A nifty little hardware hack to replace the not so good power cable that came with my SharkByte system.
It is no secret that I enjoy flying FPV. So I got myself a Fatshark HDO2 and a Sharkbyte/HDZero Receiver. I am not too happy about it. But I will rant about it on some other day.
This is just the recipe to a MacGyver’ed little power cable.
Ingredients:
- 2 switches of the same make so you’d be forced to use your creativity to tell which is which. Something like: WMYCONGCONG-Position-Rocker-Switch-Kinds
- 2 90 degree DC male power plugs. Something like: Fancasee-Replacement-Degree-Pigtail-Supply
- A good BEC that doesn’t mind standing up to the 3-4S lipos you have. Something like: MP1584EN-DC-DC-Converter-Adjustable-Module
- A blindingly bright addressable LED strip to shine through your pockets and show off your Big Energy. Something like: HGLRC-Controller-Racing-Quadcopter-Boards
- An annoying little buzzer to scare away the nearyby people with your low battery warnings. Something like: YMD-12095-Electronic-12x9-5mm-Continuous-Security
- The cheapest braided USB cable you don’t mind ripping apart. Something like: Tatoonly-Superjiuex-Colorful-Braided-Charger
- A little 16x16 flight controller whose camera, vtx and rx pads were brutally ripped out from various earlier crashes. Something like: fsd412
- A plastic case from a burnt out LED dimmer so you can save up like 50 cents and 20 minutes on 3D printing expenses. Something like: Oh come on! Just find a palstic case that you can screw everything to one side…
Directions:
- Solder all the connections appropriately. i.e Battery -> FC. Battery -> BEC. BEC-> 2 switches. 2 switches -> 2 DC male plugs via. the fancy USB cable. FC -> LED strip. FC -> Buzzer. Use flux and heat shrink generously.
- Configure Betaflight on the FC to light up the LEDs based on battery level or flight time or any other warning. Also make sure the buzzer works properly as a low battery alarm. And reduce the loop speed and disable anything you can, to save up on battery.
- Cut up the plastic case in the correct locations. Stick in the switches and drill the holes to hold the flight controller in place. Make sure you can access the USB port of the FC easily. I may or may not write a proper software for it later on.
Now, Fly happily ever after.