ffelectronics Sidus F1Q Service manual

Sidus F1
Sidus F1Sidus F1
Sidus F1Q
QQ
Q
Quick Reference Manual
Version 1.0 – March 2010 - © M.U. 2007/2010

Sidus F1Q – free flight electronic timer
2/8
The Sidus F1Q
Sidus F1QSidus F1Q
Sidus F1Q e-timer has all the features to control an F1Q class model. It drives the
electric motor through a standard ESC and can handle up to 3 separate servos. It is
possible to use only one servo to step a disc that releases levers at fixed angles, or
directly connect the servos to the moving surfaces (rudder, tail plane, wing). Power is
drawn from the ESC (BEC type). The timer is controlled by only one button and has on-
board beeper and led light lamp. It is fully programmable through a wireless handheld
programmer and has built-in radio DT and radio motor cutoff.
Getting started
Refer to the pictures below to recognize the system components.
•Locate the plugs, the IR sensor, the red led, the buzzer and the RDT antenna socket
on the Timer control board 
•Follow the diagram below and connect the Timer control board to the ESC, to the
micro servo of the 6 function mechanical assembly (1 servo version) or to the servos (3
servos version) and to the start switch
•Switch on the Programmer . The buzzer beeps and the display becomes active. The
switch is accessible by removing the slide cover on the bottom of the case
IR sensor & red led
RDT antenn
a
socket

P
ROGRAMMER

T
IMER
C
ONTROL
B
OARD
start switch
B
u er
ESC (top)
Servo1 (bottom)

L
I
P
O
C
HARGER
IR sensor
aperture
LCD display
RDT tx antenna
keyboard
9
-
12Vdc
Servo2 (top)
Servo3 (bottom)
+
-
S
+
-
S
3 Servos version
OPTION
RDT antenna
plug

Sidus F1Q – free flight electronic timer
3/8
Timer
Duration and resolution of the functions
The motor stop and each of the 7 available functions (FUNC1 to FUNC7) have a
programmable time. The range for the motor stop and FUNC1 to FUNC6 is 0.1 to 99.9
sec. The range for FUNC7 (DT) is 1 to 720 sec.
Automatic switch off of the Timer
The Timer automatically goes to “sleep” to save power if inactive for about 120 seconds.
While sleeping, the state of the Timer and all the internal data are retained. The Timer
wakes up by pressing the start switch.
Using the Timer
The red led, the buzzer and the position of the disc/servos indicate the current state of the
Timer. Starting from a discharged Timer (led ON, all arms released or servos at end of
their travel) the functions are:
Arming the timer:just press the start switch to have all the servos moving to the start
position
Launching the model:press the start switch and hold it down. The led remains ON and
the buzzer emits 3 beeps, then the motor is started. As soon as the motor reaches full
speed (about 3 seconds) the red led starts blinking fast and the buzzer beeps: from this
moment the model can be dropped and the timing will start at button release
Canceling the start:the motor can be stopped by releasing the start switch before the led
starts blinking. In this case the timer remains armed and ready for a new start
Terminating the timing:after the start switch has been released, the timing sequence in
progress can be terminated (stepped until DT) by pressing the start switch again
Motor Safety Start Lock: after completing a timing sequence and reaching DT, a
new motor start is disabled. It is re-enabled only through the Programmer or by
disconnecting and reconnecting the battery. The behavior complies with the F1Q
class rules and is intended to prevent inadvertent motor start, for example during retrieval.
Terminating the timing:after the start switch has been released, the timing sequence in
progress can be terminated (stepped until DT) by pressing the start switch again

