PowerBox Systems PBR-5XS User manual

Instruction Manual
PBR-5XS

2PowerBox-Systems − World Leaders in RC Power Supply Systems
Dear PowerBox customer,
The PBR-5XS has been developed specically for indoor model aircraft. With a
weight of just 2g, the PBR-5XS is ideal for all models where minimum weight is
vital. That is why the PBR-5XS is not housed in a case, has no integral sockets,
and the circuit board thickness has also been reduced to the absolute minimum.
The receive section of the PBR-5XS utilises a chip antenna which is accommo-
dated on the circuit board itself, where it is protected from mechanical inuences.
With its compact design and chip antenna, the PBR-5XS offers a range of more
than 1000m.
One further special feature is the auxiliary analogue measurement input, to which
the ight battery can be directly connected, e.g. using the balancer socket; the
PBR-5XS then monitors the voltage of the pack (up to 3S / 12.6V), and passes that
information directly to the transmitter via telemetry. This facility allows the pilot to
monitor the voltage of the ight battery and the speed controller’s BEC voltage via
telemetry.
The BEC power supply, all the servos and the ight battery voltage monitor are
soldered directly to the circuit board of the PBR-5XS. Once this is done, the receiver
can be tted with a heat-shrink sleeve for protection.
Features:
• 2.4 GHz receiver, compatible with the ATOM / CORE radio control system
•5 channels
• Chip antenna

www.powerbox-systems.com 3
• Range of more than 1000m
• Direct monitoring of ight battery voltage
• Telemetry
• Extreme resistance to interference
2. LAYOUT AND CONNECTIONS
Note: soldering to the receiver
In order to minimise weight, the receiver has no case, leaving the electronics
exposed. For this reason you should ensure that your body is statically dischar-
ged before you carry out any soldering work. You can do this by touching the
earth terminal at any mains socket or any metal cold water pipe in the premi-
ses. We do not recommend wearing polyester clothing or insulated footwear.
Ideally this work should be carried out at a suitable ESD (electro-static dischar-
ge) workstation.
a) Power supply
Power is fed to the PBR-5XS via the red (+) and blue (-) solder pads: solder the
positive and negative outputs from the speed controller (BEC) or the receiver

4PowerBox-Systems − World Leaders in RC Power Supply Systems
battery at these points.
b) Servos
The positive and negative servo wires should also be soldered to the red and
blue pads. The servo signal wires are soldered to the rear face of the PBR-5XS.
The speed controller’s signal wire is also connected on the rear face of the
circuit board.
c) Flight battery voltage monitor
The simplest method of monitoring the voltage of the ight battery (max. 14V)
is to connect just the positive battery terminal to the V-Battery pad. However,
this does not take into account the losses which occur in the negative wire,
so the displayed voltage does not reect the actual value when the motor is
running, and the inaccuracy varies with the motor current.
You can obtain an accurate measurement by also connecting the negative
terminal of the ight battery to the blue solder pad.
3. BINDING
There are two ways of binding the receiver:
a) Connect the receiver rst
The LED now ashes rapidly for about ten seconds. During this period press
Important: the V-Battery pads are not used for the power supply; they are only
intended for monitoring the voltage of the ight battery.

www.powerbox-systems.com 5
“Bind” at the transmitter, and the receiver will bind to the transmitter. If you wait
longer than ten seconds, the LED on the receiver changes to a slower ashing
rate: from this point on it cannot be bound to the transmitter until the power
supply is disconnected and re-connected.
b) Press “Bind” at the transmitter rst
Then connect the receiver to a power source: the transmitter and receiver now
bind to each other.
4. INSTALLATION
Once you have soldered all the power and signal wires to the receiver, place the
unit in the heat-shrink sleeve supplied, and shrink the sleeve round it. The integral
chip antenna has comprehensive 360° reception, so there are no other factors
which need to be considered when positioning and installing the receiver.
In most models the receiver can simply be xed to a smooth surface inside the
model using double-sided tape.
Caution: we strongly recommend that you do not install the receiver inside a
carbon bre fuselage, as it is impossible to guarantee adequate reception in
such conditions!
5. SETTINGS
The PBR-5XS offers two variable settings, both of which are addressed via the

