Propeller Upgrades

[asdaven]

Hi-

Been messing around with different propellers on my Tello. I found some no name Ali Express 75mm props that I believe are the same reccomending by a forum member a couple years ago who bought them on Banggood.

Also, tried the Kingkong/LDARC 65mm props that several people have reccomended on Youtube.

In my experience , both worked well and fight the wind quite a bit better. But battery life is shorter on both. They both maintain position the same but I noticed the altitude was bobbing up and down some a few feet back and forth up and down occasionally. The heavier 75mm props that a forum member on her suggested sounded like the motors were either struggling to turn the heavier propellers or the motor shafts were slipping. The 75mm Aliexpress props come off rather easily verses the 65mm LDARC props. The 75mm had a total different sound than the 65mm. The 65mm propellers were obviously spinning at higher rpm but just sounded more balanced and with less stress on the motors. Although the higher rpm might not be good too. I also noticed Jello on the FPV feed with the bigger props whereas the LDARC 65mm props didint have it. In sport mode, it seemed the drone had more stability at hover with the LDARC 65mm and the 75mm ones had much more vibration which explains the jello in video mode. Cornering on the 65mm props is amazing though. Although both go faster than stock.

I'm contemplating on just going back to the stock props. I dont want to ruin the motors prematurely because I really like this drone although the motors didint really get super hot with either props.

What's your experience with using different props?

 

[asdaven]

Hi-

Been messing around with different propellers on my Tello. I found some no name Ali Express 75mm props that I believe are the same reccomending by a forum member a couple years ago who bought them on Banggood.

Also, tried the Kingkong/LDARC 65mm props that several people have reccomended on Youtube.

In my experience , both worked well and fight the wind quite a bit better. But battery life is shorter on both. They both maintain position the same but I noticed the altitude was bobbing up and down some a few feet back and forth up and down occasionally. The heavier 75mm props that a forum member on her suggested sounded like the motors were either struggling to turn the heavier propellers or the motor shafts were slipping. The 75mm Aliexpress props come off rather easily verses the 65mm LDARC props. The 75mm had a total different sound than the 65mm. The 65mm propellers were obviously spinning at higher rpm but just sounded more balanced and with less stress on the motors. Although the higher rpm might not be good too. I also noticed Jello on the FPV feed with the bigger props whereas the LDARC 65mm props didint have it. In sport mode, it seemed the drone had more stability at hover with the LDARC 65mm and the 75mm ones had much more vibration which explains the jello in video mode. Cornering on the 65mm props is amazing though. Although both go faster than stock.

I'm contemplating on just going back to the stock props. I dont want to ruin the motors prematurely because I really like this drone although the motors didint really get super hot with either props.

What's your experience with using different props?

Following up on this, my Tello runs good with Gemfan 75mm Props from Aliexpress and are much better made than the unbranded 75mm props that were reccomended. Maybe the unbranded ones I tested weren't the same but they looked similar. The gemfan ones are more robust and look shaped more aerodynamic and vibrate much less and rub smooth like the 65mm LDARC props I tested and handle just as good. Seems like props with rounded curves work better than ones with squared off corners like the stock props. I'd highly reccomend the Gemfan 75mm prop. I had no clue they made standard 75mm props , I thought everything made by them was for Cinewhoops.

 

[christiaan]

Gemfan 65mm and 75mm props

I tried all the props today. I wanted to check whether the motors get hot with the Gemfan props. I see no difference. The motors got hot with all the props incuding the originals. With the 65mm the drone is much more silent and with 75mm has a better flight time. I think the 75mm is perfectly fine, maybe better, than the original, but I won´t use the 65mm. Regarding Gemfan these are Tello props. I linked a short official vid.

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[scbenoit]

Thanks folks, good information to have.

 

[christiaan]

After using the GemFan 75mm props for a month, I have to tell, that I'm very satisfied with them. The Tello is quieter and has longer flight time. With a relatively new battery made 12:40 flight time with moderate flying. On average 1 - 1,5 minutes more. The motor is not heating up. Very good props. Recommended.

 

[asdaven]

Same conclusion I came to. The Gemfan 75mm were by far the best. The unbranded 75mm props originally reccomended worked great but didint stay on the propeller shafts firmly. And the Gemfan are cut so much more aerodynamically.

Also not mentioned but the Gemfan 75mm props created the highest speeds and acceleration my Tello has ever had. Makes it a sporty drone. So much so the Tello has to slow itself down because it won't let it go over a certain speed even in sport mode. The 65mm Props were the next best but I agree they're a little small. The 75mm props are much closer to the original designed props in size. But wayy better. The drone flies more like an FPV drone.

