(Part 2) Top products from r/multicopterbuilds

So a Tiny Whoop is a 66mm quad thats not really designed for outdoors. Its VERY VERY small - no more than 2-3mph of wind. You could get one with camera, upgraded motors and a controller for < $120, easily. I have one and love it for bashing around my house or office - its really not for a large outdoor space, but is a ton of fun indoors.

The atom is a full on brushless quad, writ small. You can either build it yourself for around $300, or buy ones built for $320 from Helipal (hint, its a tough build, and if its your first you might not want to build it). While people do fly them inside, it doesn't have protected props or anything and its very powerful, so it might not be good for indoors until you get very good or have a very large (like gym sized) space. I have one and even with the lower power 1104 motors I wouldn't fly it inside. If you want a brushless indoor quad, the Lady Owl might be a better choice given its a similar size and integrated prop protection. You could build a lady owl for about the same price ($320). A 610mah 3S battery should get you 7+ mins.

As for radio. For a Tiny Whoop you need a spektrum compatible radio, so you can do a small cheap MLP4DSM for $40, or you can move up to the Devo series (The 7e is popular). You could move all the way up to the Taranis X9D and add an OrangeTx modules (make sure to get version 1.2) and control anything Spektrum and anything FrSky from 1 radio. I currently run the very similar 9XR Pro radio with Orange and XJT modules. The 9XR Pro is $70, plus $35 for a XJT module and $35 for an OrangeTX module.


For a receiver - there's one builtin into the Inductrix, so no need there. For a small build like the Atom or Lady Owl, you'll want a smaller SBUS-based receiver like the FrSky X4R-SB or the XSR. They use a better protocol for communication and respond faster, and are only about $10 more than the D4R-II - about $35.

Goggles: I've had Teleporters (terrible), Attitudes (acceptable), have used Dom HDs and Dom V3s (very nice, but not worth the Money IMO) and currently run the Skyzone Sky02 v3, which have been my favorite. Diversity antennas, 40ch, builtin DVR and about $360.


Given your budget, I'd get both if you have that 10k sq foot space.

Get the inductrix, camera, motors and batteries for about $100 all in.
Get the atom pre built (or build yourself) for about $340.
Get the taranis and orange module for about $280
Get fat sharks or sky's for $300-$500.

All told $1000-1200

Thank you for the information! I'll definitely go with smaller props - although if the bigger ones do happen to fit, would I be fine using those?

I'd really like to go with a taranis, if a sale comes up in the future I'll probably snag one. For now, being a beginner, I'll have to learn to hate the 9x so I can love the taranis - haha.

I do have a bunch (100+) of velcro straps from amazon. Specifically these. They might work out? I might grab a rubberized strap just because they're so cheap anyways.

As for the buzzer - I've seen the HobbyKing™ Lipoly Low Voltage Alarm (2s~4s) posted around, might grab 3 or 4 as you suggested.

Thanks again for the advice - it's very helpful to a noob like myself.

It's always worth buying the best tool you can afford unless it's single use. I have a decent weller that I've since replaced with a very decent Hakko.

This is a very nice iron that will serve you well: https://www.adafruit.com/products/1204

This is my older iron, served me well, the only reason I switched to the hakko is because I bought one for work and ended up liking it: http://www.amazon.com/Weller-WES51-Analog-Soldering-Station/dp/B000BRC2XU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462577050&sr=8-1&keywords=weller

oh there are lots of ways you can build one. the question is should you build one? And if you did, would you know how to fly it safely? Building and learning to fly are separate challenges. that's why everyone is saying buy a small cheap one to learn on. there are lots of kits on amazon like this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Hobbypower-Quadcopter-Folding-Multicopter-Multi-rotor/dp/B00DU4A4JK
All you need to add is an RC radio, batteries and a charger. I'm not sure about flying back home with LiPO batteries though. If you are going to buy something be careful about the control board you buy. That has major implications on how the quad flies. you really want something that will enable you to dial back the settings so you can't get out of control. as you get better you can loosen things up. The DJI products limit your speed, yaw rate, roll etc with software in the controller. that's why they are good for learning on. I really suggest you do some reading on how quads work and what factors affect performance.

Can you really not get the stuff shipped in from China down in Argentina? If I where you I would go that route. If you walk into a hobby store (in Canada anyways) and try and buy this stuff you will pay at least twice as much as you would get it for online - if they even have it. I'm kind of in your boat in Canada- can't really buy the stuff locally. I just order form china and wait 4 weeks.

