Strobes lights for MP4
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The Mini 4 Pro is so tiny and light, where are y'all mounting the strobed specifically? I'm thinking I may get a hard mount for the arms and mount a pair there. I would LOVE to mount them to where they could stay attached between flights but I don't see a viable way that's going to happen.
I put a 3/4" x 1" Velcro strip on the forward edge of the top, with a 1/8" gap from the rear edge of the gimbal cover. With the recess in the top of the drone and the compressibility of the foam in the case lid, a smaller strobe, like the Vifly, can be left in place.
If rear visibility is needed, a Velcro strip can be placed on the end of the battery. I did that on the Mini 3 Pro, but haven't had occasion to need it on the 4.
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These are the mounts I purchased for Mini 4 Pro:
DJI Strobe Mounts
Products by drone pilots for drone pilots. In 2013 we started Aerial-Pixel as a drone photography and videography service. Since then we have grown to also provide vinyl graphics, apparel and 3D printed products for the drone industry.
www.aerial-pixel.com
vindibona1
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I must be the "King of Strobes" because I have a lot of them; a complete set for each of my 3 drones.
Back 4 years ago Firehouse was pretty much the only game in town unless you want to include LumeCube. Expensive, but pretty good. But their strobes cost $25-$35 for a single strobe, until recently only having a single dedicated color. But I have a bunch of them. they're ok, but a little fragile. I lost two of them off my drones because the provided velcro stops holding well quite quickly. Replacing it with other velcro is the way I go now.
Then I tried some of the ViFly Strobes. $15 each. Not bad. Not quite as bright as the Arc V's but close to the ARC II's, but smaller, and more versatile. I attached these strobes to the arms of my drones with small hair band elastic, and in my experience they are more secure and reliable than velcro. On my Mavic 2 I use velcro and bands.
A new entry is, as someone above mentioned the HeiyRC strobes. I just ordered two of them to try. What I like about them is that you can mount them to the arms of your drone with the elastic bands with two lateral hooks mounted into the housings. The question will be 1) How bright. 2) How wide for mounting. 3) if mounted on the bottom how well can it be seen? 4) How much weight do they add.
I should have them Monday. Perhaps they'll inspire me to go out and fly again (in the cold) just because.
Back 4 years ago Firehouse was pretty much the only game in town unless you want to include LumeCube. Expensive, but pretty good. But their strobes cost $25-$35 for a single strobe, until recently only having a single dedicated color. But I have a bunch of them. they're ok, but a little fragile. I lost two of them off my drones because the provided velcro stops holding well quite quickly. Replacing it with other velcro is the way I go now.
Then I tried some of the ViFly Strobes. $15 each. Not bad. Not quite as bright as the Arc V's but close to the ARC II's, but smaller, and more versatile. I attached these strobes to the arms of my drones with small hair band elastic, and in my experience they are more secure and reliable than velcro. On my Mavic 2 I use velcro and bands.
A new entry is, as someone above mentioned the HeiyRC strobes. I just ordered two of them to try. What I like about them is that you can mount them to the arms of your drone with the elastic bands with two lateral hooks mounted into the housings. The question will be 1) How bright. 2) How wide for mounting. 3) if mounted on the bottom how well can it be seen? 4) How much weight do they add.
I should have them Monday. Perhaps they'll inspire me to go out and fly again (in the cold) just because.
I am eager to see your review once you get and try them.
We just ordered a pair of the FH Mini Pros for all (8) of our agency aircraft. Ryan is making the 3D mounts as we speak for them.
vindibona1
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I will surely do that.
FWIW On my minis I use the smaller Vifly Strobes, two (red) on front and one green on the rear so I can visually see the drones' orientation more clearly. It really helps to keep my head out of the screen. On the bottom I usually mount an ArcV that I know is larger and brighter to help spot my drones. At night and ARC V is on the top as well. My Mavic 2 gets outfitted with all ARC V strobes. At night it can have two front, one rear and one each top and bottom.
The Viflys are small and light, but one of my older ones no longer holds a charge, but I've got a few as spares. Looking forward to seeing how the HeiyRC strobes perform.
vindibona1
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The HeiyRC strobes came in. I charged them up and did some initial side by side comparison in my living room. I have to say that the HeiyRC strobe is almost as bright with the clear strobes as the Firehouse Arc V. I think the only way to measure light output is with a constant beam (like a flash light) measured with a light meter. Perhaps I'll do that later.
I didn't weigh them, but the HeiyRC will be heavier than the ViFly if that makes any difference to anyone. I really like the way the bands that it comes with can easily and securely attach the strobes to a drone's arms, though it does come with velcro. As you can see, it's got an odd shape, almost like a coffin, but that shouldn't make a difference. The only thing that I'm concerned with for the mini 3 is the position vertically so that it doesn't ride too high and make contact with the props. My initial indoor startup test tells me that all is good in terms of positioning.
