Futaba 3PDF User Manual

3PDF

Instruction

Manual

ForCar'sandBoat's
3ChannelDigitalProportionalR/CSystem

1M23N02102

Thank you for purchasing the Futaba 3PDF.

Prior to operating your 3PDF, please read this manual thoroughly and use

your system in a safe manner.

After reading this manual store it in a safe place.

See the glossary on page (P36) for the definition’s of the special terms used in
this manual.

Application, Export and Reconstruction

1. Use this product in surface models only.
The product described in this manual is subject to regulations of the Ministry of
Radio/Telecommunications and is restricted under Japanese law to such pur­poses.

2. Exportation Precautions
(a) When this product is exported from Japan, its use is to be approved by the
Radio Law of the country of the destination.
(b) Use of this product with other than models may be restricted by Export and
Trade Control Regulations. An application for export approval must be submit­ted.

3. Modification, adjustment and replacement of parts.
Futaba is not responsible for unauthorized modification, adjustment and re­placement of parts of this product.

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT APPLIES TO THE
RECEIVER (FOR U.S.A.)

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions.
(1) This devise may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) This devise must accept any interference received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.

-No part of this manual may be reproduced in any form without prior permission.

-The contents of this manual are subject to change without prior notice.

-This manual has been carefully written, please write to Futaba if you feel that any corrections or clarifica­tions should be made.

-Futaba is not responsible for the use of this product.

-Futaba is an registered trademark of Futaba Corporation.

3PDF

Table of Contens

For your safety as well as

that of others.

Explanation of Symbols 2
Operation Precautions 2
Nicad Battery Handling Precautions

4
Other Precautions 4
Storage and Disposal Precautions

5

Prior to Operation

Features 6
Set Contents 7
Nomenclature / Handling 8
Digital Trim Operating Instructions

11
D/R ATL CH3 LeverOperating In-

structions 11
Display / Key Operation 12
Warning Displays 13
Precautions when turning the power

switches off and on. 13

Assembly

ダ

Receiver and Servo Connections

イ
レ

Assembly Safety Precautions 15

ク

Preparations Prior to Setting Trans-

mitter 16

ト

E.S.C. MC210CB Adjustment 17

モ

14

ー
ド
機
能

Function Map

Function Mode Group 18
System Mode Group 18
Direct Mode Group 19

Description of Functions

Steering Trim 20
Throttle Trim 21
Servo Reverse 22
Steering ATV 23
Throttle ATV 24
Steering D/R 25
Throttle ATL 26
Steering Exponential 27
Throttle Exponential 28
Model Select 29
Model Name 30
Lever Function Select 31
Channel 3 Function Selection 32
CH3 Position Setting 33

Reference

Ratings 34
Optional parts 34
Troubleshooting 35
Glossary 36
When requesting repair 37

For your safety
as well as that
of others.

Prior to
Operation

Assembly

Function
Map

Description
of
Functions

Reference

11

1

11

3PDF

For your safety as well as that of others.

Use this product in a safe manner. Please observe the following safety precautions at

all times.

Explanation of Symbols

For your safety as well as that of others.

and must be observed.

Symbols Explanation

DANGER
Warning
Caution

Indicates a procedure which could lead to a dangerous situ­ation and may cause death or serious injury if ignored and
not performed properly.

Indicates procedures which may lead to dangerous situa­tions and could cause death or serious injury as well as su­perficial injury and physical damage.

Indicates procedures that may not cause serious injury, but
could lead to physical damage.

Symbols: ; Prohibited ; Mandatory

Operation Precautions

Warning

The parts of this manual indicated by the following symbols are extremely important

22

2

22

Prohibited Procedures

Do not operate two or more models
on the same frequency at the same
time.

Operating two or more models at same time on the

same frequency will cause interference and loss of

control of both models.

AM, FM (PPM) and PCM are different methods
of modulation. Nonetheless the same frequency
can not be used at the same point in time, regard­less of the signal format.

Do not operate outdoors on rainy
days , run through puddles of water or
when visibility is limited.

