Pixhawk PPM Encoder Module

Description

Are you want to be an Electronic Geek in the future and want to build your own drone then this PPM Encoder is best for you. Pulse position modulation (PPM) encoding is the system where encoding is carried out by positioning the pulses. The PPM encoder allows to encode up to 8 PWM (pulse width modulated) signals into one PPM (pulse position modulation) signal.

Some flight controllers such as the Pixhawk autopilot only support PPM (pulse position modulation) compatible receivers. If you have a PWM (pulse width modulated) receiver, you will need a PPM encoder such as this one for it to work with a PPM-only FC.

This PPM encoder will encode regular PWM inputs into a single PPM output. This allows you to combine up to 8 channels from a regular RC receiver to a single wire PPM input for your flight controller e.g. Pixhawk or APM. The nice thing about PPM is that it will enable you to reduce all channels to a single wire, excluding ground and power lines.

Important Things to be Watch While Powering The Encoder: The jumper JP1 has been included to provide some flexibility in the way you power the receiver, servos, and PPM Encoder. Often the power for the receiver, servos, and PPM Encoder will come from the autopilot board.

In this case, JP1 should be in place (shorted).

On another way, if the receiver or any servos are directly connected to the separate/additional power source and the autopilot’s +5V is also connected to the PPM Encoder via the PPM connector – Then You Must Remove jumper JP1. This will isolate the autopilot power supply from the separate receiver power supply. Failure to remove JP1 will likely damage the autopilot’s +5v switching regulator!

Note:

The firmware comes pre-configured to read 8 Channels. In case you would like to change the settings of the PPM encoder to invert the PPM signal and change the fail-safe pre-defined values you will need an AVR ISP programmer in order to reprogram it.