ElMod 3to Operating and maintenance manual

ElMod 3to
Detailed installation instructions and user manual
Before starting the installation always carefully read and comply with all these instructions.
We congratulate you on your purchase of the ElMod 3to. The
innovative full-option-solution for military trucks of the 3 tons category.
With the ElMod 3to you enhance your model by prototypical
movement sequences, e tensive lighting options combined with
simple installation. The free available ElMod App enables the
customization of the electronics' behavior on the individual conditions
of your vehicle. Therefore more than 100 different settings may be
taken conveniently on a Windows® or Apple® computer. By simple
upgradeability, ongoing improvements and software developments
you have acquired a future oriented product whereby you will have
fun for a long time and which meets the highest demands of an
ambitious model builder.
Functions
The ElMod 3to provides the following key features:
•Drive
•a 10A (20A peak current) short circuit and overload protected driver for a DC motor for the truck's engine
•ElMod physics engine 2.0: a realistic driving e perience of commanding a truck by simulation of mass inertia. Acceleration,
deceleration, ma imum speed, gear shift and many other properties are simulated
•all parameters of the physics engine are adjustable with the ElMod App
•steering: a common servo is directly connected with the receiver
•Lighting
•three lighting channels: front lights, combined rear lights with brake light, blackout light
•the lighting may be remotely switched on and off (front lights and rear lights on, blackout light on, all lights off)
•the brightness of each light channel can be individually adjusted by the ElMod App
•for each light one or two LEDs may be connected without further effort, no e ternal resistors or other parts are necessary.
•the light connection is short circuit protected. The LEDs can't be damaged by false polarity
•color-coded cables with polarity reversal protection are included
•Sounds
•integrated, polyphone sound unit plays several different sounds simultanously
•various sound events: several motor start sounds with distinction between cold start and warm start, several engine off sounds.
Engine sounds for the movement with simulated gear change. Optional collateral driving noises such as chassis squeal and optional
surrounding noises. Up to three sounds that can be triggered anytime by the user, for e ample a horn
•seperate volume control of every sound type and e tensive configuration of the sound parameters with the ElMod App
•all provided samplesets are on an included and ready-to-use microSD card.
•integrated 1W audio amplifier for the connection of a 8 Ohm loudspeaker
•control with a common RC gear (radio and receiver, 40 MHz or 2.4 GHz) with at least two channels (acceleration and steering). An
optional third channel can be used for light control and for triggering user defined sounds. The receiver doesn't need an additional battery.
•operation with NiCd-, NiMh- or LiPo-Batteries with a voltage between 7.2 V and 8.4 V. Under voltage shut down for protection against
deep discharge.
•compact dimensions (67 mm 40 mm; 2,6" 1,6") permit installation in small-sized spaces
Requirements
The following requirements must be met:
•a common 40 MHz or 2.4 GHz RC-gear with at least two channels. To be able to use all functions a three channels radio and receiver are
required.
•an appropriate high current-compliant battery (6- or 7-cells NiCd, NiMh or a 2S LiPo)
•a suitable counter part for the battery connector with at least 0,5 mm² gauge
•a steering servo (ma . current 0,9 A)
•interference suppressed DC motor for the main drive
•Any type and color for the vehicle's lighting
•an 8 Ohm speaker with at least 1 W for the sound rendering
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Scope of delivery
Before starting the installation, check the scope of delivery for completeness and lack of damage.
•ElMod 3to PCB
•volume controller incl. cable
•four cables with plugs for the lighting and loudspeaker connection
•microSD-card (plugged-in on the PCB)
•USB Dongle for Windows® or Apple® computer
Functional Units
The ElMod 3to is composed of two function units:
•the central unit on the right side of the PCB dedicated for the processing of the receiver signals and the motor-/light control
•the sound unit on the left side of the PCB responsible for the sound generation
Both units hold their own CPU and software. For this reason a few control elements on the PCB are in duplicate, as for e ample, the
connections for the USB Dongle to adjust the parameters or to update the software.
Connectors and operating elements
1 battery cable (red/black for positive and negative line)
2 connecting wires for the drive motor (red/yellow)
3 receiver ports (two channels + BEC)
4 central unit's port for the USB Dongle
5 connection block for lighting
6 plugs for loudspeaker and the volume controller
7 sound unit's connector for the USB Dongle
S1 test push button for the central unit S2 test push button for the sound unit
L1 status LED central unit L2 status LED sound unit
M microSD card
Notice: All connectors are labeled at the bottom of the PCB
Connection
In this paragraph the installation is described step by step. It is essential that each step is accomplished correctly and completely. Wrong or
improper connection may cause malfunction or damage and/or destruction of the electronics, the installed components or the model. Please
contact your dealer for support if you have further questions regarding the installation.
