Entry #10 - Checklists

Some things to check while building, before maiden flights and normal pre-flights.
Note this checklists assumes Betaflight and was created using Betaflight 3.17.

This list was compiled after building Betaflight F3 FC and Omnibus F4 Pro builds, but should be broadly applicable to other FCs though there will be some changes.

WARNINGS:
Warning making changes to certain settings while your battery is connected can cause dangerous (and expensive) events to occur.
E.g. changing ESC or serial RX protocol while battery is connected.
I've done this and have the burnt out ESCs from the bench top fire to prove it.
I assume this is because random/unitialised data can be sent down the signal lines and be interpreted as really high values by the ESCs, thus causing motors to spin or even ESCs to overload and catch fire.

ALWAYS TAKE YOUR PROPS OFF WHEN YOU HAVE BOTH A BATTERY AND USB/Bluetooth CONNECTION  TO YOUR QUAD.

Use a smokestopper or inline fuse for your first application of battery power.

Don't let that magic smoke out!

See also my aide memoire.

Build checks 

• Check continuity from battery leads/XT60 before adding any caps
• Slide on shrinkwrap BEFORE soldering motors to ESCs or ESCs to board (depending on which way you build.
• Motor screws do not touch stator - test with edge of paper and visual inspection
• Short prevention measures. Conformal coating, liquid electrical tape, shrinkwrap
• Test all positive joints against ground for continuity.
• Check for solder balls and other stray conductors

Post build check

TAKE YOUR PROPS OFF. SRSLY!!!!!
Use a smokestopper or inline fuse for your first application of battery power.

• Double check wiring/cabling checked against schematic
• Solder bridges for voltage correct
• Solder bridges for Rx inversion correct
• Other solder bridges correct
• Check continuity - may briefly fail if caps/ESCs are present on system but should pass after a second or two.
• Smoke test with smoke stopper/inline fuse.
• Wiring secure and not protruding
• Wiring strain relieved
• Motor screws do not touch stator - test with edge of paper and visual inspection
• Plugs/Pin connectors secure and correct
• Mini headers (e.g. JST ZHs etc) hot glued.
• FC firmware upgraded
• ESC firmware upgraded  - battery must be connected REMOVE YOUR PROPS
• ESC Protocol set DShot 600 or Multishot - REMOVE BATTERY BEFORE SETTING.
• ESCs calibrated (not required for DShot)  - battery must be connected REMOVE YOUR PROPS
• ESCs checked in BLHeli
• Model type correct (Quad X)
• Calibrate Gyro and any other sensors that require calibration
• Board orientation checked. -Easiest way oto is use the 3D model on the setup page
• Receiver port set -  REMOVE BATTERY BEFORE SETTING/CHANGING.
• Receiver type set e.g. PPM, Serial and serial proto e.g SBUS, iBUS -  REMOVE BATTERY BEFORE SETTING/CHANGING.
• Receiver bound
• Receiver responds to sticks
• Receiver channels correct (AEST and direction)
• Sensors turned on gyro, accelerometer, barometer, compass. As appropriate/desired.
• Motor directions checked (REMOVE THE PROPS!!!)
• min_check set and saved default is 1100 - I like around 1033. Do not modify if you are not using switch arming.
• FPV works
• FPV frequency set.  Raceband Channel 5 5806mhz - choose your own freq this is the one I randomly chose.
• Serial (UART) ports set to correct speed.
• Serial (UART) ports set to to appropriate device
• OSD configured
• OSD works
• OSD format set (PAL/NTSC)
• Smart Audio works
• Switches/Modes configured
• Arm switch configured/tested
• Failsafe configured
• Failsafe tested - remove props (they should already be off), power up motors, turn off TX. Motors should stop after a second or two.
• Optional - add Failsafe mode to a switch.
• Current sensor configured and calibrated
• Voltage sensor configured and calibrated
• Buzzer configured and tested
• LEDs programmed
• Screws tight and loctited
• Motor screws do not touch stator - test with edge of paper and visual inspection
• Short prevention measures taken - shrinkwrap, conformal coatings, liquid electrical tape, etc
• Build documented
• FPV Channel set
• Config backed up
• Magic smoke levels OK.

Pre Flight

• Camera lenses clean
• Buzzer works
• Props fitted  correctly
• Props spin freely without hitting anything - flick props with finger - don't use motor power to test this.
• Failsafe works
• Screws present, tight and loctited
• Wiring secure (Can’t be hit by props) and no bad connections
• FPV Channel set
• FPV works
• OSD works
• Battery secure
• Balance lead secure
• Battery main power lead secure

Betaflight

Betaflight config changes I make
The 2 Matke PDB ibata_offest (Current snsor values) are from teh manufactuer, Matek.
The Betaflight F3 FC figure is from Joshua Bardwell.

set ibata_offset=165 (matek F4 AIO)

set ibata_offset=179 (matek FCHUB 6s PDB
set ibata_offset=235 (Matek PDB PDB-XPW)
set ibata_offset=265 (Betaflight F3 FC)

beeper -ON_USB

beeper -RX_LOST

set debug_mode=gyro
set min_check=1033
set small_angle=180
resource camera_control 1 <pin>

feature RX_SERIAL

feature MOTOR_STOP

feature SOFTSERIAL

feature TELEMETRY

feature LED_STRIP

feature OSD

feature ANTI_GRAVITY

feature DYNAMIC_FILTER

Matek OSD Motor 5/6 Resources

resource MOTOR 5 A15

resource MOTOR 6 A08

resource motor <n> none

resource serial_tx 11 <pin>