1. Introduction
This manual provides detailed instructions for the installation, configuration, and operation of your SpeedyBee F405 V5 Flight Controller (FC) and BLS 55A 4-in-1 Electronic Speed Controller (ESC) stack. This high-performance stack is designed for FPV drones, offering advanced features and robust performance. Please read this manual thoroughly before use to ensure proper setup and safe operation.
2. Safety Information
⚠️ For recreation use only. Illegal modification of drones/planes is prohibited. Please also pay attention to the relevant laws and regulations on the use of drones/planes in your country/area to ensure legal use.
- Always ensure correct polarity when connecting power. Incorrect wiring can cause severe damage to the components.
- Exercise caution when soldering. Use appropriate safety gear and ensure proper ventilation.
- Keep the stack away from moisture and extreme temperatures.
- Disconnect the battery before performing any maintenance or modifications.
- Ensure all connections are secure before powering on your drone.
3. Package Contents
The SpeedyBee F405 V5 Stack BLS 55A is available in different configurations. Please verify your package contents against the list below.
Standard Package Contents
- SpeedyBee F405 V5 Model Aircraft Flight Controller x1
- SpeedyBee OX32 55A 4-in-1 Model Aircraft ESC x1
- Model Aircraft Stack Connector Cable (SH1.0 10pin*25mm) x1
- Model Aircraft Stack Connector Cable (SH1.0 10pin*75mm) x1
- DJI Air Unit Connector Cable (SH1.0 6pin*80mm) x1
- GPS 6pin Connector Cable + 6pin SH1.0 Terminal x1 (SH1.0 6pin*120mm)
- GPS 4pin Connector Cable + 4pin SH1.0 Terminal x1 (SH1.0 6pin to SH1.0 4pin*120mm)
- Receiver 4pin Connector Cable x1 (SH1.0 4pin*100mm)
- XT60 Power Cable x1 (120mm)
- M3 Model Aircraft Stack Mounting Screws x4 (30mm)
- M3 Hex Nylon Nuts x5
- M3 Black Silicone Washers x5
- Capacitor Heat Shrink Tube x2
- Model Aircraft FC Silicone Covers x5
- Model Aircraft ESC Silicone Covers x5
- 35V 1000uF Solid Capacitor x1
- Quick Start Guide for Model Aircraft Stack x1
Deluxe Package Contents
- SpeedyBee F405 V5 Model Aircraft Flight Controller x1
- SpeedyBee OX32 55A 4-in-1 Model Aircraft ESC x1
- Soldering Practice Board x1
- Short-Circuit Protection Tool x1
- Model Aircraft Stack Connector Cable (SH1.0 10pin*25mm) x1
- Model Aircraft Stack Connector Cable (SH1.0 10pin*75mm) x1
- DJI Air Unit Connector Cable (SH1.0 6pin*80mm) x1
- GPS 6pin Connector Cable + 6pin SH1.0 Terminal x1 (SH1.0 6pin*120mm)
- GPS 4pin Connector Cable + 4pin SH1.0 Terminal x1 (SH1.0 6pin to SH1.0 4pin*120mm)
- Receiver 4pin Connector Cable x1 (SH1.0 4pin*100mm)
- Buzzer Red & Black Wires x1 (100mm)
- Active Buzzer x1
- Type-C Extension Module 4pin Connector Cable x1 (SH1.0 4pin*80mm)
- Type-C Extension Module x1
- M3 Hex Nylon Nuts x5
- M3 Black Silicone Washers x5
- Model Aircraft FC Silicone Covers x5
- Model Aircraft ESC Silicone Covers x5
- M3 Stack Mounting Screws x4 (30mm)
- Power Expansion Board x4
- Capacitor Heat Shrink Tube x2
- 35V 1000uF Solid Capacitor x1
- Quick Start Guide for Model Aircraft Stack x1
4. Product Overview
SpeedyBee F405 V5 Flight Controller
The F405 V5 Flight Controller features an STM32F405 MCU and an ICM42688P Gyro for precise flight control. It includes a built-in barometer (SPA06-003) for accurate altitude readings and an AT7456E OSD chip for on-screen display. Connectivity includes a new Type-C USB port and full-featured Bluetooth tuning via the SpeedyBee App, allowing for wireless firmware flashing and parameter tuning. It supports 6-pin direct plug-in or solder connection for DJI Air Units and has a built-in 16MB Blackbox storage chip for flight data logging.
