Hi-Tec HG3XA User manual

3-Axis Stabilization System for Fixed Wing Model Aircraft
Operation Manual

2
Table of Contents
Product Layout
This set contains:
·1gyrosystem ·4connectingcables ·3adhesivepads
Introduction 2
Safety Instructions 2
Product Layout 2
HG3XA Overview 2
LED Display Overview 3
Specications 3
Features 3
Before Use 4
Installation and Assembly 4
Cabling 4
Model Selection 5
Gyro Gain Adjustment 5
3 Switch Setting 5
Servo Middle Adjustment, Neutral Rudder Position5
Gyro Direction Adjustment 6
Warranty and Service 7
Introduction
Safety Instructions
CongratulationsonyournewHG3XAgyrosystemforairplane
models!Thismanualcontainsimportantinformationthat
willhelpyouachievethebestuserperformanceandcontrol
possible.Pleasereadtheinstructionscontainedherecarefully
and in full before attempting to operate this system.
AswithanyHitecproduct,usersareaskedtotakespecial
caretoobservethefollowingreminderswhileoperatingorin
contact with their HG3XA.
· LimittheuseofthisHG3XAtoitsintendedpurposeand
according to the guidelines set forth in this manual.
· Accuratelyfollowanyinstallationandset-upguidelines.
· Confirmcorrectpolaritywhenconnectingtheservosand
signal inputs.
· Ensurethatallconnectedremotecontrolcomponentsare
approvedforthesamevoltageasyourHG3XA.Excessive
voltagemaycausedamagetothegyroorresultinfurther
destruction of your model.
· Ensure sufficient power input.
· NOTE:Useofagyrosysteminvolvesconstantcontrol
commandsbeingsenttotheservo.Thismorefrequent
communicationmayleadtoincreasedwearoftheservos.
Pleasecheckthatyourservosareoperatingcorrectlyona
regular basis.
GyroGain:Theeffortbythegyrotocompensateforachange
inmovementalonganaxis.HighGain=moreeffortwhereas
low gain = less effort.
YawAxis:Thenoseoftheplanemovesleftandright(Rudder)
along the yaw axis.
RollAxis: Onewing movesupwhile othermovesdown
(Ailerons) along the roll axis.
Pitch Axis: The nose of the plane moves up and down
(Elevator) along the pitch axis.
Standard Mode: When the gyro is compensating for
unwantedchangesinyaw,rollandpitch.i.e.ifthenoseofthe
planestarts topitch up,the gyroinputs downelevator.
HeadingHoldMode:Maintainsthelastyaw,rollandpitch
attitudesoftheairplane.i.e.iftheairplaneisflownintoknife
edgeandHeadingHoldison,itwillmaintainknifeedge.
Denitions

21
14
15
3
4
5
67
8
910
11 12 13
3
Status LED display Description
Initialization Theblue andredLEDsash rapidlyfor three
seconds after switching on the gyro.
Initialized.Donotmovetheaircraftuntilinitialization
has been completed!
Blue LED ashes after initialization. Initialization successful.
Red LED ashes rapidly after initialization. Initializationfailed.Undenedmodeltype.Checkthe
adjustments J 1-2-3.
Operation Blue LED illuminated permanently. Standard mode. Ready for ight.
Red LED illuminated permanently. Heading hold mode. Ready for ight.
Both LEDs are o. Gyro is deactivated. Ready for ight.
11
23
1 1
2 3
Features
LED Display Overview
Standard Aircraft Aircraft with V-tail Deltawingorflyingwing
Specications
132
YourHG3XAmakesit possibletotogglebetweenthree
differentflightmodeswhileyourmodelisairborne,“Off”
mode,“Standard”mode and “Heading Hold” mode.
Thefollowingthree modeltypes aresupportedforuse
with this system:
UsersoftheHG3XAalsoenjoyspecialtyoptimizationfor3D
flight,independentgyroadjustmentandgyroreversingfor
eachchannel,andasmall,lightweightdesignsuitablefor
smaller aircraft.
1Aileronservo
2Elevatorservo
3Rudderservo
Voltage range 5 - 6V DC
PWM output 50Hz, or 20ms
PWM signal 1520±500µs
Full scale range 970~2070µs
Gyro sample rate 1KHz
Operating temperature -40°C to 85°C
Dimensions 47 x 33 x 14 mm
Weight 11 g
111
HG3XA Overview
Receiver “IN” area Model type selection (jumper)
1Flight mode changeover switch 8J1 – V-tail
2Aileron 9J2–Deltawingoryingwing
3Elevator 10 J3 – Standard aircraft model
4Rudder
Servo “OUT” area Gyro gain adjustment
5Aileron 11 Potentiometer rudder
6Elevator 12 Potentiometer elevator
7Rudder 13 Potentiometer aileron
LED display
14 Red LED
15 Blue LED

