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Quadcopter Parts List

I was asked recently what would be a good way to start in multirotors. The first question was "A tri-copter must be simpler and easier because there's only 3 motors?". I disagree. I've built quite a few tricopters and on each one explored a different way of building the yaw control mechanism on the tail motor. Some worked well, some not so well but by the time the servo is mounted and linkages hooked up, it all gets more complicated and less reliable compared bunging on a fourth motor and prop spinning in the opposite direction. I think what finally converted me was assembling the DJI F450 frame with the Naza controller. This quad was smooth and stable from the first flight and is an ideal platform for mounting a GoPro camera on for some aerial photos & videos. The downside of the DJI is that it's not cheap. I spent over $600 on the Flight controller, frame kit and GPS module and that's assuming you already have LiPo batteries, LiPo charger, radio control transmitter & receiver and other bits and pieces. It can quickly become an expensive option especially if you're just getting started.

Another option is the "toy quads" you'll find in electronics stores or maybe even the local shopping centre. They're cheap and maybe a good way to get a taste for flying multi-rotor but they have certain disadvantages;

1) The parts are generally not re-usable for your next project. The motors, ESCs and controller are so deeply integrated they're not easily adapted to another frame.

2) Often they're quite small with payload capacity to match. The small quads will struggle to carry much more than a lightweight spycam let alone a GoPro or pocket digital camera. 

So what to buy for a simple, cheap, respectable quadcopter with parts that could be re-used in your next project, maybe a hexcopter. This shopping list should cover absolutely everything you'd need to start from scratch.

Flight Controller: $29.99 Hobbyking KK2.0 Multi-rotor LCD Flight Control Board

Auto-level with and LCD screen for configuring and tuning. Eight outputs good for tri-copter up to Octo-copter. The downside is no barometric pressure sensor (height hold) or GPS (position hold) but at that price, those features aren't expected. It also has a built in voltage monitor that outputs an audible alarm at a programmable low voltage level. This feature requires a couple of extra wires soldered to the board and is well worth the trouble.

 

Frame: $17.99, Q450 Glass Fiber Quadcopter Frame 450mm - Integrated PCB Version

A simple, sturdy frame that comes with an allen key for the 2.5 and 3mm boltsand even a velcro strap for the battery. The lower board has an integrated PCB which means there's no need a messy power distribution cable arrangement. 

 

Motors: $14.99 (x4), NTM Prop Drive Series 28-26A 1200kv / 250w

Ideal size and power for this frame. The mouting holes align perfectly. Something odd with this motor I hadn't come across before was the shaft sticking out the rear / bottom of the motor. The accessories pack is needed as a propeller mount and uses three bolts to attach to the motor. I quite like this method as compared to the prop savers with the rubber o-ring or the collet style adaptors.

 

$1.89 (x4), NTM Prop Drive 28 Series Accessory Pack

You won't need the motor mount or the four silver screws, just the prop adaptor. With the Q450 frame, the bolts go through the frame and straight into the bottom of the motor.

 

$12.19 (x4), TURNIGY Plush 30amp Speed Controller

Simple, reliable, does what it's supposed to without any fuss. The difference in weight between the 18, 25 and 30 Amp ESCs is barely worth compromising the current capacity for.

 

$1.59, PolyMax 3.5mm Gold Connectors 10 PAIRS (20PC)

Some might solder their motor wires straight to the ESC but I've never been organised enough to plan that far ahead. I need the flexibility to swap any two of the three motor wires. I've read alot about bad or loose connections that have caused crashes. I've never experienced this type of failure. I think probably because it all comes down to a good solder joint.

 

$2.46, Slow Fly Electric Prop 8045R (4 pc - Green, RH Rotation)

Eight inch, Right Hand (RH / Clockwise) rotation. Four to a pack but you'll only need two with two spares. At these prices though, if you're ordering any spares, props should be high on the list. Get two packs.

 

$2.29, Slow Fly Electric Prop 8045 SF (4 pc - Green)

As above but they turn the other way. I like coloured props (as opposed to black) because they're much easier to see. In bright daylight, black props look almost invisible compared to green props which seem to present a good contrast against the sky.

