OPTOTRONIX SkyFire LCU User manual

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FINESTSCALELIGHTINGTECHNICS.
Manual

2
IndexofContents
IndexofContents....................................................................................................................................2
TechnicalData.........................................................................................................................................3
Features...................................................................................................................................................3
Interfaceandundhandling.....................................................................................................................4
Connectionofpowersupplyandreceiver..............................................................................................5
Batteryrecommendation....................................................................................................................6
Connectionofthebattery...................................................................................................................6
Connectionofthereceiver..................................................................................................................6
LED‐Outputs...........................................................................................................................................7
Assignmentofoutputs........................................................................................................................7
ConnectionofLEDs..............................................................................................................................7
Connectingafterburnerringsandandexternalconsumers...............................................................8
ResistorTable......................................................................................................................................9
OperationofSkyFireLCU........................................................................................................................9
Startsequence.....................................................................................................................................9
Batterytest........................................................................................................................................10
Checkreceptionquality.....................................................................................................................10
CheckreceptionqualitywithDual‐Receiversystems.......................................................................11
Stand‐Alonemode.............................................................................................................................12
Programmingmode...............................................................................................................................12
Startingtheprogrammingmode.......................................................................................................12
Step1‐Selectbatterytype...............................................................................................................12
Step2‐Programmingthelightchannels..........................................................................................13
Step3‐Programmingthepausetime...............................................................................................15
Step4‐ProgrammingtheAUXoutput..............................................................................................15
Step5‐Programmingthereception‐qualitymonitoring..................................................................15
Resettofactorysettings....................................................................................................................17
OverviewProgrammingMode..........................................................................................................17
OverviewButtonFunctions...................................................................................................................18
OverviewMODE‐LEDSequences...........................................................................................................18
OverviewSignal‐LEDSequences............................................................................................................18
TransceiverRangeTest..........................................................................................................................18
Warrantyandlegalinformation............................................................................................................19
Payattentiontonotesmarkedwithabeforefirstoperationofthelighting‐system!
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3
WiththeSkyFireLCUyoupurchasedahigh‐qualityandmodernlightingsystem.Wehope
youenjoylightingupyouraircraftandaskyoutoreadthefollowinginstructionscarefully.
TechnicalData
Dimension  91x38mm
Height7mm
Weight23g
SupplyLCU  3,2V…8,5V(1s/2sLipo,2sLiFePO,NiMh,BEC)
SupplyAUX  3,2V…13,0V(1s/2s/3sLipo,2s/3sLiFePO,NiMh,BEC)
QuiscentCurrent <2µA(<18mAh/Jahr)
SignalInputs 2x,galvanicallyseparated,withpuls‐booster
Outputs  9xlightchannels(permanent/flash/beacon)
1xAUX(afterburner/otherexternalloads)
OutputpowerLCU 3A/output(max.12Asystemcurrent)
OutputpowerAUX 8A
Stand‐AloneModeYes
Programmable ‐oneveryoutput:function,pointoftime&activationpoint
‐ReceptionQualityObservationRQO
‐batterietype(Lipo,LiFePO,NiMH,BEC)
Features
9outputs(permanent/flash/beacon)
1AUX‐output(afterburnerorotherexternalloadsupto8A)
1EXT‐outputforoptionalaccessories
3A/output(max.12Atotalcurrent)
10differentflashsequences@3differentpointsoftime
4beaconfunctions(imitationofRotatingBeacon)
Afterburnersimulation,10differentrandomgeneratedafterburnereffects
Alternativelyexternalloadswithupto8Acurrentcanswitchedon/offontheAUX
output
EveryOutputfullyprogrammable
oActivationPoint
oFlashSequence
oTimespan
oAutomaticdetectionofswitchdirection
Observationofreceptionqualityandsignalerrors
oIncludingemergency‐light‐functionasalivesignalduringflight
oDisplaysreceptionqualityusingaLEDbar
oUsingDual‐Receivers:optimizethelocationofeachreceiver/antenna
Adaptive(learnsbehaviouroftransceiver)
PermanentLipo/LiFebatteryguardingwithbattery‐testfunctionandsavetyshut‐
down
galvanicallyisolatedfromreceiverformax.savety
Signal‐InputwithPulse‐Booster
Stand‐AloneMode(e.g.forexhibitionandshowroom)atpushofbutton
Shielded,verylightweightfibreglashousing!