Should any type of moisture (water or snow) enter any

compoent of the system, erratic opreation and loss of

control may occur.

Do not operate in the following
places.

-Near other sites where other radio control
activity may occur.

-Near people or roads.

-On any pond when rowboats are present.

-Near high tension power lines or communi­cation broadcasting antennas.

Interference could cause loss of control . Improper in­stallation of your Radio Control System in your model
could result in serious injury.

Do not operate this R/C system when
you are tired, not feeling well or under
the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Your judgment is impaired and could result in a dan­gerous situation that may cause serious injury to
yourself as well as others.

Mandatory Procedures







Tx Rx

Tx: Transmitter

Rx: Receiver

Use genuine Futaba

crystal sets only.

Extend the transmit­ter antenna to its full
length.

If the transmitter antenna is not

fully extended the operating

range of the radio will be re-

duced.

Extend to

full length

Always perform a operating range
check prior to use.

Problems with the radio control system as well as im-

proper installation in a model could cause loss of con-

trol.

(Simple range test method)
Have a friend hold the model, or clamp it down or

place it where the wheels or prop can not come in
contact with any object. Walk away and check to
see if the servos follow the movement of the con­trols on the transmitter. Should you notice any ab­normal operation, Do not operate the model. Also
check to be sure the model memory matches the
model in use.

Caution

Prohibited Procedures

When changing the frequency, be
sure to always use genuine Futaba
crystal sets (transmitter and receiver)
as specified in this manual. (Chang­ing the frequency crystals in systems
on 75MHz is illegal per FCC regula­tions)

If other brands of crystals are
used the system may not op­erate or the operating range
may be reduced.Loss of con­trol will occur .

Item Check

Check the transmitter antenna to be
sure it is not loose.

If the transmitter antenna works loose, or is discon­nected while the model is running signal transmission
will be lost. This will cause you to lose control of the
model..

For your safety as well as that of others.

1. Turn on the transmitter power switch.

2. Turn on the receiver or speed control

power switch.

Turning off the power switches

Always be sure the engine is not

running or the motor is stopped.

1. Turn off the receiver or speed control power switch.

2. Then turn off the transmitter power switch.

If the power switches are turned off in the opposite

order the model may unexpectedly run out of control

and cause a very dangerous situation.

Do not touch the engine, motor, speed control or any part of
the model that will generate heat while the model is operating
or immediately after its use.

These parts may be very hot and can cause serious burns.

Mandatory Procedures

Turning on the power switches.
Always check the throttle trigger on the
transmitter to be sure it is at the neutral
position.

Power ON

Power OFF

When making adjustments to
the model do so with the en­gine not running or the motor
disconnected.

You may unexpectedly lose control and
create a dangerous situation.

FP-R113F
FM

1
2
3
B/C

When operating your model
always display a frequency
flag on your transmitter an­tenna.

When you change the frequency, also
change the flag to the corresponding chan­nel.

33

3

33

Nicad Battery Handling Precautions

Shock

Prohibited

(Only when Nicad batteries are used)

Warning

Mandatory Procedures

For your safety as well as that of others.

Always check to be sure your batter­ies have been charged prior to oper­ating the model.

Should the battery go dead while the model is operat-

ing loss of control will occur and create a very danger-

ous situation.

When the model is not being used,
always remove or disconnect the
Nicad battery .

Should the battery be left connected this could create

a dangerous situation if someone accidentally turns

on the receiver power switch. Loss of control would

occur.

Caution

Prohibited Items

Do not use commercial AA size Nicad
batteries.

Quick charging may cause the

battery contacts to overheat and

damage the battery holder.

Use

prohibited

Nicad AA size

batteries.

To recharge the transmitter Nicad ,
use the special charger made for this
purpose.

Overcharging could cause the Nicad battery to over­heat, leak or explode. This may lead to fire, burns,
loss of sight and many other type's of injuries.

Special

Charger

Do not drop the Nicad battery or ex­pose it to strong shocks or vibrations.

The battery may short circuit and overheat, electrolyte
may leak out and cause burns or chemical damage.

