I recently acquired an OpenPPG X4 paramotor from someone, but it has been stored in a garage for several years with exposure to moisture. As expected, it now requires some repairs and refurbishment before it can be safely used.
I’m reaching out to the community for guidance on a few starting points:
• CAD - Stl files / technical drawings
I have access to a 3D printer and would like to know if there are any available CAD- STL files or community resources for parts, frame components, compatible with the X4.
• Battery / packs issue
The unit has 4 battery packs (7 cells each). On 2 of these packs, I can identify two dead cells. I’m looking for advice on:
– Whether replacement cells or full pack replacement
• BMS (Battery Management System)
I can see a BMS unit installed. I’m trying to understand:
– How to properly connect or interface with it
– Which app/software is used to monitor or configure it
– Whether Bluetooth connectivity is standard or requires a specific module/app
Any documentation, links, shared experience, or guidance would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for the offer, I appreciate it. At the moment I already have an X4 that I’m working on restoring, so my focus is on repairing and learning this unit. If anything changes I’ll keep it in mind.
Should be a fun project!
The X4 never shipped with a BMS. The batteries were balance charged independently, then connected to voltage monitoring to determine the rough charge percentage while in flight. It looks like there were a few modifications to that battery setup so not sure how much I can help.
Batteries have also evolved quite a bit since those X4s were produced so for safety, reliability, and flight time its not going to be worth trying to repair the old packs IMO.
I’ve already started disassembling and testing the packs. Interestingly, 2 of the packs (Bonka) appear to be in very good condition, which aligns with what I’ve been seeing physically. The unit only had around 3 flights before being stored for years.
My current plan is to test fly the system using the two healthy packs first, assuming everything checks out under load. In parallel, I’ve been trying to find matching Bonka packs, but it seems they’re no longer available.
If sourcing identical packs isn’t realistic, I’ll likely move toward either rebuilding or designing a new pack configuration that matches the system requirements.
If you happen to have any guidance on compatible modern cell types or a configuration that would suit the X4 setup safely, I’d be interested to hear your thoughts.
