Hey guys, I'm tasked with building a CineStar 8 w/ APM2.5 and "all the bells and whistles" so to speak. I've diagrammed all the components and how they should link together in preparation. Would someone experienced please take a look and tell me what I've done wrong? Additionally, I have a few questions:
1) Have I hooked up the auxiliary battery supply correctly? The idea is to have the APM, GPS, and main receiver powered via the Power Module off the flight battery, and then have everything else (Gimbal servos, FPV Cam, OSD, 3DR, LED I/O, etc.) be powered by a 12V auxiliary battery (3S 1200 mAh). If we added dual operator capability, I'd use a BEC to power the second Rx.
2) Is there any point in hooking the gimbal's pan servo to the APM?
3) Since the APM has the Power Module, do I need to supply power from one of the ESC's (as pictured w/ question mark)?
4) Any ideas on a telemetry splitter cable solution?
5) Ditto for all the 12V stuff coming off the auxiliary battery.
6) Is there any point in using both the 3DR wireless telem and the OSD? I'm not sure I understand the benefit of the 3DR if you've already got the APM telemetry on screen via the OSD (which reveals my ignorance)
Thanks for taking a look. This is my first stab at this sort of thing, so I'm sure I've messed many things.
Replies
Bumping to hopefully get some input on this.
I've updated the diagram to include an optional 2nd receiver for the gimbals (dual operator mode). I haven't included the associated FPV Tx and Camera, but it should be straightforward.
I found a thread where Jani showed a jDrones telemetry expander board which would ease the installation of MinimOSD with jDrones I/O Board and radio telemetry, but I haven't yet found it on the jDrones store. If I can't source that, I'll just make a custom 3-way telemetry cable with standard pin headers.
I'm not sure about the 12V auxiliary power distribution, but I was thinking that a 2x8 shrouded male pin header with a wire soldered along the bottom pins (with EC5 battery connector) to make a bus bar might work. Then the servos, IO board, camera, video Tx, BEC, etc can get power from this using a 2-pin female pin header cable. Any thoughts on that, or how to seal such an assembly with heat shrink?
I still wonder about connecting a 5V source from a motor ESC to the APM (dashed line in diagram). I don't think this is necessary since the Power Module powers the APM, GPS, Flight Rx, and all the telemetry gadgets via the FTDI telemetry cable, but I may misunderstand things.
Thanks in advance.