 

$4.75, 10CM Male to Male Servo Lead (JR) 26AWG (10pcs/set)

These connect the receiver to the inputs on the flight controller board.

 

$16.38, Turnigy 2200mAh 4S1P 20C Lipo Pack

Minimum capacity and C rating you'd want to use for a decent flight time.

 

Now up until this point, it's assumed you already have some RC equipment from other projects. For those that are starting out and need a LiPo charger and Transmitter / Receiver etc, here are some suggestions.

$53.95, Turnigy 9X 9Ch Transmitter w/ Module & 8ch Receiver (Mode 1) (v2 Firmware)

From accounts I've read online, the Turnigy radios are a good way to get started. A nine channel radio and receiver for just over $50 is good value! This package doesn't come with batteries or charger but seeing as most people will already have these, it makes sense for Hobbyking to exclude these parts.

 

$6.89, HobbyKing 1500mAH LiFe 3S 9.9v Transmitter pack.

A Tx is no good without power. Compatible with the charger below but you'll need another lead for charging.

 

 

$16.99, HobbyKing 50watt 5A X-Charger/Balancer

This battery charger will be enough to get you up and running doing balanced charges on LiPo's. It will also charge NiMH and NiCd batteries often used in transmitters. Note - it is a DC only input so you'll have to hook it up to a car battery or similar and can't plug it onto 110 / 240 AC wall outlets. For a charger with both DC & AC input, look at a "B6-AC Plus - Charger/Discharger 1-6 Cells Dual Power (COPY)" or better.

 

 

$2.69, Charging harness

Use this harness to charge the Tx LiFe battery. You'll probably never use ALL the connectors on this charging harness but even if it means cutting some off and re-purposing with a different connector, for a few dollars it takes the pain out of soldering up wires to banana leads.

 

I think that's pretty much everything you'd need to get in the air with a decent quad. The best thing about this setup is that down the track you could directly swap the KK2.0 control board for maybe a DJI Naza controller and add altitude and position hold, without having to change any motors or ESCs. The parts are all fairly cheap to replace so those first few crashes shouldn't be too painful on the wallet. If you can afford to, get two frames (1 for spare) so you don't have to wait weeks for another delivery from Hong Kong to repair / replace parts. Spare propellers are a must have and considering the price of them, it's a no brainer to order a few more packs of them.

There are a few more items like spare battery packs and LED strip lighting that you'll probably want to add down the track but for now the objective is to get a quad in the air for cheap, but not too cheap to make it nasty.

Ok so to recap, here's the parts list summary and totals;

 

Flight Controller: $29.99 Hobbyking KK2.0 Multi-rotor LCD Flight Control Board

Frame: $17.99, Q450 Glass Fiber Quadcopter Frame 450mm - Integrated PCB Version

Motors: $14.99 (x4), NTM Prop Drive Series 28-26A 1200kv / 250w

$1.89 (x4), NTM Prop Drive 28 Series Accessory Pack

$12.19 (x4), TURNIGY Plush 30amp Speed Controller

$1.59, PolyMax 3.5mm Gold Connectors 10 PAIRS (20PC)

$2.46, Slow Fly Electric Prop 8045R (4 pc - Green, RH Rotation)

$2.29, Slow Fly Electric Prop 8045 SF (4 pc - Green)

$4.75, 10CM Male to Male Servo Lead (JR) 26AWG (10pcs/set)

$16.38, Turnigy 2200mAh 4S1P 20C Lipo Pack

$53.95, Turnigy 9X 9Ch Transmitter w/ Module & 8ch Receiver (Mode 1) (v2 Firmware)

$6.89, HobbyKing 1500mAH LiFe 3S 9.9v Transmitter pack.

$16.99, HobbyKing 50watt 5A X-Charger/Balancer

$2.69, Charging harness

 

A grand total of $272.25. A bit pricier than I was aiming to get it but don't forget that theres about $80 worth of radio and charging gear that can be re-used in the next multirotor. Once you've built one, you won't stop at that. Tri, quad, hex, octo ... they're all possible with these same parts.

****If I've forgotten anything on the list, leave me a comment below 🙂