Connection of the power supply
•Solder the loose ends of the power cable to a battery plug which is suitable for your
battery.
•To prevent short-circuits ensure the using of the provided shrink tube for insulation (see
figure)
•Connect the red cable with the plus terminal and the black cable with the minus
terminal of the plug. Incorrect connection may cause the destruction of the electronics!
•Keep the cable length as short as possible in order to prevent interferences!
The electronics allow batteries with ma 8.4V (ma . 7-cells NiMh/NiCd) The following
battery packs can be used:
attery type Cells Voltage undervoltage shut down
NiMh/NiCd 6 7,2V 6V
NiMh/NiCd 7 8,4V 7V
LiPo 2S 7,4V 6,4V
The factory setting is 2S-LiPo battery with 7,4 V. A different battery type may be chosen with the ElMod App. If the actual voltage drops below
the listed value, the undervoltage shut down will be activated. The treshold value depends on the set battery type and is listed in the table
above.
The undervoltage shut down causes deactivation of all functions of the ElMod 3to. In this case the front light and the status LED L1 blink
once every 5 seconds.
Using any other battery type as listed here proper function is not guaranteed. By using batteries with higher voltage the warranty is void!
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Connection of the drive motor
As drive a DC brush motor with a nominal voltage of 7.2V is required. Brushless motors cannot be used with the ElMod 3to.
The motor ma imum current consumption is limited to 20A peak. The allowed permanent load is 10A. The
motor driver is protected against short circuit and overload.
•Solder the yellow and black motor line to the motor
•If necessary, use the provided shrink tube to isolate the endings to prevent short circuits.
•Keep the cable length as short as possible in order to prevent interferences! For additional interference
protection the motor cables can be twisted.
•IMPORTANT! The motor must be interference-suppressed. This is accomplished with the use of three
capacitors as shown in the figure. Many motors are already equipped with proper interference-suppression.
Please check for this condition by asking the producer or distributor.
For checking the correct wiring of the motor proceed as follows:
•Make sure that the driving shaft is free to move and the vehicle cannot start uncontrolledly
•Connect the fully charged battery with the electronics and connect the power supply in accordance with the section „connection of power
supply“
•Please wait for 3 - 4 sec, then press and hold the push button S1.
•The motor starts rotating. If the driving shaft rotates forward, the motor is connected correctly. If the driving shaft rotates backwards, the
motor wiring must be swapped.
Lighting
The ElMod 3to is able to control three lighting channels (see image)
•connector 1 frontlight
•connector 2 for combined rear lights with brakelight
•connector 3 for camo light
For each light one or two LEDs in any color and type may be connected. The light connections are short
circuit protected and limits the current at 30 – 40 mA. The brightness of each light channel can be
individually adjusted by the ElMod App.
•Front lighting: the LEDs are connected with light channel 1 by one of the provided cable. By using two
LEDs they must be connected in parallel as shown on the image.
•Combined rear lights with brakelight: the LEDs are connected with light channel 2 by one of the
provided cable. By using two red LEDs they must be connected in parallel.
•Camo light: the LED is connected with light channel three by on of the provided cable.
The LEDs are protected against wrong polarity. If the LED is wrong connected it won't light up but it
cannot be damaged. To light up the LED, the anode must be connected with the red cable/wire/line and
the cathode with the black cable/wire/line (see image). If you use wired LEDs you can recognize the
cathode by the shorter wire, the larger electrode or the flattening of the body. If you use SMD-LEDs you
can recognize the cathode by a little dot/spot inside or on the bottom side of the LED.
Installation and Connection (sound unit)
•Connect the provided volume control with the connector 7.
•Connect the loudspeaker's cable with the output of a suitable 8 Ohm loudspeaker with a power of at
least 1 W to the connector 7. The loudspeaker's polarity (+/-) makes no difference at this. We
recommend the Visaton® BF32 which may be installed in a small bo between the servo and the
radiator.
For checking the correct function of the sound unit proceed as follows:
•Disconnect all connections to the ElMod 3to e cept the battery, the volume control and the
loudspeaker.
•Ensure that a microSD card with suitable contents is inserted
•Switch on the voltage and wait until the status LED of the sound unit (L2) lights up permanently.
Should this not work within ma . 10 sec. see section „status LED“ for advice.
