burnoutboy's DIY BL mSR X

[burnoutboy]

Why brushless?? Well, first off I decided I was done with replacing stock motors... besides what guy doesn't want more power on tap??

So, off I went hunter/gatherer style looking for info, and it was spread out like flecks of styrofoam floating on a sea of BL mCP X info. Hopefully this thread will make it easier for the next guy.

First step was procuring my parts.

13,500kV HP03S BL motor
XP 3A ESC
1.5mm 9T .3M pinion (the one I bought was a .5M but more on that later)
SILabs ToolStick Base Adapter
RKH BL motor mount

Next I wired up the toolstick.

First split the clear case off from the inner USB stick.

The two pins on the right get jumped together with a dab of solder. The next pin from the right gets soldered to the white wire.



Then you flip the toolstick over and solder the black wire to the pin all the way to the left. Skip one pin and solder the red wire to the pin third from the left.



I then drilled a small hole out by hand to run the wires through the case and keep everything covered. I then began wiring it to the ESC.


Wiring the toolstick to the ESC.
It seems simple; I can't stress using a fine tip iron and liberally tinning the plates on the ESC enough though. Some people wire a quick disconnect to the circled points. I chose to just wire the toolstick directly to the ESC for flashing then de-solder the points and remove it. (Just didn't want the connector hanging off)




You must also run a lead to the + and - arrows on the ESC picture that will allow you to connect a battery to the ESC while flashing.

You must then download the SILabs flashing utility program: http://www.silabs.com/products/mcu/P...Utilities.aspx

Before starting the flashing process you'll need a winzip type application to unzip the hex files for your ESC and save them to the desktop of your PC. You want the XP 3A TAIL REV 3.4 HEX file.
https://github.com/bitdump/BLHeli

Follow the instructions in the .pdf found here to flash the ESC
http://www.silabs.com/products/mcu/P...Utilities.aspx

Once the toolstick is connected to the computer the yellow light on the toolstick will light. Once you click the connect button the red light on the toolstick will light as well.

Now, once I had flashed the hex file to the ESC I saw the BLHeliSetup Software option. I have no clue if you need to flash it with the SILabs utility like I did first or not because I did it anyway but I then downloaded the attached .zip file at the bottom of this blog
https://www.helifreak.com/blogs/4712/1859-blheli-setup-3-4-0-0.html
and setup my ESC like Dylwad suggested:

[burnoutboy]

Now it's time to start assembling your bird.

First I removed the quick connect for the power supply end of the esc and wired the motor to the quick disconnect for the other end.
(Jeebus, that pinion looks HUGE)

Once that was done I test fit the motor mount and motor to the frame.


Wiring to the board.

For the power and ground (+ and -) I clipped the end off the stock power lead and wired the white wire to the + and the black wire to the -. The signal wire (Ω) gets wired to the top left leg of the main FET. I've read of people putting it on the + side of the motor plug but it didn't work for me. I then wired a new battery lead with a mCP X style end to the opposite side of the board at the same connection points as seen in this picture.



Next it's time to find a home for your ESC so you can determine how long you want that signal wire to be. I see a lot of people putting theirs on the left side of the board but I found the open flat spot in the front on the motor side to be ideal.


Once it's all done rebind your TX and fly away.

I unfortunately ordered the worng size pinion gear (1.5mm ID 9T .5M when it should have been a 1.5mm ID 9T .3M). So I can't fly until I get the right gear in but the damn motor has so much torque when I spun it up the tail was getting a workout. The damn thing wanted to piro on the floor from the main motor torque alone. CANNOT WAIT FOR THAT PINION GEAR!!!

[burnoutboy]

If you have any questions or want any clarifications feel free to ask. I'll try to help as others have helped me. I'm unfortunately severly sleep deprived thanks to these two



If I'm rambling or not making any sense at all I assure you it's justified LOL.

[Metal]

[vmax911]

Can't wait to hear how it flies. And Congrats on the new baby!

[toys2cars2toys]

Congrats on the kids

Brilliant write up, particularly the Silabs step by step - very clear and concise

Thanks, I'll be referring to your notes

[burnoutboy]

Originally Posted by toys2cars2toys

Brilliant write up, particularly the Silabs step by step - very clear and concise

Thanks, I'll be referring to your notes

Thanks, that was the goal. I hoped to make it easier for the next freak.

[Diogenes]

Originally Posted by burnoutboy

Thanks, that was the goal. I hoped to make it easier for the next freak.

Your instructions actually make me think that I can do one of these things. Excellent writeup..... Gotta get better at my soldering skills first though

And, will probably wait till I have a spare msrx. I like flying my current one too much for it to be down for too long............

[Dirtyb762]

Awesome write up! I've been waiting for a nice brushless conversion walk through with pictures. This should be a sticky!

[kurmet]

very well done. what batt are you going to use?

[burnoutboy]

I have 2 of the e-Flite 200 mAh 25C and 2 of the Turnigy Nano-Tech 300mAH 35C


Can't find the turnigy cells anywhere anymore, I'd like to pick up two more of em.

[kurmet]

i just bought 4 of the lightning power from hilihobby for my mcpx but i haven't tried them yet, i am also doing the same mod as you

[burnoutboy]

If you're even mildly considering this mod DO IT. I just flew mine today and WOW it's like a whole new heli!

[JCarter]

video please! Awesome write-up too by the way!

[BigRHS]

.... very good write up burnout !!! That's as good a job on showing how to do a BL upgrade as there is !
Your craftsmanship is fantastic also..........on both the heli and the kids..... !

[burnoutboy]

Originally Posted by JCarter

video please! Awesome write-up too by the way!

I wish. I can't videotape myself as I have no means to do so while flying. None of my friends can follow the bird when I'm flying it well enough to get decent vid. I'll give it a shot when I get a chance though and try and get my buddy to give it another go.

Originally Posted by BigRHS

.... very good write up burnout !!! That's as good a job on showing how to do a BL upgrade as there is !
Your craftsmanship is fantastic also..........on both the heli and the kids..... !

TY TY kind sir!

[burnoutboy]

Waiting for a new servo and dieing not being able to fly my baby. I keep initializing the ESC just so I can hear it sing to me...


*le sigh

[BigRHS]

Originally Posted by burnoutboy

Waiting for a new servo and dieing not being able to fly my baby. I keep initializing the ESC just so I can hear it sing to me...


*le sigh

I hate to hear your down burnout, but hopefully you'll be back in the air soon
Now everybody Knows why i like to get 2 of everything....LOL....

[burnoutboy]

Originally Posted by BigRHS

I hate to hear your down burnout, but hopefully you'll be back in the air soon
Now everybody Knows why i like to get 2 of everything....LOL....

LMAO you do that too huh...



















Servo's are heeeere! I'm only using one but guess what, I buy spares also! LOL. Will be flying tonight FOR SURE!!!

[Metal]

I am sooooo jealous!