VIFLY ShortSaver V2: The Sensible Smoke Stopper for FPV builders

Once I join the battery for the primary time to a newly constructed FPV drone, I wait with bated breath to see if every part is OK and no smoke comes out. Quick circuits on account of fallacious wiring and unhealthy soldering are the most typical issues in DIY drones, they usually trigger critical harm to delicate electronics. VIFLY ShortSaver V2 can detect these issues and disconnect energy in lower than 3ms.

In a nutshel, a “smoke stopper” is a security system utilized in electronics and electrical circuits to forestall harm attributable to extreme present, fallacious connections, or a brief circuit. It’s designed to guard the parts from potential smoke or harm that would happen within the occasion of a wiring error or different electrical drawback. A 1500mAh LIPO battery with a 150C discharge price can ship as much as 225A when short-circuited, just like a welding machine’s energy. Belief me, there can be flame and melted metallic, not simply smoke.

Previously, many used a light-weight bulb to point any brief circuit, however this method doesn’t reduce off the ability fully, and the costly parts can nonetheless burn out. The second-generation VIFLY ShortSaver screens the quantity of electrical energy going from the battery to the drone and cuts off energy if it exceeds a certain quantity. The V2 has 1 Ampere and a couple of Amper threshold modes to match idle energy utilization.

VIFLY ShortSaver V2 assessment

Disclosure: I obtained this short-circuit detector system as a part of a product assessment collaboration with VIFLY. Specs and high quality might fluctuate in accordance with the producer’s reliability, so I can not assure that you’ll get a product that performs precisely the identical as seen in my article.

The ShortSaver V2 is available in a zipped antistatic bag with an instruction information included. The PCB measures 42 x 30 x 10 mm and is protected by a clear warmth shrink tube -very minimalistic design however cost-effective as properly. On Thingiverse, you could find STL recordsdata to 3D print your individual case.

It has XT60 and XT30 connectors on either side. The output (drone) plugs are on 5cm wires, and the enter (battery) connectors are soldered instantly into the primary board. It has three standing LEDs and two buttons (energy and mode) on the entrance half. On the again of the PCB is a printed desk exhibiting the standing of every LED.

VIFLY Quick Saver V2: LED coding

Key options

• [Completely cut off the current flow and prevent the “killer magic smoke”] Different kinds of smoke stoppers like gentle bulbs or resettable fuses simply restrict, not cease, the electrical move and leakage present should still harm your parts. The second-generation VIFLY ShortSaver adopts an digital fuse to fully reduce off the electrical present into your RC construct if a brief circuit or wiring mistake is detected.
• [Super-fast reaction/protection time] The ShortSaver V2 disconnects the ability to a tool that drew greater than the switchable 1A or 2A threshold inside simply 3ms. The quick response time is essential to save lots of the digital elements.
• [Power ON/OFF Switch for Easier Receiver Binding] Holding down the bind button and connecting the LIPO battery concurrently might be difficult when you’ve solely two arms. The brand new model of VIFLY ShortSaver added an influence on/off button that may make your receiver binding rather more handy. It really works properly additionally for ELRS receivers which must be powered on/off 3 times to enter into bind mode.
• [Dual current mode 1/2 Amp Threshold Selector] For small-size drones with extra delicate digital parts, you’ll be able to choose 1 Ampere, and for giant builds 2 Amps.
• [High-quality battery connectors] VIFLY ShortSaver 2 makes use of Amass XT30 and XT60 connectors on each ends (IN-battery)/OUT-drone). You possibly can even combine them. Testing XT60 drone with XT30 battery or the opposite manner round.

Person expertise

Earlier than receiving the VIFLY ShortSaver V2, I used a digital multimeter to test if every part was wired and soldered accurately within the drone I constructed. Until now, it labored properly for me however took tons extra time than utilizing this devoted system. Because it doesn’t fully reduce off the electrical present, I by no means used a bulb smoke stopper for short-circuit detection.

The VIFLY ShortSaver V2 is totally plug-and-play. You simply have to set the electrical present restrict (1 or 2A) and plug the connectors. I bought a false alarm solely with my 7″ drone -probably when the ESC initialized itself exceeded the 2A restrict.

Apart from short-circuit detection, I additionally use the Quick Saver for binding. It could conveniently energy ON/OFF the drone (radio receiver).

Pricing and availability

The ShortSaver V2 might be bought from ViFly on-line retailer for $12.99. ViFly equipment can be ordered from platforms like Amazon, AliExpress, eBay, or many widespread RC retailers.