Success! Reduced Spark Remote Controller volume by 50% and installed LED visual notifications!!

NewYorkJack · Jan 6, 2018

Just finished modifying my friend's remote today with LEDs for visual notification (in case surrounding is too loud and he can't hear his speaker) and also reduced his remote speaker volume by approx. 50%.

Working on another guy's remote now and disabling his speaker completely as requested by him. He wants dual white notification LEDs instead of red or green LEDs. (I'll try to get a video/photo it later)

Here's LEDs in action and also a couple of sound comparison videos. Enjoy!

1. LED lights in action:
2. Power on/off sound test comparison:
3. Return to Home function sound test comparison:
Let me know what ya'll think. Suggestions, concerns, new ideas welcomed!

dubt · Jan 6, 2018

Looking great!

Did you solder the LED's directly to the speaker output? Or do you have an active circuit in-between to power the LED's according to the voltage sent from the speaker?

lannes · Jan 6, 2018

When the tablet and phone are in place , how do you see the LED's which will be below them ?

aviscomi · Jan 6, 2018

Well done project indeed! Though not my "cup of tea".

NewYorkJack · Jan 6, 2018

lannes said:
When the tablet and phone are in place , how do you see the LED's which will be below them ?

We don't have issues seeing the lights. We use mounts like the one you see in the attached pic. Even when we get setup quickly for quick shots, we don't push our devices up against the vents/covering them. There's a giant heat sink behind those vents + your phone/tablet can get also warm, we like to keep a little space for air circulation

NewYorkJack · Jan 6, 2018

dubt said:
Looking great!

Did you solder the LED's directly to the speaker output? Or do you have an active circuit in-between to power the LED's according to the voltage sent from the speaker?

Didn't need an active circuit and the speaker put out enough power to light up the tiny 2v LEDs without any issue. The draw is so minimal, battery life of the remote is barely affected. One would charge their drone batteries several times before the remote needs charging.

lannes · Jan 6, 2018

NewYorkJack said:
We don't have issues seeing the lights. We use mounts like the one you see in the attached pic. Even when we get setup quickly for quick shots, we don't push our devices up against the vents/covering them. There's a giant heat sink behind those vents + your phone/tablet can get also warm, we like to keep a little space for air circulation

Ah right, so you use a mount instead of putting the phone or Ipad mini in the controller jaws

Dr. Sybren · Aug 2, 2018

@NewYorkJack how did you reduce the volume of the speaker?

NewYorkJack · Aug 2, 2018

Soldering a small potentiometer to the circuit board and speaker. Feel free to private msg me.

Dr. Sybren · Aug 2, 2018

NewYorkJack said:
Soldering a small potentiometer to the circuit board and speaker. Feel free to private msg me.

I would love to see a photo of how you did that. What value pot did you use?

NewYorkJack · Aug 2, 2018

I didn't take any photos of the innards when I took apart the remotes. I believe it was 10k, it's been a while since and I just grabbed whatever I had in my toolbox.