4
Interfaceandhandling

MODE‐LEDColorMeaning:
GRÜNOperationMode,stateofcharge>40%
ORANGEOperationMode,stateofcharge<40%
ROTOperationMode,stateofchargecritical
BLAUOperationMode,displayRQO
PINKStand‐AloneMode(showroommode)
WEISSStartprogramming‐mode
MPXStecker
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‐
+
Signal‐Input1(Master)
SignalforcontrollingtheLCU(the
9lightchannels)

Built‐InY‐Cable:
Signalcanbeforwardedusing
thesecondsocket
Signal‐Input2(AUX)
SignaltocontroltheAUXOutput,
switchingafterburnerringsor
externalloads

Wake‐upviareceiversignal
Status‐LEDSignal‐Input1
blau
Status‐LEDSignal‐Input2
blau
MODE‐LED
Multicolor
Taster„Set“
Button„Poweron/off“
Status‐LEDs
For9lightchannelsand
AUXOutput,orange
Display‐Scale
Fordisplayingthebatteries
state‐of‐chargeand
receptionquality
Button„Set“
LightChannels(9x)
AUXOutput
ExtOutput

Spannungsversorgung
Supply LCU(lightchannels)
3,2V–8,5V
SupplyAUXOutput
3,2V–13,0V
Common MINUS

5
Connectionofpowersupplyandreceiver
TheSkyFireLCUallowstheconnectionof1s/2sLipobatteries,2sLiFePObatteries,3‐6s
NiMHbatteriesoraBECwithavoltagebetween3.2Vand8.5VtosupplytheLCUaswellas
the9lightchannels.ThecorrespondingsupplypinoftheMPXconnectorismarkedwith
“+LCU”.
Theoperationofthelightchannelsismostefficientat1sLipo(lowheatingoftheresistors
andverylowsystemweight).

TheadditionalAUXoutputcanbesuppliedwiththesamevoltage.Forthis,simplyconnect
thesamebatterytotheappropriatesupplypin,markedwith"AUX”.Thenthe9light
channelsandAUXoutputcarrythesamevoltage.
However,itispossibletoconnectaseparatebatteryofhighervoltageupto13.0Vtothe
supplypinoftheAUXoutput(1s/2s/3sLipobatteries,2s/3sLiFePObatteries,3‐9s
NiMhbatteriesoraBECwithavoltagebetween3.2Vand13.0V).Thisallowsoperationof
afterburnerrings,12VLEDstripsorotherexternalconsumerswithhighervoltages,whileit
wouldnotmakesenseforthelightchannels1‐9duetothelowvoltagelevelofindividual
LEDs.


IMPORTANT:Voltagesupto13.0VsupplymustonlybeconnectedtotheAUXoutput
(+AUX)andnottotheLCUitself(+LCU)!
ThemaximumoperatingvoltageoftheLCUitself(+LCU)is8.5V


DonotconnectanyotherbatterytechnologiesthanthoselistedabovetotheSkyFireLCU.


ThebatterytypeusedmustbeabsolutelyprogrammedwheninstallingtheSkyFireLCUto
allowareliabledeepdischargeandbatterytestfunction,see"ProgrammingMode"!After
programming,theSkyFireLCUmonitorsthebatteryandprotectsagainstdeepdischarge.In
additionthebatteryconditioncanbecheckedusingthebatterytestfunction.


Ifthevoltageoftheprogrammedbatteryiscritical,theSkyFireLCUturnsoffafterafast,red
FlashsequenceoftheMODELED(Error)andcanonlybeputbackintooperationbyagain
pressingthepowerbutton

IfdifferentbatterieswithdifferentvoltagelevelsareconnectedtothesupplyoftheLCUand
theAUXoutput,bothbatterieswillbemonitoredaftersuccessfulprogramming!


Thefollowinginstructionsmustbeobservedforsafeoperation.
‐Allconnectingcablesshouldberoutedinsuchawaythattheydonotcomeincontactwith
movingorhotpartsofthemodel(e.g.servos,rodsorsilencers).
‐TheSkyFireLCUmustbeprotectedfromhumidityandmoisture.



6
Batteryrecommendation
Thefollowingbatterycapacitiesarerecommendedforonehourofcontinuousoperation,
undertheassumptionthatoneLEDisconnectedtoeachoutputincontinuousoperation.If
severalLEDsareusedinflashmodeorhaveashorterbatterylife,asmallercapacitycanbe
chosen.

LEDsconnectedtooutputsRec.capacityfor>1hoperation
StandardLEDs(20‐30mA)300mAh
PowerLEDs(~60mA)550mAh
1WattPowerLEDs(350mA)3000mAh
3WattPowerLEDs(700mA)6000mAh


Connectionofthebattery
ThebatteryisconnectedthroughaMPXhigh‐currentconnectortotheSkyFireLCU.Itshould
benotedthatdifferentbatterieswithdifferentvoltagelevelscanbeconnectedtothe
variousPLUS‐Pins(Seeschematiconpage4).
IfabatterywithMPXhighcurrentsocketandconventionaloccupancyisconnected(all
PLUS‐pinsoftheconnectoraresolderedtothebatteryPLUS),LCUandAUXoutputwill
automaticallyoperateatthesamevoltage.

Payattentiontothecorrectpolarity:PLUS=RED,MINUS=BLACK.TheMPXconnectorsto
beusedarelabelledwith+and‐.Thecorrectpolaritymustbecheckedagainbeforethe
firststartup.
TheSkyFireLCUisnotreversepolarityprotected!


Connectionofthereceiver
FortheoperationoftheLCU,connectthesignalinput1(Master)tothereceiverusingthe
suppliedpatchcable(yellow‐red‐brown)
Ifdesired,alsoconnectthesignalinput2(AUX)tothereceiver.
TogetfamiliarwiththefunctioningoftheSkyFireLCU,youcanconnectittoaservotester,
ofcourse.
Thesignalinputsaregalvanicallycompletelyisolatedfromthereceivercircuitsothat
perturbationsviatheconnectioncabletothereceiverareexcluded.
Ifthereceiversignalisdetectedandhasnoerrors,theblueLEDsofthesignalinputslightup
permanently.
Ifthereisnosignal(noreceiverconnectedorinvalidsignal/faultycable)theBlueLEDsof
theaffectedsignalinputdonotlightup.
IftheblueLEDsofthesignalinputsflash,thequalityofreceptionshouldbechecked(see
page10).

Ifthereisnosignalforabout30min,theSkyFireLCUturnsoffandcanonlybeputbackinto
operationbyvalidsignalatsignalinput2(AUX).


7
+
‐
‐
LED‐Outputs
Assignmentofoutputs
TheSkyFireLCUprovidesatotalof9lightchannels(eachPlus/Minus).Theinputvoltage
(oftheusedbattery)islocateddirectlyattheoutputs.Throughthisthemaximumflexibility
inthedesignofthelightingsystemandtheselectionofLED‐typesisensured.
TheoutputshaveajointPlus‐rail,i.e.PLUSlinescanbeconnectedtogetherinthewingarea.

Thefollowingdiagramshowstheoutputassignment:

Outputs
123456789AUXEXT

‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐
‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 
++++++
++++

ConnectionofLEDs
TheSkyFireLCUenablestheoperationofallcommontypesofLEDswithmatchingseries
resistorwherebyeachoutputcanbeloadedwithacurrentofupto3A.MultipleLEDscanbe
connectedinparalleltoanoutput,whileeachLED
requiresitsownresistor.
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TheoppositegraphshowsthepolarityofSEOUL1W
/3WpowerLEDs:Nexttoeachpoleisasmallbrass
stub.Thisisnotchedontheminussideandnoton
theplusside.
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UsingTypical3mm/5mmLEDs,thelongerconnectionisthepositiveterminal.
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UsingtypicalSuperfluxLEDsyourecognizethenegative
terminalattheflattenedcorner.Fourconnectionsare
availablehereonlyforstabilityreasons,plusandminusare
eachpresentinduplicate,butmustbeconnectedtothe
powersupplyonce.
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IfseveralLEDsareconnectedinparalleltoanoutput,
thePLUSlinescanbecombined.
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DuetothelargecurrentcarryingcapacityofSkyFireLCUtheoutputsaredesignedassocket
(female),sothatashortcircuitisnotpossiblethroughaccidentalcontact.Theconnectionof
LEDstakesplaceviatheprovidedpinbar.Foreasysolderingofthelines,insertthebarinto
thesocketoftheSkyFireLCU.
Nevertheless,ifthecontactviaseparateplugsforeachchannellightispreferred,the
optionalavailableconnectorkitcanbeused.
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8
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OnlyconnectLEDstotheSkyFireLCU,iftheoutputshavebeenprogrammed.Thisprevents
fusingoftheLEDswhichmighthaveonlybeendesignedforflashmode(possiblehigher
current)atanoutputwhichisstillprogrammedtocontinuouslight.
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Connectingafterburnerringsandandexternalconsumers
TheSkyFireLCUallowstheconnectionofvoltagecontrolledafterburnerringstoAUXoutput
forafterburnersimulationinEDFandturbinemodels.Alsoself‐developedafterburnerrings,
individualLEDsor12VLEDstripscanbecontrolledwithanafterburnereffect,aslongas
theycanbeoperatedatavoltageof3.2V‐13.0V(AUXoutput).Themaximumcurrentof
AUXoutputis8A,soitisalsopossibletoconnectseveralafterburnerringsinparallel.
Atotalof10different,original,full‐randomlygeneratedafterburnereffectsareavailable.
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Itisalsopossible,toswitchexternalconsumersthroughAUXoutput.Forthis,itis
programmedtoon/offoperationinsteadofafterburnersimulation.
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ThemaximumswitchablecurrentofAUXoutputis8A.
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Resistor
inseries
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ConsiderLEDpolarity
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MultipleLEDscanbeconnectedinparallel.
ConsiderMax.‐Current! 