44

4

44

Do not short circuit the Nicad battery
terminals.

Causing a short circuit across the battery terminals

may cause abnormal heating, fire and burns.

Other Precautions

Caution

Prohibited Procedures

Do not expose plastic parts to fuel,
motor spray, waste oil or exhaust.

The fuel, motor spray, waste oil and exhaust will pen-

etrate and damage the plastic.

Mandatory Procedures

Always use only genuine Futaba
transmitters, receivers, servos, FET
amps (electronic speed
controls),Nicad batteries and other
optional accessories.

Futaba will not be responsible for problems caused by
the use of other than Futaba genuine parts. Use the
parts specified in the instruction manual and catalog.

Storage and Disposal Precautions

Warning

Prohibited Procedures

Do not leave the radio system or
models within the reach of small chil­dren.

A small child may accidentally operate the system,

this could cause a dangerous situation and injuries.

Nicad batteries can be very dangerous when mis-

handled and cause chemical damage.

Do not throw Nicad batteries into a
fire. Do not expose Nicad batteries to
extreme heat. Also do not disas­semble or modify a Nicad battery
pack.

Overheating and breakage will cause the electrolyte

to leak from the cells and cause skin burns, loss of

sight as well as other injuries.

<Nicad Battery Electrolyte>

The electrolyte in Nicad batteries is a strong alkali. Should you get even the
smallest amount of the electrolyte in your eyes, DO NOT RUB, wash immedi­ately with water, seek medical attention at once. The electrolyte can cause blind­ness. If electrolyte comes in contact with your skin or clothes, wash with water
immediately.

Mandatory Procedures

When the system will not be used for
any length of time store the system
with batteries in a discharged state.
Be sure to recharge the batteries prior
to the next time the system is used.

If the batteries are repeatedly recharged in a slightly
discharged state the memory effect of the nicad bat­tery may considerably reduce the capacity . A reduc­tion in operating time will occur even when the batter­ies are charged for the recommended time.

For your safety as well as that of others.

Caution

Prohibited Procedures

Do not store your R/C system in the
following places.

- Where it is extremely hot or cold.

- Where the system will be exposed to direct
sunlight.

- Where the humidity is high.

-Where vibration is prevalent.

-Where dust is prevalent.

-Where the system would be exposed to
steam and condensation.

Storing your R/C system under adverse conditions

could cause deformation and numerous problems

with opreation.

<Nicad Battery Recycling>

A used Nicad battery is valuable resource. Insulate the battery terminals and
dispose the battery by taking it to a battery recycling center.

Mandatory Procedure

If the system will not be used for a
long period of time remove the batter­ies from the transmitter and model
and store in a cool dry place.

If the batteries are left in the transmitter electrolyte
may leak and damage the transmitter. This applies to
the model also, remove the batteries from it also to
prevent damage.

55

5

55

3PDF

-Multiple Model Memory (3 Models)

A model name can be assigned each memory using six alphabetic,
numeric and symbolic characters. (P30)
Digital Trim Memory will recall all trim settings. As you go from
model to model memory all trim settings will not have to be reset.

Prior to operation

Features

Prior to operation

All program information is displayed on a 8 character 2 line dis­play. The large display is easy to read.

-The third channel can be used to match your
application in specialty models.

-Large LCD Display

The third channel can be used in five operation modes.(P32)

-Digital Trim

Digital trim will allow positive and quick settings to be made.

-Lever Function Selection (P31)

This function applies to D/R, ATL and 3rd channel levers.. Since
they are digital, when you change the model memory these will not
require you to readjust the settings . They will be where they were
the last time that model memory was used.

-New Lightweight and Balanced Design

-Trigger Brake Stop (Mechanical ATL) (P8)

-Body Rest can be used (Option)

66

6

66

-Servo Reverse Function (P22) / Steering
ATV Function (P23) / Steering D/R function
(P25) / Throttle ATV Function (P24) / Throttle
ATL Function (P26)

Set Contents

After opening the container, check the contents for the following items. The contents

will vary with the system purchased.

Transmitter

Receiver

Servo

E.S.C.

