IGNITER LED REQUIREMENTS

IGNITER LED REQUIREMENTS

The Igniter Class has strict LED requirements, and the rules have changed. First, make sure that the LEDs you're using are allowed by going through the "Legal Parts" page. Use this page to learn how to place them.

The Igniter Class has strict LED requirements, and the rules have changed. First, make sure that the LEDs you're using are allowed by going through the "Legal Parts" page. Use this page to learn how to place them.

BASIC RULES

  • LEDs must be attached to either the frame or the battery connector in order to be considered viable. If using a pigtail battery, then the LEDs may only be on the frame to be considered viable.

  • You must have at least one viable LED in each of the 4 quadrants (more information below).

  • The light emitted from at least one viable LED must be visible from all possible drone orientations.

  • Do your best to place your LEDs in a way that will look good!

Follow these rules and you should be good. Everything from here on out is mostly just clarification!

Follow these rules and you should be good. Everything from here on out is mostly just clarification!

QUADRANTS EXPLAINED

Your drone is broken up into 4 quadrants. Start by choosing which quadrant layout you prefer. Then make sure you have at least 1 viable LED in each of those quadrants, fixed to either the frame or battery connector.

+ Quadrants

✕ Quadrants

RED ZONES

You may have LEDs in the red zones of your preferred quadrant layout. However, these LEDs won't count towards your LED requirement. You must have at least one viable LED in each of the quadrants to be considered legal.

There is one exception: If you have a viable LED in 2 adjacent red zones, you may opt to not have an LED in the quadrant (green zone) inbetween them (see Theoretical Build #2 in LED Layout Case Studies).

A NOTE ON PIGTAIL BATTERIES

Batteries that have a "pigtail" (a.k.a. wires) are used by some pilots and they are completely legal in the Igniter class. However, if you're using a battery like this, the LEDs on your build must be attached to your frame in order to be considered viable. If you'd like to use something like the Blackhorse LED PCB on your battery connector, and you'd like it to count towards your LED requirement, make sure you're not using a battery with a pigtail.

FINE PRINT RULES

  • It is recommended, but not strictly necessary, that your LEDs face and shine outward from the drone,

  • Most forms of LED, including COB strips, can be counted towards your LED requirement, so long as they are sufficiently bright and follow all other rules.

  • LEDs hanging outside of your frame could get tangled in another pilot's propellers, and are therefore not legal.

  • LEDs suspended by wires but confined to your canopy or within the dimension of your frame are legal, however, they won't count towards your LED requirement.

  • The more symmetry with your layout, the better. C'mon, don't be that guy.

  • This has yet to be an issue, but don't make your LEDs excessively bright. It's hilarious until it's your camera getting blown out. You'd have to probably go way out of your way to make this a real issue, but I gotta write it down cause somebody is gonna do it at some point.

EXAMPLE LED LAYOUTS

EXAMPLE LED LAYOUTS

These are examples of LED layouts that are legal due to having LEDs in all 4 quadrants of the pilot's preferred layout.

Please note that the red zones in these photos are approximations for the sake of clarity. Use the exact diagrams for an accurate representation of red zones and quadrants.

This Igniter uses 1206 LEDs in the "+" style quadrants

Build by Derek "FlyingSharks" Sharkey

This Igniter uses COB LEDs in the "+" style quadrants

Build by Zaine "Bikeguy" Stapleton

This Igniter uses 1206 LEDs in the "✕" style quadrants

Build by Kasey "OutsetFPV" Gray

This Igniter uses a single COB strip for all quadrants

Build by Ramon "PapoFPV" Natal

LED LAYOUT CASE STUDIES

LED LAYOUT CASE STUDIES

Here are some interesting LED layouts with a discussion on whether or not they are legal. Hopefully these more complicated examples and their rulings will help you determine if your layout will be legal.

Here are some interesting LED layouts with a discussion on whether or not they are legal. Hopefully these more complicated examples and their rulings will help you determine if your layout will be legal.

PROPSOFF BUILD

DISCUSSION ON LEGALITY

The LEDs are mounted on the battery tray here, which is pushing the limits. Typically speaking, LEDs mounted on your battery tray would not count towards your LED requirement. However, in this case, they are right on the corners of the battery tray, which is right on the edge of the red zone. It's also worth noting that the light emitted from them is bright enough to illuminate the entire ducts, which is extra bonus points. If you want to use a layout like this, be very careful to make sure you're building it like PropsOff as there's not much room for deviation here. Make sure your LEDs are not in the red zone and facing outward!

