Need replacement Vision Camera! help

Joined
Jan 4, 2014
Messages
362
Reaction score
7
Age
64
Location
United States,Houston, Tx
Anyone know where I can buy a replacement Vision camera? Dronefly.com shows they havr them but they make me nervous. They don't answer phones & V/M box is full (worst biz sign ever "full V/M-mailbox full"). But that was the only place I found a replacement Vision camera $499 ouch...
Why do I need one.....I'm a bonehead basically, after my bruised ego heals I'll tell the story, but it is busted.
Thks guys,
Moose
 
Moose said:
Anyone know where I can buy a replacement Vision camera? Dronefly.com shows they havr them but they make me nervous. They don't answer phones & V/M box is full (worst biz sign ever "full V/M-mailbox full"). But that was the only place I found a replacement Vision camera $499 ouch...
Why do I need one.....I'm a bonehead basically, after my bruised ego heals I'll tell the story, but it is busted.
Thks guys,
Moose

I bought my Phantom 2 Vision from Dronefly. I've also had no problem calling their phone line when I've had questions about anything. I wouldn't worry at all about getting it from dronefly and you'll probably get free fast shipping.
 
Re: crash aftermath

Nvr2fst said:
Ok, tell the story and we might help............


Ok all you folks with a case of SCHADENFRUEDE here is my "Rookie Bonehead mistake that cost me a replacement P2V camera $499 & battery $150"! I have 100's of hrs of experience with 4&6 channel R/C helicopters. And after 4 flights with my new P2V in the front yard I was totally at ease with flying her. I started getting a bit cocky with my flying skills buzzing around a street in front of home buzzing my neighbors pets and small children (kidding about kids).
Anyway a buddy of mine who bought several of my used helo's and destroyed them all after 1st few flts, came over to see this new craft that I was bragging about, telling him a monkey could fly it without crashing. Well I did a demo for him flying in front yard circling 120 ft pine trees in front yards of neighbors, putting on a flying clinic of sorts. He asked me to demo the "fly home" funtion I kept boasting about. Why "of course, thats the best funtion for idiots like yourself"! So the craft was hovering in neighbors yard at about 30 feet. I said "watch this dude" as I turned off the controller and set it on the ground.
Then my jaw hit the ground (same place my cocky Simeon knuckles were resting, lol) the bird did exactly what it was supposed to do. It shot-up 50-60 feet to the safe altitude it is programed to.DIRECTLY INTO A NEIGHBOR'S PINETREE!!! The craft went through the branches trimming the pine needles, then dropping out of the sky like a brick! The bird hit the street HARD! The camera went north,, the battery went south, the craft cartwheeling east, the memory card...well still looking for that, and 2 of the rubber grommets off the camera went bouncing like superballs.
My buddy looked at me and said sarcastically"Wow, that was worth it, you are the man!" I slowly walked over to pickup all the parts from the carnage, my knuckles dragging the ground...

AFTERMATH;
I noticed the crafts main chassis looked ok, the props were pretty scuffed up. My buddy picked up the camera yelling "Dude, this thing is F'ed up"! This guy is the king of "Schadenfruede"! I looked at the camera giving it a quick inspection. (**I will post some pic's later). He was accurate in his crude description of the cameras condition and damage from the impact. He then picked up the battery 15 feet from the other parts,holding it like it was a newborn, presenting it to me like an A-hole. "Is this normal" the battery was bulging out at the end (opposite end it plugs in to charge). My brain had a vision of a cash register ringing up $$$$ after inspecting each part we gathered up. Defeated, I carried it al into my workshop.
I have worked with LiPo batteries 1000's of times, and have never had one get this type of damage. It was still on when I was handed it back on the crash site. I used a scapel and did some exploratory surgery. Behind the plastic cover the battery was a bit squished, but looked ok. I put the battery in a vice and VERY gently & slowly applied pressure. I was able to form it back to a shape I felt would fit back into the craft. I tried to push it in the battery compartment, but a piece of plastic was catching, preventing it from fitting in the slot. I took out my trusty scapel & trimmed off the wonkee stuff,and Tadaa, it fit. I took the camera and reinstalled it on to the craft, plugging both connectors back in. I turned it on and was able to get a wifi link no problem. All systems were go except no camera, no FPV. All the telemetry was good to go. I didn't have the camera or video recording during the crash, but it took a photo of it crashing into the branches of the pine tree?? (Riddle me that one geeks??lol) As mentioned the memory card came out & was never found. However when turned it on I could see how it took 1 pic of it trimming pine needles?? My guess is that a branch pushed the button located on the camera bottom....
The gimbel movement was normal, basically everything was operational except the camera recording & FPV funtion. I charged up the battery, and cranked it up. I let it idle awhile waiting for the other shoe to drop, waiting to see what else is wrong. I spooled up the motors abit, and could tell that the scuffed props were causing some engine cavitation. I had seen this many times with my Helo's, scuffed props go out of balance. So I replaced those with the extras that came with the P2V. I cranked up the craft again and it purred like a kitten, time for a testflight.
Took her out and flew it for 10 min's( 50% of the battery life), and safely landed. The bird operated same as it did before my FU. The controls responded perfectly, the telemetry signaled back all the crafts operations normally. I have made 5 more flights and everything is cool.
Upon close inspection of the camera, I noticed that one of the plastic rods that rotate the camera had snapped off. So the camera us hanging on with just one, but the movement of the gimbel was still working normal, but a bit cockeyed. I put in a new memory card and tried taking a pic, but all it does is send a "sensor error" message to my phone?
I ordered a new camera & battery today. Even though the battery charges up & operates ok, I know I shouldn't use it. I am going to take it to a local hobbyshop who has a whiz kid working there who works on my toys all the time. I'm going to see what he thinks about using the battery in the future. As far as the damaged camera, I thought I would send it to a shop that works on the P2V, and see if it could be repaired.


