H pro480 distance to large power line?

[7cyclops]

Recently I had my property logged and thinned out in certain areas. I had an area about 2 acres cleared for the drones. Great view of the sky and fun to do testing at home,finally as I have been waiting for this for 2 years since I retired. Since covid it seemed folks were not friendly in some of the areas I used to fly in.

My property borders 2 large power lines,one of them consumers power calls a 375 line. The other is a little smaller, but is a main line and quite high. The 375 line is on the large monster type metal structures. My new fly area is approx 800 feet from these 2 lines.

My H 480 pro has been acting a little weird. I get good sats,14 or 16 and st16 has same. Drone will toilet bowl or try to fly west away from power transmission lines. Only had 1 compass warning. After almost losing it to the trees around my area I did a compass and accelerometer cal. All was fine for the next fly. A day later in the evening I took off, test timing batteries and drone was a little hard to control again. There was no wind but I forgot to check the fly index first.

I am using the batteries from yuneec skins and getting about 15.5 minutes per flight.st16 says I have 14.5 volts. Test meter says 3.7 v per cell when I get back to the house. Any input on how these power lines are or may or will not interfere with the H would be greatly appreciated.I put the drone down asap after first warning as I keep it close after 12-13 minutes. Also both power lines are east of me on same 300 foot area.

Peace KC

 

[h-elsner]

There is a reason for late answer. The reason: Nobody knows. The only recommendation shall be - keep away.

Usually there is no big influence, the main influence should be on compass (3D magnetometer chip). Power line can also decrease or disturb received GPS signal. But there is a big danger. If there are switching operations in the power supply network to stabilize the net then we can get transients that have a disastrous influence on flight behavior.
I have an area where I usually fly without problems. But one day I had huge difficulties to control the bird. It was over water and I got really nevous, believe me. The power line was 90m away.

br HE

 

[h-elsner]

Another thing cames in my mind. The copper foil that covers the GPS module is not connected to ground (0V). This makes no sense. To connect it to the ground on the mainboard of the drone may make it "harder" to electrical fields.

br HE

 

[Vaklin]

To connect it to the ground on the mainboard of the drone may make it "harder" to electrical fields.

Or accumulate all fluctuations from bird's ground.

Better is to stay as is.

 

[7cyclops]

Googled this subject. Seems DJI forums have several threads on flying near power lines. Synopsis is a 50/50 risk. Because my home area is fairly close to these lines,I am going to do more trial and error,carefully of course to see if I can get a pattern of occurances,and situations and maybe a fix for my situation.I already tried the cheap baking tin fix for my antennaes,and seemed to work well. installed on st16. Also found a site,scientific reports, weather constraints on global drone flexability,. It is an indepth research article on how weather effects drone flying.Some of you may have an interest in this.I will safely try to fly at my 500 to800 feet window and let you know of my progress.Wondering if an aftermarket antennae boost would make this better, or worse.Keep you posted. KC.

 

[Vaklin]

Let me say my opinion from my primary job position as a power distribution specialist. The power line is self-balanced in almost any situation. So, only in the exact near to the wires, your bird will be messed up. Take into account, the alternate current is transferred with the help of the skin effect. This means on each pole you have a standing wave that is balanced from the magnetic field over the wire and electron movement inside the outer round of the wire. In an optimal state, the electrons only vibrate over their standing position. Not the same is when the power line is disturbed for any reason. The disturbance is a pole to earth short circuit, pole to pole shortage, tensioning the line from one side before putting it into the transfer when the line acts as a capacitor and so on. Because this all can happen without your control, it better is to fly at a safe distance. How long is this distance I can't say? Sorry.

 

[h-elsner]

I do not believe that the RC connection is the problem. Antenna mods are not needed because the digital connection (ZigBee as well as WiFi, both digital) are hardly disturbed by analog frequencies 50Hz and its possibly existing harmonic waves.

The main problem remains GPS and compass. The best way is to switch off GPS support and fly manually. Compass in this case is also switched off or better to say, not used by flight controller (it is not really switched).

br HE

 

[Vaklin]

To clarify a bit more. All these disturbances are known as the electrical fast transient process. It is really fast and can't disturb RF transmission/receiving for a dangerous period. Few dropped packets, probably an alert on the ST16's screen and nothing more. But how well is the compass IC is immuned for strong magnetic fields for the future after it is exposed is unknown for us.

 

[tin]

The compass will get really stupid readings close to the lines...
Edit: Accidentally posted early because I was talking to someone
I meant to also say that the exact distance will vary by many factors including the power being pushed down the lines. You could try experimenting with a compass app on your phone walking around the area to find roughly how far away things start going a bit strange... That way you'll have a rough idea of how far away to stay - remember to factor in height though.

 

[7cyclops]

The compass will get really stupid readings close to the lines...
Edit: Accidentally posted early because I was talking to someone
I meant to also say that the exact distance will vary by many factors including the power being pushed down the lines. You could try experimenting with a compass app on your phone walking around the area to find roughly how far away things start going a bit strange... That way you'll have a rough idea of how far away to stay - remember to factor in height though.

Thanks for the Idea. I have a compas app on wife's tablet,and it's very fussy around the house,but I used it in my new fly area and it was stable at ground level. I will try walking closer til It get's wacky. asap. KC

 

[7cyclops]

Great posts from you flyers who have the experience knowledge and patience to help me gain more Ideas ,and which way to go what Ideas to try,and so far I have gotten some great examples of what can or will happen and will put this all together until I figure out what works best for me. Yes it would be easier for me to just go somewhere else, but I have tons of effort into this site I fly at and while I am learning about all the things I can do with it it's great to be at home. I want to be comfortable in every aspect of my H. Practice practice.It's not like I am flying right next to the lines,figuring I was far enough away to get safe flights in. I have been trapped by the tree monsters several times in the last 4 years in this area and I am well aware of what can happen. I credit the info I have studied on this site, and this is how we learn. Please keep theinfo coming,I am so lucky, I told my wife Ican get help from flyers all over the world.Peace KC

 

[7cyclops]

My new fly area in relation to power transmission lines. There are 2 side by side if you can zoom in. The cut V shaped area is my takeoff point. Thought this may give a better prospective of what I am trying to do. KC

 

[DoomMeister]

I don't see an issue unless you were within 50 feet of the larger transmission lines. I have flown near similar in Florida without issues. The real problem would be as @Vaklin stated about transients in the lines from shorts leg to ground or leg to leg.