VOLO The Power User manual
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The Power
User Manual
www.volo.systems
V1.2 Copyright VOLO 2015 Page | 2
Thanks for purchasing The Power.
Please read through the following instructions to get a full understanding of the board and how it works.
Let’s start with the connection guide. This guide assumes that you already know how to solder on ESC
and battery cables.
The olo Power Distribution Board has been engineered from the ground up to provide the highest
possible performance and reliability in a small form-factor. The olo PDB distributes power from a
battery pack to 4 ESCs, as well as providing two regulated DC outputs for powering servos, cameras,
video transmitters, etc. Batteries may range from 3S to 6S LiPo, and the battery input is reverse polarity
protected. The Power also features convenient cable tie loop holes for securing your battery cables,
which remove any stresses on the solder terminals when connecting or disconnecting your battery.
The 6 and 12 switching power supplies are synchronised and interleaved, resulting in the smallest size
and best possible ripple and noise performance. There is also an extra set of filtered 12 outputs for
sensitive electronics such as cameras and video transmitters. With all electronic components on the
board being Industrial spec (2 classes higher than consumer electronics) and with the board having a
conformal coating you can be confident that your multirotor is in safe hands.
Features:
Features:Features:
Features:
Conformal coating.
Conformal coating.Conformal coating.
Conformal coating.
The conformal coating is applied to the top of the board to protect the sensitive electronics against
moisture, dirt and chemicals.
ery handy if you land in long grass or clip a tree branch on a day that has been raining. (Spinning props
can be the enemy of keeping sensitive electronics clean and dry.)
The conformal coating is also helpful if you accidently spill a drop of solder in the wrong place during
setup. Solder will not stick to the areas of the board that have the conformal coating.
Battery lead cable tie down
Battery lead cable tie downBattery lead cable tie down
Battery lead cable tie down
slots.
slots.slots.
slots.
We wanted to remove any unwanted stresses on the battery cable solder connections by introducing the
first PDB with cable tie slots to securely hold your battery cables. It offers great protection from the day
to day use of connecting and disconnecting your battery packs but even more so if your battery is
ejected in a crash.
ESC Solder tabs.
ESC Solder tabs.ESC Solder tabs.
ESC Solder tabs.
We have oversized the solder tabs for all the esc connections underneath the black solder mask to
maximise both the current carrying capacity of the pads, but to also give them more strength.
Solder Bridges
Solder BridgesSolder Bridges
Solder Bridges
Solder bridges were used to make it quick and easy to select either 3S or a 4S-6S setup. We decided to
move away from jumpers to try and minimise any points of failure.
Why 6 and not 5 ?
Why 6 and not 5 ?Why 6 and not 5 ?
Why 6 and not 5 ?
A couple of reasons… For Tricopters, a servo has more torque at 6 as opposed to 5 , also all of the
RC receivers, flight controllers etc… are fine at 6 . We understand there may be a few people that have
5 cameras but we knew that most of the good video transmitters have a 5 output built into them
anyway, so the extra servo torque won.
What’s a
What’s a What’s a
What’s a Pi filter?
Pi filter?Pi filter?
Pi filter?
Have you heard of a LC filter? A Pi filter is almost the same as a LC filter but with an extra capacitor at
the beginning. So you could also say it’s a CLC filter.
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12 regulator shutdown
12 regulator shutdown12 regulator shutdown
12 regulator shutdown
If using a 3S setup the 12 regulator is not used.
This option enables you to turn off the 12 regulator.
Reverse Polarity Protected with Ideal Diode
Reverse Polarity Protected with Ideal DiodeReverse Polarity Protected with Ideal Diode
Reverse Polarity Protected with Ideal Diode
Have you ever hooked up a battery the wrong way and seen the magic smoke come out?
You won’t have to worry about this with The Power.
As we are using an Ideal Diode for reverse polarity protection.
LED indicator
LED indicatorLED indicator
LED indicators
ss
s
Our LED indicators don’t just show you that The Power is on,
they only light up when the regulated voltage is within 10% of specification.
If you find that one of the voltage LED’s is off or flickering, you may have a short, or be trying to draw
more current from the board then it can supply. (Causing the voltage to drop below 10% of the specified
voltage) ery helpful when trying to find faults.
Short circu
Short circuShort circu
Short circuit tolerant
it tolerantit tolerant
it tolerant
If you accidently hook things up wrong the 6 and 12 regulated outputs are short circuit tolerant.
