This has to be one of the worst products I’ve come across in a while, let’s take a look at what they did wrong. This is the review of Power Management Module for FPV Goggles from URUAV.
Product Page
Banggood: https://oscarliang.com/product-tvoe
Specification:
- Size: 48*29*10mm (length * width * height)
- Weight: 9g (excluding adapter cable)
- Input Voltage: 2S to 4S
It says both 3S and 4S input voltage on the product page, so a bit of contradiction there. But I tested 4S and it seemed to work just fine, so it should be okay for most FPV goggles out there including Fatshark, Skyzone and DJI FPV goggles.
What It Does, and Why It Sucks?
At first I thought it’s like the FuriousFPV Smart Cable, that it should have a voltage regulator built-in, but it DOES NOT.
It simply outputs whatever voltage you give it. For example, if you feed it 8V, the output will be 8V, and if you feed it 14V, it will output 14V.
All it does is displaying battery voltage and warns you when the voltage gets too low (you can change what cell voltage to trigger the alarm).
It has a connector for powering the fan in older Fatshark goggles which require a separate 2S balance plug. And again, the voltage output is exactly what you feed the module with, it doesn’t even lower the voltage down to a suitable range. If you use 4S, it’s going to burn out the fan.
And this becomes a useless feature for the HDO2, as Fatshark has changed the design and they no longer require separate power for the fan.
The highlight of this product, is probably the on/off switch :D And there’s a push button for adjusting the alarm voltage.
The integrated belt clips make installation on head strap easy, but only works on the original strap size, not the aftermarket wider ones.
Here comes the worst part, it is a health and safety hazard!
When the beeper goes off, the volume can reach over 100dB, and you are supposed to put this on the headstrap, next to your ear?!
This alone is enough for me not to use it.
Conclusion
This battery power management module from URUAV is clearly designed by someone who doesn’t fly FPV, and never tested it in real life.
And they are asking $14 for this?! All you get is basically a battery voltage checker. In fact you can pick up a battery alarm that does the exact same thing for $4: https://oscarliang.com/product-zx43, it connects the balance lead, so it’s actually safer as it’s not possible to “cut the power” to the goggles even when it fails.
For Skyzone and DJI FPV Goggles, you definitely do not need this, as the voltage is displayed on the screen, and they both have pretty reliable low voltage alarms built into them.
For Fatshark, you do need some way of displaying voltage. Personally I use this battery and it has a built-in voltage indicator which is very handy.
If you are considering getting something like this, take a look at the FuriousFPV Smart Cable instead, it’s a far more established and polished product. Although personally I do not use anything like that, I normally just plug my battery straight into the goggles :) Fewer failing points is always safer, it’s not hard to make sure your battery is charged before each flight.
1 comment
The buzzer seems like a strange thing to add. While I can’t speak for fatshark, the DJI goggles already have an audible low-voltage alarm. The visible indicator isn’t going to do you much good when the goggles are on, and again the DJI unit will show that info in the OSD.
I also agree with you about the voltage stepper. I’ve used them in misc electronics projects over the years, and they’re simple enough to add.
Perhaps someone is seeking to capitalize on the demand for an on/off switch and decided to throw in a few goodies to entice people to buy?