H3-3D Gimbal Installation Guide

poostik · May 21, 2014

Making a post in here. I've been in this thread about a dozen times already before ordering my 3D and have finally had a chance to open my bird and do some recon. Just making it easier for me to find as I plan to do my install in the next few days. I plan on doing a very similar setup to Mr. Ianwood.

I have to rearrange my (large, cumbersome boscam-ts352 w/fan) FPV setup to accommodate the new gimbal so my gimbal mount decision (to drill or not to drill) won't be made until I unsolder/resolder a video cable. I want to get a better video transmitter eventually but I think I just want to take one thing at a time here and get this H3 mounted. It's already been almost two weeks since I've flown and I'm getting antsy!

Anyway. I appreciate all these mounting threads, especially ones as detailed as this.

One thing, since I'm too lazy to search right now . . . Did you update to the latest firmware for both P2 and the gimbal?
I'm still running 1.08 and afraid to update something that's not broken. At the same point, I feel like the latest firmware for both might not be a bad thing since, in theory, the latest should have all the fixes.

Thanks Ian. I'll post again once I'm all set up.

britchris1 · May 21, 2014

I made this post in another thread but it also seemed like a good fit here. I wanted to show how my 3d functioned after I swapped out the ribbon cable with the gopro connector on my 2d. Everything seems a-ok so far. After I finished I made sure to update the main board firmware and other firmware to the latest, then updated the gimbal. Lastly performed stick calibration in the assistant (and don't forget to toggle x1 as part of that)

Here are some pics and a quick video showing my setup and behavior of my h3-3d:

Mounted the interferance board inside the p2 (iosd mini also mounted inside) - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ochas68s9pjwk ... .22.03.jpg
Outline and cables - https://www.dropbox.com/s/6c5qq2nf36ha4 ... .23.09.png

As I mentioned I didn't drill a hole or use a mounting adapter for the h3 - I simply took the white dampers from my 2d and mounted using the prop guard screws:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/68z02rnq2enzf ... .24.07.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/iyru7mvcia64h ... .24.24.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0azezop4dv4ty ... .24.57.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2xmamcktrnlo2 ... .25.25.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4488i81n1y783 ... .27.16.jpg

tx location - https://www.dropbox.com/s/pf52h203qfnvy ... .25.51.jpg (i've temporarily zip tied some spare rubber duck antennas to the legs to give enough ground clearance for the gimbal - I've got some gear ties i'll be wrapping the skids in later)

Video of h3 initializing (yaw movement is me showing what happens when you use yaw input on the rc) tilt gain is set to 2 which seems to be the smoothest setting. You can also see in this video that if you gently place the polar pro nd filter on the gopro after the zenmuse is set up, it doesnt seem to strain the motors:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/yy5zupoegujui ... .28.38.mp4

This weekend im installing the datalink, btu and the flytrex core 2 - then hopefully testing if the weather is good

Lastly - shameless plug for my website http://www.air-reelz.com

poostik · May 22, 2014

Marconi Union said:
Purchased a hole saw and carefully stuffed two wooden battons into the battery compartment so I had something to drill into and protect.Had a Hoover to suck the bits as I drilled.

Marconi!
Did you drill out the one screw hole first? I can feel the hole saw getting caught on it when I start to drill. I don't want to slide off and have a mishap. Meantime, I've put the word out that I'm looking to borrow a Dremel.

ianwood · May 23, 2014

Dremel is by far the best tool for the job. You can get right up to the middle screw thread and then use some needle nose pliers to gently pry it out.

poostik · May 23, 2014

ianwood said:
Dremel is by far the best tool for the job. You can get right up to the middle screw thread and then use some needle nose pliers to gently pry it out.

Was able to get my hands on a Dremel and it worked great. I'm stoked at how it turned out. I used a few tiny washers and longer screws. Excited to try it out.

Are you up to the latest firmware for everything? I'm polling to see if I'll be okay with 1.08 with the new gimbal.

ianwood · May 23, 2014

poostik said:
Was able to get my hands on a Dremel and it worked great. I'm stoked at how it turned out. I used a few tiny washers and longer screws. Excited to try it out.

Are you up to the latest firmware for everything? I'm polling to see if I'll be okay with 1.08 with the new gimbal.

Before the 3D gimbal, I was on 1.08 as well but I bit the bullet and updated everything.

ericty · May 23, 2014

britchris1 said:
Guy on another forum came up with a genius solution - cut out the polarpro nd filter paper and put it inside the standard gopro lens cover http://gopro.com/camera-accessories/pro ... ens-covers which means you dont have to balance anything - that lens cover is so light it doesnt even register.

Not sure what you mean by "don't have to balance anything" – I have that lens protector from GoPro and it does affect the weight of the GoPro on the gimbal. Without the lens cover the GoPro sits balanced at any angle. With the cover on it flops forward.

poostik · May 23, 2014

ianwood said:
poostik said:

Was able to get my hands on a Dremel and it worked great. I'm stoked at how it turned out. I used a few tiny washers and longer screws. Excited to try it out.

Are you up to the latest firmware for everything? I'm polling to see if I'll be okay with 1.08 with the new gimbal.

Click to expand...

Before the 3D gimbal, I was on 1.08 as well but I bit the bullet and updated everything.

Any regrets?
I'm taking her up tomorrow. Debating taking the firmware update plunge.

ianwood · May 23, 2014

None. Seems to be fine. No different than 1.08 as far as I could tell.

patspahr9 · Jun 18, 2014

I contacted DJI regarding the issue of using professional filters (ND, Polarizing, even clear protective filters to protect the lens.)... Here is the response I got:

Storeagent03 (DJI Innovations)
May 26 17:34

Dear Pat,
As checked with our technical personnel, you are correct that filters will make the gimbal out of balance. Therefore, it is not OK to add filters to gopro camera.

-----

ianwood · Jun 18, 2014

That's correct. Using a filter is bad for the gimbal... Unless you counterbalance it to return the whole assembly to a neutral balance. Maybe DJI or Polar Pro will get smart and make a kit consisting of a good quality ND filter and a counterbalance. Until then, you need to get creative and put together your own. It's not hard.

patspahr9 · Jun 19, 2014

Right now, I'm having trouble with the gimbal going crazy and seemingly trying to reset itself, rotating in every which direction until it sort of stops and sometimes it's not close to level... off by 25 to 30 degrees! It has been windy here in Iowa -- often is -- and I'm wondering if it's the wind causing it to go all haywire!
I've been searching the internet but not finding anything. I can't imagine that mine would be the only one that's ever happened to!

ericty · Aug 4, 2014

ianwood said:
That's correct. Using a filter is bad for the gimbal... Unless you counterbalance it to return the whole assembly to a neutral balance. Maybe DJI or Polar Pro will get smart and make a kit consisting of a good quality ND filter and a counterbalance. Until then, you need to get creative and put together your own. It's not hard.

Ian - got the PolarPro and finally got the H3-3D balanced. I ended up with two quarters (plus velcro) on the pitch motor side and quarter, nickel and penny on the back. Hope it stay on in flight! I'll do a test flight tomorrow and then try to find something else to use instead of stacking all those coins. LOL.