They are not designed to hold a short circuit all day long but will be fine if you make a quick mistake.
3S self
3S self3S self
3S self-
--
-resetting fuse protected
resetting fuse protectedresetting fuse protected
resetting fuse protected
The Power passes the 3S battery voltage straight through to the 12 outputs, but first it passes the
voltage through a self-resetting fuse. This helps protects your LiPo from damage or fire from any short
circuits in your 12 wiring. (LED’s, cameras TX etc…) The voltage for the video gear is also passed
through the Pi filter for clean power.
2 0z copper tracks
2 0z copper tracks2 0z copper tracks
2 0z copper tracks
We have doubled the thickness of all the tracks and with the board also being 4 Layers, we have
maximised its current carrying capacity.
Operating T
Operating TOperating T
Operating Tem
emem
emp
pp
perature
eratureerature
erature
The industrial spec components on The Power can handle any temperatures that you can.
The operating temperature is rated from -20 to +70C (-4 to +158F) which should suit most flying
conditions. ☺
Tips
TipsTips
Tips:
::
:
Soldering
SolderingSoldering
Soldering
Apply an even bed of solder over the ESC and battery tabs before connecting the cables. (1-2mm thick)
Also tin your cables. (By melting some solder into the ends of the cables) This will make it easier to attach
your cables and give you a much better connection.
Changing from 3S to 4S
Changing from 3S to 4SChanging from 3S to 4S
Changing from 3S to 4S-
--
-6
66
6S
SS
S
If you decide to change from 3S to 4S or vice versa please check the following.
Once you have removed the solder from the solder bridge, power up the board and check if the 12
outputs have 12 power at them. If you still have 12 on the output there is still some solder on the
solder bridge, please clean it again until there is no power at the 12 outputs. Once the 12 outputs are
clear and no longer produce any power, then it is safe to solder up the other solder bridge. You may
destroy your board if you have solder on both solder bridges at the same time.
Modifications
ModificationsModifications
Modifications
- Do not file the edges or modify the board, it has 4 layers and you may damage it.
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Specifications:
Specifications:Specifications:
Specifications:
General:
General:General:
General:
- 3S or 4S-6S operation (selected via solderbridge)
- Regulated 6 and 12 outputs
- Onboard 12 video power filter (Pi filter - CLC)
- LED power indicators (indicates when the 6 & 12 outputs are within regulation, within 10%)
- 4 ESC outputs
- 12 Regulator shutdown solderbridge (for 3S operation, disables the 12 regulator if required)
- Conformal coating. Protects the electronics against moisture and chemicals.
Battery input
Battery inputBattery input
Battery input:
- Reverse polarity and overvoltage protected (Ideal diode)
- Input voltage range (3S operation): 8 - 14 DC
- Input voltage range (4S-6S operation): 14 - 26 DC
- Absolute maximum input voltage: +28 DC
ESC outputs:
ESC outputs:ESC outputs:
ESC outputs:
- Continuous current: 32A per output
- Peak current (10 seconds/minute): 50A per output
6 output:
6 output:6 output:
6 output:
- Designed for RC Receivers, Flight controllers, and Servos.
- oltage: 6.0 +/- 0.3 DC
- Continuous current: 1.5Amps
- Peak current (10 seconds/minute): 2.0Amps
- Short-circuit tolerant (10 seconds/minute)
- LED (indicates voltage is in regulation, within 10%)
12 output:
12 output:12 output:
12 output:
- Standard output designed to power LED’s and accessories
- Filtered output designed for cameras and video transmitters (Pi filter - CLC)
- oltage: 12.0 +/- 0.3 DC
- Continuous current: 0.75Amps
- Peak current (10 seconds/minute): 1.0Amps
- Short-circuit tolerant (10 seconds/minute)
- LED (indicates voltage is in regulation, within 10%)
- 3S self-resetting fuse protection
Physical:
Physical:Physical:
Physical:
- Dimensions: 72.4 x 36.2mm (2.85 x 1.425")
- Weight: 14g (0.5oz)
- Mounting holes 30.5mm square spacing
Environmental:
Environmental:Environmental:
Environmental:
- Operating temperature range: -20 to +70C (-4 to +158F)
- Storage temperature range: -40 to +85C (-40 to +185F)
Contact US:
Contact US:Contact US:
Contact US:
Web: www.volo.systems
Facebook: www.facebook.com/volo.systems
Forum : www.FP Lab.com ( OLO sponsor thread)
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