X-3D X-BL Quadrocopter NAV Light/side protection

After seeing the brilliance of the cool Water Proof LED strip, I decided to see how they would look wrapped around the motor mounts of the X-CSM frame arms ... similar to how some have used the adhesive LED strips. The Water Proof LED strips are different in that they are encased in flexible plastic and when the LEDs are illuminated, the entire plastic strip is lit up ... creating a really nice effect.

I wired the 4 strips to a single JST connector and power it off of an X-Base 11V power tap and Brushed Motor FET #2 mapped to a switch on the Tx allowing for Tx ON/OFF control.

I mounted them using the thinnest tie wraps I could find ... the pattern of the X-CSM holes easily keep the shape of the arm curve. An added bonus is the thickness of the plastic is the same as the X-CSM CF/Balsa arm. I routed the wiring along the same path as the X-BLDC wiring harness.

The Water Proof LED strips also double as side collision protection for the X-CSM arms ... a perfect blend of clear plastic bumper guard and LED illuminated motor mounts and floodlights.

Video stationary shot (still need to enlist the wife to shoot a real video) ... no problem with orientation at a distance ... one challenge about flying in the dark around objects (like a tree) is judging distance ... as you can see at one point where I have to pull up fast ...

Interesting that the camera's CCD only caught mostly the blue wash on the ground ... the color effect seemed more even when I was flying. The props even get illuminated by the color too!

Cool spaceship engine look!

Shot with Canon SD850 IS on a mini tripod sitting on a car trunk hood and mixed with MuVee AutoProducer.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• x-ufo
• quadrocopter
• x-3d
• x-bl
• x-csm
• NAV
• light
• led
• waterproof
• strips
• R/C
• night
• flying
• stardust
• Ilan
• Eshkeri
• RC

[Ec130Rhine]

where did you get the led lights at because i wanted to see if i can put some on my ar drone!!

[tend2it]

@Ec130Rhine I got them at besthongkong(dot)com. These are the Water Proof Strips under LED Tubes, LED Strips. They have a lighter version ... flexible SMD LED Strip ... not sure about the outer protection though.

[ChappersSP]

Great lights! Where can i but some? Can i power them direct to a lipo batt?

Any chance of a close up vid of how you put them on and connections used? Thanks

[tend2it]

@ChappersSP - Thanks ... yes you can power them directly off the lipo ... sending you a PM with the details

[folken692000]

How long can you stay airborne before recharge?

[tend2it]

@folken692000 - between 10-20 mins depending on the size of the lipo battery ... 700mAH - 1300mAH w/o lights ON ... w/lights ON cut 5 mins off the flight time.

[DJChafe]

those lights are realy bright, but copared to the rest the blue ones are SURPER BRIGHT!!! lol

[lynnej1970]

mad little gadget,,but i hope your not saying ufos dont exist cos id then tell you to make that thing fly at 2000 feet minumum,,if you think that ppl are just showing these modelled planes..

[darksideka]

The visitors came here signaling in the the grand colours of  our slavelords and masters of the earth G.O.O.G.L.E

[TheJefedesapuka]

can you control a UFO??????