Sidus F1Q – free flight electronic timer
4/8
Programmer
The Programmer is needed to change the timing sequence and dethermalize the model. It
also allows to accurately adjust the servo(s) positioning and change other settings.
The possible options are displayed at the corners of a rectangle: a choice is selected by
pressing the key that corresponds to the same corner in the rectangle made up of the 4
keys named T1, T2, T3, T4 (see drawing).
A long (press and hold) or short (press and release) key pressure may be required
according to the following rule: choices displayed in upper case (e.g. READ,
UNLOCK,..) require a long pressure, choices displayed in lower case (e.g. Exit,
Servo,..) require a short pressure.
Every time the Programmer has to communicate with the Timer, make sure the
Timer is ON (if sleeping, just wake it up by shortly pressing the start switch) and
keep the Timer and the Programmer closer than 20 cm. with the IR sensors
mutually visible. In case of communication failure, the message “ ERROR ” is displayed.
Timing visualization
For each function the Programmer displays the programmed activation time of each
function:
Motor stop time and DT time are displayed explicitly:
All the displayed time values are absolute, i.e. referred to time zero.
The motor stop time is freely programmable between start and DT. All the other
functions are strictly sequential (FUNC1 > FUNC2 >,.., DT) and their activation time
is programmable in a range between the activation time of the previous and
following functions. Example: if FUNC1 = 11.8s and FUNC3 = 13.6s then FUNC2 can
range from 11.9s to 13.5s
Automatic switch off of the Programmer
The Programmer automatically goes to “sleep” to save power if inactive for about 120
seconds and wakes up by pressing any key. If the internal LiPo battery needs to be
recharged the message “
Battery low! ” is displayed.
READ
READREAD
READ R
R R
RDT
DTDT
DT
UNLOCK
UNLOCKUNLOCK
UNLOCK SET
SETSET
SET
FUNC4 t=16.8s
FUNC4 t=16.8sFUNC4 t=16.8s
FUNC4 t=16.8s
Exit
ExitExit
Exit
function nr.
FUNC4 is activated 16.8s after start
MOTOR
MOTOR MOTOR
MOTOR t=14.9s
t=14.9s t=14.9s
t=14.9s
Exit
ExitExit
Exit
DT
DT DT
DT t=180s
t=180s t=180s
t=180s
Exit
ExitExit
Exit

Sidus F1Q – free flight electronic timer
5/8
Basic Timer Programming
The motor is started at timer start and has its own stop time.
Each function has its own activation time and is associated to a pattern of servo positions.
During timing the servo position pattern associated to a function will be kept until the
activation of the next function. By "programming" we distinguish two different activities:
timing sequence modification and servo position pattern modification:
Timing sequence modification
Before modifying the timing sequence it must be read from the Timer
•Press T1 (READ) until the screen for FUNC1 is displayed. Note: If the motor stop time
is shorter than FUNC1, it will be displayed first
1. Freely scroll the display with T3/T4 to show the screens related to the other functions,
motor stop time and DT time. Reach the function to be modified
2. Press T1 pressed until a ‘w’ (write) symbol appears close to the activation time
3. Press T3/T4 to increase/decrease the time of one step or keep T3/T4 pressed to have
faster increments/decrements until reaching the wished value
4. Press T2 (Exit) once and repeat the steps above to modify the time of another
function, or press T2 (Exit) again to exit
5. If one or more time values are modified, they must be written onto the Timer for
permanent storing. Double check that the Timer is still ON, then keep T2 (WRITE)
pressed until the following screen is displayed
After writing the Programmer returns to the main menu.
If the writing fails, it may be repeated with T2 (WRITE) or aborted with T4 (Exit).
To abort modifications without updating the Timer just make the writing fail (write
timing by pointing the Programmer away of the Timer) then choose T4 (Exit).
Unlocking the motor start
For safety reasons and F1Q class rules compliance, after completing a timing sequence
and reaching DT a new motor start is locked. To unlock it through the Programmer (make
sure the Timer in ON and IR sensors are in reciprocal view) press T2 (UNLOCK) pressed
until the following screen is displayed:
Writing
WritingWriting
Writing…
FUNC1
FUNC1FUNC1
FUNC1 t=
t= t=
t=09
0909
09. s
. s. s
. s
Exit
ExitExit
Exit
Unlocking
UnlockingUnlocking
Unlocking…