Power outputs include 9 groups of 5V output (total 1.5A), 2 groups of 9V output (total 3A) with PINIO remote on/off control, 1 group of 3.3V output, and 3 groups of 4.5V output (max 1A) for peripherals like receivers and GPS modules. It supports 8 motor outputs (M1-M4 on bottom, M5-M8 on front) and multiple UARTs for various peripherals.
SpeedyBee BLS 55A 4-in-1 ESC
The BLS 55A 4-in-1 ESC is designed for 3-6S LiPo input, providing a continuous current of 55A per channel (220A total) and a burst current of 70A (280A total) for 10 seconds. It features a built-in TVS protective diode for surge protection and includes a 1000uF Low ESR Capacitor in the package for enhanced stability. The ESC supports DSHOT300/600 protocols and current sensing (Scale=400, Offset=0). It also supports ESC Telemetry.
5. Installation
Mounting
The SpeedyBee F405 V5 FC and BLS 55A ESC both feature 30.5 x 30.5mm mounting holes with a 4mm hole diameter. They are designed to be stacked together using the provided silicone grommets and screws.
Connecting the FC and ESC
The FC and ESC can be connected via a 10-pin connector or by direct soldering. The 10-pin design provides enhanced safety redundancy.
6. Wiring Diagrams
Comprehensive Wiring Diagram
DJI Air Unit Connection
Receiver Specific Notices
7. Configuration
Wireless Tuning via SpeedyBee App
The SpeedyBee F405 V5 FC supports full-featured Bluetooth tuning. Connect to the SpeedyBee App on your smartphone to flash FC firmware, tune parameters, and configure your quad anytime, anywhere. Ensure MSP is enabled with Baud rate 115200 on UART4 for Bluetooth connection.
Motor Direction Change
You can change motor directions wirelessly using the SpeedyBee app. Connect to the app, navigate to 'Motors' and then 'Motor Direction Settings' to adjust as needed.
LED Strip Control
The FC supports 4 sets of LED pads. When the FC is powered on and in standby mode, the BOOT button can be used to control the LED strips connected to LED1-LED4 connectors on the bottom side. Short-press the BOOT button to cycle through different LED displaying modes. Long-press the BOOT button to switch between SpeedyBee-LED mode and BF-LED mode. In BF-LED mode, all LED1-LED4 strips will be controlled by Betaflight firmware.
8. Operating Instructions
Once installed and configured, your SpeedyBee F405 V5 Stack is ready for flight. Ensure your radio transmitter is properly bound and configured with your receiver. Always perform pre-flight checks, including propeller security, battery level, and control surface response, before each flight.
- Power On: Connect your LiPo battery to the XT60 connector. The FC and ESC will initialize.
- Arming: Arm your drone using your configured arming switch on your radio transmitter.
- Flight: Operate your drone according to standard FPV flight practices.
- Disarming: Disarm your drone using your configured disarming switch after landing.
9. Troubleshooting
Flight Controller Not Responding / Bricked
If your FC becomes unresponsive or appears 'bricked', you can force it into DFU (Device Firmware Upgrade) mode for firmware flashing:
- Press and hold the BOOT button on the FC.
- While holding the BOOT button, connect the FC to your computer via the USB Type-C cable.
- The FC should now be in DFU mode, allowing you to flash new firmware using Betaflight Configurator.
SD Card Compatibility Issues
Betaflight firmware requires the microSD card to be either Standard (SDSC) or High Capacity (SDHC) and under 32GB. Extended Capacity cards (SDXC) are not supported. The microSD card MUST be formatted with the FAT16 or FAT32 (recommended) format. While you can use any SD card less than 32GB, Betaflight can only recognize a maximum of 4GB. It is recommended to use a 3rd party formatting tool and choose 'Overwrite format' when formatting your card.