4
HG3XA Adhesive
pads
Aircraft
Installation and Assembly
Cabling
Usedouble-sidedadhesivetapetomountthegyrosystemin
theaircraft.MakesuretheHG3XAisfirmlyattachedtothe
airplaneatyourmodel’scenterofgravityandensurethat:
1. Thelongsideofthegyroisparalleltotherollaxisofthe
aircraft (in the direction of forward flight); and
2. Thatthegyroislevelhorizontallywiththerollaxisofthe
aircraft.
Fig. 2:
Fig. 1:
Direction
of flight
HG3XA Adhesive
pads
Aircraft
PriortooperatingyourHG3XAforthefirsttime,pleasereview
theinstructionsandremindersbelowandconfirmthatany
rules for use have been met.
· Readthismanualindetailandinitsentirety.Toset-up
yourHG3XA,followtheinstructionsgivenstep-by-stepas
described.
· Resetthemiddlepositionofthegyrosystemafterinstalling
thegyro,replacingyourremotecontrolsystem,orre-
adjustingthetrimming(sub-trim)ofthetransmitter.To
dothis,togglethe3-wayswitchonyourremotecontrol
systemtwicebetweenStandardandHeadingHoldmode
foronesecond.TheblueLEDwillflashrapidlyandoncethe
adjustmenthasbeensaved,theblueLEDwillflashagain.
Note:FailuretoresetwillengageHeadingHoldmode
automatically.
· TheHG3XAcontainsmixingfunctionsforflyingwingand
deltawingaircraftaswellasaircraftwithaV-tail.Ifone
ofthesemixingfunctions(aircrafttypes)isselectedatthe
gyro,neitheraV-tailnoradeltawingmixercanbeactivated
on the transmitter.
· TheblueandredLEDsflashrapidlyforthreeseconds
afterswitchingonthegyrosystem.Donotmoveyour
modelduringthisperiod.Waituntilinitializationhasbeen
completed.
OnceyouhaveinstalledtheHG3XA,connectthechannels
oftheaileron,elevator,andrudderfromthereceiverandthe
3-positionswitchfunctiontotheupperrowofpinsmarked
“IN.”Next,connecttheservostothelowerrowofpinsmarked
“OUT.” For pin assignment, refer to Chapter 2.
Thethrottleservoortheelectronicspeedcontrol
isusuallyconnectedtothethrottlechannelofthe
receiver.NotethatthereisnoconnectiontotheHG3XA.
i
Ifyourplanehas2aileronservosyouwillconnectonly
onetotheHG3XAandtoconnectthesecondservo
directlytoyourreceiverasnormal.Youcanstillsecure
apotentialailerondierentiation.Thegyroeect
around the pitch axis is usually still sucient.
i
Before Use

