Power 5V camera from Solo....

George Raber · Oct 20, 2015

I want to power a 5v camera (Mapir) mounted to my Solo rather than using the battery. Anyone done this before and could provide a guide? Thanks

Burkeam · Oct 21, 2015

I took the 5v signal to the (currently unused) 3DR Bus pcb- Accessory Port

Spliced in a lead and connector for quick install/removal of the two USB power cords to the cameras. See photo. I have requested the current draw rating of this 5v circuit to the accessory port along with the connector specification. I got the answer and don't have the details but the two camera was within the limit.

I'm working on using the aux port - not finished. However this method is quick and clean. I can change to the quad plate from gimbal in less then 10 minutes.

Hope this helps

George Raber · Oct 21, 2015

Awesome this looks great. You had to teardown the Solo (detach motors and legs) to get at that location right?

Burkeam · Oct 21, 2015

Yes a full teardown

Earldgrayjr · Oct 21, 2015

Burkeam said:
I took the 5v signal to the (currently unused) 3DR Bus pcb- Accessory Port

Spliced in a lead and connector for quick install/removal of the two USB power cords to the cameras. See photo. I have requested the current draw rating of this 5v circuit to the accessory port along with the connector specification. I got the answer and don't have the details but the two camera was within the limit.

View attachment 1636

I'm working on using the aux port - not finished. However this method is quick and clean. I can change to the quad plate from gimbal in less then 10 minutes.

View attachment 1637

Hope this helps

Nice!

George Raber · Oct 23, 2015

Burkeam said:
Yes a full teardown

Did the ribbon cable on yours break free on it's own, or are you doing something with it? Mine did as I was putting it back together. That is going to take some serious soldering skills to get it back. Does it work with the aux port connected?

Burkeam · Oct 23, 2015

Yea it broke on me - two lead so I removed for now. In the future I will try to unmount the aux port of when taking apart else it's pretty tight and easy to break. Now that I have the aux connector I'll resolder mine. Here the connector info.

Burkeam · Oct 23, 2015

Just realized that was a bad photo. Mouser P/N 656-TX2430R6STN1E. MFG P/N TX24-30R-6ST-N1E

George Raber · Oct 23, 2015

Burkeam said:
Just realized that was a bad photo. Mouser P/N 656-TX2430R6STN1E. MFG P/N TX24-30R-6ST-N1E

Sorry, I don't follow, is this a brand new aux port, or something else you are doing?

Burkeam · Oct 23, 2015

my bad,

I broke the ribbon cable when doing the mod. Now I have the connectors for the solo aux port - shown in photo, I plan on re-solder it back together and take the 5v feed from the aux connector

George Raber · Nov 4, 2015

Thanks,

So is the piece you bought is just the port connector. You soldered the existing ribbon cable back on. How did that go?

Burkeam · Nov 4, 2015

Yes the port connector.
I haven't soldered it back it as I haven't had her opened up. It will go fine as I've I've done my share of ribbon cables. I might replace it with another 1" longer piece to relieve the strain a little.

George Raber · Nov 5, 2015

Thanks. What is a good source for a replacement cable? Mine is all closed up again, do you know how many wires the ribbon cable has?

George Raber · Nov 8, 2015

Burkeam said:
Yes the port connector.
I haven't soldered it back it as I haven't had her opened up. It will go fine as I've I've done my share of ribbon cables. I might replace it with another 1" longer piece to relieve the strain a little.

Ok So I opened mine back up and I see it is a 13 wire cable. Also there are spaces for 23 connections both on the main board and the 3dr bus board that the aux port is soldered into, but the cable is only connecting 13. Do you think there would there be any reason to connect to make the other 10 connections since I am already replacing the cable?

Burkeam · Nov 8, 2015

Not sure

Here's some info on the accessory port. hope this helps

Accessory Port | 3DR Solo Development Guide

Introduction | 3DR Solo Development Guide

Paul Emmert · Jan 4, 2016

Just reading through this thread, I also broke 4 leads on that accessory port connector, was wondering how that new connector installation went? I might want to do the same thing.

Ian [P13] · Jan 4, 2016

Another option would be to solder a 5v UBEC off one of the ESC solder points which are easy enough to piggy back off.

Burkeam · Jan 4, 2016

Paul Emmert said:
Just reading through this thread, I also broke 4 leads on that accessory port connector, was wondering how that new connector installation went? I might want to do the same thing.

I haven't gotten around to soldering it back together.

Deleted member 5038 · Jul 31, 2016

Burkeam said:
I haven't gotten around to soldering it back together.

Hi Burkeam,
I am installing a Sequoia camera (requires 5V, 2A) on my solo and I am hesitating between powering solutions:
- separate powerbank, with UBEC,
or
- power line from Accessory bay :
Either
from the 5v (which pins ?)
Or
from the battery line (P1 PINS 1 & 2 ?) with Step down convertor.

As you seem knowledgeable on this, which way would you recommend ?

Deleted member 5038 · Jul 31, 2016

Burkeam said:
Just realized that was a bad photo. Mouser P/N 656-TX2430R6STN1E. MFG P/N TX24-30R-6ST-N1E

Hi Burkeam,
I have a (small) concern with the CONNECTOR P/N which is different from the 3DR Solo Development guide : 3DR speaks of a Mouser JAE SJ038252 ?
Is yours a cross reference ? Are they both good ?
Regards Michel