Switch

Transmitter

/ Receiver

System with

2 servos

T3PDF (x1)

R113F (x1)

S3003 (x2 )

CSW-GS (x1)

or (none)

System with
1 MC210CB

S3003 (x1)

MC210CB (x1)

Prior to operation

Battery

Holder

Miscellaneous

R2-BSS-B (x1)

or (none)

Servo mounting hardware and servo horns

Mini Screwdriver

-Should any item be missing or you are uncertian of the contents of the system, please

contact the dealer where the system was purchased.

77

7

77

Transmitter T3PDF (Front)

Throttle Trim

Prior to operation

LCD
Screen

Nomemclature / Handling

Antenna

Steering Trim

Steering Wheel

Channel 3
Lever

Edit Keys

MULTI FUNCTION DISPLAY

Power LED

Power Switch

DOT MATRIX

POWER

CHARGE

Charging Jack

Steering D/R Lever

Throttle ATL Lever

Body Rest
Mounting Hole

* In the figure above the levers are shown in the neutral position.

Charging Jack

This jack is used to charge Nicad bat-

tery when used.

Caution

Never charge a dry cell type (Non­Nicad) battery.

Charging a non nicad type battery may damage the

transmitter, and could cause the battery electrolyte

to leak and cause additional damage.

DIGITAL PROPORTIONAL RADIO CONTROL SYSTEM

Mechanical ATL

The throttle trigger travel can be ad­justed to limit the brake stroke.

-Adjustment Method
When the screw is turned clockwise
the brake stroke will become shorter.
When the screw is turned counter
clockwise the stroke becomes longer
as shown in the figure above.

MODE

RESET

SELECT

Mechanical ATL
Adjustment Hole

Throttle Trigger

Grip Handle

88

8

88

Transmitter T3PDF (Rear)

When the battery alarm sounds
change the batteries, or if Nicads are
used recharge.
(Alarm voltage: approx. 8.7 Volts)

Crystal

Transmitter T3PDF (Bottom)

Handling the batteries (8 AA size batteries)

Battery Replacement

1Open the battery cover by slid-

ing in the direction of the arrow
shown in the figure.

2Remove used batteries.

Battery Cover

Open

Batteries
(8 AA Size
Batteries)

Prior to operation

Caution

Be sure to load the batteries in the
correct polarity order.

If the polarity is reversed the transmitter may be
damaged.

3Load the new AA size batteries.

Pay very close attention to the
polarity markings and reinsert
accordingly.

4Slide the battery cover back

into place.

<Check>

Turn the power switch on and check

voltage displayed on the LCD screen.

With new batteries the voltage dis-

played should be around 12 volts.

If the displayed voltage is low or does

not light all, check the batteries for in-

sufficient contact or incorrect battery

polarity.

When the system will not be used
for any length of time remove the
batteries.

If the batteries do happen to leak, clean the battery
contacts thoroughly. Make sure the contacts are
free of corrosion.

<Battery Disposal>

Some states require special handling
when any type of battery is disposed.
Contact the State Agency responsible
for recycling hazardous waste for pro­cedures in your area.

<Converting to Nicad Batteries>

Purchase Futaba Part Number NT­8JY to convert your transmitter to
Nicad use.

99

9

99

Receiver R113F

Crystal

Antenna

Prior to operation

Servo S3003

Servo Horn

To Receiver

FP-R113F

FM

1
2
3

B/C

Mounting Flange

Output Connector

“1”: Steering Servo (Ch1)
“2”: Throttle Servo (Ch2)
“3”: CH3 Servo (CH3)

Power Connector

<Accessories>

The following accessories are sup­plied with the system;

-Spare servo horns: Use to match
your application.

-Servo mounting hardware: Rubber
bushing, grommet, wood screws.

(For mounting precautions see
pages 15.)

1010

10

1010

Electronic speed control MC210CB

MC 210CB

Monitor Lamp

Neutral Point Trim

High Point Trim

Connects

to Motor

Connects
to Battery

ON

Power

OFF

switch

Connects

to Receiver