Eachine EX4 Finally Flyable! - All of my mods and improvements - for JJRC X12 / CFly Faith too
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- Опубліковано 28 сер 2024
- Here is a full video covering pretty much everything I have done with my EX4 Pro drone - it should all apply to the standard version, JJRC X12 and CFly Faith too.
I hope it helps the frustrated EX4 owners out there to finally have a drone that is fun and not just annoying!
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Help support me with more projects: paypal.me/mode...
Ardupilot Discussion - all of the picures and descriptions plus I will upload my Mssion planner parameters to it:
discuss.ardupi...
Mission Planner: ardupilot.org/...
RCGroups also has lots of the information and again I will upload my mission planner parameters:
www.rcgroups.c...
Thingyverse links:
Gimbal Cover:www.thingivers...
Compass Cover: www.thingivers...
My Remixed Battery Boxes: www.thingivers...
Original Battery Box : www.thingivers...
USB leads and Micro USB board:
Set of leads: www.aliexpress...
USB Board: s.click.aliexp...
Eachine EX4: www.banggood.c...
Eachine EX4 with 2 Batteries: www.banggood.c...
JJRC X12: www.banggood.c...
The New CFly Faith 2: www.banggood.c...
Other great drones:
Banggood:
FIMI X8 2020 : www.banggood.c...
FIMI X8 2020 With 2 batteries: www.banggood.c...
Fimi X8 Mini: www.banggood.c...
Hubasn Zino Mini: www.banggood.c...
AliExpress:
Fimi X8 2020: s.click.aliexp...
NEW Fimi X8 Mini: s.click.aliexp...
Fimi A3: s.click.aliexp...
Remember to Like and Subscribe - Thanks.
Music by Dark Fantasy Studio plus Close Your Eyes, Drive With Me and Two Sides featuring Andy Ray
Nach dem 2.lötversuch hat es endlich funktioniert, das Ladegerät macht was es machen soll. Danach habe ich bemerkt das eine Zelle des Akkus defekt ist , aber wenn jemand es versucht sollte er Löterfahrung haben. TOP👍
Pretty cool dude
Thanks - and thanks for watching - I love delving into things to make them better!
Un extraordinario trabajo. Muchas gracias por compartirlo. Un gran oléeeee torero, como se dice por aquí, (España)
Thanks you for your kind comments - makes the work worthwhile if it has helped someone 👍
Hello. First, sorry for my very basic English. To insulate the gps module, copper or aluminum tape is best?
Thank you very much for your videos I got two ex4.
Copper tape is best for interference insulation - it comes fitted with aluminium but I always use copper and have had great results with it - happy flying!...your English is just fine by the way 👍
@@modellermark2 Thanks for your answer.
Another question, how about the fimi x8? Do you recommend it?
Thanks again, greetings from Spain
@@filonilo Yes, I love my X8 and you will see several videos on my channel using it - including the aerial shots fo my caravan turntable which was done in very high winds but it did well fighting them with just a couple of adjustments over time but great video and way cheaper than the other major brands out there. There have been a couple of new models of the X8 so can' speak for those but I imagine they are better in some ways than mine so should be very good. I quite fancy the X8 Mini too as a possible replacement to the EX4 .. so if anyone from Fimi, Banggood or AliExpress are reading this feel free to get in touch 😂
@@modellermark2 Hello
Are the tingiverse files for ex4 ready to print?
You don't have to change anything right?
Thanks
@@filonilo Yes - just use the infil % etc as reccomended on the page
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Got the cables today (delays at my local sorting office that I was already aware of). Connected to MP no problems. I've uploaded your param file, maiden tomorrow. I did back up the stock settings first.
One question: which parameter controls the descent rate?
Pretty sure PILOT_SPEED_UP and PILOT_SPEED_DN parameters control it. Either not set on the EX4 or set to 0 (unlimited). Just needs to be given a value which will be in m/s so experiment and see how it goes. Glad you are up and running - remember to calibrate for your own battery voltage.
Nice video! Is the new battery 11.1v? And from the test it looks like the flight time is worse :( Would a higher capacity battery fit in the 3D battery holder to get longer flight times?
Thanks for the comments. Yes - it is a standard 3S 2200mah 11.1V Lipo ... The original clams to be a 11.4V 2400 so you would expect a shorter flight now but you could use LiHv cells or pretty much anything else. The original 3D print on Thingyverse is much wider but you need to balance the extra weight too as a larger pack would not nessesarily add more flying time. It haven't, since the final tuning setup, timed a full flight to minimum battery so cannot say exactly what you get ... I don't however remember getting that claimed 25 minutes from the stock battery :-) As both of my original EX4 packs died within 12 months I would not want to pay for more and a big part of this project is to allow me to use battery packs that I have lots of with the added bonus of having a drone that now flies great. Any more questions get back to me and join in on the Ardupilot / RCGroups threads. Mark
@@modellermark2 Is there a limitation to the battery amperage? If I bought a 5000mAh 11.1v battery, it should still work? But then it would be heavier so harder to fly? So a 3000-4000mAh battery should increase the flight time?
