After I had a few problems with the standard power module from 3DR and the ones from Hobbyking, like falling off resistors (overheated) and burned out BEC from voltage spikes, I finally designed my own PM modules. The sensor boards are compatible to Pixhawk, APM, Pixhawk lite, AUAV-X2, DroTek und CUAV Pixhack.

These modules are based on a true hall current sensor, so heat is no more an issue !!!

The sensors boards are able for continuous current of 100A for HS-100-V2 and 200A for HS-200-V2 (no time limit), the maximum over current is 1200A@25'C and 800A@85'C for 1 second.

Here some details:

Sensor Board:

  • Current sensor is a “true hall sensor” up to 200A (ACS758-200U) or 100A (ACS758-100U)
  • Ultra-low noise power supply (LP2985-4.0) for current sensor and offset shifting circuit.
  • Microchip MCP601 operational amplifier for offset shifting.
  • LiPo voltage measurement with 1% resistor divider in factor 9:1.
  • 2x10cm / AWG12 cable soldered to current sensor as standard size (Up to AWG8 possible).
  • 6 pol cable connection to Pixhawk / APM (both sides DF-13 connector).
  • 1x 10cm and 1x 20cm / 6 pole cable in the box to select a different cable length if necessary.
  • 18mm x 29mm x 11mm / 7g without cables and shrinking tube.
     

3691258132?profile=original

BEC:

  • Input 2-6S LiPo / max. 28V
  • Output 5.35V / 3A -> +/- 0.05V –> Ripple 10mV (0.2%) at 1.5A output current.
  • Input wrong polarity protection, as well as Panasonic FM 220uF/35V input capacitor to prevent burn out of BEC from voltage spikes.
  • 4 pole cable to sensor board with DF-13 connector.
  • 47mm x 18mm x 11mm / 8g with cables and shrinking tube.

Installation:

The Sensor board is installed only into the positive main battery wire and the BEC should be installed as close as possible to the battery connector.

3691258183?profile=original

Quality control of the finished product:

To post here all the quality control during the production would be a very long story, so all I can say is, that it is carried out and recorded.

The final QC before the boards are shipped, is a setup with an FC (Pixhawk) and connected to MissionPlanner to check the calibration values for current and voltage measurement.
This final test result will be passed to the customer together with the order confirmation and shipment tracking number by e-mail.

REM: Which power module supplier out there actually use the PM to power up a real FC before shipment ?

So I hope everybody understands, that if I say "safety first"... then I mean it.

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FAQ:

Why Hall sensor ?

  • The measurement over a normal shunt resistor is not accurate at lower current (<3.0A). For a Hall sensor the measurement starts at 0.5A with an accuracy of +/-0.5A over the whole range up to 200A !
  • A shunt resistor create heat due to the voltage drop, the hall sensor has only an internal resistance of 100uOhm, so there is no power loss.
  • Due to the heat created by a shunt resistor and the power cable, the measurement of the current is not linear and depends on the temperature. This is not happened to a hall sensor, a temperature change (created by the main LiPo cable) will not influence the measurement.
  • The current flows only through the hall sensor and NOT through the PCB. Most other current measurement boards has the main cable soldered to the PCB and then it goes to the shunt resistor -> these boards can’t handle over 60A constant current ?

 
Why only a few supplier use a true hall sensor for current measurement in an MR ?

  • Hall sensors are very expensive, compared to a normal shunt resistor and not everybody out there wants to spend the money to top up for a good measurement system. So the sales quantity and profit will not be within the target.


Why output voltage to Pixhawk /APM is 5.35V and not 5.0V ?

  • Pixhawk has internally a 3-way power selector over an ideal diode chip. The 3-ways are USB, power connector (6pin) and the Output PWM rail on the back of the FC. So it is possible to power up the FC with either one of this power sources, but how do we know which power source right know is powering up our FC if there is USB, a PM module as well as an backup BEC connected to the output (ESC/Servo) rail ?
    The answer is easy: Whichever voltage is higher by 0.25V to any other power source is selected as the internal power supply, as long as this voltage do not exceed 5.70V !
    The result in practice on the field can be different, as there are many components connected to the FC like, GPS, Servos, opto ESC’s… etc., the power consumed by the system is not stable, which means the supplied voltage is not stable as well. The reason for this is the loss in voltage due to small power supply cables and maybe many connectors.
    To prevent the internal ideal diode to switch too often between different power sources, we choose a bit unusual high voltage (5.35V) as a main power supply. Which means only if any other power supply (USB or PWM rail) is in the small range of 5.35V+0.25V=5.60V and the maximum voltage of 5.70V, then the diode would switch over to the other source.


Why the cable from UBEC to the sensor board is 4 pol ?

  • To reduce the resistance in the power line and increase the safety, or should we ask, why does the DF-13 power input of the Pixhawk has +/+/I/U/-/- ?
    There are also two wires, for positive and negative, used to reduce the risk of failure.


Why sensor board and UBEC are separated ?

  • A switching power supply can be a very “noisy” part in the power supply chain and it is very difficult to shield the coils (1.5MHz) from the current measurement board. So it was decided to keep the two away from each other.


