I am building a drone and want to power a Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano with it. My drone uses a 4S 6000 mAh Lipo Battery (14.8V) connected to a PDB01-V1.2 board with XT30 connectors.
The Jetson Orin Nano needs 4.75V-5.25V, so I plan to use a buck converter to step the voltage down. My setup involves connecting an XT30 to XT60 adapter, then a XT60 to DC jack wire into this buck converter. The output of the buck converter would go through a USB-C to DC jack wire into the Jetson Orin Nano’s power port.
Would this setup work and be safe?
I also plan to connect an Intel RealSense D435i camera and a servo motor claw to the Jetson Orin Nano. Considering all the components, how long can a 6000 mAh battery power the entire system (drone and accessories)?
Does the buck converter’s USB-C output support 3 amps? I’d suggest using an XT30 on the input of one of these converters and plugging it directly into the Nano.
@Beckett
Is the concern about the USB-C output the main issue? I saw reviews saying it powered a Raspberry Pi 5, which needs 5 amps, so it seems capable. If that’s the only issue, I’ll test the setup before committing to it.
Beckett said: @Jane
Why use an XT30 to XT60 adapter and then an XT60 to DC jack wire? Why not go straight from XT30 to DC jack?
I already bought the XT60 to DC jack wire before realizing my PDB uses XT30. I also bought the XT30 to XT60 adapter before noticing the voltage issue. Since I already have them, I didn’t see a reason to replace both.
Avoid cheap step-down regulators from Amazon. They can fail and damage your equipment. I recommend getting one from Pololu. You’ll also need to check the amp requirements for the Nano. This one should work if you stay under 25 watts:
Jane said: @Harper
I’d like to avoid soldering since I’m inexperienced and short on time. Do you know of any reliable regulators that don’t require soldering?
Most of the reliable options I’ve used, like Pololu’s, need soldering. I’ve had bad experiences with other brands failing under drone power loads. I’d recommend getting someone to help with soldering if possible.
Jane said: @Harper
Can I test the buck converter I linked earlier without connecting the Jetson Orin Nano to ensure it won’t damage it?
You could test it while the drone is grounded, but power fluctuations during flight are the real challenge. It might work fine stationary but fail mid-flight, which could cause damage.
Why not use a separate BEC or UBEC board? Add up all the power requirements: 3A for the Orin Nano (7-15W at 5V), 700mA for the D435i camera, and whatever the servos need. A 6-8A BEC should be fine. Your average consumption should stay around 25 watts or less, but it depends on your configuration.
A 6000 mAh, 14.8V battery holds 86 watt-hours. Without flying, you might get 3-4 hours of runtime. During a 15-minute flight, the accessories might use about 10% of the battery’s energy. Most of the power consumption will depend on how much your drone’s motors draw.
@Luca
Is a BEC/UBEC different from this buck converter? I want something from Amazon for fast shipping and easy returns, but I also want to avoid soldering.
Jane said: @Luca
Is a BEC/UBEC different from this buck converter? I want something from Amazon for fast shipping and easy returns, but I also want to avoid soldering.
BECs for RC are often better suited for drones. They usually come pre-soldered with the correct wires and connectors and tend to respect their specs. Some buck converters, especially cheaper ones, might be unreliable under fluctuating power loads. If you’re going with Amazon, read reviews carefully and consider options specifically designed for RC applications.