On last days I listen some comments from APM-Pikhawk users about vulnerable wires and connectors for GPS, RM, etc. on my oun, I experienced failed gps wires from new (original) and RM one with some flying time and saw others with "NO GPS" problems, the first I said, try with another wires and was the solution; an other thing, they are difficult to unplug specially for men, many of them unpluged from the wires to add more risk (I uses the nails ;)) .
3DR guys, Isn't possible to think on another better plug system for newer Pixhawk vers?
(It's only a little suggestion to have a better harware day to day, I begun with APM2.0 and never other harware problem, big quality products.:) .Many Thank's
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Advantage ? Anti Vibration Mount. Although I´m a DF13 / Molex hater as well (I even would prefer JST-SH) , the PX Vibration Mount gets inefficient using thicker wires usually coming with servo plugs. At my AUAV-X2, I m using as replacement, since my out of warranty 3DR PX died, I had to replace all wires @ servo plugs with very thin soft, silicon types to achieve low vibs.
Since the PX2 is supposed to come with internally damped IMU this won´t be a topic anymore.
Btw. any official Infos about the PX2 so far ?
All new connectors means all new peripherals, right? ;)
Definitivelly horrible connectors, today I discover a problem with red wire from power module to APM in the APM side, fortunetly the copter was on ground, for a moment ESC becomes beep beep, I look the APM and it was off, I move the red wire and becomes to work again; the copter life depends from that little vulnerable wire, mmm..... I'm not shure if not return to old esc powered or a bec perhaps? ideas?.
I posted my concerns and suggestions for DF13 connectors at Pixhawk Details #2: Multicolor led and connector demo page.
I've damaged too many cables and connectors and feel this design needs improvements for ease of installing and removing DF13 cable plugs.
that's how I unplug those connectors:
https://youtu.be/M8KGVD608GQ
Thank,s Felix, this videos are very usefull for newbies, I, at begining, grumble a lot with this little guys, I use the nails and somethimes a screwdriver but you uses a bigger one and sounds easier, I'm going to try like it.
Thank's Gary and Richard for your complete explanations, I though that someting happens with this connectors because they are in a lot of our flying electronics.
Hi Cala, Richard,
DF13 connectors have been a hotly debated (and despised by many) issue since the PX4 first came out.
I hate them, a lot of other people hate them, Lorenz Meier loves them and he designed it so we have DF13 connectors.
(Not trying to start a fight Lorenz).
It is hard to find a good connector that works in the spacing of the DF13.
That said, I cut off the little retention tabs on each side of the connector body (the one on the PC board), then they are easy to pull out and still seem to have plenty of retention for all normal uses (they still don't come out on their own.)
One of my main objections was that initially there was no good cheap tool to use for terminating your own DF13 cable connectors, but now there is one.
They are still a pain in the A## but as long as their wires have been crimped properly they do make a reliable connection even in the not so vibration free circumstance of our flight controllers.
At least so long as you don't yank them out trying to disconnect them.
We have learned to live with them.
Best regards,
Gary
Gary +1 (despise) of these connectors. But liking Mission planner and Pixhawk did find a nice way to circumvent these horrible connectors:
Pixhawk with decent connectors
:-)
Gary your right I guess this has been out there awhile.
I do understand what is required is a lot of connections in a small space so it's a tough task. I think it would be beneficial if instead of the cable/s being a lot of tiny wires that they are secured in an outer casing such as this http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ublox-NEO-M8N-GPS-Module-W-Compass-GPS-Hold... Not having all those individual wires so easy to catch things would be a huge improvement. I am very surprised that as 3DR is now at the forefront of this new technology aka drones yet they seem to have the back yard mechanic style going on with their gps and compass wires. While I can't know for sure I highly suspect that many cases of flight problems and time consumed on these forums trying to help people with issues could be directly attributed to simply having bad connections. The connector is one aspect, and perhaps the DF13 is the best bet.... but the vulnerability is another aspect. It seems at least the vulnerability aspect has been largely solved long ago and by cheap Chinese gps's [ like above ] seems like 3DR might want to take a step back from marching forward on new ideas and improve on what they already have. Just my long winded 2 cents :]
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