Well the there just seems to be few good straight to the wall chargers, this one has 2 channels and decent power but also costs a 100$ https://www.banggood.com/SkyRC-D100-ACDC-Dual-Balance-Charger-Discharger-For-RC-Models-p-971647.html?rmmds=search

If you are willing to get a bit more complex by getting an old server power supply from amazon that changes AC voltage to DC voltage and then buying an DC to DC charger you can get a lot more for the money and most good chargers seem to be DC/DC.

here is a huge power supply for 27$. it can power multiple chargers so if you get deeper into this hobby you can add chargers but just use the one power supply. https://www.amazon.com/HP-403781-001-DL380-1000W-Supply/dp/B001U0EM1W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496370584&sr=8-1&keywords=server+PSu

This charger has alot more power and also puts out more current for balance charging than other chargers in it's price range.
https://www.banggood.com/ISDT-Q6-Plus-300W-14A-MINI-Pocket-Battery-Balance-Charger-p-1103946.html?rmmds=search

The last piece of the puzzle is a parallel board so you can use the one charger to charge 6 or more batteries at once.
https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Charger-Parallel-Balanced-Charging/dp/B016DHUJZO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1496370715&sr=8-2&keywords=xt+60+parallel+board

http://www.amazon.com/Du-Bro-499-Tru-Spin-Prop-Balancer/dp/B0006N72Y8
You'll need a prop balancer no matter what. vibrations cause multirotors to fly poorly.

Blheli ESC seem to be more popular nowadays than SimonK. Pick an ESC that can handle your peak current, plus, some overhead. The bigger ones that can handle more power generally are only a few dollars extra and should be more durable.

I'd recommend getting ESC and motors that can run on 3S and 4S. Once you've been flying on 3S for a long time, going to 4S makes flying more fun and exciting because you've suddenly got more thrust!

I prefer carbon fiber for larger props. plastic will flex and flutter at high rpm, robbing you of thrust and increasing power usage.

Perfect!!! I decided to use that!

Can you let me know if you see any problems with this list?? Anything I can improve?? Anything I don't need??

Frame, PDB, FC, Motors, ESCs

Extra XT60 Battery Connectors

Props

Standoffs

2mm Gold Bullet Connector

Cable/Zip Ties

DIY FPV Kit

Tx/Rx

Tx/Rx to USB Adapter

Drone Battery 1 (heavy) 2200mAh

Drone Battery 2 (light) 1800mAh

FPV battery 1500mAh

What's the cheapest way to be able to get voltage to show on my FPV setup?

-Would I be able to use this voltage checker/warning buzzer?

What about a cheap lost model buzzer/discovery buzzer?? Can I use a switch on my Tx to make the alarm sound??

Is it overkill to get 3 batteries total?? 2 for the drone (So I can keep flying when one is charging) and 1 for the FPV reciever/display?

Thanks for the help!!

Yes, check out this one. Very similar, but you can adjust the charge rate a bit for the bigger batts you'll be using.
I bought one a few years ago, and although I've upgraded, it still works like a champ.

DJI Innovations Battery Charger
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D8L2JHU/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_YtePwbYSVR14Y

I went with a Turnigy 2200mAh 3S 20C Lipo Pack for the controller with this charger and they are XT60


Could I use the same charger for the Quad packs? I have not pulled the trigger on the Turnigy nano-tech 1300mAh 3S 45/90 Lipo Pack yet.


I'm guessing the recommendation for the 1800mah 25-35C is to fly slower at first right? We would by flying FPV but not racing it so I think that's probably a good recommendation.

Since we are already using 2200mAh 3S 20C with an XT60 connector could we just use the same exact pack for the quad? It's rated at 20 constant, 30 burst and we could always use a spare for the controller if we go with a lighter battery with higher discharge for the quad later.

We aren't carrying a GoPro or anything so it would probably support the 2200.

Poster Putty great when you have delicate items to solder, holds stuff in place without having to mess with grippers and clips.

Gorilla Clear Tape I use it to keep my RX in place and under all my ESCs in combination with zip ties. Some of the stickiest stuff I've found yet and I run a sign shop so I deal with adhesives all the time.

I started with that same frame. Its a tight frame to work on. No way you'll get that 30 x 30 AKK VTX to fit.


I would suggest this frame (no personal experience, yet):
https://www.amazon.com/iFlight-Cidora-Squish-Freestyle-Carbon/dp/B07W6L249N/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1BSSAVGTQ97E3&keywords=iflight+frame&qid=1573651923&sprefix=iflight%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-4

If you stick with the Rooster clone, then you will need a VTX like this:
https://www.amazon.com/AKK-X2-Ultimate-Switchable-Compatible-Configuring/dp/B07DPG5H1T/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=fpv+vtx&qid=1573652145&sr=8-6
Its what i currently have in mine.

I would also change the FC to the Matek that was also mentioned.

The RunCam Eagle is full size and will fit.

The rest looks good.

If you want an upgraded soldering station for not much more, the Aoyue 937+ is a really great temperature controlled station. I think the temp control is worth the extra $22 on something that will last a lot of projects, though others may disagree.

I use flux on everything I solder and it helps a lot.

I bought this in 2015 and have built MANY quads and other electronics, still half of it left. A little goes a long way.

These wont fit half his motors if they have self-tightening caps now.

http://www.amazon.com/Lock-Nuts-Threads-Team-Losi/dp/B0006O2F9E?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00

Best of both worlds--nylock nuts that go both directions.

This is the charger I'm planning on getting. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004FGWY54/ref=ox_sc_act_image_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3IAN4VN1Q26HU

I have zip ties, wire, soldering irons, heat shrink and everything else.

I don't have one yet. Any recommendations? I've seen this one suggested in other posts.