I learned a humbling lesson from all this. A PERSON WITH ENOUGH FREETIME TO POST A SHORT STORY ABOUT CRASHING HIS EXPENSIVE TOY, SHOULD HAVE TIME TO THROUGHLY READ THE OPERATING MANUEL

Hope this was entertaining and for you schadenfruede freaks, hope this did it for you. I will post the damage pics to help round out the experience! I actually had fun writing this, plus it helped me laugh at the $675.00 FU!!! Thanks to those who helped me track down a new camera!
PEACE OUT.....

MOOSE
 
Nice read, that did it for me btw. Im one of those guys at the r/c field that loves a tear or two unless its my own.Seen a guy dumb thumb one of those giant scale B17's years ago, i still dout that he's ok.

We really should be able to adjust the RTH altitudes and network options... Glad its still working, i have about 60-70 flights on my P2V and the motor bearing's are going bad. Something to think about when you order some more parts.
 
Re: CRASH PICS FROM MOOSE (camera pics)

Opps this one was another matter, lol

Camera damage
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_2014-01-15-16-08-58-1.png
    Screenshot_2014-01-15-16-08-58-1.png
    184.5 KB · Views: 613
  • 20140115_161521.jpg
    20140115_161521.jpg
    117 KB · Views: 557
  • 20140115_161515.jpg
    20140115_161515.jpg
    106 KB · Views: 555
Re: CRASH PICS FROM MOOSE (camera-battery)

Rear view of camera, notice the cockeyed posture of camera. The plastic post that the gimbel action rotates, busted.

I give major props to the P2V quality materials for Zero damage to the chassis. Had a small scratch, no cracks. The Camera took the energy of the impact
 

Attachments

  • 20140115_161944.jpg
    20140115_161944.jpg
    309.5 KB · Views: 561
  • 20140115_161853.jpg
    20140115_161853.jpg
    268.8 KB · Views: 573
  • 20140115_165713.jpg
    20140115_165713.jpg
    150.3 KB · Views: 554
Sorry but that was a very funny story. It always happens when you are showing somebody something. Something you have done over and over. I've been through things similar with my helis.

Sorry it is costing you so much though.

Don't think I would trust that battery. Do not leave it in your house. They can surprise you. If you understand how they work and how they are designed, you will know why a damaged battery can be a bad deal.

Did you say you put it in a vice? :shock: :lol:

Had to look up schadenfruede.
No that's not me but if you were a heli guy you know the saying-
If it's gotta happen, at least get it on video!

I got one I will post on YouTube maybe tomorrow. One of my nicer helis goes out of frame but the sound says it all.
 
OMG - Mate - I feel your pain.

Crashed mine - clipped a couple of branches and it fell hard onto the footpath below. Was trying to impress some onlookers > accidentally got confused when I turned the camera to face me > went to go right and it went left > straight into the tree..

My aluminium lens is bent so it's slightly visible in the bottom L corner when I take images. Snapped off that supporting rod also so mine is also **** eyed > images and videos look like I'm on a lean. I also managed to totally f*ck the screw that holds in the tilt motor > screwed it too hard, threaded it all... Had to jam a bigger screw in there > which happened to be black :shock: ..

I'm sort of tossing up whether to buy a new camera or just save the pennies and buy the Phantom 2 with Zenmuse?

Have you replaced your camera yet? I see a unit for $499 at helipal.com > this is the unit I may consider to replace

here's some pics of my repair
 

Attachments

  • pic 2.jpg
    pic 2.jpg
    472.4 KB · Views: 604
  • pic 3.jpg
    pic 3.jpg
    420.2 KB · Views: 483

Recent Posts

Members online

No members online now.

Forum statistics

Threads
143,066
Messages
1,467,352
Members
104,933
Latest member
mactechnic