Uploaded December 2014 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I've been reading on forums people who have added the VA1100 micro FPV camera to their original Nano QX only get ~2minute flight times, compared with the FPV Nano QX BNF which easily gets double that.
One thought was the new board was 'more efficient' but that didn't seem very likely, JustPlaneChris suggested the LVC was set much lower, which again didn't seem to explain 2m+ extra flight time, so I compared this back to back.
I took my son Harry's original Nano QX, ballasted with blue tac to match exactly the weight of the FPV Nano QX to simulate the VA1100 being added.
I used Nanotech 25-40C 160mah lipos as I had a bunch of identical from same batch, both charged on Celectra 4 port AC charger immediately before the flights, and checked start voltage which both read 4.16v on my voltage checker.
I flew one after the other and have splitscreened the video, but I believe this shows the LVC behaviour has been altered, both in the cutoff voltage (0.2v lower with the FPV Nano), but mainly in behaviour.
Original Nano has an LVC 'twitch' which would chop power briefly every 10 seconds or so for some time before finally hard LVC cuts in and completely cuts power at 3.7v.
The FPV Nano does not have this 'soft LVC' mode, instead it allows you to fly right up to the Hard LVC at lower 3.53v then smoothly but quickly cuts power to force a landing.
I suspect the extra weight/current draw causes the soft LVC to cut in far too early on the original NanoQX - about half the total possible flight time, but the constant LVC twitches would not be fun in FPV - I was literally having to stab full throttle just to stay in the air, which wasn't easy hovering LOS in front of me.
Sadly I don't think this is something which can be adjusted, so if you added the VA1100 to your original NanoQX, you will either have to upgrade the control board, or just buy the FPV Nano and use the spare VA1100 on something else - I'd suggest a micro Radian which looks perfect for a fixed wing FPV trainer for calm days ;)
Hope this is useful, any questions please comment below.
I've been reading on forums people who have added the VA1100 micro FPV camera to their original Nano QX only get ~2minute flight times, compared with the FPV Nano QX BNF which easily gets double that.
One thought was the new board was 'more efficient' but that didn't seem very likely, JustPlaneChris suggested the LVC was set much lower, which again didn't seem to explain 2m+ extra flight time, so I compared this back to back.
I took my son Harry's original Nano QX, ballasted with blue tac to match exactly the weight of the FPV Nano QX to simulate the VA1100 being added.
I used Nanotech 25-40C 160mah lipos as I had a bunch of identical from same batch, both charged on Celectra 4 port AC charger immediately before the flights, and checked start voltage which both read 4.16v on my voltage checker.
I flew one after the other and have splitscreened the video, but I believe this shows the LVC behaviour has been altered, both in the cutoff voltage (0.2v lower with the FPV Nano), but mainly in behaviour.
Original Nano has an LVC 'twitch' which would chop power briefly every 10 seconds or so for some time before finally hard LVC cuts in and completely cuts power at 3.7v.
The FPV Nano does not have this 'soft LVC' mode, instead it allows you to fly right up to the Hard LVC at lower 3.53v then smoothly but quickly cuts power to force a landing.
I suspect the extra weight/current draw causes the soft LVC to cut in far too early on the original NanoQX - about half the total possible flight time, but the constant LVC twitches would not be fun in FPV - I was literally having to stab full throttle just to stay in the air, which wasn't easy hovering LOS in front of me.
Sadly I don't think this is something which can be adjusted, so if you added the VA1100 to your original NanoQX, you will either have to upgrade the control board, or just buy the FPV Nano and use the spare VA1100 on something else - I'd suggest a micro Radian which looks perfect for a fixed wing FPV trainer for calm days ;)
Hope this is useful, any questions please comment below.
