hello everyone
i am currently building a t960 5008/340kv with hobbywing plat pro 40a with bec
I was under the impression that i was going to power the pixhawk from my
non opto 40a esc (built in 5.25v)but after hours of research I no longer think that's recommended as
I cannot find another single 6s hex with ATTOPILOT 180a bypass that uses this setup on the entire internet...????? (knda funny actually)
MY QUESTION IS: CAN I POWER THE PIXHAWK FROM THE 3DR POWER DISTRIBUTION BOARD?
(purchased seperately)
DOES THIS pd BOARD HAVE A BEC AT 5V? AND WHERE DO I PLUG IN THE
POWER WIRE ON THE PIXHAWK...? THERE IS A DF13 CONNECTION? ARE WE . TO SPLICE A 5V POWER WIRE INTO THE DF13 PIN 1?
WHAT ABOUT GROUND?
side note: i replaced the original 90a apm power module with xt60 connectors kit with attopilot.
this is why i have NO BEC connection anymore.
Replies
Answer is in the wiki here in the "power pixhawk" section:
http://copter.ardupilot.com/wiki/common-pixhawk-wiring-and-quick-st...
Does anyone know if the PDB board by 3dr (the pre wired one at the store) uses some sort
of bec for its 5v power output or does it use a bec already in the ESC?
IF SO, DO I CUT ALL THE RED WIRES EXCEPT ONE LEADING INTO THE BOARD? OR DOES THIS BOARD SOMEHOW REGULATE ITS OWN VOLTAGE?)
(the board has an organization system where the 3 wires go in from the esc and the signal wires come out as a df connection - then the board has two convenient wires that plug into +- output on pixhawk)
I am using bec's from my esc's to power pixhawk and leading one red wire from a bec to the main powerport as a backup.
Anyone use this PDB or know about it have any imput?
414237_orig.jpg
PDB_Hexa_xt60_-_Copy.jpg
images.jpeg
Your answers are in the photos you posted.
Question #1: Don't use that garbage. It is intended to use your ESC BEC for the low voltage
Question #2: Look at the picture you posted. It shows you exactly what you need to do. http://copter.ardupilot.com/wiki/common-using-a-pixhawk-with-6s-bat...
You should also consider adding an additional backup power source to the servo rail, as described in the wiki.
Steve....
I am under the impression after speaking with a rep from 3dr, that there is no power
running through servo rails? So my question is "do i route a red BEC wire and
splice it into the "power" pin #1 wire in the DF13 connection supplied by PIXHAWK?
I assume when you say GARBAGE you are reffering to 3dr's PDB? Why do you say that?
Looks like a good board, trust it more than some china stuff I've purchased on ebay....
That being said. I still dont have an answer on whether the board has a built in BEC at 5v?
GOT THIS EMAIL FROM 3DR TECH SUPPORT YESTERDAY
IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE SERVO RAIL HAD NO POWER IMPUT FROM ESCS
THIS IS WHY IM SO CONFUSED copy - paste below
"Well, yes, a BEC 5V is needed to power up your Pixhawk in POWER port, a BEC from a ESC will work OK. The side pins on Pixhawk didn't provide any voltage, except for the RC IN, used to power your receiver.
In regards of the max voltage supported by the POWER port, the Pixhawk will be fine from 4.2 to 5.6 V.
Best regards."
3DR Tech Support.
The pixhawk does not send power out the servo rail. You should connect a 5V BEC or whatever you choose to get 5V to your servos to the servo/input/output pins. It will provide power to the rail, and to the pixhawk in case of main power in failure.
I run 2 BECs to my pixhawks. One goes to the main power in and one to the servo rail. To use something like the Attopilot, just cut the main power harness and wire in a BEC in place of the power in and ground in. Use the sensing and ground from the Attopilot. The diagram in the link above shows how to do this.
HTH
THANK YOU STEVE !!!!!!!!!!
I HAVE BEEN ASKING THIS QUESTION ALL DAY 50 WAYS TO SUNDAY
AND YOU FINALLY GAVE ME THE ANSWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
so you do splice the power wire from the POWER imput!!!!
ok -- but can I power the pixhawk through an ESC-BEC into the normal output pins without that
main power splice? like a normal fc?
Also Steve....
Is it common to run both power sources from the main module (splice) on the pixhawk and from the main servo output pin at the same time as a backup system...?
That doesn;t mess with the pixhawk?
I personally don't use ESC BEC for anything, but you could connect one to power the pix.
I run 2 BEC. 1 goes to power port, one to servo rail.
You should read the wiki. All this info is there albeit very truncated.