User Manual

ManualsBrandsCastle Creations ManualsHobbyPixie-7 Sub-Micro Motor Control

Pixie-7P

™

Castle Creations

™

Programmable Sub Micro Digital Motor Control

Pixie-7P

™

User Guide Page 1 of 5 Rev 4-dated 09/07/04

This document, Pixie-7P software, and Pixie-7P PCB layout are all Copyright  2001 by Patrick del Castillo and

Castle Creations™.

1.0 Features of the Pixie-7P:

• Microprocessor controlled

• Low Resistance (.007 ohms)

• High rate (2800 Hz) switching (PWM)

• Up to 7 Amps continuous current (with proper air flow)

• High Output (1.2amp) Battery Eliminator Circuit (BEC)

provides power to receiver and servos - eliminates separate

receiver battery

• Three to six cells with three micro servos

• Up to eight cells with two micro servos

• Eighteen cells MAX with BEC disabled

• Programmable LV cutoff (none, 3.5v, 4.7v*, 6.0v or 8.0v)

• Programmable motor cutoff – hard with reset* or soft

• Programmable throttle range – auto-calibrating* or fixed

end points

• Safe “power on” arming program ensures motor will not

accidentally turn on

• Low torque “soft start” prevents damage to fragile

gearboxes

• Auto shut down when signal is lost or radio interference

becomes severe

• Rugged surface mount construction

* Initial factory settings

2.0 Wiring Your Pixie-7P:

Tools required:

Wire cutters Wire strippers (optional)

Soldering Iron (25-40 watts - Do not use a soldering “gun”)

Parts required:

Solder (rosin core “electronic” solder - do not use acid core “plumbers” solder)

Battery connector

2.1 Adding the Battery Connector

The battery connector is attached to the side of the controller with black and red wires. Cut the wires to

the length you require on the battery side. Strip off of the wire insulation to expose just enough wire to

attach the battery connector. (Note: if you do not have a pair of wire strippers, you can use a modeling

knife to carefully cut through the insulation around the wire. Then the insulation should easily pull off

the wire.) Attach the battery connector to the wires ENSURING THAT THE POLARITY (red wire to

battery red wire, black wire to battery black wire) IS CORRECT, following the instructions for the battery

connector.

2.2 Attaching the Motor Leads

The motor is connected to the side of the controller with red and white wires. Cut the wires to the length

you require on the motor side. Strip the wire insulation to expose just enough wire to solder the wires to

the motor terminals. (Note: If you do not have a pair of wire strippers, you can use a modeling knife to

carefully cut through the insulation around the wire. Then the insulation should easily pull off the wire).

There should be a ‘+’ symbol or a RED DOT on the end of your motor which indicates which terminal

must be connected to the RED wire. Connect the other terminal to the white wire. A fuse (5-10 amps)

may be connected inline in either the white or red power wire. A fuse is recommended for the safest

operation. DO NOT PLACE A FUSE IN THE CIRCUIT BETWEEN THE BATTERY AND

SPEED CONTROL. YOU COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE MODEL.

Align the wires carefully and solder to the motor terminals. Ensure that all connections (battery and

motor) are correctly polarized.

IMPORTANT NOTE: YOU MUST BE SURE THAT ALL CONNECTIONS ARE CORRECT WHEN

CONNECTING THE SPEED CONTROL. Incorrectly connecting the speed control could cause

permanent damage to the controller.

Battery Connector Pixie-7P Fuse* Motor

Fig 1: System power wiring diagram * Suggested 5-10 Amp (if installed)

2.3 Connecting the Receiver

AirTronics systems require a minor change to the wiring in the receiver connector supplied with the

speed controller. Reverse the red (power) and brown (ground) wires in the connector plug so that the

plug is orange/brown/red. Use a knife blade to lift the retention tabs on the connector plug to remove the

red and brown wires. Insert the wires back into the plug and press down the retention tab.

Connect the receiver lead (the three color wires with a connector on the end) to the throttle channel on

your receiver (usually channel 3). Do not connect a battery to the receiver, as the Pixie-7P will supply

power to the receiver and servos through the receiver connector. If you are using more than eight cells,

you will need to use a separate receiver battery. See the section 4.0 (under the heading BEC) for

instructions on disabling the BEC to use a separate receiver battery.

ALWAYS PERFORM A RANGE CHECK BEFORE FLYING WITH ANY NEW SPEED

CONTROLLER! PERFORM YOUR RANGE CHECK AT FULL THROTTLE, HALF

THROTTLE AND NO THROTTLE.

Pixie-7P

←Batt Motor→

Summary of content (5 pages)

PAGE 1
Pixie-7P™ Castle Creations™ By Programmable Sub Micro Digital Motor Control Features of the Pixie-7P: 1.0 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 2.2 Microprocessor controlled Low Resistance (.007 ohms) High rate (2800 Hz) switching (PWM) Up to 7 Amps continuous current (with proper air flow) High Output (1.
PAGE 2
Pixie-7P™ By Castle Creations™ Programmable Sub Micro Digital Motor Control 3.0 position (all the way down) for at least one and a half seconds. Until the controller is armed, it will not provide any power to the motor, regardless of where the throttle stick on your transmitter is positioned. Before flying your model, be sure to “blip” the throttle to ensure that the controller is armed. Flying with Your Pixie-7P: Initialization sequence: 1.
PAGE 3
Pixie-7P™ By Castle Creations™ Programmable Sub Micro Digital Motor Control 6.0 Contact/Warranty Information 8.1 Your Pixie-7P is warranted for 1 year from date of purchase to be free from manufacturing and component defects. This warranty does not cover abuse, neglect, or damage due to misuse, incorrect wiring, over voltage, or overloading.
PAGE 4
Pixie-7P™ By Castle Creations™ Programmable Sub Micro Digital Motor Control 9.0 Programming the Pixie-7P Important Note: When answering a question, you will need to move the transmitter stick to the yes (full “On” throttle) position or the no (full “Off” throttle) position and keep it there for about 5 seconds. When the Pixie-7P has accepted your answer, it will flash the LED rapidly.
PAGE 5
Pixie-7P™ By Castle Creations™ Programmable Sub Micro Digital Motor Control 9.2 Programming Setting 2 –Cutoff Type Cutoff describes the way the Pixie-7P handles a low voltage situation. There are two options for cutoff type: Option 1: Hard cutoff with restart* Option 2: Soft cutoff A Hard Cutoff (the default value) will turn off the motor when a low-voltage condition occurs. Moving the throttle stick to the lowest (off) position, and then throttling back up will restart the motor.