Questions before upgrading to v4 (broken wires, SRXL)

[sauliusteo]

Hi, everybody!
So after almost a year long hiatus I finally shipped some of my rc stuff over to Germany and started getting my V3 ready to fly again. And right from the start problems started cropping up.

The biggest pain in the butt is the fact that the right side motor is dead when the tri is unfolded, apparently the power wires have broken inside the frame (the bendy area), so that entails a whole weekend of a full disassembly and wire replacement (esc’s are packed in adhesive heatshrink :scream:) But I sure am glad it didn’t cut out over water on my last flight last year, since it must have been a problem in the making.So this brings me to the first question:

>Q1: Is there any better way out there to safeguard the wires from eventual certain death inside of the frame from opening and closing the tri?
The heat-shrink over wires method seems only to protect them from being cut into by the carbon arm, not so much from being smushed together inside the frame. Routing them outside to provide larger radii seems an option, but would be a shame to mess up the clean look..

Now the other problem I have is with my receiver, but I’m pretty sure it could be something stupid on my part: I cant get it to work over SRXL. I have a Spektrum AR9020, a very reliable receiver with two satellites, but it doesn’t output ppm. Last time (a year ago) I tried, I had some minor results with the naze frame receiving the input, but it was a mess, with channels interfering with one another and jumping around (will post a video if I find it). Now working with the updated cleanflight software and triflight firmware, I can’t get any results whatsoever. ( Uart2 set to serial rx, software set to serial, and SRXL modes, even tries all the pins 1 to 8 thinking maybe I was on the wrong pin). So here is the actual question:

>Q2: I want to upgrade to the new frame/board, can anybody tip me off, whether my receiver will actually work with it, since it can only output pwm and srxl?

I hope it really does, I’d love to use the tri with the reliable receiver and as little wires as possible.
also:
>Q2.5: Does anybody know, if the receiver can output SRXL and pwm at the same time? Scenario: SRXL to the flight controller, while pwm channel 9 goes to the Storm32 gimbal to control pitch.

TLDR:
>Q1: Tri arms fold/unfold, wires bend, wires eventually break, motors stop working, :scream:, are there good alternatives?
>Q2: Either something’s wrong or I’m stupid, how do I get my Spektrum receiver to work on SRXL and does the new frame/boart support this?

Thank you whoever answers!

P.S. I did search the forums and other places, I did not find anything conclusive…

[DaveL]

This fall I bought someone’s v3 and upgraded it to the F3FC Frame. I couldn’t position the fairly large esc’s where I wanted to because the motor leads were a bit short, so I decided to run my esc wires outside the arms. Figured I could always rewire it, get smaller escs or different motors. Outside wiring was easier, and later I was able to run the LED cables through the arms. Looked kinda evil with the black zip ties so I left them uncut.
Some photos to help you decide…

Attachments:

1. 

   s1.jpg
   

2. 

   s2.jpg
   

3. 

   s3.jpg
   

4. 

   s4.jpg
   

5. 

   s5.jpg
   

[sauliusteo]

Thank you DaveL,
This seems like a very nice build! Your solution was just the way I was imagining it! The hidden wire idea is lovely in theory, however in practice there is so little space inside the frame the wires are just guaranteed to be mangled until certain failure. I think I’ll be following your example!

Now If only I could know for certain if I can make my receiver work with the new board!

[lauka]

@DaveL: How have you attached the GPS sensor post to the back boom? The pictures are a bit blurry.

I have similar GPS coming and have been wondering what’s the best way to mount it so that it doesn’t rotate.

[DaveL]

Better pictures Here. Use some tubing or rubber fuel line where the post crosses the tail boom, it will flex if needed but won’t spin.

[Author]

Posts