LEGAL ✓

DUBZSQUARED BUILD #1

DISCUSSION ON LEGALITY

This build goes HARD on LEDs, which is something I really appreciate. It has viable LEDs in the form of COB strips mounted to the carbon fiber base of the Fractal75 frame. These LEDs do cleanly land in all 4 quadrants of the "+" style quadrants. However, these LEDs are mounted facing downward on the build, and so there's very little visibility from the top side. It's therefore determined that the LEDs on this build are not visible from all angles. As much as it pains me to say it, that makes this layout illegal. It's the fact that the LEDs are not facing outward from the drone, and are instead facing down, that stops this drone from being legal.

ILLEGAL ✖

DUBZSQUARED BUILD #2

DISCUSSION ON LEGALITY

Determined to make a build with LEDs mounted to the carbon base of the Fractal75, DubzSquared tried a new layout, this time with his LEDs shining upward. Although they still aren't facing outward, which is the easiest way to get a legal layout, his LED's are now able to hit and be reflected off the ducts. With bright LEDs and white/transparent ducts, this can light up the frame (much like how PropsOff has his build above) making the light from the LEDs visible from below and all other orientations, solving the issue of his last build. However, in this case, DubzSquared is using dimmer UV LEDs, so he covered his ducts using UV reactive markers to make sure that they would glow well. This layout fixes the issue he had with his last build and gives visibility from all orientations. Love the creativity, Dubz!

LEGAL ✓

CUSTOMFPV BUILD

DISCUSSION ON LEGALITY

This creative and interesting LED layout from CustomFPV, the Champion of the 2023/2024 season, was legal under that season's LED rules. This layout does not have LEDs placed in all 4 quadrants of either legal layout, however, and is therefore no longer legal under the updated rules.

ILLEGAL ✖

BLACKHOLEZ BUILD

DISCUSSION ON LEGALITY

This build very clearly has LEDs in all 4 quadrants of the "+" style layout. The issue that makes this build questionable is, since the COB strips are inside of the ducts, if you were to look at this build head on from the front, you might not be able to see the LEDs directly, making them not visible from all angles. In this case, however, the COBs only have to shine through one layer of plastic (unlike "Theoretical Build #1) to be visible from the front, and are facing the correct direction to do so. The length of the COB strip is also enough to "wrap" the motor in light, causing reflections from the motor that will also be visible from the front. Overall, you can see how covered in light his ducts, motors, and props are, which means that the light from these LEDs are sufficiently visible from all angles. This is a very similar situation to Dubzsuared's Build #2, and is legal for the same reason. If you were to use single LEDs in each quadrant instead of a COB strip, it might not be enough light to make this layout legal.

LEGAL ✓

THEORETICAL BUILD #1

DISCUSSION ON LEGALITY

This build might be the next step towards legality for fans of CustomFPV's COB layout. This layout seeks to fix the issue with CustomFPV's layout by putting LEDs in every quadrant. And it arguably does get an LED in every quadrant (really riding the line though...). Either way, if you look at this build directly from the front (arrow facing you), there won't be any LEDs (or a significant enough amount of their light) visible. The front LEDs are not far enough forward to make this layout legal. Prioritize making your build beautiful in the air and this won't be an issue you run into!

ILLEGAL ✖

THEORETICAL BUILD #2

DISCUSSION ON LEGALITY

The layout of this build most closely aligns with the "✕" style quadrant layout, but it is missing an LED in the front quadrant. However, since this build has LEDs in the red zones surrounding the front quadrant, it is not necessary for there to be an LED in the front quadrant. The COB strips do need to be far enough forward to be visible from the front, however, or this build has the same issue as Theoretical Build #1. This layout would most easily be achieved with 2 COB strips and a Blackhorse LED PCB for your battery connector and might just be the most minimal layout currently legal.

LEGAL ✓

If you have any questions regarding legal LED layouts, reach out to Isaac Pettit on Facebook or FPV Yeti on Discord.

If you have any questions regarding legal LED layouts, reach out to Isaac Pettit on Facebook or FPV Yeti on Discord.