DIY - ZMR250 Quadcopter

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Revision as of 09:27, 7 December 2015 by Kyau (talk | contribs)

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This is the build log for my ZMR250 Cloneout Quadcopter. This is the first multirotor I have ever attempted to build and as such it will be documented and treated as a learning experience. All of the information contained here-in has been gathered and processed into the information you see here.

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Icon Parts List

Icon Radio Transmitter (Tx)
Icon Radio Receiver (Rx)
Icon Radio Accessories
Icon Battery Charger
Icon Case & Ground Station Accessories
Icon Frame
Icon Flight Controller
Icon Electronic Speed Controller (ESC)
Icon Batteries
Icon Motors
Icon Propellers
Icon Video Recording & FPV
Icon Other

Icon Build Log

Icon Pre-build Checklist
Icon Motors
BatteryBuild Image #1  Build Image #2  Build Image #3
  • Plug in your soldering iron (medium tip) to get it readyfor the battery connector.
  • While waiting for the soldering iron, start charging one of the batteries that was bought for the quad. Remember to charge using the balance mode!
  • Cut down to size (eventually shortened the wire to about 1.5" long, not shown in picture) and then solder the connector to the PDB board.


    • Electronic Speed ControllersBuild Image #1  Build Image #2  Build Image #3
  • Plug your soldering iron back in, this time with a fine point tip.
  • Now to get started on the ESCs, pull them all out of their packaging and strip the sticker and current heat shrink off of all four of them.
  • Desolder all of the motor leads on all four ESCs.

    • Build Image #1  Build Image #2
  • Cut the motor leads to length for placement of ESCs at the midway point on the arms. Solder the ESCs to the motors.
    Note: Remember to connect two motors in a '1:1 / 2:2 / 3:3' configuration and the other two motors in a '1:1 / 2:3 / 3:2' configuration.

    • Build Image #1  Build Image #2
  • Next we need to test the motors, for this use the original ESC leads that we de-soldered previously and solder two of them to one of the spare JST60 battery connectors to act as a wire harness so that we can spin up the motors with just the connector, a receiver, and a transmitter. Mark which direction each motor spins so that we can make sure to have two CW (clock-wise) and two CCW (counter clock-wise) motors. If this is not the case then go back and re-solder what ever is needed.
  • Finally use heat shrink to protect the ESCs from the conductive carbon fiber arms.


    • Overcraft Power Distribution BoardBuild Image #1  Build Image #2  Build Image #3
  • First we will need to solder two separate servo leads, one for the vbat and the other for the buzzer. Make sure to cut them to length before you solder them.
  • Mount the flight controller onto the PCB using the nylon standoffs.
  • Attach all of the arms and the bottom plate using only two out of the four screws on each arm for the time being. Then pre-tin the pads on the PDB to prep them for attaching the ESCs.

    • Build Image #1  Build Image #2  Build Image #3
  • I next put labels on my table to coorespond to the proper motor numbering given left is the front of my quad and right is the rear.
    Note: This information was obtained from page 4 in the Acro Naze32 Manual. | Acro Naze32 (rev5)
  • Cut down to length and solder all of the ESCs onto the PDB, make sure you attach them correctly (polarity).
  • Cut the power and ground wire down to size for ESCs 2-4 leaving only the BEC from the first motor attached to provide power to the flight controller. Then connect all four of the motors to the flight controller.
    Note: This information was obtained from page 3 in the Naze32 Manual. | Naze32 (rev3)

    • Flight Controller

    • Install the USB Driver for the flight controller. If you lack the driver for the Naze32 you can download it here.
    • Make sure you have Google Chrome installed, and install the App Baseflight.
    • Launch Baseflight and then connect your flight controller to your computer via usb (with the quad powered off).
      <img src="http://kyau.net/zmr250/img/buildlog/fc-1.jpg" width="243" height="165" alt="">
    • Baseflight will not auto-connect the first time, click on the "Firmware Flasher" and make sure the latest firmware is chosen. Next select "Load Firmware (Online)" and then finally "Flash Firmware". Wait a few moments for your flight controller to update and then click the "Connect" button in the upper left, you should now be connected to your flight controller.
    • Navigate to the "Configuration" tab and enable the features: PPM, VBAT, MOTOR_STOP & TELEMETRY according to the screenshot and then click "Save".
      <img src="http://kyau.net/zmr250/img/buildlog/fc-2.png" width="243" height="165" alt="">

    Pre-FPV Stopping Point

    Icon References

    1. ^ "new c250 mini h carbon fiber frame (blackout clone ?)". RCGroups.com. http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2180331. Retrieved August 10, 2014. 

    Icon 4S Upgrade

    Icon Frame
    Icon Flight Controller
    Icon Electronic Speed Controller (ESC)
    Icon Motors
    Icon Batteries
    Icon Video Recording & FPV
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