NOVAK PIT WIZARD User manual

PIT WIZARD
instruction manual

2 PIT WIZARD INSTRUCTION MANUAL
CONTENTS
Introduction............................................................. 3
What’s Included ....................................................... 3
About The Pit Wizard .............................................. 4
Adjustable Parameters........................................ 5-12
Hardware Connection ........................................... 13
Precautions ............................................................ 14
Acquiring Default Parameters............................... 14
Monitoring Transmitter Trigger............................ 15
Uploading Parameters From Cyclone .............. 16-17
Editing Parameters ........................................... 18-20
Downloading Parameters To Cyclone.............. 21-22
Saving Parameters................................................. 23
Reading Parameters .............................................. 24
Trouble-Shooting Guide........................................ 25
Product Warranty .................................................. 25
Service Procedures ................................................ 26
Service Return Sheet ............................................. 27
Profile Log Sheets............................................. 28-30
Index ................................................................. 31-32
Sample Profile Data............................................... 33

3PIT WIZARD INSTRUCTION MANUAL
INTRODUCTION
When designing an electronic speed control, the Novak engineers
are put to the task of setting design parameters such as how wide
the Deadband should be, what percentage of Full Drive should be
applied with the first pulse of transmitter information, or what
BrakeandDriveFrequenciestouse.Inthepast,ourengineerswould
determine the best possible compromise for these parameters
based on different vehicles and driving styles. While these fixed
designs were perfect for some applications and some drivers, they
were not right for others. It became clear that a speed control was
needed that allowed the driver to modify several of the design
parameters to fit their differing applications and needs.
Duringtesting,ourengineersfound that different vehicles required
different parameter values, just as each individual driver required
different parameters to obtain the type of feel that they desired.
With this criteria in mind, Novak Electronics proudly brings you
the Cyclone Programmable Speed Control (Part #1765) and the
Pit Wizard Hand-Held Programmer (Part #1035).
WHAT’S INCLUDED
• PIT WIZARD
Comes complete and ready to program your Cyclone speed
control right at the track where you need it most. Just add
batteries, connect the D•LINK to speed control, and program.
Also comes with sample Profiles to start you on the right track.
• PROFILE SOFTWARE
The same customized profiling software that comes with the
Novak DataLink is already inside the Pit Wizard. Allowing you
to customize the adjustable parameters of the Novak Cyclone
ElectronicSpeedControl,includingDeadband width, Minimum
Drive percentage, Drive & Brake PWM Frequencies, and more.

4 PIT WIZARD INSTRUCTION MANUAL
ABOUT THE PIT WIZARD
Molded-in loop for adding
a neck or wrist strap.
D•LINKharnessfor
communicating
with Cyclone ESC.
Label shows main menu
items and lists all of the
user-adjustable Cyclone
parameters.
2 Line/16 Character LCD
displays menu position and
options for easy navigation.
Novak’s exclusive ESC Profile
Software allows you to modify
the design parameters of your
Cycloneand store ten different
racing Profiles.
Ergonomic design
fits comfortably in
your hand and
sturdy nylon case
stands up to tough
environments.
{UP} & {DOWN} buttons
let you scroll thru the
main menu sub-screens
and the user-adjustable
parameter values.
{MODE} button
takesyouthrough
theavailablemain
menu selections.
{ENTER} button
makes your selection
once the menu mode
or parameter value
youwantisdisplayed.
This button {•} is for
futuregrowthand is
not currently used.

5PIT WIZARD INSTRUCTION MANUAL
ADJUSTABLE PARAMETERS
The Pit Wizard’s Profile Software accesses the Cyclone speed
control’s previously hidden fourth Profile. The user-programmable
fourth Profile gives you the ability to customize several design
parameters of the speed control. This adjustability will allow you
to custom tailor the speed control’s response and feel to your
preference for different applications. This section lists the user-
adjustable parameters, their descriptions, and applications:
• NEUTRAL
–Measured in microseconds (µs).
–Position at which the speed control is at rest, with no Drive or
Brake being applied.
–Initial value is taken from the transmitter, as recorded in the
One-Touch Set-Up memory of the speed control.
• FULL THROTTLE
–Measured in microseconds (µs).
–Trigger position at which speed control reaches Full Drive.
–Initial value is taken from the transmitter, as recorded in the
One-Touch Set-Up memory of the speed control.
• FULL BRAKE
–Measured in microseconds (µs).
–Trigger position at which speed control reaches Full Brake.
–Initial value is taken from the transmitter, as recorded in the
One-Touch Set-Up memory of the speed control.
Figure 1: Neutral, Full Throttle, and Full Brake shown graphically by percent of
drive or brake applied at a given trigger position.
DEADBAND
TRIGGER POSITION
Neutral
Full
Brake Full Throttle
10 10
20
50
100
20
50
100
% FULL DRIVE
% FULL BRAKE

6 PIT WIZARD INSTRUCTION MANUAL
• DEADBAND
–Measured as percentage (%) of Full Throttle trigger position.
–Space between Minimum Brake and Minimum Drive, with
Neutral located at the center of this space (Figure 2).
–Changing the Deadband value will change the point at which
forward Drive begins with respect to Neutral.
–IncreasingDeadband will requiremoretriggermovementaway
from Neutral to reach both the first pulse of Drive and the first
pulseofBrake.Example:Adding10%tothevalue of Deadband
will in turn add 5% Deadband in the Full Throttle trigger
direction, and 5% Deadband in the Full Brake trigger direction.
–Decreasing Deadband will require less trigger movement to
reach the first pulses of Drive and Brake.
Figure 2: Deadband graphically displayed as a percentage of the Full Throttle
trigger position, which is measured in microseconds.
DEADBAND
18%
TRIGGER POSITION
Neutral Full
Throttle
10 10
20
50
100
20
50
100
100%18%
% FULL DRIVE
% FULL BRAKE
Minimum
Drive
Minimum
Brake
ADJUSTABLE PARAMETERS (CONT.)