•Press and hold the test button for sound unit S2. A sound is played and the status LED L2 starts flickering. After repressing the S2 key
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another sound is played.
•If you cannot hear anything, please check if the volume control is installed and is not set to a low position.
Choosing the sample sets
The provided microSD card contains several samplesets for different vehicle types (tanks, half-tracks, ships and trucks). At delivery condition
the correct sampleset for the ElMod 3to is active. For another set, insert the microSD in your computer (use a suitable card reader or card
adapter) and start the file SoundManager.e e (for Microsoft® Windows®) or SoundManager.app (for MacOS®) from the root folder of the card.
Follow the screen instructions.
The card contains several samplesets created by third parties! We don't guarantee contence or quality of these samplesets.
RC receiver and servo connection
The ElMod 3to may be used either with two or three channel radio, whereby one channel
is dedicated to the steering servo. The number of connected channels is determined
automatically. For the channels' identification and the correct function all mi ers in the
radio must be deactivated, the servo deflection must be to 100% and the trimming must
be centered. Please contact your dealer for support, if you have problems with the
identification and the operation of your radio with the ElMod 3to. In the majority of cases
the reason is detected and fi ed easily by interpreting the informations delivered by the
ElMod App. The optional channel 3 must be available as knob/slider or as a three way
switch (top-center-bottom). Otherwise not all possible functions may be used. The ElMod
3to supplies the receiver and the connected steering servo with power by a servoplug (5V
BEC, plug with the red/black wire), so that no receiver battery is necessary. The wire for
the signal of channel 1 and 3 must be plugged in on the receiver so that the cable on the
plug is connected with the signal bearing receiver's pin (most often the upper or inner pin
on the receiver, see image) The black wire of the red/black power supply must be connec-
ted with the ground pin (most often the lowest or furthest pin at the power supply connec-
tion of the receiver). If your receiver's connections are not protected against polarity read
the manual of the receiver to find out the pin assignment. Wrong connected plugs won't
damage the components but the receiver won't work. You can see the correct receiver's
connection at the image.
Depending on the used RC it may be necessary to customize the channels' order or rotate the servo travel. On that point please read the
manual of your radio.
Motor control (channel 1)
The starter and gas control is made by channel 1 (brown wire). After power up the engine doesn't start and the vehicle cannot be moved. To
start the engine the throttle control must be moved on top all the way to the stop and after 2-3 sec. released (see image). The starting
sequence will be activated and after playing the ignition sound the vehicle is operable.
•for moving the vehicle forward, the throttle control must be moved up. Subsequently the vehicle moves gently.
•is the throttle control released or is moved to the center, the vehicle slows down (engine brake)
•is the throttle control moved in the opposite direction, the vehicle brakes (actively braking)
•is the throttle control moved in the opposite direction all the way down, the emergency brake will be initiated.
•if the vehicle comes to a stop and the throttle control is not released to the neutral position, it will stand still for a moment and move in the
opposite direction
•all behavior parameters, such as ma imum speed to front and back, strength of acceleration and deceleration, hold time during directional
change and many more may be adjusted by the ElMod App
After a completed period of driving the engine may be stopped. Therefore the vehicle must stand still for at least three seconds. After that the
throttle control must must be put to the bottom quickly and back to the center. This procedure may not last longer the one second. Is the
motor started again after just a short time follows a shorter start up sequence (warm start). The time of cooling down the engine may also be
adjusted by the ElMod App .
Steering servo (channel 2)
On channel 2 of the receiver the steering servo is connected. A suitable servo with a current demand of ma . 0.9 A and an operating voltage
of 4.8 – 6 V can be used.
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Lighting function and additional sounds (channel 3)
The control of the lighting and the additional sounds is made by
channel 3 (orange wire). The activation of the lighting control lead to a
cyclical change of the light condition as shown on the image.
Status LEDs
The status LEDs 1 and 2 on the PCB show the current operating status of the ElMod 3to. L1 provides information about the battery status
(undervoltage) and the connection status to the receiver. L2 informs about the sound output or errors with the identification or reading of the
microSD card. A permanent lighting of the status LEDs indicates the operating status of the ElMod 3to.
