has got thru some of their backlog and my order, one of 7 suppliers for my APM QUAD w/ FPV build, is finally in the damned post. I can almost see all stages of the build. Thanks Dmerc00 as always

[@CoyoteFPV]

I would use a Ubec as well, not because your Esc`s Bec is underrated but because your introducing a bad ground loop through the APM that can enable motor current to run through the APM damaging it. With the separate Bec you only need the Esc`s white signal wire and loose the potentially unsafe ground loop

[@DickGibson]

It is easy to pull the red wire on the ESC and add a BEC

[@petercross7183]

Good Info, Well presented.

[@DaveMerc]

Peter Cross Thanks!

[@jogomez1988a]

Hi Sr. I need a little help. Can Transmit the control and telemetry just one transeiver? What do you recommend?

[@notamage9956]

Hey hello there. I have successfully installed the OSD after watching your video and it was fantastic. However I do have a serious problem. I want to use both OSD and the MAVLink at the same time. However as you know there is only one "Telem" output on the ArduPilot. What can I do about it?

[@stannardjoshuaable]

I have followed every video you posted you are a tremendous help you make set up very easy but I am at my breaking point with ardupilot 2.5. I was able to connect to Mission Planner without any issues it worked 100 percent of the time now it just times out every time and I cannot upload firmware to my plane

[@DaveMerc]

Yes I have had that happen. It turned out to be a bad USB cable. Another time it was because I tried to use the telemetry radio link instead of the USB cable and that fails with MavLink error. There are probably other reasons as well but I have not run in to them... yet. You might also try disconnecting the MinimOSD and Telemetry Radio while uploading firmware because it may think you are trying to use the MavLink.

[@tbertw]

Hi, I fly ultralight airplanes. I would like to use the APM 2.6 as a basis for instruments for my ultralight. Instead of sending the data via a radio downlink, I would like to send it directly to an android tablet. This would allow the airspeed and altimeter and gps displays to be available realtime in the cockpit. Can you direct me to a source for this information? Thanks, Tim

[@DaveMerc]

Sounds like a good idea. Info for the APM is at ardupilot.com/

[@tbertw]

***** The problem I have is that I want to connect the APM 2.6 directly to the android and not have the radio downlink. That is not covered on the website or discussion forums. Thanks again, Tim

[@JoshTrickshot]

i love this hobby:)

[@DaveMerc]

Josh fpv Me too!

[@bryontrott]

Hi, I have been following your video's while I build my Skywalker and they have been helpful. I am incorporating some of you build suggestions. I noticed that I have the same EZUHF radio system. The EZUHF supports PPM and the APM 2.6 also supports PPM if you jumper pins 2-3. Did you ever switch to PPM and just hook one cable between receiver and the AMP 2.6 on Channel 1?

[@DaveMerc]

No I have not done that. However 3 of my channels bypass the APM and go to my Pan/Tilt and video switch. Not sure I can use PPM because of that reason.

[@davwing24]

Nice video thanks If I want to make a y-6 copter which is consist with 6 motor not any servo should I connect only signalwire from esc to APM? Because there is no servo to feed Or should I connect gnd also??

[@DaveMerc]

I don't have any information on the Y-6. Never built one.

[@elieeid8865]

good day i am asking how can i use the PPM Encoder V2.0 for my APM Flight. and if it is save or no. and if you can make a video step by step for this. thank you very much for your videos(S)

[@MrNeil351]

Hey that cable that runs from the module to the apm. Wats that called? I need one longer.

[@BartMan724]

Good video now is another question so are you Y'ing off the battery to supply the ESC and Ardupolit i got a little mixed up on that part.

[@DaveMerc]

Power Module feeds the APM Voltage by it's 5 volt regulator and also has current and voltage sensor signals to the APM. You need one.