I have replaced the default battery that came with the drone with a 2200 mAh 3s Lipo battery. I have wired the battery cell connections with the built in battery circuit correctly.
Once I fly the drone it automatically lands after few seconds of flight. And the app showes “N/A” in the place of battery percentage.
Any idea how to fix it?
The stock batteries are LiHv so a higher voltage. When using Lipo it can think they are low very quickly. You need to do the USB connection and then use Mission Planner to calibrate your battery as well as setting the low voltage to a suitable Lipo one. Check out my comments, the video and the information on Thingyverse so that you have all of the details. Thanks for watching and good luck.
@@modellermark2 Thank you very much for such cooperative attitude.
I am new in this field. Seeing your video I can connect my drone with pc.
What are the next steps to follow?
It would be really a great help for me.
Thank you
@@user-ws2sn4hb6f Hi - take a look through the ardupilot discussion link in the description to help with details on fitting the USB cable. Once done you need to reprogram it with Mission Planner but that is a subject in itself so you may need to watch some videos / tutorials on Mission planner to get the idea of how to use that. Once you have Mission Planner and are plugged in you just need to read the data and then change just what is needed - my posts on the ardupilot thread cover all of that too as well as having a copy of all of my settings.
@@modellermark2 Thank you .
It would be helpful if you share the thread number of your mission planner parameters in the ardupilot discussion.
hello friend , I am Brazilian , this message was translated , sorry for any mistake . How was the gimbal hit? my ex4 (4Km) when the sudden movement, it just disarms, did you manage to fix this problem?
thank you, unfortunately I have read hundreds of pages but none that indicate what the battery parameters are :-(
I will try to ask but the last post on qgroudcontrol is more than 2 years ago, I'm afraid I won't have an answer. Thanks anyway.
Great video, can you give a link to where I can get the battery tray please...
The links to the 3D print files are in my description of the video - click the "Show More" option - links to everything are there. Glad you like the video - thanks!
I need help if possible. I didn't make the usb connection but I connected via wifi with the qgroundcontrol app. Unfortunately I cannot understand what are the parameters that change the battery voltage. I bought 2 2200mah batteries but I can't do more than 6-7 minutes of flight. When I recharge the batteries with imax6, only 1250 mah enters the battery, i.e. the battery is only used for just over half.
Unfortunately in the qgroundcontrol parameters I don't find any reference to the minimum or maximum voltage. I searched the internet for hours with no result :-(. Thanks!
You really need to do the USB connection and use Mission Planner as it gives you far more control over things and allows for the battery calibration. I am not sure where the settings would be in QGroundControl but you could try asking on the Ardupilot thread as some users have been using it. Hope it works out, Mark
Thank you very much. I'm Benji, live in france. Do you think it's possible and not dangerous an hybride charging system with usb and output for imax b6? Not used 2 solutions at the same time off course...
I really don't think USB is suitable for charging to be honest. I like to charge at 1C meaning a 2200mah pack gets charged at 2.2A so for 11.1 which charges to 12.6V it needs 2.2 x 12.6 = 27W of charge ... no problem for a B6 but not always great for anything USB powered. The original batteries are LiHv so charge to 13.05V at 2400mah which would need 31.3W .. that is why I never used the original charger and just converted it into a caddy but even then I suspect a lot of the batteries have issues in view of how many people have had problems. I also suspect there is a drain even when turned off so packs shouldn't be left in the drone. Hope that helps
Hello Sir,
Mine JJRC X12 lights blinks yellow & red alternately. In app it shows Accel is not calibrated. Do you have any solution for that. I will be greatefull if you reply.
Hi. There are only 2 calibrations available in the App - this are covered nicely by another users video. Make sure there is nothing that can be interferring with it first .. out in the open away from WiFi and power lines etc and keep your phone and transmitter a disatance from it. Check it out here (this started at the calibration for you) ua-cam.com/video/Vq-I4BhJTqM/v-deo.html
@@modellermark2 I did this 2 calibration but did not resolve the problem.
@@AD-ri9cf Then it either has a fault or somthing is interferring with it. Have you had the top off?
@@modellermark2 no sir
@@AD-ri9cf It is worth doing - see the ardupilot thread for the details and check all is OK inside.As you see with mine I protected the GPS and moved the compass outside to get better results.
I just downloaded the mission planner I connected all the wiring as shown on the drone were do I go to speed up going forward and back wards please help
The ANGLE_MAX is the one that will do it for you - adjusts the maximum angle it can move to which in turn increases its speed and penetration. There are others such as LOIT_SPEED but I don't tink they are implemented in the EX4 and ALNGLE_MAX should do it for you. I use 2000 whihc is 20 degrees ... don't go too far with it! Hope that helps Mark
I'm so sorry if I'm always here asking, I swear it's the last time then I'll throw it ... I connected via USB to MP, if I try to load your parameters the drone after reboot flashes red-green and no wifi. If I try to re-read the data it seems like it hasn't changed! then if I press the reset to default button the drone changes and after reboot flashes blue, but always without wifi. Above the drone is connected on com4. am I doing something wrong?
