3D Robotics PPM Encoder User Manual

PPM ENCODER

PPM encoder module

Translates up to eight PWM (pulse width modulation)
signals into one PPM (pulse position modulation) signal,
allowing you to connect a PWM receiver to a PPM­compatible autopilot over one wire

Three-wire cable (12 cm)

DF13 three-position to servo cable connects
the encoder to the autopilot

Ten-wire cable (7 cm)

DF13 ten-position to servo cable connects
the PWM receiver to the encoder

Connect a PPM receiver

Connect the ten-wire cable to

1

the encoder’s ten-position port.

Connect each wire to your RC receiver. Connect

2

the red wire to power, the black wire to ground,
and the white wires to channels one through
eight as shown below.

Power

Ground

Channel 1
Channel 2
Channel 3
Channel 4
Channel 5
Channel 6
Channel 7
Channel 8

Connect the three-wire cable to

3

the encoder’s three-position port.

Connect the three-wire cable to

4

your autopilot’s input pins.

Pixhawk

Connect to RC pins.

ground (-) black wire
power (+) red wire
signal (s) white wire

PX4

Connect to signal, power,
and ground input pins 1.

signal (s) white wire
power (+) red wire
ground (-) black wire

APM 2.6

Connect a PPM jumper (included with APM)
to signal pins 2 and 3. Connect three-wire
cable to ground, power, and signal pins 1.

signal (s) white wire
power (+) red wire
ground (-) black wire

PPM jumper

LED

When powered, the LED indicates the status of the radio signal.

Slow to fast blinking blue:
signal in good health, speed
corresponds to throttle channel
position

Very fast to constant blue:
throttle channel lost or all
channels lost

Configuration

No configuration is necessary to use the PPM encoder out of
the box, just connect and power to translate PWM into PPM
over one wire. For information on reloading firmware onto
the encoder, visit the APM Wiki page here.

The ATmega328p firmware can be downloaded here for

planes and rovers and here for copters.

Failsafe configuration

Failsafes can protect your vehicle from loss of radio signal.
To learn more about configuring failsafes with your PPM
encoder, visit the APM Wiki page here.

Specifications

• ATmega328p microcontroller, firmware upgrade enabled through AVRISP programmer

• 22 x 19 x 5.5 mm (without cables)

• 1.45 g

Support

For customer support, contact us at [e-mail]
or call our support line at [phone]
Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm, PST.

PPM Encoder User Manual V1 | ©3D Robotics, Inc. | 13 January 2014