The most important flashing patterns of the central unit's status LED (L1):
on: central unit is ready to operate
LED goes out briefly and goes on again immediately: stick put out of the center
LED blinks quickly: receiver is being scanned, no connection to the receiver or signal invalid1
LED blinks slowly (shortly on/longer out): communication with sound unit faulty2
double blinking: battery error of the CPU (undervoltage or short battery disconnection)3
short blinking every 5 seconds: cut off/shut down due to undervoltage. The battery must be charged or is damaged
single triple blinking: the center unit is in update mode ready to receive a new firmware
The most important flashing patterns of the sound unit's status LED (L2):
on: sound unit is ready to operate. The LED flickers when sounds are being played
LED blinks rapidly: microSD card faulty, not inserted, no sampleset found or sampleset faulty
LED blinking: no connection to the central unit. Please contact for support.
single triple blinking: the center unit is in update mode ready to receive a new firmware
1 Please check if your RC and receiver work. Check the correct function with a servo or the ElMod App.
2 If this error doesn't disappear after a restart, please contact your dealer for support.
3 Turn off the electronics for 10 seconds. If the error still e ists please ensure that the Configurator is not connected and restart again
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Start up
•ensure that all wires are connected correctly
•turn on the RC radio
•install a fully charged battery und turn on the vehicle
•the status LEDs L1 and L2 of the center unit and the sound unit blink shortly after turning on. After ma . 10 seconds both LEDs must
remain on.
•if the LEDs don't light permanently after 10 seconds an error has occurred. Identify the error source with the blinking patterns of the LEDs
(see section "satus LEDs") and fi it. Check the wiring and the batteries.
•start the engine and hit the road!
Mechanical Installation
The PCB fits under the vehicle's motor hood. With a standard servo the ElMod 3to may be installed on or beside the servo. Is a miniservo for
the steering installed the ElMod 3to may fit between the servo and the back of the dash board. By using a common servo with a height of
ma . 37 mm, the ElMod 3to may fit onto the servo. At transverse mounting (first image) the PCB snaps into place, so that it possibly may
remain without further fi ture. There will be enough space to reach all connections and to install all wires/cables easily.
At all alternative installations (images 2 - 4) the fi ture is done by 2mm screws through the available screw holes or with a piece of self-
adhesive foam rubber. Make sure that no wires, solder joints or other components are in contact with the metal surfaces. A damage resulting
of incorrect installation lead to losing of warranty claim.
Installation of the ElMod App
With the help of the free ElMod App it is possible to customize the electronics to your needs. The software is freely available for Microsoft®
Windows® operating systems, MacOS® and Android®. It allows a wide range of parameters to be set and information about the operating
status to be read out. Furthermore firmware updates can be transferred to the ElMod 3to module (not yet supported by Android®). Please
note that when installing the software it may be necessary to ensure that any anti-virus software or other security settings do not prevent
access to the USB hardware or block the e ecution of the program.
Under Microsoft® Windows® it is necessary to install a driver for the USB dongle. This driver is included in the installation package.
Alternatively, the driver can be downloaded directly from the manufacturer. The link can be found on our website.
Under MacOS® the driver is already integrated in the system. If you did not download the ElMod App for MacOS® in the Apple® App Store®, it
may be necessary to e plicitly allow the e ecution of the ElMod App.
To do this, start "Security & Privacy" in the System Preferences, then click on "Allow apps downloaded from: App Store and identified
developers". After the first e ecution of the ElMod App, return to the "Security & Privacy" settings and click on "allow" right to the listed ElMod
App. This only needs to be done once.
Firmware update
For updating the center unit's firmware the USB dongle must be connected with connector 4. To run the firmware update turn off the PCB's
power supply. Press and hold the key S1. Now turn on the power supply again. The triple blinking of the status LED L1 indicates the
operation status of the sound unit to receive the update. Please start the ElMod App software and press the red button "update"
For updating the sound unit's firmware the USB dongle must be connected with connector 7. To run the firmware update turn off the PCB's
power supply. Press and hold the key S2. Now turn on the power supply again. The triple blinking of the status LED L2 indicates the
operation status of the sound unit to receive the update. Please start the ElMod App software and press the red button "update"
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Configuration and tweaking
For configuration of the 3to unit the ElMod App must be connected with connector 4. Turn on the PCB's power supply and start the ElMod
App software suite. The ElMod 3to Truck will be found within just a few seconds and the current settings will be listed. For further information
about every parameter move the cursor to the parameter's name and wait 1 or 2 seconds. A more detailed te t appears.
For configuration of the sound unit the ElMod App must be attached to connector 7. Turn on the PCB's power supply and start the ElMod App
software. The ElMod 3to Truck will be found within just a few seconds and the current settings will be listed. For further information about
every parameter move the cursor to the parameter's name and wait 1 or 2 seconds. A more detailed te t appears.
