Pelikan ALPHA 1500 User manual
PRECAUTIONS:
This R/C model is not a toy. Use it with care and stricktly following the instructions in this manual.•
Assemble this model following stricktly these instructions. DO NOT modify or alter the model, failure to do so, the•
warranty will lapse automatically.
Children under the age of 14 must operate the model under the supervision of an adult.•
Assurethatthemodelisinperfectconditionsbeforeeveryight,takingcarethatalltheequipmentworkscorrectlyand•
that the model is undamaged in its structure.
Fly only in days with calm wind or light breeze and in a place away from any obstacle. Follow the instructions in order•
to obtain a safe and solid model at the end of the assembly.
ALPHA 1500 ARF
Ready to radio model with the brushless motor, ESC and servos installed
ALPHA 1500 RTF Set
Readytoymodelwitha4-channel2.4GHzRCset,brushlessmotor,ESCandservosinstalled,
withLi-poightpackandDCcharger
ALPHA 1500
Instruction Manual
2
Congratulation on your purchase of the ALPHA 1500 motor powered glider. You are about to embark on a magical journey into the fascinating world of
electric powered RC aeroplanes. The ALPHA 1500 manufactured of the virtually unbreakable EPP foam, packed with the latest 2.4GHz radio technol-
ogy and powered with a mighty brushless motor and Li-po batteries will help to become an experienced pilot in no time!
ALPHA 1500 is not just an entry level plane but actually a high performance thermal glider that will please any Sunday pilot - a newcomer as well as
an old professional!
Wingspan: 1510 mm•
Lenght: 930 mm•
All-up Weight: 690 g•
Wing Area: 22,3 dm• 2
Wing Loading: 31 g/dm• 2
Motor: KV 1050 RPM/V, weight 60 g, 3.0 mm shaft (recommended prop for 2s Li-Po max. 10x6”, with 3s max. 9x6”)•
ESC: max. 18 A, input voltage 2-3s Li-Po/6-8 Ni-xx, BEC 5 V/2 A, automatic adjustment to Li-poly/NiMH•
100% 100% factory-made, partially assembled model (4 servos, brushless motor, 18 A ESC, 10x6” folding prop)•
2.4GHz 4-channel transmitter and 6-channel receiver (RTF Set only)•
7.4V/1500mAhLi-Poightpack(RTFSetonly)•
12 V DC fast charger (RTF Set only)•
GeneralWarnings
An R/C aeroplane is not a toy! If misused, it can cause serious bodily harm and damage to property. Fly only on a safe place following all instruc-
tions and recommendations in this manual. Beware of the propeller! Keep loose items that can get entangled in the propeller away from the spinning
propeller, including loose clothing, or other objects such as pencils and screwdrivers. Ensure that yours and other prople’s hands, and face are kept
away from the rotating propeller.
Note on Lithium Polymer Batteries
LithiumPolymerbatteriesaresignicantlymorevulnerablethanalkalineorNiCd/NiMHbatteriesusedinR/Capplications. All manufacturer’s in-
structionsandwarningsmust befollowedclosely.MishandlingofLiPobatteries can result in re. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions
when disposing of Lithium Polymer batteries.
AdditionalSafetyPrecautionsandWarnings
As the user of this product, you are solely responsible for operating it in a manner that does not endanger yourself and others or result in damage to•
the product or the property of others. This model is controlled by a radio signal that is subject to interference from many sources outside your control.
This interference can cause momentary loss of control so it is advisable to always keep a safe distance in all directions around your model, as this
margin will help to avoid collisions or injury.
Never operate your model with low transmitter batteries.•
Alwaysoperateyourmodelinanopenareaawayfrompowerlines,cars,trafc,orpeople.•
Avoid operating your model in populated areas where injury or damage can occur.•
Carefullyfollowthedirectionsandwarningsforthisandanyoptionalsupportequipment(chargers,rechargeablebatteries,etc.)whichyouuse.•
Keep all chemicals, small parts and anything electrical out of the reach of children.•
Moisturecausesdamagetoelectronics.Avoidwaterexposuretoallequipmentnotspecicallydesignedandprotectedforthispurpose.•
Never lick or place any portion of your model in your mouth as it could cause serious injury or even death.•
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
INTRODUCTION
100% factory-made, partially assembled model•
Aileron, elevator, rudder and throttle control•
Easy handling and high stability; durable, virtually unbreakable high performance electric motor powered glider•
State-of-the-art 2.4GHz four channel radio•
Powerfull brushless outrunner motor•
Large wing area, low weight•
LightweightLi-polyightpack(RTFSetonly)•
DCfastchargerfortheightpack(RTFSetonly)•
Features
Specication
SET CONTENTS
YOUWILLALSONEEDTHEFOLLOWINGACCESSORIESANDTOOLS(not included in the kit)
For the RTF Set:
8 AA batteries for the transmitter.
For the ARF Set:
Atleasfa4-channeltransmitterandreceiver,Li-polyightpack7.4V1500-2500mAh
Tools:
Small Phillips screwdriver, 1,5 a 2 mm Allen keys, 14 mm spanner for the spinner nut.
Glue:
Medium cyanoacrylate (CA), thin CA.
IMPORTANT NOTE
ALPHA1500issuppliedwithafoldingpropellercorrespondingtotheuseofa7.4V(2s)Li-Poightpack.Ifyoudecidedforareasontouse
11.1V(3s)ightpack,itwouldbepossible,butyouHAVEtouseapropellerwiththediamaterersmallerbyo1”(25mm)inordertoprevent
overloadingofthemotorandESC.Youcanusee.g.Graupner1336.20.15(8x6”)blades-due to the large size of the spinner and yoke you
have to choose smaller blades (8x6”) than the nominal diameter of the recommended prop (9x6”).
Loading the Transmitter Batteries
Remove the battery hatch located on the back side of the transmitter pushing the cover at the arrow mark with your thumb. Load fresh alkaline bat-
teries or AA size accumulators (NiCd or NiMH, the capacity 700-1100 mAh is enough for 3-5 operating hours) carefuly keeping the correct polarity
(marked on the bottom of the battery bay). We especially recommend low self-discharge NiMH batteries as the Sanyo Eneloop or RCM Pelikan RAY
Long 2000 mAh. Put the hatch back in place.
Charging the Transmitter Batteries
Theaccumulatorshavetobechargedpriortherstight.Thereisachargingconnectorontherightsideofthetransmitterthatallowstochargethe
batteries inside your transmitter. It is suitable for the slow “overnight” charge at ca 1/10 of the nominal capacity (i.e. 80 mA for 800 mAh batteries) for
12-14 hours. You can use the Tx/Rx wall chargers for the Hitec (CG-22A or CG-S32) or Thunder Tiger radios (the positive (+) pole is on the centre pin,
negative (-) pole on the outer cover). There is a protective diode between the chaging jack and the batteries protecting the batteries from the reversed
polarity and too high charging current (a very common safety device with most of transmitters of any brand). This device will not allow higher charge
rate than ca 1A and the use od delta-peak fast chargers.
Neverevertrytochargetheprimary(zinc-carbon,alkaline...)batteriesthatarenotrechargeable.Otherwiseexplosionand/orremigthappen!.
Checking the Transmiter Battery
Turn on the transmiter and check the LED on the front panel - both the red and green has to glow. These LEDs indicate the status of the transmitter,
not the transmitter battery voltage. The low battery alarm is accoustic - once you will hear beeping you have to land immediately anr replace/recharge
thebatteries.Ifthetransmitterbeepsimmediatelyafterbeingturnedon,DONOTtrytoyatall.Turnthetransmitteroff.
CAUTION:Donotmixdifferenttypesofbatteriesoraccumulatorsorfreshbatterieswith(partly)discharged.Donotmixregular(zinc-
carbon)batterieswithalkalinebatteries.
3
Transmitter Controls
Transmitter(RTFSetversion)
Main Switch
Rudder Trim
Antenna
Aileron Trim
Status LED
PDM Button
(range check)
Elevator Trim (Mode 1)
Throttle Trim (Mode 2)
Servo Reverse Switch
channel 1...4
Throttle / Aileron Stick (Mode 1)
Elevator / Aileron Stick (Mode 2)/
Elevator / Rudder Stick (Mode 1)
Throttle / Rudder Stick (Mode 2)
Charging Jack
(at the side)
Your ALPHA 1500 is to be powered by a 2-cell Li-Po battery pack. The Li-Po battery supplied in the RTF Set has two connectors: one is for the balanc-
ing charge of the cells (JST-XH type) and the other one is dedicated to the discharge (Deans-T, RCM Pelikan #7949).