10. Specifications
SpeedyBee F405 V5 30.5×30.5mm Model Aircraft Flight Controller
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| MCU | STM32F405 |
| IMU (Gyro) | ICM42688P |
| USB Port Type | New Type-C interface |
| Barometer | SPA06-003 |
| OSD Chip | AT7456E |
| Full-featured Bluetooth Tuning | Supported. Connect via SpeedyBee App for FC firmware flashing and parameter tuning. |
| Wireless FC Firmware Upgrade | Supported |
| DJI Air Unit Connection | Supports 6-pin direct plug-in or solder connection |
| Blackbox | Supported, built-in 16MB storage chip |
| Input Voltage | 3-6S LiPo battery |
| Independent 5V BEC Output | 9 groups (4× +5V pads on front, 1× BZ+ buzzer pad, and 4× +5V pads at the corners for external LEDs). Total output current: 1.5A. |
| Independent 9V BEC Output | 2 groups (1x 9V pad on front, 1x 9V output in a connector on the back). Total output current: 3A. Supports PINIO remote on/off control. |
| MCU & Gyro Power | Independent LDO |
| 3.3V Output | 1 group (1× 3.3V pad on front) |
| 4.5V Output | 3 groups (3× 4.5V pads on front). Can power receiver and GPS when FC is powered via USB. Max output current: 1A. |
| ESC Signal | M1-M4 pads and 10-pin connector on the back |
| Servo Signal | S5-S6 pads on the front |
| ESC Telemetry Input | Supported (UART5) |
| Betaflight Camera Tuning Pad | Supported (CC pad on front) |
| I2C | Supported (GPS connector + pads) |
| UART | UART1 (Bluetooth); UART2 (front pads for receiver); UART3 (DJI VTX pads + rear SH1.0-6-pin); UART4 (GPS pads + front SH1.0-6-pin); UART5 (TLM); UART6 (receiver pads + rear SH1.0-4-pin) |
| ST LED Pads | Supported, on front G/5V/LED pads; controlled by FC firmware |
| Meteor LED Strip Pads | Supported. Switch between SB-LED and ST-LED modes via BOOT button or App. In SB-LED mode, controlled by ESP32 Bluetooth chip. |
| Buzzer Pads | Supported |
| BOOT Button | [A] Hold BOOT while powering on to force DFU mode for flashing. [B] When powered and in standby, short-press cycles LED display modes; long-press switches SB-LED/ST-LED. In ST-LED mode, LED1–LED4 are controlled by FC firmware. |
| RSSI Pads | Supported |
| SmartPort | Not supported |
| Supported FC Firmware | Betaflight, INAV, Ardupilot |
| Firmware Target Name | SPEEDYBEEF405V5 |
| Factory Firmware Version | Betaflight 4.5.2 |
| Configurator Version | Betaflight 10.10.0 |
| Mounting Holes | 30.5 × 30.5mm (Ø4mm), side opening |
| Dimensions | 39mm (L) × 39mm (W) × 4.9mm (H) |
| Weight | 8.1g |
SpeedyBee OX32 55A 30.5×30.5 4-in-1 ESC
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Default Firmware | OX32 |
| Continuous Current | 55A (per channel) / 220A (4-in-1) |
| Maximum Current | 70A (per channel) / 280A (4-in-1) |
| TVS Protective Diode | Yes (built-in) |
| External Capacitor | 1000µF Solid Capacitor (included in package) |
| ESC/Motor Protocol | DSHOT300/600 |
| Input Voltage | 3-6S LiPo |
| Power Output | VBAT |
| Current Sensor | Supported |
| ESC Telemetry | Supported |
| Mounting Holes | 30.5 × 30.5mm (Ø4mm), side opening |
| Dimensions | 40.9mm (L) × 44.9mm (W) × 8.0mm (H) (incl. heatsink) |
| Weight | 19.1g |
| Current Meter Note | Supported (Scale=27, Offset=-2644) |
11. User Tips
- Wireless Convenience: Take full advantage of the SpeedyBee app's wireless tuning capabilities. This eliminates the need for a laptop in the field for minor adjustments or quick checks.
- Capacitor is Key: Always install the included low ESR capacitor. It's crucial for protecting your flight controller from voltage spikes, especially during aggressive maneuvers or power-intensive operations.
- SD Card Formatting: If you experience issues with Blackbox logging, double-check your microSD card's format (FAT16/FAT32) and ensure it's an SDSC or SDHC type under 32GB. Reformatting with an 'Overwrite format' option can often resolve problems.
- Receiver Wiring: Pay close attention to the specific wiring instructions for SBUS and ELRS receivers, especially when integrating with DJI Air Units, to avoid recognition issues.
12. Warranty and Support
For warranty claims, technical support, or further assistance, please contact your retailer or the manufacturer directly. Keep your proof of purchase for any warranty-related inquiries. Always refer to the official SpeedyBee website for the latest firmware updates and support resources.
