User guide

TruTrak Flight System 5 DigiFlight II Series Auto Pilot Installation Manual
December 2009 8300-008 Rev D
DigiFlight II DigiFlight IIVS
The autopilot programmer unit needs to be out of the panel, so
that it can be gently
tipped fore-and aft to simulate nose-up
and nose-down flight. If the autopilot is tipped in a nose-down
maneuver, the control should move in such a way as to
attempt to move the control yoke or stick back, in an effort to
raise the nose of the aircraft. Similarly, a nose-up tipping of
the autopilot should push the yoke or stick forward in an
effort to lower the nose of the aircraft.
Using the ALT button will toggle the altitude hold on and off.
When the altitude hold is off, the pitch servo is electrically
disconnected and will not move in response to disturbances.
With the cursor in the SVS field, rotate the knob clockwise
until several hundred feet per minute is showing in the field.
At this point, the pitch servo should be moving the control
yoke or stick back, in an effort to raise the nose of the aircraft.
Similarly, rotating the knob counter-clockwise to select a
negative vertical speed (descent) the pitch servo should be
moving the controls in such a way as to lower the nose of the
aircraft.
Using MODE and ALT buttons will toggle the cursor back
and forth between the SVS field and the SEL (selected
heading) field. The cursor will revert back to the selected
heading field after a few seconds of inactivity.
If the direction of movement of the pitch servo is incorrect, install or remove the jumper between pins 1 and 2 of the autopilot
connector and repeat the setup to verify correct results up to this point.
The roll servo should also be responding at this time, moving the controls in such a way as to turn the aircraft from the current
heading (shown as a 3-digit number after the word HDG in the upper-left of the display) to the selected
heading (shown as a 3-
digit number after the word SEL in the lower left of the display). The initial value of the selected heading is the current heading
of the aircraft at the moment of engagement, but the knob can be used to modify the selected heading. When the heading
shown as SEL agrees with the heading of the aircraft shown in the top line as HDG, the roll servo should stop or run only very
slowly. If the knob is rotated clockwise, to a selected heading right
of the current heading, the control yoke or stick should
move in such a way as to roll the aircraft to the right. Conversely, a selected heading to the left
of the current heading will
move the controls in the opposite direction to attempt a roll towards the left. If servo direction is not correct, the wires going to
pins 4 and 5 of the roll servo (pins 20 and 21 on the main connector) must be reversed to achieve the correct response. If a
servo does not move at all, double-check the LAT TORQUE or VRT TORQUE setting as appropriate. If a servo jitters but
does not actually rotate, check the wiring on the four servo drive lines to that servo for continuity and correctness. If the servo
does not seem to have any torque, check the relevant torque control line for continuity and correctness.
At this time, check that each servo arm or capstan is properly operating the controls. For servo installations using an arm, check
that as the controls go from limit to limit the arm of the servo remains in the operating range of the servo (a maximum of 100
degrees total rotation) and that when the controls are centered, the connecting pushrod is approximately perpendicular to the
arm of the servo. For capstan systems, insure that the cabling remains at proper tension and is properly secured as the servo
moves the controls from stop to stop. Insure that each servo remains secure in its mounting and does not flex its mounting
bracket as it drives the control to its stops. For installations using an arm, insure that as the servo moves the control towards the
end of control travel it does not cause the main control’s torque tube or push-pull tube to flex in any way that could cause
control system lockup at the extremes of servo travel. Insure that any “lost motion” in the linkages is eliminated or minimized,
in order to maximize the performance of the autopilot. Lost motion (dead zone) will result in wandering or slow “hunting”
behavior in flight.
Summary:
ENGAGE AUTOPILOT WITH FLIGHT CONTROL CENTERED,
ROTATE KNOB CLOCKWISE. FLIGHT CONTROL MUST MOVE
TOWARD RIGHT. ROTATE KNOB COUNTER CLOCKWISE,
FLIGHT CONTROL MUST MOVE BACK TOWARD LEFT.
DII VS: TAP “ALT” BUTTON TO MOVE CURSER TO “ALT” SIDE.
ROTATE KNOB CLOCKWISE. FLIGHT CONTROL MUST MOVE
TOWARD BACK. ROTATE KNOB COUNTER CLOCKWISE,
FLIGHT CONTROL MUST MOVE TOWARD FRONT.