NAZA BEC question

[hockeymonkeymark]

So I'm helping a friend setup a NAZA using 30a hobby wing ESC's. I've done some reading and the NAZA manual states to use a BEC and remove the red ESC wire for all aerial photography and over 650 size mutlirotors. Well here is the quote from the manual

"We recommend the use of external switching type BEC of 5A or higher for all AP work and larger than 650 size multi-rotor, and cut the red wire of ESCs with built-in BEC."

This is a 450 sized quad with 2a/5v built in BEC's. I could be reading this incorrectly. Should I leave the red power wires or remove them? Any input is appreciated. Thanks guys.

[petedee]

Remove them all and use the inbuilt BEC of the Naza. That is how mine is set up and works great.

[hockeymonkeymark]

Thanks petedee. I will be trying that out. I didn't even stop and realize the NAZA has one built in. Sweetness. After I calibrate each throttle endpoint individually, and set the esc settings up, we are up and going. I love this site!

[petedee]

Yes it is about that easy, make sure you set a switch up for the two modes, I am using the gear switch but some people use a three position switch so they have a choice of manually going into fail safe so it "auto lands".

If you buy the Naza ESC's they are optocoupled and have no BEC built in.

Good luck

Pete

[hockeymonkeymark]

May I ask what optocoupled is?

[petedee]

This explains it.

http://www.pasontech.com/en/resourceview.aspx?id=41

[quantumstate]

Originally Posted by petedee

This explains it.

http://www.pasontech.com/en/resourceview.aspx?id=41

Server not found.

[petedee]

You need to make up a lead that stops the Naza BEC feeding power to the servos and use a separate BEC that feeds power to the servos. I just pull the red lead from some extension leads and feed the extra BEC's power into the leads gong to the servos.

Pete

[Altimat]

Originally Posted by petedee

You need to make up a lead that stops the Naza BEC feeding power to the servos and use a separate BEC that feeds power to the servos. I just pull the red lead from some extension leads and feed the extra BEC's power into the leads gong to the servos.

Pete

Even one small pitch servo from the NAZA gimbal control?

[petedee]

If you avoid a brownout it is worth it.

[Altimat]

I'm not using the ESC BEC. Would you recommend using that to supply power to the gimbal servo instead of placing the extra current draw on the NAZA? What about the UHF Rx? Is the NAZA BEC cleaner than the average ESC BEC? Thanks for the tip! Makes good sense even if just for insurance in case the servo ever stalls.

I also just remembered I am powering my GoPro from the NAZA too...

[701superjet]

what if you plug a bec into your receiver? will it back feed through the naza and supply the needed current to the gimbal servos? this all seems crazy to me. cant imagine it pulling hardly any current. havent made it through the manual yet though. still building mine. i would just think that having a couple ports for gimbal servos on the naza that it would be made to handle it.

[Altimat]

Originally Posted by 701superjet

what if you plug a bec into your receiver? will it back feed through the naza and supply the needed current to the gimbal servos?

Not if I pull the red wire from the NAZA so the power comes from the ESC BEC and the Rx signal and ground alone go to the NAZA. Ground is common everywhere and the BECs get it direct from the batteries. Not sure if any of this creates ground loops??

I would use the ESC BEC to feed the Rx, Gimbal, and pitch servo and the NAZA BEC would then be dedicated to the NAZA alone. Makes sense as long as the ESC BEC is just as quiet as the NAZA BEC. Its dead weight unused may as well divvy up the load and put it to use.

petedee?