Selecting battery for Quadcopter

Started by RD1452002, May 05, 2014, 12:11:15 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

RD1452002

This will be my first quadcopter build so I'm a beginner to all this. I've read everything about quadrotors and have already decided the parts, but I'm not able to decide the battery. I have 2 options in my mind - using 2 x Turnigy 2200mAh 2S 20C Lipo Pack
http://cgi.ebay.in/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=191012282294 in parallel
or using 4 X Turnigy 2200mAh 1S 20C Li-Poly
http://hobbysea.com/index.php?cPath=11 by making 2 packs by connecting 2 in series and then using them in parallel.
What shall I do ?  :help:
If you tell me to choose the second, please tell me how to solder it.

maahinberi

What parts have you decided on? The battery is chosen according to the other parts
Maahin Beri - Introduction and Hangar
Seagull Arising Star, Seagull Low Wing 40, AviSport (SPAD), Phoenix Scanner, VortexRC Speedster, Martian 220 Racing Quadcopter.

utkarshg13

Hi,
Please mention a few more details like dimensions of your quad and the electronic power set up you've decided. From experience both the batteries you've selected are not to be used. But, it would be only clear after the size, weight and other things are known.
Kindly mention other details as well to get exact and accurate answers.
:hatsoff:
"If you were born with wings, do every thing you could, for flying."

RD1452002


utkarshg13

Kindly post the specs and details. No one is free to go through the links and then make suggestions/advice.
"If you were born with wings, do every thing you could, for flying."

Swapnil

@RD1452002
Your motors have a combined maximum pull of 60Amps. How can you even consider a 2200mAH 20C? You need to do lot more reading about the basics.

Quads need a high C rating. For the setup you have chosen (including FPV) you'll need 3500+ mAH with a high burst C rating.

SideWinder

Actually 2200mah should give him 7-8mins max flight time which is not really bad in terms of multirotors IMO.So anything above 2200mah is alright. Choosing appropriate discharge rate battery would be a better idea tho.
Most starters Fpv kits dont consume more than 200-250mAh so using a separate small 400-500mah with required cell count would be a better idea to avoid interference or you will probably end up using filters. Again many factors need to be taken into account.

Also your choice of FC is not really recommended for beginners. As it is, setting up easier FC's become a task for newbies however it would really depend upon your level of expertise in the end. As I have observed some of us are quick learners :)


Swapnil

I was referring to the 2200mAH 20C. The C rating isn't enough to provide the required maximum current. A 2200mAH 30+C would certainly be okay for a zero-payload 450 quad.

Swapnil

Quote from: SideWinder on May 16, 2014, 11:32:16 PM
...to avoid interference or you will probably end up using filters....

What kind of interference is that and what type of filters need to be used?

Swapnil

@ SideWinder

I'll be testing an FPV setup in a few days and any suggestions from you will be really helpful. I think you were referring to RF interference on the power line, right?
Considering that a filter weighs much less than a 400-500 mAH LiPo and that a step down is only required for 4 or more cells in series, wouldn't it be optimal to use a single 3S LiPo with a healthy mAH rating?

I've seen videos where people have used a single 3S for FPV/ AP without any problems or glitches. What problems did you face?

Another query. Could we use something like the following in jungles? Are there any other homing tags built specifically for RC?
http://www.loc8tor.com/2-mini-homing-tags.html

RD1452002

#10
Quote from: SideWinder on May 16, 2014, 11:32:16 PM
Also your choice of FC is not really recommended for beginners. As it is, setting up easier FC's become a task for newbies however it would really depend upon your level of expertise in the end. As I have observed some of us are quick learners :)
It's not a really big deal with the FC I already know programming. Also I was about to download MultiWii or Aeroquad for controlling the quadcopter.  ;D

Quote from: SideWinder on May 16, 2014, 11:32:16 PM
Most starters Fpv kits dont consume more than 200-250mAh so using a separate small 400-500mah with required cell count would be a better idea to avoid interference or you will probably end up using filters. Again many factors need to be taken into account.
If you think so, so I would also add an extra battery for the FPV servos but, I don't think I'd need it because the servo would be powered through the FC.

