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Power supply for APM and receiver and servos

Posted by Armin Beyel on March 17, 2015 at 1:12am

Hi,

I'm setting up a nitro heli.

Is it a good idea, to give the APM and receiver and servos one power supply from the APM output side.

I know i must power up the servo side, because of the high current of the servos.

Can I place the JP1 to supply the APM from the output side.

Or is it better, to power up the APM separate, the battery is the same anyway.

Armin

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Replies

  • Armin Beyel March 17, 2015 at 5:43pm

    @david did you read my last reply in the other discussion?

    It's confusing with the words throttle and pitch and elevator.

    This is totally different between copter and heli. Copter throttle is pitch. Heli throttle is only speed up the blades.

    In Mission Planner Throttle moves for Elevator in calibration screen.

    And the heli throttle you can only see channel 8 moving.

    But finally i got it.

    This should be corrected in the traditional heli wiki. But this is not the first wrong explanation I found in the wiki.

    Armin

    • David Boulanger > Armin Beyel March 17, 2015 at 5:56pm

      Armin, 

      just be careful and do a lot of bench testing before you fly.  Good luck

      Regards,

      David R. Boulanger

  • Armin Beyel March 17, 2015 at 5:36pm

    I have a 3 A ubec adjustable. I set it to round 5.5 V to supply the servos, hope the current is enough.

    For the APM i use this module from ebay: http://www.ebay.de/itm/APM-2-5-2-APM-2-6-Pixhawk-Power-Module-V1-0-...

    It was in the set with the APM.

    @David, I changed my receiver and servo connections, some reverse of channels and my heli is correct working.

    i can arm the APM and test it in all 3 axis. The APM controls the correct servo in the opposite direction when I move the heli by my hands. Now is the time to power up the nitro machine.

    I tried today, but my starter battery was down. So I order a new one. Maybe tomorrow i have little time and use the car battery. We will see if it works or if i need a new heli.

    Armin

    • David Boulanger > Armin Beyel March 17, 2015 at 5:51pm

      I ran a 3A BEC for a while at 5.5 volts.  I have since upgraded to a 20A Castle BEC.  Somehow I never had problems with the 3A but felt I was pushing my luck with it.

      Regards,

      David R. Boulanger

  • iskess March 17, 2015 at 1:40am
    NEVER share the APMs power source with servos. JP1 should be removed.
    • David Boulanger > iskess March 17, 2015 at 12:20pm

      Ya,  Run the APM off the power module with the J1 jumper removed.  Power your servo rail with a BEC.  I have used a BEC set to 5.7 volts without any problems.  I think the max voltage to the servo rail that is recommended is 6 volts.

      Regards,

      David R. Boulanger

      • iskess > David Boulanger March 17, 2015 at 1:06pm
        If JP1 is removed then the servo rail will not be connected to the APM. In this case, there is no voltage limit other than what your servos can handle.
        • David Boulanger > iskess March 17, 2015 at 2:21pm

          iskess,  I think your wrong.  Look at the Wiki on this subject.

          Regards,

          David R .Boulanger

          • iskess > David Boulanger March 17, 2015 at 2:36pm
            Which part am I wrong about?
            That the servo rail is totally isolated with JP1 open?, or that there is no voltage limit with it open?
            How could there be an APM voltage limit if the APM isn't connected to the voltage?
            I didn't see the wiki info, but it is often wrong and if so, let's report it and get it fixed.
            • David Boulanger > iskess March 17, 2015 at 2:41pm

              The servo rail is isolated but there is a limit on voltage according to the Wiki which I believe to be right.

              Regards,

              David R. Boulanger

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