Connect the adaptor for the Li-Po Charger feeding and after that connect the two alligators to a 12V battery (it could be your car battery) or to another
12V stabilized power supply (RCM Pelikan Raytronic PS5 power supply is great for that). Take care of the correct polarity! The red alligator clip must
be connected to the positive pole (+) and the black alligator to the negative pole (-) of the power supply.
Once connected to the power supply, the green LED of the charger will light up. This means that the charger is ready to charge a battery. Now connect
thebalanceconnectorofyourightpacktothechargeroutput.TheLEDnowshouldglowRED.Ifthebatteryisnotalreadycharged,thechargerwill
starttochargetheightpackafterca5seconds-theLEDisblinkingrednow.Oncetheinitialconstantcurrentphaseofthechargingprocesshasbeen
accomplished,thechargerturnstotheconstantvoltagecharge-theLEDblinksgreen.Oncethechargehasbeennished,theLEDglowsGREEN.
Now disconnect the battery from your charger and then the charger from the power supply.
Ifyouconnectanalreadychargedbattery,theLEDwillkeepglowingRED-inthiscaseyoucandisconnectthebatteryandyouarereadytoy!
WARNING: Charge the Li-Po battery with the battery charger included in the RC Set or with a fully compatible charger that assures a safe charge to
the Li-Po pack. Always follow the safety precautions as laid down in the manufacturer’s manual.
Inthechargingprocess,keepyourchargerandyourbatteryinacoolandshadyplace,awayfromanypossiblesourceofre.Donotcoverthecharger
or the battery with clothes or similar: the ventilation is crucial for the necessary cooling of the devices.
Important:Neverleave unguarded thebattery in charge.Ifthe battery becomestoo hot orstartsto “inate”, disconnectit immediatelyfromthe
charger.
Charging the Flight Battery
Throttle Trim (Mode 1)
Elevator Trim (Mode 2)
4
MODELASSEMBLY
1. The Tail Feathers
Thehorizontalstabilizerandthenaretobeattachedtothefuselageusingadou-
ble sided tape. This is a solution suitable for beginners who would probably have to
replace some parts damaged during heavy landings or crashes sooner or later. Ad-
vanced pilots should glue the tail permanently using a good medium CA. It increases
thestrengthofyourmodelandallowstoyaerobaticmanoeuvreslikeloops,barrel
rollsetc.andalsoexperienceslopeyingoncalmdays.
Removetheprotectivelmcoveringthestickytapealreadystickedtothehorizontal
stabilizer seat on the fuselage and carefully attach the horizontal stabilizer. Looking
fromabovetheslotbetweenthestabilizerandelevatorhastobesquaretothelongi-
tudinal axis of the fuselage.
Nowremovetheprotectivelmcoveringthestickytapeonthebottompartofthenandtthen
into the bay in the horizontal stabilizer. Slip the thin foam “tongue” into the slot in the rear end of the
fuselage.ApplyasmallamountofthinCAtothe“tongue”(bothsides).Thenhastobesquareto
the horizontal stabilizer.
Nowattachtheplasticquicklinksscrewedontheendoftheelevatorandrudderpushrodstothe
respective control horns. Snapthequicklinktotheouterholeoftheelevatorcontrolhornand
to the inner hole in the rudder horn. You will get the recommended control throws this way. Be-
ginners might nd easier to control the plane if the push rod Z-bend is moved by one or two hole(s)
closer to the centre of the elevator servo arm.
(The position of a quick link in holes of a control arm is a means how to adjust control throws with
a non-computer radio. Moving the quick link closer to the control surface gives bigger throws whilst
moving the quick link to outer holes reduces the throws. You can also move the position of the push
rod Z-bend on the servo arm - in this case moving the attachment point closer to the centre of the
servo arm reduces the throws - and vice versa.)
2.Wing
Check the aileron push rods: they have to be attached to the outer holes of the servo arm and aileron horn to set the default control throws. Beginners
might nd easier to control the plane if the push rod Z-bend is moved by one or two hole(s) closer to the centre of the aileron servo arms.
Thewinghalvesaretobejoinedbysteelrodjoinerandttedtotheappropriatebaysinthefuselage.Startwiththestarboard(right)winghalve:slide
the steel joiner into the tube in the wing and the other end of the joiner pull through the hole in the plywood plate separating the wing bays. Doing this
donotforgettoconnecttheaileronservocabletotheextensioncableyouwillndlocatedinthewingbay.Pushthewinghalfallthewayintothe
fuselage and slide the other half onto the joiner, connect the other aileron servo and push the port wing to the fuselage.
Nowcheckthecorrectwingandtailalignment.Lookingfromabovethewingandhorizontaltailplanehastobesquaretothelongitudinalaxisofthe
fuselage;lookingfrombehindthennandruderhavetobesquaretothehorizontaltailplaneanttheentireempennagehastobesymmetricallyposi-
tioned comparing to the “V” shaped dihedral of the wing.
PRE-FLIGHTCHECK
CheckingtheCurrentSet-up
1. Assure that the transmitter is turned on (both the green and red LEDs are on), place all the trims in their neutral positions and set the throttle stick
intothelowestposition.ConnecttheightpacktotheESC-theredLEDonthereceivermustglow.Ifitblinksordoesnotglowatall,thereceiverand
transmitterrequiretoestablishtheirlinkbythebindingprocedure-refertotheAppendixonpage8ofthismanual.
2.Checkingthecontrolsurfaceneutrals
Please check all the control surfaces are in the neutral position if the corresponding transmitter sticks and trims are in the centre position. If not, please
removethequicklinkonthepushrodconnectorofthecorrespondingcontrolhornandsetthecontrolsurfacetotheneutralpositionbyscrewingthe
quicklinkinorout.Theelevatorandrudderhastobeushwiththehorizontalstabilizerresp.then,bothtwoaileronshavetobeushwiththewing
trailingedge.Oncesatised,snapthequicklinkback.
CAUTION:Ifthequicklinkgotlooseduringight,yourmodelcouldbecomepartlyorcompletelyuncontrollable.Therefore,youshouldcheckthe
setting screws regularly.
3.TestingtheAilerons
A) Move the aileron stick to the left; (looking from the tail to the nose) the left aileron must move up and the right aileron must drop down simultane-
ously.
B) Move the aileron stick to the right; the left aileron must drop down and the right aileron go up simultaneously.
C) Return the aileron stick to the centre (neutral) - both two ailerons will return to the neutral position.
Note:Iftheaileronsaremovingintheoppositedirection,youwillhavetoreversethedirectionbyippingtheaileronreverseswitch(CH1)onyour
transmitter.
4.TestingtheRudder
A) Move the rudder stick to the left; (looking from the tail to the nose) the rudder must move to the left.
B) Move the rudder stick to the right; the rudder must move to the right.
C) Return the ruder stick to the centre (neutral) - the rudder will return to the neutral position.
Note:Iftherudderismovingin the oppositedirection,youwillhavetoreversethedirectionbyippingtherudderreverse switch(CH4)onyour
transmitter.
5
5. Testing the Elevator
A) The elevator stick is located on the left side on the Mode 1 transmitter or on the right side on the Mode 2 transmitter. Pull the elevator stick down;
the elevator must move up).
B) Push the elevator stick up; the elevator must move down.
C) Return the elevator stick to the centre (neutral) - the elevator will return to the neutral position.
Note:Iftheelevatorismovingintheoppositedirection,youwillhavetoreversethedirectionbyippingtheelevatorreverseswitch(CH2)onyour
transmitter.
6.ElectronicSpeedController(ESC)
The ESC supplied with your ALPHA 1500 can be programmed to brake the motor after the throttle stick had been pulled down to the lowest position in
ordertoallowafoldingproptofold-thisisrequiredforgliderswithafoldingprop.Orthemotorandpropmayrotatefreely-thisistheset-uprequired
for aerobatic models.
Checking the current set-up
A) Be sure the throttle stick is in its lowest position. Note: if the battery has been already connected to the model, disconnect it for 5 seconds.
B) Connect the battery to the electronics of the model. You will hear and intro chord and 5 short beeps if the brake is OFF - or 5 long beeps if the
brake is ON.
C) If you hear 5 short beeps you will have to turn the brake on. If you hear 5 long beeps, continue with the step 7.
Choosing the mode “Brake ON” or “Brake OFF”
A)DisconnecttheightbatteryfromtheESCfor5seconds.TransmitterremainsON.
B) Move the throttle stick to highest position (full throttle).
C)Nowconnecttheightpack,waitfortheintrochord.Then5shortbeepsstartstosound.Nowifyoupullthethrottlestickallthewaydown,youwill
turnthebrakeOFF.TheESCwillconrmtheselectedmodebyre-playingtheintrochordfollowedby5shortbeeps.The brake is OFF.
D) If you want to have the brake ON, wait through the 5 shorts beeps. Then 5 long beeps starts to sound. Now if you pull the throttle stick all the way
down,youwillturnthebrakeON.TheESCwillconrmtheselectedmodebyre-playingtheintrochordfollowedby5longbeeps.The brake is
ON.
E)TheESCisreadytousewiththerequiredbrakemodenow.
7.TestingthePowersystem
A)Turnonthetransmitter,setthethrottlesticktothelowestposition,connecttheightpacktotheESCinthemodel(ESChastobesettothe“Brake
ON” mode). If the prop spinned slowly, please check the position of the throttle stick and throttle trim.
B) Slowly move the throttle stick up, the prop should start to rotate clockwise (looking from the cockpit of the plane). If it spins in the opposite direc-
tion,pullthethrottlestickback,disconnecttheightbatteryandswapanytwoofthethreecablesbetweenthemotorandtheESC.There-check
again.
Note:Ifthemotordoesnotrespondtothethrottlestickadvance,checkthemodelpowercableconnectionandthestateofchargeofyour
battery.
CAUTION:Keepawayfromthepropellerbladesoncethebatterywillbeconnectedtothemodel.Donottrytostopthepropellerwithyour
hands or anything else.
8.TheCentreofGravity
A) The CG has to be located 50 mm behind the leading edge of the
wing.
B) You can ne tune the CG position later to suit your requirements.
MovingtheCGforwardthemodelightwillbemorestable,moving
backward the controls will be become more sensitive, also the ther-
maling performance migt improve slightly. Note: Moving back the CG
too much could cause your model would be hard to control or even so
unstable that you would not able to control it at all.
FLYING
ChoosingtheFlyingField.Weather
Flying Field
Theyingeldshouldbeaatgrassyarea.Thereshouldbenocars,persons,animals,buildings,powerlines,treesorlargestonesoranyother
obstaclesthatALPHAmightcollidewithwithintherangeofca150m.Wehighlyrecommendyoutojoinalocalmodelyingclub–youwillgetaccess
totheiryingeldalongwithadviceandhelptomakeyourrststepsintomodelyingmucheasierandsafer.
Weather
Calmsummereveningsareperfectforthemaidenight.YourALPHA1500isalightthermalgliderthatisthehappiestwithwindunder5m/s.DONOT
ywhenitisrainingorsnowing,onfoggydays.Thunderstormsareclearlynottherighttimetoyeither.
Range Check
2.4GHz cannot be range checked with a collapsed transmitter antenna as you maybe used to do it with 27, 35 or 40 MHz radios. There is a special
operation mode to perform the range check.
Turn on the transmitter, check the throttle stick is in the lowest position. Set the transmitter antenna to the optimum position for model aircraft control -
bend it to the right angle and rotate to the right so it is almost parallel to the transmitter handle. (If you wanted to control a car or ship, bend the antenna
to the right angle and point it right up to the skies.)
ConnecttheightpacktotheESC.NowpressandholdthePDMbuttontill(afterca3seconds)thegreenstatusLEDonthetransmittergoesoff;only
the red LED remains to glow. Your transmitter is working in a reduced output power mode now.
Askafriendtoholdthetransmitter,andwalkawayholdingthemodelinaregularightpositionintheheightofyourshoulders.Theservoshaveto
respond to control inputs (control stick movements) without any glitching or jitter, with the motor off and at full throttle within the range of 40-50 m.
Onlypreparetoyiftherangecheckis100%successful.
CAUTION:Nevertrytoywithyourtransmitterinthereducedoutputpowermode!
Short press of the PDM button will return your transmitter to the normal transmission mode; the transmitter also returns automatically to the normal
mode after ca 1 minute.
Support your ALPHA 60mm
beyond the leading edge of the wing
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