It's too early to tell if the HeiyRC strobes are "better built" than the Arc V's, but I wiill confess I've had some issues with them. I've broken switches, had the clear bezels come off and the rubber plugs in the Arc V's come unattached and I cannot get them permanently back in. I've yet to test the Velcro of the Heiy's but the Firehouse Velco should not be used. I've lost two $35 strobes that fell off in mid flight due to their velcro. There's better velcro out there if you want to use it to attach strobes, and on the arms I've always like using elastic bands. On my Mavic 2 I use both velcro and elastic.
If size and weight doesn't matter I would tell folks to take a chance on the HeiyRC strobes. Less than half the price of the ARC V's.
vindibona1
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HeiyRC first flight update...
I had these mounted to fly on my Mini 3 today. It was a gray day with some fog at higher altitudes. Highest altitude flown was 194ft. I think the fog limited my visual range to about 1300 ft, probably at 250ft high.
Going out was interesting as I had the HeiyRC's mounted to the arms of the Mini 3. Being wider than the arms themselves and the chosen color red to indicate forward facing I could see the red from behind going away from me. I had a green ViFly mounted on the rear and an Arc V on the bottom. The green Vifli disappeared first on outgoing but the Arc V was still visible until it got too small and probably covered by some fog.
When I turned the drone around to come straight home (I just flew a straight shot out and back so I could visually see how far I had true VLOS without losing it for a second. Coming back the reds were strong; seemingly as strong as the clear Arc V mounted on the bottom.
Before I fly again I think I'm going to mount velcro, or perhaps better yet, black gaffers tape on the bottoms of the HeiyRC's, if for no other reason than to block out the light transmission rearward. I would imagine this would less of a problem on Mavic with thicker arms. The Arc V's do not have as much "wrap around" light transmission. I'll have to see if/how I like the HeiyRC's on the bottom as the light direction seems to be more omidirectional. I don't know yet, but
I had these mounted to fly on my Mini 3 today. It was a gray day with some fog at higher altitudes. Highest altitude flown was 194ft. I think the fog limited my visual range to about 1300 ft, probably at 250ft high.
Going out was interesting as I had the HeiyRC's mounted to the arms of the Mini 3. Being wider than the arms themselves and the chosen color red to indicate forward facing I could see the red from behind going away from me. I had a green ViFly mounted on the rear and an Arc V on the bottom. The green Vifli disappeared first on outgoing but the Arc V was still visible until it got too small and probably covered by some fog.
When I turned the drone around to come straight home (I just flew a straight shot out and back so I could visually see how far I had true VLOS without losing it for a second. Coming back the reds were strong; seemingly as strong as the clear Arc V mounted on the bottom.
Before I fly again I think I'm going to mount velcro, or perhaps better yet, black gaffers tape on the bottoms of the HeiyRC's, if for no other reason than to block out the light transmission rearward. I would imagine this would less of a problem on Mavic with thicker arms. The Arc V's do not have as much "wrap around" light transmission. I'll have to see if/how I like the HeiyRC's on the bottom as the light direction seems to be more omidirectional. I don't know yet, but
i was hoping to find a strobe that can be turned on of off with the assist light on the min4p. another would to to have a strobe light with 4 LEDs in each horizontal direction, the LEDs could be cycled like a light house that means no matter what side the drone shows you once in a while you get a full directional blast
Heckmaniac's Drone
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Older Strobon Cree strobes (not sure they sell them anymore), still very bright. I use 3M fasteners (stronger hold than velcro IMO). On my M4P I have one on top front, and second on bottom rear (one for anti-collision, and one for my VLOS). If I were to buy new ones today, would probably opt for the ViFly found on Amazon for a reasonable price.
Attachments
lot's of work to attach all and turn them on and off - this why i would like one strobe with 4 LED pointing on 4 direction and ideally controlled on/off with the assist light
Heckmaniac's Drone
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Takes all of 10 seconds to pull both my strobes out, press the power button and attach to the fasteners that I previously positioned on the drone. If you know of a strobe as you described, please post to this string, (not sure it exists), but curious if it does, what the cost and size would be.
So far I was not successful in finding one that's why I reach out to the forum. The assist light out work if the drone is .ore or less a over you but not when further away at lower angle. I like my attached strobe even during the day to find the drone in the sky. I attach it on the MP4 to the side so I can turn the drone to shine back to me.
Will keep u posted. I am sure someone will make use of the assist light remote on/off. I even thought about opening up the drone and connect a second led to it, will see.
How is this rule practically enforced? For example, if you're flying near your house or around your small lake for 20 minutes at night? Complaint from a neighbour followed by a visit by the police, using a small scale back at the precinct to weigh the drone? I'm curious.
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Has anyone ever heard of a case where a drone was weighed by anyone in an official capacity, law enforcement or otherwise? I have not.
On my Mini 4 Pro, I'm using the Aerial-Pixel mounts for the front arms, and the top mount.
Picked them up here: DJI Strobe Mounts
Max Headroom
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The drone weighs 246g fitting one of these is going to take it over 249g
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