I am afraid it is almost impossible to diagnose that remotely - where are you? - if you were in the UK I would say send it to me and I would have a look to see if could be salvaged
i just can't get anymore than 5 satallites up on mine and thus it won't let me fly in GPS mode, its doing my head in
Have you had the top off and put the copper tape over the GPS unit to shield it from its own insides? Thanks can really make a difference - though check GPS coverage before you fly too - there are some Apps and Web Sites to do that. Hope that helps - good luck, Mark
have you tried using 18650?
No - I wanted to keep it cheap and easy and I have piles of 3S 2200mah packs. It would need the voltages all changing and calibrating in Mission Planner if you do use 18650 cells.
i solder usb cable to internal port, but when connect the drone to pc it don't recognize them... nor qgroundcontrol and mission planner :-( need driver? i serach for 4 ours but nothing...
Pretty sure the driver comes with Mssion planner - if it isn't detected then that would normally be because the wires are not in the correct order or there is a problem with the USB board. It would have been best to get the correct part rather than soldering to the connections - see my pictures on the Ardupilot thread and study the video to see the correct wiring order.
@@modellermark2 this is the post of tt300 " Viewing the connector with the open end on the right as in the above photo, the signals are:
----- +5
----- DATA+
----- DATA-
----- GND
i do not find any other clear picture :-(
in your video the colour of cable is red and black for positive e negative? it's not the same on the forum... and green ad yellow what's data+ and data- ?
@@andreabrunetti2725 In my post 553 on the thread you can see all cables clearly - I do point out that D+ and D- are different colors to what others have used - but you can see where all of them go. If you have D+/D- the wrong way around it will not detect via USB. No problem trying them the other way around - the important one is making sure the positive and negative are correct
@@modellermark2 thank you! D+ D- was reversed, now it works. I haven't changed anything, I don't know what to do, but I must have made a mess anyway, now the drone doesn't work anymore :-( when I turn it on, the music stops, and it turns off immediately :-( is it to be thrown away? :-(
Thinking of selling this drone - any interest?
Will the drone need programming to fly on the mod battery? I don't think I'm confident enough or know how to do that; even with your video.
Thanks.
It will fly straight off but because of the battery voltage changing from LiHv to LiPo it won't know the % free properly so it will land or RTH too early thinking the battery is low. You do really need to connect to QGround Control or Mission Planner to calibrate the voltage and set it to know that it uses a 2200mah 11.1V pack now. It really isn't too bad, especially if you have the USB connection so that the drone doesn't keep turning off (which it does after a few minutes when using QGroundContol). If I get chance maybe I will do a video to go through it but there are a few out there covering things. Glad you enjoyed the video anyway .... give it a go
Following your idea I modified a new ex4 which took 0 satellites, in the same place all my other drones take 10.
The result was that now the ex4 also quickly takes 9 satellites.
However, while I was waiting for the cover to be printed, I wanted to try how it worked, simply with the compass uncovered, glued on top of the drone.
The result is that the drone crashed 2 times, I raised it 2 meters off the ground but it didn't respond you have commands, one time it went against a wall, the other it crashed to the ground. One arm of the drone closed and the propeller turning and destroyed the compass resting on the drone :-( Now I have the new drone stationary waiting for a new compass from bangood to arrive.
However, I am not very happy because the drone did not work anyway.
Can you please know if the drone worked well after this video?
Since doing the work the done has worked great for me. The compass gives the drone direction rather than GPS so your 9 satellites would relate to the copper film on the GPS not the compass on top. Are you sure you put the compass in the correct original orientation because if not it would be telling the flight controller to send the drone in the wrong direction. When you get the new one fitted connect it up to Misson Planner first and ensure that everything is working correctly. It it flew off in the wrong direction that sounds more like a compass error rather than anything else so it could be either a wiring error or orientation error but Mission Planner will tell you exactly that as well as showing any errors the flight cntroller is having. Hope that helps, Mark
@@modellermark2 Thanks for the reply. the compass was in the correct direction but perhaps it was not perfectly horizontal. Unfortunately now I have to wait a month to get the replacement. One thing I had noticed though is that when I was doing compass calibration, the horizontal calibration is 3 laps, but the app was telling me to switch to vertical calibration after only one lap. Likewise, vertical calibration ends after only one lap, not after three laps ... why???
@@andreabrunetti2725 I would stick to doing the calibration via Mission Planner unless the App demands it - it isn't the greatest App which is why I like the settings done via Mission Planner and just use the app to fly. Just recalibrate when flying at a new location. I can't account for any App issues I am afraid
@@modellermark2 in this case, how many layers and if you need to remove gps to apply the tape
@@leandrooliveira9137 I put 2 or 3 layers of copper tape over mine - no need to remove it I just added the copper tape on top of the existing silver tape.