[@puma509]

Well done, thanks so much

[@anuarferrera]

First of all, I want to tank you for such of detailed videos you share in your channel, I am from Chile (South America) and your videos inspired me to get involve in FPV :) Now I need your help with the diagram how to wire the LRS and the APM, I saw that you use a separated energy source (BEC) but I have no idea how to wire all the components. I was wondering if you can share the diagram that we see on the video. I would really appreciate your help Thanks again, Anuar Ferrera Santiago de Chile

[@DaveMerc]

See if you can access my modified wiring diagram here: docs.google.com/file/d/0BwJCCr4qRHixcHhlcHFtaV9XT0E

[@anuarferrera]

Thanks , let me see if I understood good, the only servo wire complete with power,gnd,signal is rudd from receiver? Btw I am using a LRS EzUHF

[@DaveMerc]

Anuar Ferrera Actually I have complete servo wires on A,E,T, Aux1 as well but it is not necessary to have more than one voltage and ground wire. For the pan/tilt (Aux2, Aux3) wires only hook up the yellow signal wire because those servos get voltage and ground from the UBEC. Make sure the JP1 jumper is removed for this wiring!

[@DaveMerc]

Anuar Ferrera For the video pod wiring see FPV Part 14 because I hook up the MinimOSD different than the way it's shown in this diagram. Not that you have to do it my way, you can use whatever works best for you on the OSD section.

[@anuarferrera]

Thanks :) understood

[@MrNeil351]

My ublox gps is a neo-6m and it came with a 6p to 6p cable. I cant arm apm or get a gps lock. Do I need the 6p to 5p cable?

[@DaveMerc]

Yes this happened to me too. Contact the vendor because some came with the wrong cables.

[@CoyoteFPV]

Cool, Ill keep an eye out for it :)

[@paulkazjack]

Hi again, can you tell me how to get the RSSI function to work on my Ezosd with 8ch diversity Rx? thanks.

[@DaveMerc]

You might have to search rcgroups or other forums. I don't have an EZosd.

[@JB46423]

Hello, Congratulations for this video and explanations. I am looking for information about LRS systems to buy and see that there is much else available in the market. I was very interesting setup chosen by you. Ardupilot broadcast EZUHF. Some range test was done with it? What is the maximum range of command and that video can you have with this setup. Thanks

[@DaveMerc]

EZUHF 433 Mhz can go many kilometers for RC control. Video is on 1.3 Ghz and also goes very far as well. I have not range checked either one.

[@kabirkhan1637]

I have t6ch spektrum dx6i radio .can i use for skywalker.with ApM 2.8?

[@DaveMerc]

You can use it but you will have to give up some features that require the extra channels. I recommend at least an 8 channel radio.

[@MrNeil351]

Im building a y6 tricopter and useing the apm 2.6 got any tips

[@DaveMerc]

Check out the Arducopter wiki and forums. I have not delved into copters yet. All I know is that the APM requires the firmware for copters to be downloaded.

[@1dimtim]

whats the difference between 2.5 2.6 and 2.7???? thanks

[@DaveMerc]

I think the APM 2.6 changed the compass from on-board (2.5) to external. The 2.7 is HK's HKPilot which has some new features shown here: diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/hobbyking-releases-hkpilot-2-7 The 2.7.2 APM version sold other places such as rangevideo has the same changes. www.rangevideo.com/3dr-pixhawk/848-ardupilot-apm-27-flight-controller.html I am sure you can find info at other vendors as well.

[@stannardjoshuaable]

Do you plan on buying the Pixhawk at all?

[@DaveMerc]

What is the difference between the Pixhawk and the APM 2.6? Is it better?

[@stannardjoshuaable]

Memory, processing speed, automatic peripheral detection, multiple telemetry ports.. ect.. it's the reason apm is no longer in production

[@DaveMerc]

joshua stannard Great, may be I will get one some day but I have become vested in the APM 2.6 for now which works well with the SkyWalker plane.

[@chrisa5573]

what is that receiver?

[@DaveMerc]

EZUHF 8 Channel Lite Receiver. I put a link under the video.

[@redcurated4302]

This guy sounds like Hank Hill.

[@marierosellev]

poooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooop

[@MrNeil351]

Hey that cable that runs from the module to the apm. Wats that called? I need one longer.

[@DaveMerc]

Which module are you taking about? Look through these and you might find what your looking for. store.3drobotics.com/t/parts/cables

[@DaveMerc]

***** store.3drobotics.com/t/parts/cables