7PIT WIZARD INSTRUCTION MANUAL
• DRIVE PWM FREQUENCY
–Measured in Hertz (Hz).
–Frequency at which the duty cycle information is being sent
from speed control to motor (How many times per second
the motor is being cycled on and off to control it’s speed).
–Drive PWM Frequency controls acceleration characteristics of
your vehicle with respect to trigger movement in the Full
Throttle direction (Figure 3). By changing the value of Drive
PWM Frequency you change the manner in which the vehicle
responds to transmitter trigger input.
–Increasing Drive PWM Frequency requires more initial trigger
movement to obtain the same given speed. Light vehicles feel
more controllable / Heavy vehicle more sluggish.
–Decreasing Drive PWM Frequency requires less initial trigger
movement to obtain the same given speed. Light vehicles are
harder to control at the low end (possibly spinning the rear
wheels) / Heavy vehicles are more reactive.
– This parameter can be used as a valuable tuning asset for
different types of motors and track conditions.
ADJUSTABLE PARAMETERS (CONT.)
Figure 3: Graphical location of area affected by Drive PWM Frequency.
DEADBAND
TRIGGER POSITION
Neutral
Full
Brake Full Throttle
10 10
20
50
100
20
50
100
DRIVE PWM
FREQUENCY
% FULL DRIVE
% FULL BRAKE

8 PIT WIZARD INSTRUCTION MANUAL
• MINIMUM DRIVE
–Measured as percentage (%) of the Drive value.
–Amount of Drive applied with the first pulse of transmitter
throttle information (Figure 4).
–Increasing the Minimum Drive will make the speed control
begin at a greater percentage of Full Drive. This is useful for
tracks with good traction and for heavier vehicles to eliminate
‘dead’ trigger movement before the motor can actually move
thevehicle(andwillincreasethevehicle’sminimumrollingspeed).
–Decreasing the Minimum Drive will make the speed control
start at a smaller percentage of Full Drive. This is useful for
tracks with low-bite and lighter vehicles where lower initial
power will give more controllability. This parameter is also a
valuable tuning asset for different types of motors.
ADJUSTABLE PARAMETERS (CONT.)
Figure 4: Graphical representation of Minimum Drive and Minimum Brake as
percentage of Full Drive and Full Brake, respectively.
DEADBAND
TRIGGER POSITION
Minimum
Drive [10%]
Minimum
Brake [20%]
10 10
20
50
100
20
50
100
256 DISCRETE BRAKE STEPS
256 DISCRETE FORWARD STEPS
% FULL DRIVE
% FULL BRAKE

9PIT WIZARD INSTRUCTION MANUAL
• BRAKE PWM FREQUENCY
–Measured in Hertz (Hz).
–Frequency at which the duty cycle information is being sent
from speed control to motor for braking.
–Brake PWM Frequency controls deceleration characteristics of
yourvehicle with respecttotrigger movement inthe Full Brake
direction (Figure 5). Changing Brake PWM Frequency allows
you to change the manner in which the vehicle responds to
brake trigger input.
–Increasing the Brake PWM Frequency will require more initial
trigger movement to obtain a given amount of braking. Light
vehicles brake more controllably under initial braking / Heavy
vehicles brake less reactively.
–Decreasing the Brake PWM Frequency will require less initial
trigger movement to obtain a given amount of braking. Light
vehicles are harder to control under initial braking (possibly
locking up the wheels) / Heavier vehicle are more reactive to
initial braking efforts.
ADJUSTABLE PARAMETERS (CONT.)
Figure 5: Graphical location of area affected by Brake PWM Frequency.
DEADBAND
TRIGGER POSITION
Neutral
Full
Brake Full Throttle
10 10
20
50
100
20
50
100
BRAKE PWM
FREQUENCY
% FULL DRIVE
% FULL BRAKE

10 PIT WIZARD INSTRUCTION MANUAL
• DRAG BRAKE VALUE
–Measured as percentage (%) of Full Brake value.
–Adjusts amount of Drag Brake applied within the Deadband
when throttle trigger is in the Neutral position (Figure 6).
–When the Drag Brake value is greater than zero, Drag Braking
is applied in the Deadband area. When the throttle trigger is
returned to Neutral, braking information is sent to the motor.
This can be used to obtain Drag Brakes without shifting the
Neutral position of the transmitter with the throttle trim, and
will in turn eliminate the Deadband (now ‘dead’ trigger) space
that has also been shifted toward the Full Throttle side of the
trigger movement before Drive can be applied.
–When the Drag Brake Toggle is set to ON position, the Brake
Pot on the Cyclone adjusts the Drag Brake Value. Drag Brakes
during Neutral/Deadband are now set at the same level as
Minimum Brake. With Drag Brake Toggle ON, the Drag Brake
Value can NOT be set with the Pit Wizard, only with the Brake
Pot on the Cyclone.
–When Drag Brake Toggle is OFF, the Brake Pot on the Cyclone
adjusts only the Minimum Brake value. Drag Brake Value can
now be set above zero with the Pit Wizard to obtain Drag
Brakes. Minimum Brake value can now be independently set
higher or lower than the Drag Braking (Figure 8).
ADJUSTABLE PARAMETERS (CONT.)
Figure 6: Graphical representation of Drag Brake Value as a percentage of Full Brake.
DEADBAND
TRIGGER POSITION
Minimum
Brake [20%]
10 10
20
50
100
20
50
100
30
Drag Brake Value [30%]
% FULL DRIVE
% FULL BRAKE