Aerial Photography Solo Equipment Diagram

[Bullseye]

Here is my situation. Because this hobby/career can be an expensive one, I have decided to buy the equipment that I need when the cash flow is available (i.e. tax refund and bonuses at work ). I recently have bought the following:


Canon A640
Range Video 900MHz 500mW audio/video transmitter
Range Video900MHz standard receiver
Eyetop Centra

Boy, do I love tax returns!!

I use the JR XP9303 transmitter. It will eventually be upgraded with a Spektrum 2.4 Ghz module.

I have been researching the AP forums for some time now. I wanted to get a good understanding of all the components that are needed for solo AP work. I am also very interested in panos (especially the spherical kind). At first I would get very confused and not really know what the purpose was for each component and how they are connected. That is why I began to draw out a diagram of all the components that I would need in order to run a solo AP ship. I hope you can take the time to review these pdf’s and give me any feedback on the equipment that I am thinking of getting. I originally sent these pdf files to a few guys via PM. I got some great responses. Here are some of the suggestions that I got:

-Have a separate lipo battery for your receiver and another lipo battery for your downlink and camera.
-Use a better regulator like the Align 6A for the receiver pack
-Single Rx and 360 mount may be an issue. Wires to pan, tilt and trigger servos all connected to the RX on the heli will tangle up all the wires.


I went ahead and changed the diagram to reflect the dedicated Lipo battery to the Rx.

Please give me any suggestions that may be a better set-up, wired differently or better equipment. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

http://webpages.charter.net/rickson34/SOLO%20HELICOPTER%20AP%20EQUIPMENT%20SET-UP%20REVISED.pdf


http://webpages.charter.net/rickson34/SOLO%20DOWNLINK%20SET-UP.pdf

Thank you so much in advance for all your input,

Joe

P.S. I have not mentioned this but I am thinking of using the Logo 600 3D for my ship.

[Tonystott]

Joe, you are mostly spot on! I would suggest a few changes however. If you power your heli's control radio from the drive battery, you won't need any wires across the 360 panning issue.

Then, you can use a single LiPo on the mount to power its own radio receiver, the downlink and the A640. Depending on the voltage required for your downlink, you might be able to get away with only one regulator. The Dimension Enginnering variable one is my choice. I don't understand why you have included one from Blip, as the DE one does the job perfectly.

You can use a second radio receiver, just ensure that you only use any channel once (obvious I know). I have this on my hot air balloon, which is very close to your set-up...

Gondola
radio receiver - propane trigger
NiMh 4.8v batter powering Rx

Askman mount
radio receiver - pan, tilt, shutter
3S LiPo 2000mAh powering everything
Downlink camera/Tx powered directly from 12v LiPo
DE regulator outputting 5v to Rx and camera

[cmb2003svt]

Tonystott & rickson34,
This is some great info. I seem to be having downloading issues with the pdf file. Can you PM me it? I would appreciate it very much.