 

[christiaan]

Same conclusion I came to. The Gemfan 75mm were by far the best. The unbranded 75mm props originally reccomended worked great but didint stay on the propeller shafts firmly. And the Gemfan are cut so much more aerodynamically.

Also not mentioned but the Gemfan 75mm props created the highest speeds and acceleration my Tello has ever had. Makes it a sporty drone. So much so the Tello has to slow itself down because it won't let it go over a certain speed even in sport mode. The 65mm Props were the next best but I agree they're a little small. The 75mm props are much closer to the original designed props in size. But wayy better. The drone flies more like an FPV drone.

The only con is the prop doesn't go all the way down, there's 2mm between the props and the motor and make some vibration. Used more force, so the shaft made a hole on the top of the propeller. Now it's fine, hope didn't do any harm to the motor.
I think, when the weather gets a little colder will give another try to the 65mm, because it is shockingly quiet (only when sometimes rezonate).
I also agree with the 3rd party props. With time they get a little loose and just fly away... Won't buy them any more.

 

[asdaven]

The only con is the prop doesn't go all the way down, there's 2mm between the props and the motor and make some vibration. Used more force, so the shaft made a hole on the top of the propeller. Now it's fine, hope didn't do any harm to the motor.
I think, when the weather gets a little colder will give another try to the 65mm, because it is shockingly quiet (only when sometimes rezonate).
I also agree with the 3rd party props. With time they get a little loose and just fly away... Won't buy them any more.

I agree. I didint think the Tello hovered as well with the 65mm ones. The unbranded ones I also felt were too heavy for the small motors to spin. The 75mm Gemfan ones are sleek and are just the best balance of everything. Have a little more meat than the stock blades.

Unfortunately what makes them good can make them back. Hard to go on and off. But you don't want loose ones either that pop off and flight and cause it to crash. I've had no issues with vibrations. Mine run smooth.

I was gonna run the 65mm ones but tried the 75mm Gemfan ones and fell in love with them. The 75mm Gemfan I consider a stockish performance prop. 65mm ones your changing the prop size , making it spin faster to keep up. I found my Tello moving up and down more in hover trying to hold altitude. I tried calibrating and everything which some say you should do with every prop change. Still was "hunting" for the altitude hold. Although it did hover steady, but the altitude hold slowly bobbed up and down 6 inches. Switched to the 75mm Gemfan, rock steady hover AND altitude hold and if not better than stock.

I didint make notes on comparing the props. So I'm sure there were some advantages to the 65mm ones. I think there was definitely a pitch change in sound. The smaller props are more like a mosquito and the bigger ones more like a Bee. To some a different pitch might sound quieter or louder. I guess I would agree the 65mm were quieter. But the 75mm are pretty quiet too in my opinion.

The 75mm just gave the best in overall performance in all the categories. And were the funnest to fly.

 

[christiaan]

I upload 2 short vids. Someone was interested in trying different props on the Tello. No conclusion, just how they sound.

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[volate!lo]

Now we need to find a better prop for Neo. Hard to tolerate indoors, and still annoying outside

 

[christiaan]

Now we need to find a better prop for Neo. Hard to tolerate indoors, and still annoying outside

It's like being at the dentist.... I think master airscrew releases something soon.

 

[christiaan]

Same conclusion I came to. The Gemfan 75mm were by far the best. The unbranded 75mm props originally reccomended worked great but didint stay on the propeller shafts firmly. And the Gemfan are cut so much more aerodynamically.

Also not mentioned but the Gemfan 75mm props created the highest speeds and acceleration my Tello has ever had. Makes it a sporty drone. So much so the Tello has to slow itself down because it won't let it go over a certain speed even in sport mode. The 65mm Props were the next best but I agree they're a little small. The 75mm props are much closer to the original designed props in size. But wayy better. The drone flies more like an FPV drone.

So, I ended up ordering more from the 75s. 1 pcs black, 1 transparent and 1 whiskey. Since I have 4 Tellos and fly them indoors without prop guards, I'll need them (have a lot of unopened originals too), because, if 1 prop gets damaged, change the opposite side too, if older, than all 4.

And cheaper, than the originals too. 2 cw + 2 ccw at dji 2€, gemfan 4 cw + 4 ccw amazon 2, 50 €, where I buy them 3,50€ (much less shipping costs)

How the speed increases, can't test, because I fly them with goggles and changed many settings (reduced pitch and attitude to be able to see forward, not downward). So, my Tellos are a little slower and have decreased acceleration.

I also wanted to try 3 and 4 blade props, but those with 1mm shaft, are too small.

 

[gapi]

I have been using the GEMFAN props, they are a touch lighter, my db meter shows them louder than the OE's but just by a needle reading, I would NOT be able to do a blindfold challenge to pick the loudest/quietest. I see the OE props are not priced too bad, and arrive fast. GetFPV also processes fast.