Sidus F1Q – free flight electronic timer
6/8
servo 1 servo 2
servo 3
Position
Servo position pattern modification
This setting is intended to modify the pattern of servo(s) position(s) associated to each
function.
1. Have the Timer and Programmer close to each other with the IR sensors
mutually visible and make sure that the Timer is ON (red LED ON)
2. Press T4 (SET) (for over 3 seconds) until the SET menu is entered
3. Press and release T4 (Servos) to enter the Servo menu:
4. Press T3 or T4 to move through the patterns associated to each position (START,
POS1, POS2, POS3, POS4, POS5, POS6, DT). The servo(s) move accordingly and
the current setting is displayed (positions range from 000 to 130) for each of them.
Reach the wished position (e.g. POS2)
5. Press and release T1 to have an ‘*’ (asterisk) appearing in turn close to one of the
displayed positions. Reach the position to be changed and keep T1 pressed until the ‘*’
turns into ‘w’ (write).
Press and release now T3 or T4 to adjust the servo position for the current step: the servo
moves accordingly. The new positions are permanently stored.
START 000 000
START 000 000START 000 000
START 000 000
000
000 000
000
POS2 *000 000
POS2 *000 000POS2 *000 000
POS2 *000 000
000
000 000
000
Buzz
BuzzBuzz
Buzz
E
EE
Exit
xit xit
xit Servo
Servo Servo
Servos
ss
s
POS2 w000 000
POS2 w000 000POS2 w000 000
POS2 w000 000
000
000 000
000
POS2 000 0
POS2 000 0POS2 000 0
POS2 000 000
0000
00
000
000 000
000
SET menu
Servo menu

Sidus F1Q – free flight electronic timer
7/8
Radio motor cutoff and radio DT
Keep T3 (RDT) pressed (for over 1 sec) while the timing is in progress to instantly cut the
motor off (RMC) and/or dethermalize the model (RDT). The following screen is displayed:
The effect of the command depends on the function that is currently being
executed:
•If the motor is running, pressing T3 causes the motor cutoff and the timer jumps to the
function following the programmed motor stop. Pressing T3 again the timer jumps to
DT function and dethermalizes the model. The programmed DT time is not affected by
RDT or RMC
•If the motor is not running, pressing T3 causes the timer jumping to DT function and
dethermalizes the model
Advanced Settings
The advanced settings are accessible under the SET menu. Keep T4 (SET)
pressed (for over 3 seconds) to enter the SET menu:
Enable or Disable the Programmer buzzer
1. From the Set menu press T3 (Buzz) to enter the Buzz menu:
2. Press T3 (On) to enable the buzzer. Press T4 (Off) to disable the buzzer
3. When finished press T2 (Exit) to go back to the SET menu and press again T2 (Exit)
to end modifications
Buzz
BuzzBuzz
Buzz
Exit
ExitExit
Exit Servo
ServoServo
Servos
ss
s
Buzz = * On
Buzz = * OnBuzz = * On
Buzz = * On
Exit
ExitExit
Exit Off
Off Off
Off
R
RR
RDT
DTDT
DT/R
/R/R
/RMC
MCMC
MC
Transmitting
TransmittingTransmitting
Transmitting…

Sidus F1Q – free flight electronic timer
8/8
Charging the Programmer battery
A micro LiPo battery field Charger is supplied with the system to charge the Programmer
LiPo battery. The red / black cable must be connected to any 9-12 Vdc power source (for
example to the car lighter socket). Full recharge of a battery will take about 2 hours.
Use only the battery charger supplied with the system. Discard a LiPo battery if it
shows bulges or scratches. Never leave a LiPo battery unattended while charging.
Charge must take place in a safe place and always far from flammable materials.
Status of the charger leds
•9-12Vdc power connected, no LiPo battery connected: Green ON, Red ON
•Charge in progress: Red ON, Green OFF
•Charge complete: Red OFF, Green ON
Connect the charger 3-pin plug to the Programmer recharge
socket, accessible by removing the slide cover on the bottom of the
case. The battery remains connected to the Programmer.
Recommendations
Control board
Place the control board with the optics (IR sensor and led) close to the fuselage
side to have them clearly visible through a small transparent plastic window.
The control board must not touch carbon surfaces that get hot under direct sun
exposure.
Battery and recharge connector
The Programmer battery ensures about 200 DT’s. Do not recharge the battery too
frequently. If you are not going to fly the model in a few weeks it is a good idea to
switch off the Programmer.
RDT antenna
Ideally the RDT antenna (the thin green twisted steel wire supplied) must be fastened
vertically to the top of the fuselage. It must be electrically insulated from carbon or
aluminum parts through a plastic spacer. Solder the pre-tinned end of the green wire
directly or through a wire to the RDT antenna plug (see picture at page 2) supplied and
connect this plug to the RDT antenna socket placed on the Timer control board . Failure
to follow the above will result in a poor range of the whole RDT system.
recharge socket