Last modified by Eric Nantel on 2021/08/06 13:05
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1 {{lightbox image="MES-PDB-PM.PNG" width="350"/}}
2
3 **Page Contents**
4
5 {{toc/}}
6
7 = Description =
8
9 **~*~*~* READ THIS MANUAL, ESPECIALLY THE SAFETY SECTION BELOW BEFORE MAKING ANY CONNECTIONS~*~****
10
11 The Multirotor Erector Set (MES) Power Distribution Board (PDB) is a highly versatile system; its two PCB design (separate positive and negative power planes), 4oz copper thickness and two battery inputs, allows it to easily power up to 8 UAV motors with a continuous current capacity of 20 amps each (160A total) and a peak / instantanous current capacity of 35A per motor (280A total). This PDB has also an onboard, internally driven buzzer and a pinout directly compatible with the Quadrino Nano Flight Controller.
12
13 = Features =
14
15 * Pinout compatible with the Lynxmotion Quadrino Nano Flight Controller, but can be used in any multirotor system
16 * Connect up to 8x motors using 3.5mm bullet connectors
17 * Positive and negative PCBs allow for high current
18 * Supports single or dual batteries setup
19 * Includes 1x XT60 to 3.5mm bullet connector battery cable adapter (additional cables sold separately).
20 * On-board internally driven buzzer
21 * Jumpers for battery elimination circuit (BEC) power management, battery monitoring and external device power selection
22 * On-board [[5V & 12V 2A step-down voltage regulators>>doc:multirotor-erector-set.mes-electronics.mes-power-module.WebHome]]
23
24 = Specifications =
25
26 * Continuous current of 20A per motor (160A total for 8 motors)
27 * Peak current of 35A (280A total for 8 motors) for several seconds
28 * Separate power PCBs : bottom PCB is connected to battery positive and top PCB is connected to battery negative
29 * 4oz copper thickness on both top and bottom PCBs
30 * 8 x 3.5mm male bullet connectors for ESCs positive leads + 2 x 3.5mm male bullet connectors for batteries positive leads
31 * 8 x 3.5mm female bullet connectors for ESCs negative leads + 2 x 3.5mm female bullet connectors for batteries negative leads
32 * On-board pre-amplified Buzzer : 5V 30mA 2.7kHz internally driven magnetic buzzer
33
34 = Wiring =
35
36 The wiring diagrams below show where to connect the XT60 battery wires, the ESCs power leads and RC wires for different copter types. Be sure to read the safety section below before making any connections.
37
38 1. DO NOT connect the batteries until everything has been wired and checked.
39 1. Verify the polarity of the battery connector(s) and sure the positive (red) lead connects to the top PCB, and the negative / GND (black) lead connects to the bottom PCB.
40 1. Should your ESC not use the correct bullet connectors for power, the existing connectors can be removed and replaced by 3.5mm connectors.
41 1. Connect the ESCs to the PDB based on the configurations below, ensuring the positive is connected to the top plate and negative connected to the bottom plate. 
42 11. For a single battery configuration, the ESCs should be installed close to the battery
43 11. For a dual battery configuration, the ESCs should be installed equally on the board to try to lessen uneven current draw between the batteries
44 1. Connect the three-pin cables based on your copter configuration below.
45 1. When using two batteries, they should both be fully charged and provide the same output voltage. We suggest using two identical batteries from the same manufacturer.
46 1. Ensure the battery or batteries selected can provide enough (discharge) current for all motors under load. Normally the discharge rating is provided as a C-rating.
47 1. DO NOT remove any bullet connectors from the PDB when a battery is connected - disconnect the batteries first.