 Why is there an additional capacitor installed at the input of the UBEC ?

  • Many people complain that the UBEC seems to be bit big, but fact is that he is only 22mm x 17mm. What makes him BIG are the safety capacitors at the input and output !
    We all had the issues before that any ESC burned out due to the “hammer effect” in the supply lines, but do we consider that the UBEC is sitting on the same voltage source ?
    Does anybody ask himself so far why suddenly his BEC burned out ?
    Why does some people add some capacitors onto the ESC’s to reduce the risk of failure, but in the same time they forget that there is also anywhere an BEC in the supply line which might need some protection too ?
    How good is it if your ESC’s survive a voltage spike, but your BEC didn’t and the MR crashes ?
    If you can answer some of the questions by yourself, then you will also figure out why this UBEC is a bit bigger than others.


 How can I get one of these boards ?

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Replies

    • Yes, the current reading will be more accurate and stable, which is very important even under very low load (current) conditions.

    • 3702608111?profile=originalI m convinced of that.Mine are very accurate, checked them with my Fluke45 and a Mansion NEP.

      So far the only (non commercial) Power Module /sensor I know, coming with an individual measurement protocol.

  • You can find a new voltage & current sensor board here

    3702143513?profile=original

    This module can measure the battery voltage and current consumption with effect Hall sensor. It's compatible with Dropix and Pixhawk flight controller!

    • While I can't quite comment on this exact piece as I do not own a Drotek power module...

      A few months ago I did order a drotek GPS module.

      Was quite unhappy with it. Even though its supposedly the same as the clone M8N I ordered off goodbang, it performed quite a bit worst.

      I wont go into much detail as it doesnt really matter at this point. The GPS is sitting in the drawer collecting dust.

      I just thought I would mention it as I was very unhappy with my Drotek purchase and I can see their business practices are quite underhanded judging by the fact that JPerin decided to jump in on the thread and try to promote their own product. Fully being able to create his own thread and promote his own products there.

      Best of luck to anyone ordering from Drotek... I must certainly will not!

      PS : Ordering my Mauch power module this weekend. Excited to add what appears to be a well made piece to my quad. Will post my review in this thread once its installed.

    • Hi Drotek, you shot yourself in the foot for not arguing what makes your product different to Christian's (the OP), I like your gear and check it regularly when I'm in Europe just think you could have contributed to this post better than dropping your product without any explanation.

      Hi Christian, how much are you retailing individual units for so others know what to put away for xmas?

      • Hi Michael, thanks a lot for your reply... the sales price with 15% discount is right now:

        100A sensor HS-100-V2 with 2-6S BEC = $31.00

        200A sensor HS-200-V2 with 2-6S BEC = $33.00

        100A sensor HS-100-V2 with 4-14S HYB-BEC = $49.00

        200A sensor HS-200-V2 with 4-14S HYB-BEC = $51.00

      • Hi Michael,

        Yes I understand it was awkward. Sorry I did not want to hurt anyone. :-(

        We are very open to technical objects and we have a community behind us with whom we exchange our views.
        The goal is to develop products for the benefit of users.

        I leave this post and I wish you good day.

    • @ Drotek... it is quite an insolence, that you post your product here in other peoples product page. Did you don't have enough courage to open you own thread ? 

      Normally I don't comment on other peoples design, but since you post it here, it looks like you're begging me for it.

      1. Positive and negative main wire again on the same PCB... risk of short's, no isolation !
      2. All current goes again through the PCB, there is no way above 60A constant current !
      3. One product for up to 12S LiPo... if someone use only an 4S, then the analog input of the FC gets only approx. 1V. At this low voltage measurement the reading is not stable and a false RTL is triggered frequently.
      4. Since there is no BEC, the current sensor is very likely powered by an on board LDO. Furthermore, you do not use any protection capacitors... what do you think what will be happened to your LDO when you power up an MR with it ?  --> The LDO will short cut due to the voltage spikes, which means all the electronic on your sensor board, as well as the flight controller get the full LiPo voltage from the main battery. Sounds, not really fun to me !
      5. You do not provide an matching BEC for your sensor, so the customer still have to struggle to buy an additional BEC, which is very difficult to find in the 5.35V range.
      6. On the picture, you're using an ACS759-200B... I'm very wondering how you make that work out !

      I might not cover all issues with the board, as you don't present too much details, but the flaws I can see so far, does makes me afraid of using such sensor board. Even the nice label "Made In France" or the gold plated PCB (which is to some point useless) do not make it up.

      Please do not reply to my comment... just open your own thread and I wish you many unhappy/happy customers.

      Christian

      • @ Christian:

        Notes so stupid and baseless. We see that electronics is a mystery for you. Ahhhh !!

        All mentioned points are sadly unfounded.
        At least you made us laugh. Keep the bad work.  Thank you.

        • Hello Mr. Drotek

          What´s wrong with u? I do not understand how to react so negatively to legitimate criticism. when I compare both products, I would not buy your product. Realy! 

          YOUR comment was stupid. 

          P.S. I use the big one (200A) in a Big Hexa (over 5kg) with 5S and 120A average. Christians Board works reliably. Better as the original from 3DR!!

This reply was deleted.

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