SRC-VX1P Sparted Vortex Pico VX1P User Guide
2
90°
Small Electric
Helicopters
(250, 450 and 500)
Ball link 7.5mm
from servo shaft
90°
Larger Electric and
All Nitro Helicopters
13.5 - 16.5mm
from servo shaft
base and the original dated sales receipt must be provided; we will not
replace items in advance. Spartan RC retains the exclusive right to repair
or replace the product or offer a full refund of the purchase price at its
sole discretion. In no event shall Spartan RC be liable for any incidental,
special, indirect or consequential damages resulting from the use, misuse
or inability to use the product or from defects in the product.
Important: Register your product via the Spartan website within 30 days
of the original purchase to qualify for 3 years free service and discounted
crash replacements. The original dated sales receipt is required for all
claims. Terms & Conditions apply. Check website for qualifying products.
APPENDIX A – BEST PRACTICES FOR MAIN ROTOR SETUP
Set the head driving linkages whilst the “Setup::Swash::Trim(x)” menu is
active. During trim adjustments the collective and cyclic controls are
overridden to zero thus providing the right conditions for setting the
correct swashplate and head geometry.
APPENDIX B – BEST PRACTICES FOR TAIL ROTOR SETUP
Set the tail rotor linkages whilst the “Setup::Tail::Servo Trim” menu is
active. This menu overrides the rudder control to zero thus providing the
right conditions for setting the correct tail geometry. The servo arm
should be at a 90° angle with the pushrod as illustrated. The linkage
length should be adjusted so the tail rotor pitch is set to 0°.
Follow the advice in the
helicopter’s assembly manual
regarding the placement of the
ball link onto the tail servo horn.
When such advice is not
provided or has resulted in poor
tail performance we recommend
placing the ball link at 7.5mm in
the case of small electric
helicopters and 13.5 - 16.5mm
for the larger electric
and all nitro helicopters.
Alternatively you may
choose to place the ball
link at a distance that
allows the servo to have
a combined travel of
around 80° from the low
endpoint to the high
endpoint.
For best results set the tail rotor pitch to approximately 8° when the
collective stick is at hover point. This is not a strict requirement but it can
improve certain aspects of the tail performance.
APPENDING C- SENSOR MOUNTING
The correct operation, performance and stability of your Vortex can be
greatly affected by the way it is mounted on the airframe. For products
with a remote gyro sensor the advice below applies to the sensor unit
instead. In such cases the Flight Computer has no particular mounting
orientation requirements.
Use the supplied adhesive foam pads to mount the unit to the helicopter
frame. Replacement mounting pads are available from your Spartan
Vortex retailer.
The unit can be mounted upright, inverted, facing left or facing right.
However the cables must always exit towards the front or back of the
airframe.
It is essential that the unit is aligned as accurately as possibly with the
pitch, roll and yaw axis of the aircraft. Always mount it to a rigid flat
surface.
Do not allow the unit’s case to touch other objects.
Avoid fixing the cables to the helicopter for the first 5cm (2 inches) from
the unit end to reduce transmission of vibrations through the cables.
Avoid mounting the unit in direct proximity to large electric motors.
WARNING!
• Inspect the condition of the adhesive pad as part of your regular pre-
flight checks.
• Do not mount the unit in locations where it may be subjected to high
levels of oily smoke, fuel, or other liquids.
• Do not allow the remote sensor cable to touch any sharp edges of the
helicopter airframe.
• Do not fit cable braid over the remote sensor cable.
• Do not put any tension on the remote sensor cable. It can damage the
wires and result to an in flight failure.
APPENDIX D - FLIGHT COMPUTER STATUS LIGHT
Status Light
Description
Normal Operation
Steady blue
Normal operation – Nothing to report.
Blue 1 flash
T
he aileron stick is not at neutral.
Blue 2 flashes
T
he elevator stick is not at neutral.
Blue 3 flashes
T
he rudder stick is not at neutral.
Blue
rapid
flashing
T
rim flight active.
Steady violet for
few seconds
T
he Vortex is saving data such as changes to
the configuration parameters to its internal
memory.
Error Codes
Red slow
flashing
T
he Vortex is waiting for signal from the
receiver. Usually seen before the receiver has
linked to the transmitter.
Red momentary
flash
T
he Vortex changed over to the other satellite
receiver.
Red rapid
flashing
T
he Vortex is scanning both satellite receivers
but neither is receiving a transmission.
Violet slowly
pulsating
T
he input voltage is too low for the Vortex to
operate correctly.
Fw
Ldr
Violet rapid
flashing
Firmware update mode.
APPENDIX E - SENSOR STATUS LIGHT
For systems without a remote sensor the light codes descried below will
appear on the unit itself instead.
Status Light
Description
Normal
Operation
Alternating
Blue/Red
T
he sensor is calibrating. Do not move
the heli.
Steady blue
Sensor calibration ok.
Steady red
T
he sensor was moved during calibration. The
calibration quality may be bad and drift may
occur in flight.
Error Codes
Violet 1, 2 or 3*
flashes, then
repeat
T
he sensor self-test failed. It may indicate a
fault but it can also be triggered if the sensor is
abruptly moved during calibration.
Red 1, 2 or 3*
Flashes, then
repeat
T
he sensor is reporting that it is operating
outside its design specification. It may indicate
a sensor fault but can also be triggered by
extreme shock in case of a crash.
Fw
Ldr
Violet rapid
flashing
Firmware update mode.
* The number of flashes indicates the sensor that is reporting the error.
LIABILITY DISCLAIMER
Because Spartan RC and their distributors have no control over the
installation and use of this product, no liability may be assumed nor will
any liability be accepted for any damages resulting from the use of this
product. Under no circumstances will the buyer be entitled to
consequential or incidental damages. By the act of installing this product,
the buyer accepts all resulting liability.
COPYRIGHT AND LICENCE
The documentation, electronic design and firmware are the Copyright of
Spartan RC. The firmware is licensed for use only on products
manufactured by Spartan RC. Reproduction and distribution of this
document for non-commercial use is allowed. Reproduction must remain
intact, as a complete whole, and including this notice.
Image courtesy
of AleeS
Step 1: The driving arm of
the swashplate linkage must
form a 90° angle with the
linkage. Use trim menus to
adjust.
Step 2: The swashplate
must be accurately
perpendicular to the main
shaft. Use suitable levelling
tool. Adjust linkage lengths
to set.
Step 3: The main blades
should have an accurate
0° pitch. Adjust swash to
blade linka
g
es to set.