Microsoft word - powerexpander14mz_user_guide_reva.doc

Optional Failsafe-switch
Typical Installation Configurations
Warning: Always make sure the failsafe-switch is off
before charging through the PowerExpanerPro.
Failure to do so may result in the servos getting a
voltage too high for them resulting in servo failure.
The failsafe-switch and charge jacks can only be used
when batteries are plugged directly into the
PowerExpander.

The PowerExpander 14mz supports the addition of a failsafe switch
(optional package) for use when batteries are being used without
User Guide
regulators. The PowerExpander 14mz supports 5-cell NiCd or NiMH or 2-cell lithium packs, ion or poly. When using the failsafe-switch, the Thank you for purchasing the
switch lead is plugged into the input marked “Sw” near the bottom right of the servo connections as shown on the reference drawing. Smart-Fly PowerExpander 14mz!
Smart-Fly provides two types of failsafe switches. First is the standard slide switch that most people are familiar with. This is a small slide This manual takes you through the installation and operation of switch with out a charge jack. The second failsafe-switch is the the Smart-Fly PowerExpander 14mz unit. The unit is a power Pin&Flag switch, where a pin, with a flag on in, is inserted into the distribution unit that supplies full power to your servos while switch to turn the system off. To fly, the pin is pulled out of the switch. supplying a clean, regulated voltage to your receiver. Features The advantage of the Pin&Flag switch is that the system cannot accidentally be turned off, as can be the case with a slide switch. The failsafe switch lead can be extended using a standard Futaba extension. Light weight, 2.6oz, 74g
The PowerExpander 14mz also supports charging the batteries through Compact design, footprint is 4” x 3”
the two “Chg” connections, one on the bottom of each servo output rail Compatible with 14mz and 12mz radios
as shown on the reference drawing. The optional failsafe-switch package includes two charge leads and two Ernst charge jack mounts. Filtered and regulated 5.0V power to the receiver
The charge leads have a Futaba male on one end and a JR male on the 2-amp receiver regulator
other end. You may use these by plugging either end into the Additional information and technical help can be found at “Smart-Sense” inputs for error detection
PowerExpander 14mz and the other end into the charge jack holder. Long servo lead line matching
The charge jacks on the PowerExpander 14mz can also be used to LED power indicators for input and receiver power
connect to a battery meter. One thing to keep in mind when using a battery meter and the failsafe-switch is that the jacks are not switched Fully buffered outputs on all channels
off when the unit is off so the battery meter will continue to draw Full RF filtering of all signals in and out of the unit
High-current Deans UltraPlug power input
connectors
Optional failsafe-switch and charge jack package
available
Compatible with 8.4V lithium packs direct input (for
use with Hitec 5995 servos)
Reference Drawing
connections are on a single connector which should be plugged into the “Smart-Sense” Power Connections
Power is connected to the unit through the two Deans UltraPlug male connectors. The polarity of the Deans connector is shown on the All signals coming from the receiver into the PowerExpander 14mz are reference drawing. The “Smart-Sense” power inputs will show, by the RF filtered. This prevents noise from the servos from going out the LED for that input being lit, that the input connector is enabled. When an input is enabled, the voltage drop into the unit is less than 0.15V at five amps and less than 0.3V at ten amps. This is much less than a Connections Directly To Receiver
diode voltage drop, which most other units use. The Smart-Sense” If you want to connect a device directly to the receiver instead of going input recognizes this by the fact the two input sources are within 20 through the PowerExpander 14mz, make sure the current draw of the millivolts of each other. When the LED for an input is not lit that input receiver and the device is less than two amps. is turned off and power cannot flow out of the connector, as would be There are several reasons that a device might be connected directly to the receiver instead of going through the PowerExpander 14mz. The If one LED is not lit then the power on that connector may have most likely reason would be when lithium batteries are connected something wrong with it. This could be one of several things. If you directly to the PowerExpander 14mz, with no regulators, when Hitec have batteries connected directly to the unit then the two packs may not 5995 servos are used. In this case a servo other than a 5995 might be be charged to the same level. The higher pack will be drawn from until used for the throttle. As long as the combined current draw of the the two packs equalize in voltage. After the pack voltages equalize receiver and servo does not exceed two amps this will work just fine. power will be drawn from both batteries. If one pack has lost a cell and is at a much lower voltage this equalization will never happen and the The other reason for direct connections is for the digital channels on the power to the system will come from the good pack. If a pack should 14mz receiver. These do not go into the PowerExpander 14mz so any short, that input will be disabled and the system will run off the good connections to these will draw from the receiver power supply. Servo Connections
If regulators are being used on the two inputs then one regulator may be Servos are connected to the PowerExpander 14mz along the two rails set more than 20 millivolts below the regulator that has the LED lit or on either side of the receiver. The servo connectors are universal in the regulator may have gone bad. The “Smart-Sense” inputs can be that they will work with Futaba or JR connectors. When using a JR used to get dual regulators in the “neighborhood” of being equal but it connector please be careful to observe the polarity of the connection. should be remembered that regulators will not draw evenly when their The negative servo power lead (black on Futaba, brown on JR) is outputs are connected together, unless they are matched to less than a indicated by the “minus” sign. The positive servo power lead (red on hundredth of a volt which is very hard to do and may be impossible for Futaba and JR) is indicated by the “plus” sign. The servo signal line a given set of regulators. One thing to remember if you are using (white on Futaba, orange on JR) is indicated by the “top hat” symbol. adjustable regulators and one battery pack is going down faster than the other, adjust the voltage up of the regulator on the battery pack that is being used less. All receiver channels have each servo signal output individually buffered. If a servo were to short out its signal wire, the other servos Receiver Mounting
on that channel would not be affected. Each channel has two servo It is highly recommended that you beef up the power wiring between The receiver mounts in the center of the unit. 3M dual-lock mounting the battery and the PowerExpander 14mz above the standard 22ga tape has been supplied to mount the receiver. This tape’s holding wiring. Failure to do this will diminish the effectiveness of the power is extremely strong so it is recommended that the whole 1”x2” The unit also RF filters each signal output and matches line impedance PowerExpander 14mz at providing the highest possible voltage to the piece not be used. Instead it is recommended that you cut some 1”x ½” resulting in a cleaner signal down long servo leads. The impedance servos. Servos operating at lower voltages produce less torque than strips and use these on either end of the receiver. matching reduces the electrical “ringing” that can occur on long servo leads. Ringing can generate RF interference and can reduce receiver Receiver Connections
Receive Power LED Indicators
The receiver channel outputs are connected to the pigtails coming out The receiver power LED indicates the receiver is getting power. It of the PowerExpander 14mz in the area marked “Channel Inputs From does not actually recognize if the receiver is getting the 5V it should Receiver” on the reference drawing. Channel 1 and the power

Source: http://arturo.cl/manuales/PowerExpander_14MZ.pdf