6PowerBox-Systems − World Leaders in RC Power Supply Systems
Telemetry menu at the transmitter:
•Frame rate: this denes the servo signal repeat frequency. The default value for
this setting is 18ms. Modern digital servos can offer better performance at 12ms,
because the positional value is updated more quickly.
•Hold / Failsafe: this is set in the Function menu at the transmitter.
6. OPERATIONAL NOTES:
By default the PBR-5XS transfers battery voltage and reception quality.
The following telemetry values are transmitted:
•Power supply voltage:
This indicates the voltage present at the red and blue solder pads.
Note: if you are using a regulated BEC, then the value shown is the regulated
voltage - not the voltage of the ight battery.
•Battery voltage:
If the output of the ight battery (e.g. from the balancer connector) is connected
to the V-Battery pads, then you will see the voltage of the ight battery displayed.
•LQI:
This value indicates the reception quality in the form of a percentage. The value
is calculated in the receiver from the number of lost data packets and the power
level over time.

www.powerbox-systems.com 7
The LQI is a very informative value, as it provides an important indication of the
quality of the radio link. If you wish to monitor this value in the most ecient
way, set up a widget showing the LQI value on the Telemetry display, and set an
alarm threshold of 60% to 70%. This alerts you immediately if a reception problem
arises.
• RSSI:
This value indicates the antenna’s input level. It is stated in dBm, which is a loga-
rithmic power value.
7. KEY TO THE LED DISPLAY
The integral LED can indicate various states:
• Continuous blue light: the receiver is bound to the transmitter, and the signal
strength is adequate.
• Rapid blue ashing: the receiver is waiting for a Bind signal.
• Slow red ashing: the receiver is picking up no signal.
8. SET CONTENTS
- PowerBox receiver
- Product label
- Heat-shrink sleeve
- Operating instructions in German and English

8PowerBox-Systems − World Leaders in RC Power Supply Systems
9. SERVICE NOTE
We are anxious to offer good service to our customers, and to this end we have
set up a Support Forum which deals with all queries concerning our products. This
gives you the opportunity to obtain help quickly all round the clock - even at wee-
kends. All the answers are provided by the PowerBox Team, guaranteeing that the
information is correct.
Please use the Support Forum before you telephone us. You will nd the forum at
the following address:
www.forum.powerbox-systems.com
10. GUARANTEE CONDITIONS
We grant a 24 month guarantee on our PowerBox receivers from the initial date
of purchase. The guarantee covers proven material faults, which will be corrected
by us at no charge to you. The guarantee does
not cover damage caused by incorrect usage,
e.g. reverse polarity, excessive vibration, exces-
sive voltage, damp, fuel, and short-circuits. The
same applies to defects due to severe wear.
SERVICE ADDRESS
PowerBox-Systems GmbH
Ludwig-Auer-Straße 5
86609 Donauwoerth
Germany

www.powerbox-systems.com 9
11. LIABILITY EXCLUSION
We are not in a position to ensure that you observe our instructions regarding ins-
tallation of PowerBox receivers, full the recommended conditions when using the
unit, or maintain the entire radio control system competently. For this reason we
deny liability for loss, damage or costs which arise due to the use or operation of
PowerBox receivers, or which are connected with such use in any way. Regardless
of the legal arguments employed, our obligation to pay compensation is limited to
the invoice total of our products which were involved in the event, insofar as this is
deemed legally permissible.
12. FCC
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that
may cause undesired operation.
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for
a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio fre-
quency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions,
may cause harmful interference to radio communications.

10 PowerBox-Systems − World Leaders in RC Power Supply Systems
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular ins-
tallation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television
reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user
is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following
measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which
the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
13. IC
This device contains license-exempt transmitter(s)/receiver(s) that comply with
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s license-exempt RSS(s).
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause interference.
(2) This device must accept any interference, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Appareils radio exempts de licence (ISDE) L‘émetteur/récepteur exempt de licen-
ce contenu dans le présent appareil est conforme aux CNR d‘Innovation, Sciences
et Développement économique Canada applicables aux appareils radio exempts
de licence. L’exploitation est autorisée aux deux conditions suivantes: