(19-Jun-2021, 08:22 AM)GiantAntCowboy Wrote: Ok, I just googled the Rekon 5, it’s a great quad. If this is your first fpv drone I hope you have some plan for practicing, a simulator for example... but that’s another discussion.

Basically for now you should just order a couple of the recommended LiPo batteries and just focus on learning to fly the quad. I wouldn’t recommend any sort of long range until you’re very comfortable flying and finding it close by. Losing a drone is so easy, expensive, and really depressing...

After you’ve flown it on LiPos for a while you’ll have a good understanding of the power requirements and your personal goals, then you can get some Li-ion batteries. The reality is LiPos are a lot more fun and easier to use than Li-Ions.

I’m excited to hear how your first few flights go, and to see you progress. Continue to ask questions, this is a complicated hobby but we are all happy to help. Cheers!

Thanks a lot for your motivating suggestions.

Yes, I've been practicing on the simulator (Liftoff) since September 2020, and since February 2021 in a more constant way. I feel I can control the quad pretty well (I can arrive 1st in all of the different race tracks with no efforts, except for the first race track of the map "Minus two", the hardest one that still gives me some troubles). Of course in no way I feel I could go long range comfortably in the first real-life fly... I'm planning to train in short range on open fields for weeks before trying to reach longer distances, but I was already searching for the best Li-Ion battery in order to be ready for the long range sessions when I'll feel more confident with the quad.

I know LiPos are more fun to use tha Li-Ions, but I love Mountain hiking and one of my main targets that brought me into the FPV world is to realize epic shots surfing the mountains, and longer flight times are necessary in these cases.

Unfortunately I still have to wait for about a month to receive the Rekon 5, so until then I'll keep training on the sim

What voltages you guys use on BF Minimum Cell Voltage and Warning Cell Voltage ?

Got a 4S pack and using:

Minimum: 2.8
Maximum: 4.2
Warning: 3.0

(21-Jun-2021, 12:17 AM)Trial4life42 Wrote: Thanks a lot for your motivating suggestions.

Yes, I've been practicing on the simulator (Liftoff) since September 2020, and since February 2021 in a more constant way. I feel I can control the quad pretty well (I can arrive 1st in all of the different race tracks with no efforts, except for the first race track of the map "Minus two", the hardest one that still gives me some troubles). Of course in no way I feel I could go long range comfortably in the first real-life fly... I'm planning to train in short range on open fields for weeks before trying to reach longer distances, but I was already searching for the best Li-Ion battery in order to be ready for the long range sessions when I'll feel more confident with the quad.

I know LiPos are more fun to use tha Li-Ions, but I love Mountain hiking and one of my main targets that brought me into the FPV world is to realize epic shots surfing the mountains, and longer flight times are necessary in these cases.

Unfortunately I still have to wait for about a month to receive the Rekon 5, so until then I'll keep training on the sim

Sims are great and you sound better than I am, I doubt I’d finish 1st place on any level, and so you’ll be in very good shape for sure. Real life is a bit different of course, things just seem to happen faster, crashes are real, and there are so many random issues along the way.

Hiking and FPV are great companion hobbies, long range is quite exciting and beautiful, and mistakes open up long unexpected hiking opportunities... take your time and prep your drone. (Must haves: GPS, Crossfire, High Gain Antennas, ViFly Finder 2, DVR, and GPS logging on transmitter)

I’m excited for your drone to arrive. I’ll be posting some of my own mountain tests soon. Editing the footage is the hardest part.

(25-Jun-2021, 07:39 PM)ruizit0 Wrote: What voltages you guys use on BF Minimum Cell Voltage and Warning Cell Voltage ?

Got a 4S pack and using:

Minimum: 2.8
Maximum: 4.2
Warning: 3.0

This looks like a good alarm setup. My alarms are still set for LiPos because I still use them often enough, but I have disabled the audible alarms.

When flying Li-Ion packs i just pay attention and plan to land before 3v; you can of course go down to 2.5v without issue, but it’s good to have a solid margin of error, especially since plans don’t always go... as planned.

I fly with the 6s version of Rekon 5. The 6s version (1800 kv motors) is very important, what I write further does not apply to the 4s version, where the currents are shifted up by more than one third of the value.

For flying LR, I soldered a 4s Li-Ion pack from genuine LG 18650 HG2 3000 mAh cells. The pack weighs around 200 g, the internal resistance of one cell is around 15 mOhm when charged with a current of 1.5 A. According to the manufacturer, the cell is able to supply a permanent current of 20 A. The manufacturer claims that it is possible to discharge the cell down to 2.0 V.

For flying with the Li-Ion pack, I use a alarm cell voltage at 3.0 V and a minimum cell voltage at 2.8 V. With this setting, Rekon 5 is capable of cruising for about 20 to 24 minutes, depending on the flying style, if the flight ends at 3.0 V per cell.
The value of 3.0 V seems to be completely safe, the battery had a temperature of about 45 degrees Celsius after landing. After landing the open circuit voltage was about 3.43 volts per cell. I mean quite a relaxed affair.

For cruising with this 4s Li-Ion pack, Rekon 5 needs a current of approximately 5 to 6 A at a speed of around 45 km/h. The 4s pack provides enough power to overcome obstacles, I did not have the maximum peak current over 20 A, but of course it is definitely not for jumping high into the air. But it is enough for cruising with a decent reserve.

I will do other tests, when I will try some light freestyle, especially what will be the final temperature of the pack after landing. Maybe I will solder the 5s pack and do similar tests. I think the 6s pack will be overkill, not that it wouldn't work, but then the whole thing will be much heavier, bit more than 520 g, that brick will be able to cruise more than 30 minutes.

I normally fly with Rekon 5 with URUAV 6s850 mAh Lipol pack. With this pack, Rekon 5 is a completely different animal, but for 6 minutes only. Peak currents are around 60 A and behaves like a regular and at the same time very light freestyle drone. I love Rekon 5 because he can do both very well.

(30-Jun-2021, 05:38 AM)MomoBrut Wrote: I fly with the 6s version of Rekon 5. The 6s version (1800 kv motors) is very important, what I write further does not apply to the 4s version, where the currents are shifted up by more than one third of the value.
... abv.

Good write up of your experience.

I’m flying on 4s motors and my amps hover around 15A, so I’ve opted to use 18650 Sony Vtc5a and 21700 Molicel P42a cells because they have a higher amp output ratings and allow for a solid margin of error. In an emergency situation I’ve briefly pushed the Molicels above 50A without issue (the voltage remained above 3v during this throttle), maybe some potential decreased life cycles.

My next build will definitely be a 6s 7” LR quad, but for now I’ll use what I have.

Recent Flight Highlights:
- Total Range: 6.4km (4 miles)
- Total Trip: 13.6km (8 miles)
- Flight Time: 15min
- Min Volt: 3.06v
- Battery Used: 3866mAh (4200mAh pack)

* Note: This was flying up into the mountains with a vertical rise of 1200m (4000ft), which obviously uses more battery than a flat relaxing cruise.

Here's a Screenshot from the OSD during a particularly nice/exciting part of the flight; I had never been up here before, so it was kind of a fingers-crossed situation...