48
49 (% style="text-align:center" %)
50 |//**1x ESC**//|//**4x ESCs**//|//**6x ESCs**//|//**8x ESCs**//
51 |(((
52 (% style="text-align:center" %)
53 [[image:MES-PDB-Wiring-Board-One.png||alt="MES-PDB-Wiring-Board-Single.png"]]
54
55
56 )))|(((
57 (% style="text-align:center" %)
58 [[image:MES-PDB-Wiring-Board-Quad.png]]
59
60
61 )))|(((
62 (% style="text-align:center" %)
63 [[image:MES-PDB-Wiring-Board-Hex.png]]
64
65
66 )))|(((
67 (% style="text-align:center" %)
68 [[image:MES-PDB-Wiring-Board-Octo.png]]
69
70
71 )))
72
73 The following table shows the suggested connection points for each of the ESCs' power leads(positive and negative), their corresponding RC 3 pin connector and input signal pin based on the copter type :
74
75 (% style="text-align:center" %)
76 |(% style="width:350px" %) |(% style="width:50px" %) |[[image:QUADX.png||alt="HEX.jpg"]]|[[image:Y4.png||alt="HEX.jpg"]]|[[image:Y6.png||alt="HEX.jpg"]]|[[image:HEX.png||alt="HEX.jpg"]]|[[image:X8.png||alt="HEX.jpg"]]|[[image:OCTO.png||alt="HEX.jpg"]]
77 |(% colspan="1" rowspan="8" %)(((
78 (% style="text-align:center" %)
79 [[image:MES-PDB-Wiring-Shaded.png||alt="MES-PDB-Groups-Shaded.png" width="350"]]
80 )))|[[image:MES-PDB-Color-Squares-Gray.png||width="15"]]| | | | |✓|✓
81 |[[image:MES-PDB-Color-Squares-Brown.png||width="15"]]|✓|✓|✓|✓|✓|✓
82 |[[image:MES-PDB-Color-Squares-Yellow.png||width="15"]]|✓|✓|✓|✓|✓|✓
83 |[[image:MES-PDB-Color-Squares-Blue.png||width="15"]]| | |✓|✓|✓|✓
84 |[[image:MES-PDB-Color-Squares-Purple.png||width="15"]]| | |✓|✓|✓|✓
85 |[[image:MES-PDB-Color-Squares-Orange.png||width="15"]]|✓|✓|✓|✓|✓|✓
86 |[[image:MES-PDB-Color-Squares-Green.png||width="15"]]|✓|✓|✓|✓|✓|✓
87 |[[image:MES-PDB-Color-Squares-White.png||width="15"]]| | | | |✓|✓
88 |(% colspan="1" rowspan="2" %)[[image:MES-PDB-Wiring-Power.png||width="350"]]|[[image:MES-PDB-Color-Squares-Red.png||width="15"]]|(% colspan="6" rowspan="1" style="text-align:left" %)3.5mm Male Bullet Connector connected to the positive plane
89 |[[image:MES-PDB-Color-Squares-Black.png||width="15"]]|(% colspan="6" rowspan="1" style="text-align:left" %)3.5mm Female Bullet Connector connected to the negative plane
90
91 == Jumpers ==
92
93 The MES PDB has three jumpers : JA, JB and Vout. The functionality of each jumper is explained below :
94
95 |(% colspan="1" rowspan="3" style="width:350px" %)(((
96 (% style="text-align:center" %)
97 [[image:MES-PDB-Top-Jumpers-Shaded.png||alt="MES-PDB-Groups.png" width="350"]]
98 )))|(% style="width:50px" %)(((
99 (((
100 (% style="text-align:center" %)
101 [[image:MES-PDB-Color-Squares-Green.png||alt="MES-PDB-Color-Squares-Gray.png" width="15"]]
102
103
104 )))
105
106 (((
107
108 )))
109 )))|(% colspan="6" rowspan="1" %)(((
110 (% class="wikigeneratedid" id="HJAjumper" %)
111 **JA jumper**
112
113 When installed, this jumper is intended to connect the battery's positive lead to the A0 pin to monitor the battery voltage on an analog input pin :
114 )))
115 |(((
116 (% style="text-align:center" %)
117 [[image:MES-PDB-Color-Squares-Blue.png||alt="MES-PDB-Color-Squares-White.png" width="15"]]
118 )))|(% colspan="6" rowspan="1" %)(((
119 (% class="wikigeneratedid" id="HJBA0jumper" %)
120 **JB jumper**
121
122 This jumper selects between the 5V input on the PDB or the BEC of ESC #2 if needed. With the jumper in place, the 5V line of the PDB is connected to the 5V BEC pin of ESC #2 (assuming the ESC includes a BEC) which will power all the 5V pins on the PDB.
123
124 //**Note : The jumper should only be used if you have a defective 5V regulator and want to use an external BEC instead.**//
125 )))
126 |(((
127 (% style="text-align:center" %)
128 [[image:MES-PDB-Color-Squares-Red.png||alt="MES-PDB-Color-Squares-White.png" width="15"]]
129 )))|(% colspan="6" rowspan="1" %)(((
130 (% class="wikigeneratedid" id="HVoutA0jumper" %)
131 **Vout jumper**
132
133 This jumper is intended to select between 5V provided by JB (from the 5V regulator or from the external BEC of ESC #2, depending on the position of JB jumper) or use the main battery voltage (Vbat) on the Vout pin. The Vout pin is used along with D32 pin (active low) to power external devices (LEDs, Buzzer, etc.) :
134
135 Jumper between Vout and 5V : external device connected to Vout and D32 will be 5V powered when D32 is low
136 Jumper between Vout and BAT : external device connected to Vout and D32 will be powered through the battery voltage
137
138 //**Note : Ensure to verify the rated voltage of the external device connected to D32 and Vout pins before inserting Vout jumper to 5V or BAT**//
139 )))
140
141 == Power Modules (5V & 12V) ==
142
143 On-board step-down voltage regulators allows to power a flight controller or other devices in either 5V or 12V (if the VIN is above 13V).
144
145 |(% rowspan="3" style="width:350px" %)(((
146 (% style="text-align:center" %)
147 [[image:MES-PDB-Regulators-Shaded.png||width="350"]]
148
149
150 )))|(% style="width:50px" %)(((
151 (% style="text-align:center" %)
152 [[image:MES-PDB-Color-Squares-Green.png||width="15"]]
153
154
155 )))|5V output of the step-down regulator which is connected to all 5V pins
156 |(% style="width:50px" %)(((
157 (% style="text-align:center" %)
158 [[image:MES-PDB-Color-Squares-Orange.png||width="15"]]
159 )))|12V output of the step-down regulator.