5
Model Selection
Gyro Gain Adjustment
3-Switch Setting
100% 0%
TheHG3XA usesa 3-bitjumper(J 1-2-3) formodel type
selection.AdapttheadjustmentsJ1,J2,andJ3asspeciedin
thetableaccordingtoyourtypeofaircraft.“0”signiesopen
and “1” denotes closed for the selected aircraft.
Model type Jumper setting Servo connection
J1 J2 J3 OUT-1 OUT-2 OUT-3
Gyro o 0 0 0 - - -
Standard aircraft 0 0 1 Aileron servo Elevator servo Rudder servo
Deltawingoryingwing 010
Left wing servo Right wing servo Rudder servo
Aircraft with a V-tail 1 0 0 Aileron servo Left tail servo
Right tail servo
TheHG3XAprovidesthreetrimmingpotentiometerstoadjust
thegyrogainoftheaileron,theelevator,andtherudder
separately.Useasmallatheadscrewdrivertocompletethese
changes.
Increasethegyrogainbyturningthepotentiometerclockwise.
Decrease the gyro gain by turning the potentiometer
counterclockwise.Theidealvolumesettingisdeterminedby
severalfactors,includingthesizeofthefuselage,theweight
ofyourmodel,oreventhepowerallocationusedandthesize
of the rudder surfaces.
Westronglysuggestadjustingthegaintoalowervolume
fortheinitialight.Theadjustmentisimmediatelyactive–
withouttheneedtorestart.Finelyadjustthepotentiometerfor
subsequent ights as desired.
Whenmakingadjustments,alwaysdisassemblethe
propellerordisconnectthedrivemotorsfromtheight
control system.
!
Denea3-wayswitchatyourtransmitter.Thechannelfor
the3-wayswitchfromthereceiverisconnectedtopin1:
ightmodechangeoverswitch“IN.”Usethis3-wayswitchto
changetheightmodewhiletheaircraftisairborne.Refertoyour
transmittermanualforassigningagyrotoa3-positionswitch.
Ifthe“ChannelSwitch”slothasnotbeenassigned,thedefault
Standardmodewillengage.Thisisnotrecommended,asit
isthenimpossibletoswitchothegyroandanymalfunction
mightcauseyourmodeltocrash-particularlyifthegyrointhe
model moves from its dened position.
Whenusinga2-wayswitch,youcantogglebetween
twoofthethreeavailablemodes.Thesemodesdier
according to the type of transmitter.
i
When operating the HG3XA, the current flight mode is
indicated by illuminated LEDs:
· Standard Mode: Blue LED illuminated
· Heading Hold Mode: Red LED illuminated
· Gyro Off (system deactivated): No LED illuminated
ServoMiddleAdjustment,NeutralRudderPosition
Centeralltheruddersbyadjustingthelengthoftheball
linkagerodorsettingitcorrectlyusingthetrimkeys(orsub-
trim)ofthetransmitter.Youwillneedtore-adjustthemiddle
positionofthegyrosystem.Togglethe3-wayswitchtwice
foronesecondbetweenStandardandHeadingHoldmodes.

6
Ifthegyrorespondsincorrectly,thedirectionmustbechanged.
See the reversing instructions that follow:
1
Gyro Direction Adjustment
1.Liftthenoseofthemodel(pitchaxis).Theelevator
should move down.
2.Lift thetail ofthemodel(pitchaxis). Theelevator
should move up.
3.Rotatethemodelleftaroundtherollaxis(leftwing
down,rightwingup).Iftheleftaileronservoisattachedto
theGyro,theleftaileronmovesdown.Iftherightaileron
servoisattachedtotheGyro,therightaileronmovesup.
4.Rotatethemodelrightaroundtherollaxis(leftwing
up,rightwingdown).).Iftheleftaileronservoisattached
totheGyro,theleftaileronmovesup.Iftherightaileron
servoisattachedtotheGyro,therightaileronmoves
down.
3
2
4
5.Rotatethenoseofthemodeltotheright(yawaxis).
The rudder should move left.
6.Rotatethenoseofthemodeltotheleft(yawaxis).The
rudder should move right.
5 6
Makesurethegyrosystemisfacingthedirectionofforwardightpriortotakeooryoumaylosecontrolofyourairborne
model, causing it to crash in worst case scenarios. If necessary, deactivate the gyro.
!
TodetermineiftheGyroDirectioniscorrect,switchonthe
transmitterandModel(rememberingtoremovethepropeller
rst) and put the Gyro in Standard Mode.
Note:Right/leftcorrespondtotheviewfromstandingbehind
the model.
Test the following scenarios in standard mode:

7
1. Remove the jumper from the HG3XA.
2. Switch on the transmitter and then your model.
3. If the blue and red LED flash once, the HG3XA is in reverse.
4. Reverse Setting Menu:
a. TheLEDs start toflashin arotary patternafterone
second.Thecolorindicatesthecurrentgyrosystem
setting.Bluerepresents“Standard”andred“Reverse.”
b.
Aileron:theblueorredLEDflashesonceeverysecond
foratotaloffivetimes.WhiletheLEDisflashing,you
canchangethedirectionoftheaileronfunctionby
movingtheleft-handruddersticktotheleftorright.
Holdtherudderstickintheendpositionuntilthecolor
oftheLEDchangesandthesettinghasbeensaved.
c. Elevator:theblueorredLEDflashestwiceeverysecond
foratotaloffivetimes.WhiletheLEDisflashing,you
canchangethedirectionoftheelevatorbymoving
theleft-handruddersticktotheleftorright.Holdthe
rudderstickintheendpositionuntilthecolorofthe
LED changes and the setting has been saved.
d. Rudder:theblueorredLEDflashesthreetimesevery
secondforatotaloffivetimes.WhiletheLEDisflashing,
youcanchangethedirectionoftherudderbymoving
theleft-handruddersticktotheleftorright.Holdthe
rudderstickintheendpositionuntilthecolorofthe
LED changes and the setting has been saved.
5. ChangethecontroldirectionsoftheHG3XA:
a. Tochangethecontroldirectionsofthegyro,
movetheleft-handruddersticktotheleft
orright.WhiletheLEDsareflashing,you
cantogglebetweenthe“Standard”and
“Reverse” settings.
b. TheLEDscontinuetoflashuntilyourelease
the rudder stick.
6. Exit Set-up mode
YoucanexittheSet-upmodeatanytimeby
switchingothedevice.Remembertore-insert
thejumperinthecorrectslotformodeltype
selection.
Reversing Instructions

8
Warranty and Service
TWO YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY
ForaperiodoftwoyearsfromthedateofpurchaseHITECRCD
USA,INC.shallREPAIRORREPLACE,atouroption,defective
equipmentcoveredbythiswarranty,otherwisethepurchaser
and/orconsumerisresponsibleforanychargesfortherepair
orreplacementoftheproduct.Thiswarrantydoesnotcover
cosmeticdamagesanddamagesduetoactsofGod,accident,
misuse,abuse,negligence,improperinstallation,ordamages
causedbyalterationsbyunauthorizedpersonsorentities.This
warrantyonlyappliestotheoriginalpurchaserofthisproduct
andforproductspurchasedandusedintheUnitedStatesof
America,CanadaandMexico.Plasticcasesarenotcovered
by this warranty.
THIS WARRANTY IS IN LIEU OF ANY AND ALL OTHER
WARRANTIES,WHETHERFORMERCHANTABILITYORFITNESS
FORAPARTICULARPURPOSEANDWHETHEREXPRESSOR
IMPLIED.REPAIRORREPLACEMENTASPROVIDEDUNDER
THISWARRANTYISTHEEXCLUSIVEREMEDY.HITECRCD
USA,INC.SHALLNOTBELIABLEFORANYINCIDENTALOR
CONSEQUENTIALDAMAGESFORBREACHOFANYEXPRESS
OR IMPLIED WARRANTY RELATINGTO THIS PRODUCT,
EXCEPTTOTHEEXTENTPROHIBITEDBYAPPLICABLELAW.
SERVICE AND REPAIR INFORMATION
To have your Hitec charger serviced:
1.VisittheHitecwebsiteatwww.hitecrcd.comanddownload
the service request form (under Support section).
2.Fillouttheservicerequestformcompletelyandincludea
copyofyouroriginalreceiptshowingthepurchasedate.
3.Packageyourproductinitsoriginalpackagingoruse
asuspension-typepackaging(foampeanutsorcrumpled
newspaper).HitecRCDshallnotberesponsibleforgoods
damaged in transit.
4.Shipprepaid(CODorpostage-duereturnswillnotbe
accepted)viaatraceablecommoncourier(UPS,insured
parcel post, FedEx, etc.) to:
Hitec RCD USA, Inc., Customer Service Center, 12115
Paine St., Poway CA 92064

Phone: (858) 748 - 8440
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.hitecrcd.com