RD1452002

I after quite some research I think the best battery for the quad would be
IND-Power 4200 mAh 20C 3S Lipo as it is providing me with enough amps and costs just a little more than 2200 mAh 30C+ Battery and costs equal to 2600mAh 35C Battery and would work longer. I was also thinking of buying IND-POWER 3300mAh 20C 3S Lipo
http://www.rcdhamaka.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=102_94&products_id=793.

SideWinder

@RD1452002, you can choose any one from both the batteries you zeroed in on. 4200 should give you 4-5mins increase in flight time than 3300 but at the same time increase you AUW.

Quote from: Swapnil on May 16, 2014, 11:45:30 PM
What kind of interference is that and what type of filters need to be used?

Quote from: Swapnil on May 17, 2014, 08:20:34 AM
I think you were referring to RF interference on the power line, right?
Yes interferences would include RF as well as noise generated by esc's, Ubec's on power line and EMI from wires. Also when powering the whole setup from a single battery there would be voltage spikes and dips as you throttle up and down which would again interfere with video feed because most ccd cameras work on 12v and on a 3S lipo voltage is not always steady.

For RFI and cleaner, smoother power, LC filters are the preferred ones. Other than LC, there are RLC,DLC filters too, but there advantages over LC is an ongoing debate. EMI interference can be taken care by shielding wires, or keeping them away from sensitive electronics such as FC,Vtx etc. Easier way out is by powering FPV setup from a separate Lipo if you can fit it in your AUW.

A link for simple DIY LC filter
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=16646367&postcount=14

Quote from: Swapnil on May 17, 2014, 08:20:34 AM
I've seen videos where people have used a single 3S for FPV/ AP without any problems or glitches. What problems did you face?
Most of the videos you see on Youtube are not actual FPV footage but its recorded on a separate standalone camera. Similarly some of the FPV equipments already have built in filters to mitigate this issue hence you can find some people successfully flying on a single battery.Yes, I did face the interference problem myself some time ago, watch the video(it also includes multipathing and voltage sag issues). Just switched to a separate power source because it was the easier way out.


Quote from: Swapnil on May 17, 2014, 08:20:34 AM
Another query. Could we use something like the following in jungles? Are there any other homing tags built specifically for RC?
http://www.loc8tor.com/2-mini-homing-tags.html
Anything that helps you to locate can be used, if its fit for your purpose, such as being lightweight, not interfering with anything onboard. But environments like a jungle(densely populated by trees and grass), LOS is an issue. Rather than that, using a ground station with telemetry/GPS would be better as you will atleast have an idea of the last location of your craft(I didnt have that). And my suggestion dont fly Out of sight, if you do, fly over open space or atleast not over densely populated terrain.


Swapnil

Thanks for the elaborate reply! There's so much to learn from you!

Looks like I'll need a separate battery after all.

RD1452002

The camera I'll be using is Wireless 6 LED Night Vision Color Security CCTV Camera available on -
http://cgi.ebay.in/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=221441055138
It uses a 1.2GHz Tx and Rx so it won't cause any RF Interference.

SideWinder

Well first of all its a 10mW Tx, so dont expect much range out of it without any high gain antenna which would be bulky at 1.2ghz frequency and yet wont increase range substantially. But it seems tx is built-in within the camera, so I'm not sure how thats gonna work out.

And it would interfere with your 2.4ghz radio Tx/Rx depending upon the channel you select for FPV and many other factors. You can reduce/eliminate that with a low pass filter. You could have read more @ http://forum.flitetest.com/showthread.php?3197-FPV-1-3ghz-RC-2-4ghz-tx-Interference




RD1452002


Nikhil Siroha

I have a quadcopter, It sounds good. But the problem is battery, its only 100Mah.
I just wanted to know if i can replace it with my custom battery which is originally for samsung Galaxy Mini GT-S5570I.
Its same as copters power (3.7 V). But i'm thinking to use it here, because its 1200 Mah.
Its good enough for this quadcopter. But i'm also curious to know whether Li-ion And Li-Po is same.
So the question is can i use my mob's battery in quadcopter.

Balakrishna Reddy

Li-ion and Lipo are very much different in many aspects.
mah/gm is different.
discharge rate of lipo is much higher than li-ion.
There are many differences which is really big list.
But you cannot use your li-ion battery of phone to replace lipo of quadcopter