160 |(((
161 (% style="text-align:center" %)
162 [[image:MES-PDB-Color-Squares-Black.png||width="15"]]
163
164
165 )))|GND pins
166
167 == Quadrino Nano ==
168
169 Although the MES PDB is intended to be used with any flight controller copter system, it was designed to be directly interfaced with the Lynxmotion Quadrino Nano Flight Controller.
170
171 |(% style="width:350px" %)(((
172 (% style="text-align:center" %)
173 [[image:MES-PDB-PM-Quadrino-Wiring.PNG||width="350"]]
174 )))|(((
175 Using the appropriate wiring harness (QN-PDB-WH), the MES PDB can be connected to the Quadrino Nano via its middle 12 position, 2.54mm pitch connector as shown in this image.
176
177 All RC signal pins from the ESCs connected to the PDB will be connected to the appropriate ESC inputs on the Quadrino Nano (refer to the wiring diagram above).
178
179 The 5V pin (either from the 5V regulator or an external BEC from ESC #2) on the PDB will power the Quadrino Nano.
180
181 The A0 pin on the PDB takes advantage of the battery voltage monitoring feature on the Quadrino Nano (provided JA jumper is inserted).
182
183 The D32 pin on the PDB will be driven by the Quadrino Nano (active low) to activate the on-board buzzer and any 5V/Battery Voltage (depending on the position of Vout jumper) external device connected to the PDB.
184
185
186 )))
187
188 = Thermal Analysis =
189
190 Given the almost infinite number of potential situations regarding current draw, it is difficult to analyze all configurations. With this in mind, the following table summarizes the thermal analysis of the PDB when used with a single or dual battery drawing 160A or 280A continuous current.
191
192 (% style="text-align:center; width:1000px" %)
193 | |(% colspan="2" rowspan="1" %)**//160A Continunous (20A / ESC)//**|(% colspan="2" rowspan="1" %)**//280A Continuous (35A / ESC)//**|(% rowspan="1" %)
194 |(% style="height:150px" %)//**Single Battery Input**//|[[image:multirotor-erector-set.mes-electronics.mes-power-distribution-board.WebHome@MES-PDB-THERMAL-TOP-1B-8M-20A.png||width="200"]]|[[image:multirotor-erector-set.mes-electronics.mes-power-distribution-board.WebHome@MES-PDB-THERMAL-BOTTOM-1B-8M-20A.png||width="200"]]|[[image:multirotor-erector-set.mes-electronics.mes-power-distribution-board.WebHome@MES-PDB-THERMAL-TOP-1B-8M-35A.png||width="200"]]|[[image:multirotor-erector-set.mes-electronics.mes-power-distribution-board.WebHome@MES-PDB-THERMAL-BOTTOM-1B-8M-35A.png||width="200"]]|(% colspan="1" rowspan="2" %)(((
195 (% style="text-align:center" %)
196 [[image:MES-PDB-Thermal-Scale-02.png||alt="MES-PDB-Thermal-Scale.png" height="355" width="141"]]
197 )))
198 |(% style="height:150px" %)//**Dual Battery Input**//|[[image:multirotor-erector-set.mes-electronics.mes-power-distribution-board.WebHome@MES-PDB-THERMAL-TOP-2B-8M-20A.png||width="200"]]|[[image:multirotor-erector-set.mes-electronics.mes-power-distribution-board.WebHome@MES-PDB-THERMAL-BOTTOM-2B-8M-20A.png||width="200"]]|[[image:multirotor-erector-set.mes-electronics.mes-power-distribution-board.WebHome@MES-PDB-THERMAL-TOP-2B-8M-35A.png||width="200"]]|[[image:multirotor-erector-set.mes-electronics.mes-power-distribution-board.WebHome@MES-PDB-THERMAL-BOTTOM-2B-8M-35A.png||width="200"]]
199 |(% style="height:15px" %) |//**TOP PCB**//|//**BOTTOM PCB**//|//**TOP PCB**//|//**BOTTOM PCB**//|(% colspan="1" %)
200
201 = Dimensions =
202
203 |(% style="width:350px" %)[[image:MES-PDB-Dimensions.png]]|The suggested mounting method for the PDB is using either standoffs or double-sided tape. Ensure there are no loose wires or connections which can contact the PDB and potentially cause a short circuit.
204
205 = Safety =
206
207 Be sure to read through this guide and check all connections.
208
209 {{warningBox warningText="Warning: Ensure the positive and negative battery leads do not contact each other<br/><br/>Warning: Double check the polarity of the XT60 battery wires and ESCs power leads<br/><br/>Warning: Ensure to connect the battery LAST<br/><br/>Warning: Pay attention to not short positive and negative bullet connectors accidently when the PDB is powered<br/><br/>Warning: Ensure the current draw from all motors does not exceed the maximum discharge current of the battery nor the PDB current rating<br/><br/>Warning: Ensure that JA jumper is not inserted if a 5V external regulator is soldered on the PDB<br/><br/>Warning: Verify the Vout jumper position before powering an external device through D32 and Vout"/}}
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