What light weight p...
 

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[Closed] What light weight powerful head torch to mount on a quadcopter gimbal?

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Simple question really....

I have one of these;

[img] [/img]

And I've just bought one of these;

[img] [/img]

And I need to do this;

[img] [/img]

I've done some experiments with bike lights, but the battery pack is too big and heavy, I need to get at least 5 minutes flight time, and keep the beam consistently on the ground, regardless of what the quadcopter is doing...

Can the STW hive mind recommend me a small yet powerful headtorch ideally running on max 2 x 18650 (or that I can patch into the 11.1v phantom powerpack- would this blow up a cree t6??) that I can bodge mount onto the rather small surface area of the gimbal?

Fairly random request I know, but if you are having a slow Wednesday, please feel free to pitch in with ideas 🙂

Just don't ask why......


 
Posted : 12/03/2014 9:45 am
 DrP
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Joystick, with the 'bar mount bracket' - could glue/screw the bracket to the gimball (it has a tiny footprint).
[img] [/img]
Job done

DrP


 
Posted : 12/03/2014 9:46 am
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Why?


 
Posted : 12/03/2014 9:48 am
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clubber - Member
Why?


Just don't ask why......

Tedious work stuff...

[img] https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/wYbUZggKGMd1CPr5uDArku0ITu-wC1sXfzB2Wy0OC-le=w883-h588-no [/img]

Cheers Dr P- can you make any up/down adjustment on that?


 
Posted : 12/03/2014 9:52 am
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Joystick is lightweight but not especially bright. OTOH most of the brighter (cheap) torches will be a bit heavier.


 
Posted : 12/03/2014 9:55 am
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Hi Joe
What sort of beam IE spot or flood and what range do you need

I could make a single Led and driver for you to wire into the copters battery . which led depends on the range and beam .

then you dont need to carry heavy batteries .


 
Posted : 12/03/2014 9:56 am
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Hi Trout!

Thought this might tickle your fancy...

Would need to be about 2.5 m wide spot at 10-20 m away, my experiments have been with aldi zoomable torches, they've been quite useful so I can zoom to fit the available space on different sites.

Northwind, I think you're right. Quick ebay search brings up this;

[url= http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1800-Lumen-Zoomable-CREE-XM-L-T6-LED-18650-Zoom-HeadLamp-HeadLight-Charger-/160946857324?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_Camping_LightsLanternsTorches&hash=item25792e256c ]1800 zoomable headtorch[/url]

But don't know if I would blow it up plugging it into 11.1v


 
Posted : 12/03/2014 10:05 am
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If that zoomable head torch is right then it would be a simple job to swap out the driver for one you could run from the copters battery

thats quite a tight spotlight at 20 metres


 
Posted : 12/03/2014 10:11 am
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Tedious work stuff...

Tedious work stuff is drawing up a document analysing risks in the crappy software system I'm dealing with. Sticking torches on a quadcopter isn't.


 
Posted : 12/03/2014 10:19 am
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Thanks Trout-

Yes, as I said, having a variable beam is the most useful.

Talk to me about different drivers? Where do you find them?

Cheers

Found pictures from our week in Germany again the other day- cracking bit of riding. Still miss that Salami and Weissbier...


 
Posted : 12/03/2014 10:20 am
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I have no idea, but I'd like to see the results some time!


 
Posted : 12/03/2014 10:24 am
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@flyingmonkeycorps- once I've got it up and running I'll post some footage of my experiments.. suffice to say it will involve me running around in the dark with a cordless smoke machine in one hand and the remote control to £700 of flying kit in the other...

You know the drill 🙂


 
Posted : 12/03/2014 10:37 am
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Just going to have a rummage in the tip/Garage and see what I have in stock .
got most drivers so should have one that will do the job .

Going to Bavaria with the Germans in September you welcome to come along
may have a space in the van as expecting one of the lads to drop out .


 
Posted : 12/03/2014 10:40 am
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We need to sync one of our trips down South with one of your performances. That or you should come up North again!


 
Posted : 12/03/2014 10:42 am
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@trout- tempting, let me know the dates when you have them. Give me a shout when you've had a rummage in the garage- my email address is the same.

@flyingmonkeycorps- in Dorset end of April (for some reason I remember you having some links there?) but yes, may stray back oop north sometime soon...


 
Posted : 12/03/2014 10:53 am
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You could knock up something using a couple of P60 drop in modules wired to the existing battery.
I'd image a P60 drop in would only be 60 ish grams.


 
Posted : 12/03/2014 11:08 am

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