9
ResistorTable
TherequiredresistorforyourdesiredLEDTypecanbegatheredfromthefollowingtable.
Thevaluescanbeusedbothforoperationdirectlyatabatteryandforoperationatthe
SkyFireLCU.Alsopayattentiontotherequiredpower‐ratingoftheresistor.
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Forchoosingthesupplygenerallyconsider:Thevoltageshouldbeassmallaspossible,
becauseLEDsdonotneedmorethan3,5V(red/yellowonly2,4V).Everythingabovethat
voltagehastobeconvertedintoheatintheseries‐resistor.Thatiswhytheoperationat
3,6V/4,8V(3s/4sNiMh)or3,7V(2sLipo)hastobepreferred.
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OperationofSkyFireLCU
Startsequence
IfyoupressthepowerbuttonoftheSkyFireLCU,youwillalwaysobservethefollowing
behaviorofthe10orangestatusLEDs:
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1xflashlightsequence Theelectronicisstarted.
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Pause1secofpause.
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NowtheSkyFireLCUisreadytooperate.Theoutputscannowbeactivatedthroughaswitch
orproportionalslideofyourtransmitteroralternativelyviaaservo‐tester.Whenexactely
theoutputsshouldbeactivated,thismustbedefinedinprogrammingmode.
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10
Batterytest
ThebatterytestfunctioncanbestartedatanytimebybrieflypressingtheSetbutton.
Duringthebatterytest(about3seconds)theconnectedmodellightingisdisabled.The
followingbehaviourisseen:
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Trafficlightsequence TheMODELEDchangesfor3seconds
betweencoloursgreen‐ Orange‐ red.This
illustratestheactualbatterytest("charging‐
statustrafficlighteffect")
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Displayingchargingstatus Usingthe10orangeStatusLEDsthebattery
charge‐statusisdisplayed.Thescaleofstate
ofchargeisusedforillustration:
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Thevoltageofthebatterycanbereadthroughthe10orangeStatusLEDsofSkyFireLCU.If
all10LEDslightup,thebatteryisfullycharged(charge‐statusscale:100%).
TheMODELEDjumpstogreenifthestateofchargeis>40%,toOrangeifthestateof
chargeis<40%.
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Ifthebatteryvoltagefallsunderacriticalthresholdvoltageforseveralseconds(depending
ontheconnectedandprogrammedbatterytype),theSkyFireLCUturnsoffcompletely,in
ordertoavoidadeepdischargeofthebatteryandthustopreventdamageandcanonlybe
putbackintooperationbypressingagainthepowerbutton.
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Checkreceptionquality
Ifthemonitoringofthereceptionquality(ReceptionQualityObservation,RQO)was
activatedandprogrammed,theSkyFireLCUpermanentlymonitorsthesignalsofthe
receiverandwarnsofreceptionproblems.
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PresstheSetbutton.Afterthebatterytestfunction(MODELEDshowstrafficlight
sequencegreen‐Orange‐red)thereceptionqualityisdisplayed(MODELEDwilllightblue).
Thefollowingbehaviormustbeseenafterdisplayingcharge‐status:
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Scan‐Sequence
TheMODELEDlightsupbluenow.Ablue
lightinggenerallyshowsthatreceptiondatais
displayednow.
TheorangeStatusLEDsinthemiddlelightup
abovetheantennaicon,theremainingstatus
LEDsdisplay"emittingradiowaves"inorder
toclarifythattheRQOstatusisshowed.
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