RedEdge-M and MX require 5.0 volts DC for operation, with a maximum operating voltage of 15.8 V. The supply must be able to provide 10W peak.
NOTE that if you are trying to power the camera with an included USB to 3-pin power cable with a computer USB port, this will not sufficiently power the camera.
Power can be provided to the camera in 2 main ways:
1) Power from an external battery pack.
- There are two external battery pack options:
- A 5.0-Volt battery pack (such as the commonly available USB power packs for recharging cell phones) with at least a 2.1 Amp rating
- A rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery pack within the required voltage range (5 - 15.8 V)
Note: If your external battery pack exceeds the maximum voltage for RedEdge-M (15.8V) you will need to use a BEC with a current rating of at least 5 Amps (to handle current spikes). We recommend a 5A rating for 5V BECs because many hobby BECs do not ramp up fast enough to handle peak power requirements, but the 5A ones we have tested proved more reliable than the lower rated ones. Our customers have had success with the following BECs:
- X5UBEC from Hobby King
- CC BEC from Castle Creations
2) Shared power from aircraft's main battery pack.
- This configuration is not recommended for beginner users, as there is a potential for affecting the flight of the aircraft. The main battery from the aircraft can be used to power the RedEdge-M. When configuring the power supplies in this way, care should be taken to ensure that the power draw of the camera is taken into account for endurance calculations. RedEdge draws approximately 4.0 Watts continuously with up to 8.5W peak for brief periods of time.
- A separate BEC for the camera is only required if the input voltage range from the aircraft exceeds the maximum voltage for RedEdge-M (15.8V).
Wiring pigtails are provided with your RedEdge-M to allow connection to the power sources shown above. Refer to your aircraft/autopilot's user manuals for further details on limitations that might affect the integration options shown above.
CAUTION: Power must not exceed 15.8V DC. Ensure correct pinout and polarity before connecting power. Failure to follow these instructions may result in permanent damage to the camera, the DLS, or the GPS module.