Discussions

power source to run a 2d gimbal and video transmitter

Posted by David Byrnes on March 25, 2014 at 3:08pm

I have hit a road block on my build. How to power both my Tarot 2d gimbal and 5.8 video transmitter. I would like to use just one battery and a splitter or 2 way power distribution board of some kind. Any ideas?

Seems to be a simple problem, but I keep getting stuck on battery size. Any thoughts would be much appreciated.  

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Replies

            • Alan D > nickthecook July 16, 2014 at 11:44am

              Yes, the Tarot software is a windows program. If you're on Mac or Linux a virtual machine running XP will do, as long as you pass through the USB port.

              Channel positions set on the transmitter, yes.

              Nothing needed on the APM, as it's not connected to it.

              • nickthecook > Alan D August 16, 2014 at 6:21pm

                @Alan,

                I've tried setting up the Tarot gimbal in VirtualBox with Windows 7, Windows XP SP3, and Windows XP with no SPs at all. Every time I try to launch the configuration program, it crashes, and I get a Windows dialog informing me an error has occurred. I've never been able to see the GUI for this program as shown in the APM:Copter wiki.

                I always install the driver for the USB dongle, and I always see the "Prolific" port in Device Manager, but the gimbal configuration GUI crashes every time it runs.

                Have you run into this before? My gimbal will only point straight forward, so it's not useless, but I can't actually do anything interesting with it!

              • nickthecook > Alan D July 16, 2014 at 11:45am

                Great, I'll try the VM route.

                Thank you very much!

  • Alan D July 15, 2014 at 3:20pm

    What battery type are you using on the rest of the quad / hex?

    I have a hex, with a 5000maH 3S battery, powering everything, including the Tarot gimbal and VTX, works fine.

    • nickthecook > Alan D July 16, 2014 at 3:58am
      Alan,

      One is for the motors and one for the video tx. The video to battery is only 900mah and doesn't add too much weight.

      No reason I couldn't use a BEC, I suppose, except that I don't know how. ;)
    • nickthecook > Alan D July 15, 2014 at 6:46pm
      I have a 3S, but I'll soon be switching to 4S.

      According to the ArduCopter wiki, the tarot can be powered by the 4S, but I don't think my video system can.

      I'd be happy with a 4S for main power and a small 3S for video and gimbal, but I'd rather avoid a third battery!

      How is your power distributed to the different systems?
      • Alan D > nickthecook July 16, 2014 at 2:15am

        3 batteries?

        What are the existing 2 doing? 

        Why not just use a 12v BEC to power the VTX (and gimbal if needed) from 4S?

        • nickthecook > Alan D July 29, 2014 at 6:52am

          Just got the gimbal installed. It needs 12V and so does my VTX, so I've ordered a 12V BEC to power them:

          http://www.helipal.com/bec-for-fpv-system-12-30v-in-12v-out.html

          Reviews say this one provides clean power for the VTX. Now I just need to make a JST Y-cable with one male and two female to split that power so VTX and gimbal can both use it.

          Thank again.

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  • nickthecook July 15, 2014 at 11:39am

    Hi David,

    Did you figure this out? I have the same question.

    Nick

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