Brilliant way to use that 109$ gimbal + waterproof case!

hoounddog · Aug 13, 2013

This is a really clever way of reversing the position of this (http://www.goodluckbuy.com/dji-phantom- ... raphy.html) gimbal to allow for clearance of the goprowater proof case. I just got the one I am using installed on the craft (a dji phantom) but I really dont like the fact that it is exposed to the elements, like sand/ dirt/ water etc...

COOL!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HscEssUxUJ4

I just got my phantom back in flying condition after what felt like a complete overhaul of new motors (emax 2213-935kv), new esc and re wiring. Now I a worried about the use of the naked gopro black. All comments welcome.

Cheers to all!

telemole · Aug 13, 2013

I own this gimbal and can't get it to work

Do you know the exact firmware version you are using? I can flash it but i get crazy results every time i load it up.

great redesign to the layout! How is your battery life with it mounted including the camera and case?

ps : why did you have to change out your motors etc? Scaring me now...

hoounddog · Aug 13, 2013

@telemole,

I do a lot of filming at or near the ocean which is not very forgiving. I had done > 100 flights over the ocean and for some reason, this shoot got me...well, actually one of the dji batts went out after 4 minutes. I raced to get it into the shore, and came withing 10 feet of being in the clear (until the next wave) when it went face down into the surf. It sat submerged on the shore for ~ 5 seconds when someone went and pulled it out. I dried it out for about 2 weeks then took it apart and started doing an analysis. Here is what I found:

(here is the last video that phantom would shoot) before I rebuilt her: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1_lU-fL8SQ

Saltwater and batteries dont mix, either do fatshark transmitters (they rust REALLY quick). So do all the bolts on the phantom. Anyway, long story short, I started to build a multiwii v2.2 copter SM360 and an arducopter 580, (both cheap hobbyking frames) and got into that for a while. The former (multiwii) I dont recommend to anyone as it is very hard to get the parameters right and I ended up just crashing it with little success. I am now in the process of creating a new film copter (the arducopter size 580) with rctimer 1300KV motors (pretty powerful) for lifting a gimbal. By the way, now that I have used the Goodluckbuy, I am starting [now deciding] that the phantom isnt the right platform for gimbals... so, maybe I am wrong (which I could be) but this little gimbal + 1000m 4c batt and gopro cam feels like a TON OF BRICKS! It takes off ok, for about 3-4 min then starts to really lag... Like REALLY scary lag. Anyway, I would like to open this up to those who are using a gimbal with some (or lots) of success on a phantom. I am thinking the only way to tote this gimbal around is with something larger... got to run for now, but I am interested in what others are doing to battle the payload.

Thoughts?

ted35 · Aug 21, 2013

I have that gimbal. The only way I could get it to work was to flash it with SimpleBGC_1_3b1_null.hex . Then tune with SimpleBGC_GUI_1_3.exe . No other FW worked for me. 1.3b1 is pretty old but at least it works. Here's a video of it in action [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XKr957q8I8[/youtube]
BTW I'm using the Txmtr pitch mod...it works great. As an aside, I agree with the previous post...the Phantom isn't suited for a gimbal (at least this one). This beast weighs 215g without the GoPro2. My flight times have shrunk from around 8-9 mins to 4-5. Let's just say that flight planning is critical now.