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
General
- Damage caused by non-observance of these operating instructions will void the warranty! We assume no liability for
consequential damages!
- We accept no liability for damage to property or personal injury caused by improper handling or non-compliance with the safety
instructions! In such cases all warranty claims are void.
- For safety and approval reasons (CE), unauthorized modification or conversion of the device is not permitted. Only use original
spare parts or equivalent spare parts for repairs.
- Make sure that all electrical connections and connections have been made correctly and in accordance with these operating
instructions.
- If the ambient climate changes suddenly (e.g. from a cold room to a warm room), moisture can condense on the unit and
possibly destroy it. Do not operate the unit until it has been acclimatized for about 2 hours.
- Do not operate the device in the vicinity of easily inflammable objects, liquids or gases, danger of e plosion!
- Do not e pose the device to high temperatures, strong vibrations, high humidity or chemically aggressive environments.
- Operate the device only in a dry environment (below 80 % humidity, non-condensing) and at normal room temperature.
- Do not operate the unit unattended.
- If you have any questions about the operation, safety or connection of the device that are not e plained in the operating
instructions, please contact your dealer's support or another specialist.
Electrical hazards
- Supply the device only with low voltage as specified in the technical data. Only use current sources approved for model
making, such as NiMh rechargeable batteries. Operation with voltages higher than 12V is not permitted. There is a fire hazard!
- Observe the limit values for currents as specified in the technical data. E ceeding the permissible values leads to overloading
and destruction of the device and carries the risk of fire or electric shock.
- Installation and connection must only be carried out when the device is disconnected from the power supply.
- Ensure that all connecting cables have a sufficient cross-section.
Heat hazards
- Electronic components on the product can become very hot during operation.
- During installation, ensure that there is sufficient air circulation around the device to prevent overheating due to heat
accumulation.
- During installation, also ensure that there is sufficient distance to heat-sensitive and flammable objects (e.g. wooden and plastic
surfaces, cable insulation).
- Touching the device may burn the skin.
Other hazards
Children can cause all the risks described above due to carelessness or a lack of sense of responsibility. To avoid danger to life
and limb, children under the age of 14 must not install our products. Small children can swallow or inhale the sometimes very
small components with pointed ends. Danger to life! Therefore, do not allow the components to fall into the hands of small
children. In schools, educational institutions, hobby and self-help workshops, the assembly, installation and operation of
components must be supervised by trained personnel. In industrial facilities, the accident prevention regulations of the
Association of Industrial Employers' Liability Insurance Associations for electrical systems and equipment must be observed.
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
The product meets the requirements of EC Directive 89/336/EEC on Electromagnetic Compatibility and bears the CE marking for
this purpose.
MANUFACTURER'S NOTE
According to DIN VDE 0869, the person who makes an assembly ready for operation by e tension or housing installation is
regarded as the manufacturer and is obliged to supply all accompanying documents when passing on the product and also to
state his name and address.
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WARRANTY CONDITIONS
This product is guaranteed for 2 years. The guarantee covers the free remedy of defects which can be proven to be
attributable to material used by us which is not faultless or to manufacturing faults. We guarantee that the components will
function in accordance with their characteristic values when unassembled and that the technical data of the circuit will be
complied with when installed in accordance with the instructions and with the prescribed commissioning and operating
instructions. Further claims are e cluded. We assume no liability beyond the legal regulations of German law for damages or
consequential damages in connection with this product. We reserve the right to repair, repair, replace or refund the purchase
price.
In the following cases the warranty claim e pires: In case of damage due to non-observance of the instructions and the
connection diagram, in case of modification and repair attempts of the circuit, in case of unauthorized modification of the circuit,
in case of improper removal of components not provided for in the construction, free wiring of components such as switches,
potentiometers, sockets etc., in the event of destruction of conductor tracks and solder lugs, incorrect assembly or incorrect
polarity of the module / components and the resulting consequential damage, damage due to overloading of the module,
connection to an incorrect voltage or type of current, damage due to intervention by third parties, persons, incorrect operation or
damage due to negligent treatment or misuse, damage due to contact with components before electrostatic discharge of the
hands.
Nicht geeignet für Kinder unter 14 Jahren. Not suitable for Children under 14 years.
Ne convient pas pour des enfants de moins de 14 ans. Niet geschikt voor kinderen onder de 14 jaar.
ElMod Thomas Kusch
Seebuckweg 9
D-78054 Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany
ElMod Thomas Kusch
[email protected] http://www.elmod.eu
© ElMod - 20-01-02