Thanks @Njoro I’ll have a look and see if it can be installed/is compatible with the hardware…
There’s a reminder that I need to convert one of my quads back to iNav
Question guys, will iNav go on the F405 FC in my build?
The reason I ask is that there is a big warning NOT to flash non iNav hardware with iNav because of bricking the FC…
It might be tough on an F4. Support was dropped a year ago or so. You would need to go back to rev 7 ( confirm this).
Why are you after the gps? It is not so you flying but will help with location of home, speed and rescue. You’ll be able to launch the quad and fly without it and add it later on.
Yep, I think you’re right there! I’m going to disable the GPS, when I re-visit it, then sort it out later, when I have some flying under my belt so to speak! Thanks again for your words of wisdom JP…
I’m going to stick with BetaFlight for now, if I have any issues I might look into INAV again. not that I looked much this time… lol
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@MDSteve Sorry for the late reply, here’s a good video that may be of help.
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@Njoro thanks mate, interesting video, very informative…
However, I’m sticking with Betaflight for now, once I get it sorted and everything working, I may look at stitching over. I just don’t need another change etc ATM…
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@SimonDale @GVG_Air @Njoro @jpmreece -Update…
First off, the battery - a sage on it’s own! It arrived eventually! However, 4 of the 6 cells gave readings of zero! Not impressed, to say the lease. That was a few days ago, I have one of these -
SKYRC Ultimate Duo D260 Smart Charger AC/DC 260W - Kings Lynn Model Shop
Connected up did a battery check and only 2 cells showed a voltage. Complained to the supplier, still waiting for a reply. I have an adjustable desk PSU, so I connected it up before turning it on, I set the voltage to 22.2 = 6S. Wound the Amperage all the way down. Turned it on and with a cell monitor on the balance wires, monitored each cell. Gradually increasing the amps… after a while of monitoring, the cells and battery temperature, all cells showed 2+ volts.
Disconnected and reconnected it with the balance wire and main power lead to the SkyRC set to charge at 6amps with 3hours limit and 12,000 mAh total. after 36 hours of monitoring it, it finally reached 100%!!!
So I revisited the build project, here’s the progress report:
VTX>Goggles - Working
GPS - working and locking on to 18-20 sats
Receiver - not recognised! enabled on Ports, configured on Receiver page, just point blank refuses to be recognised!
Ordered a new one:
RadioMaster RP4TD ExpressLRS 2.4GHz True Diversity Receiver
Installed it, discovered that the cable the old one was using had the red and black crossed as well as RX>TX. So after connecting it up wrong and causing a computer to crash, discovering the problem and reconnecting it. it now comes up when the build is powered on!
It has an LED that goes through it’s sequence to settle on Green flashing, but does not and will not, show up in the FC via BetaFlight or bind to the transmitter! I’ve disabled everything else and tried with only the receiver, but nothing. I’ve run out of ideas!
Apologies this is a bit long, but it’s been a real nightmare - Any suggestions would be appreciated…
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Edit to add:
Do Not Use The Battery
The cells have been fully discharged and will be damaged. You may have got some voltage into them but under heavy discharge they will heat up and swell. Return the pack to the manufacturer and get a refund. Be very careful charging them, use a battery box that is rated for such a large lump of lithium.
Now The Original Post
How are you binding? There are two options:
Binding phrase:
- Use expressLRS configurator on both the reciever and and transmitter,
- Update the firmware, because why not!
- Then enter a binding phrase
There are 2 ways to connect, either through Betaflight if through the WiFi link. For the receiver, the WiFi link is enabled by posting the module up and leaving it for a minute. An access point appears that you can connect to using the key “expresslrs”. On the transmitter, press system then run the expresslrs lua script. There is an option to enable WiFi .
From here the configuration is available via a website.
Button Press
This method is, in my experience, more unreliable.
- Press the binding button on the reciever
- Open the expireslrs lua script on the transmitter
- Press bind
I hope this information is useful. Remember when you flash the software to flash the EU version.
I’m assuming your transmitter is expresslrs at 2.4GHz.
Good luck.
Morning JP, thanks for the reply…
Battery - I wondered if it had not been charged at all, what with shipping. Having said that I don’t know how the manufacturing process works, specifically at what point they add power/charge the cells.
My balance charger has charged it to full, with no hint of any heating at any point. I now have it in 2 x LiPo safe bags on a dis-charge cycle at 2 amps. I’m monitoring the discharge rate and any change in temperature. While 2 amps is not really stressing a 70c capable battery, it will reduce the risk when returning it. Thanks for the warning!
I’m going to replace it with two smaller ones purchased from UK seller, which will give me a little more power over all and longer flight time.
I’ll look at the binding issue when I’ve got the receiver visible in the FC & BetaFlight, but thanks for the tips…
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I think this is sound advice. You can’t be too careful, and they should give you a refund.
However, isn’t the 0.00V reading a product of the BMS circuit? Isn’t it possible that the actual voltage of the cells in question was actually 1.98V but the BMS cut them off to protect them?
I’ve had some success with a 6 x 18650 pack by connecting directly to the cells and getting them back above the 2V threshold, then the BMS would allow a connection to them, and the charger would charge them again.
As above, better to be safe than sorry. You could even do a credit card dispute if it came to it.
These batteries generally don’t have a BMS. They have difficulty dealing with the current and being lightweight at the same time.
The chemistry is such that these cells will have been degraded and will have a high resistance at high current. On a 13 inch quad currents will be up to 200A. These cells are just waiting to catch fire now. Ditch the pack and save the quad.
Source of information:
I design battery management systems for a living.
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Of course! Silly me.
It’s been a minute since I used an RC lipo. It’s all coming back to me now.
Thanks @SimonDale as mentioned, I’m currently running a discharge cycle on the battery, to make it ready for return.
I do find it strange that 4 of the 6 cells arrived here with no charge. Was it the MBS as you mentioned @SimonDale or is this a faulty batch?
I suspect the BMS had something to do with it, as after giving it a ‘Kick’ as it were with a conventional charge method, the smart balance charger charged without any hint of the battery heating up.
However, better safe thansorry, it’s going back and I’ll get a full refund! one way or another!
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I’m glad to hear this is your course of action.
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I have logged the return request, awaiting reply…
It’s all been said, so I’ll add nothing…
Ok guys, that’s a line drawn under the battery issue. Thanks to all who advised
Now I still can’t ‘SEE’ the receiver in BetaFlight and can’t bind to it? What would stop it appearing in Beta flight.
RadioMaster RP4TD ExpressLRS 2.4GHz True Diversity Receiver
Things I’ve done:
Checked and reversed the wiring - no change
Confirmed it’s connected correctly.
Current status: slow flashing Green light, with an orange visible when the green goes dim
Any ideas please?
Betaflight didn’t care about binding. See my above post on connecting reciever to transmitter.
You need to make sure Betaflight is set to CRSF protocol.
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