Heli-Max 1Si Quadcopter Instruction Manual

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1Si Quadcopter

Instruction Manual

Please fully read and understand this manual and the operation and all safety aspects required of you for the safe operation of this product. Before use, if you feel this product is not for you please return it to your place of purchase.

Heli-Max products are to be used by ages 14 and over.

Manual Specifications and Description Changes

The instruction manual, warranties and other associated documentation is subject to change without notice. Hobbico assumes no responsibility for inadvertent errors to this manual.

WARNING

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INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing the Heli-Max 1Si Quadcopter. We are certain you

will get many hours of enjoyment out of this model. If you should have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact us at: helihotline@hobbico. com. For the latest technical updates or manual corrections visit the Heli-Max web site at www.helimax-rc.com. If there is any new technical information, changes or important updates to this model a “tech notice” box will appear on the 1Si product page. Click the “tech notice” box to learn more about this

important update.

When you see this symbol, please pay special attention and heed all warnings regarding the information within.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Please note that we cannot provide you information on the pricing you will ﬁ nd in your local retailer’s store for any products.

If you need technical support or have any questions, you can reach us by one of the following means. When contacting us, please include the name of the product you are referring to, its stock number and as much information

about your question or issue as possible.

For support outside the U.S. or Canada, please contact the distributor in your country. If unable to contact the appropriate distributor, please contact us. However, we are unable to respond to emails in languages other than English.

Email us at helihotline@hobbico.com. Please try to include as much

information as possible when asking your question. Also please be sure to list your full email address (ex: johndoe@aol.com) as well as at least one other means of daytime contact in your email.

Phone

1-217-398-8970 Select option 6.

Available Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm U.S. Central Time.

Fax

1-217-398-7721 Please be sure to

include a daytime telephone number or return fax number so that we can contact you.

Regular Mail

If you prefer, we can always respond with a regular mailed letter. Simply write to us, including a brief explanation of your problem or question along with the

product name you are referring to. Use the Hobby Services address below.

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WARRANTY SERVICE

Heli-Max guarantees this kit to be free from defects in both material and workmanship at the date of purchase. This warranty does not cover any component parts damaged by use or modification. In no case shall Heli-

Max’s liability exceed the original cost of the purchased kit. Further, Heli-Max reserves the right to change or modify this warranty without notice.

In that Heli-Max has no control over the final assembly or material used for final assembly, no liability shall be assumed nor accepted for any damage

resulting from the use by the user of the final user-assembled product. By the act of using the user assembled product, the user accepts all resulting

liability. If the buyer is not prepared to accept the liability associated with the use of this product, the buyer is advised to return this kit immediately in

new and unused condition to the place of purchase.

To make a warranty claim, Hobby Services send the defective part 3002 N. Apollo Dr., Suite 1 or item to Hobby Services Champaign, IL 61822 at this address. USA

Include a letter stating your name, return shipping address, as much contact

information as possible (daytime telephone number, fax number, e-mail

address), a detailed description of the problem and a photocopy of the

purchase receipt. Upon receipt of the package the problem will be evaluated

as quickly as possible.

RTF KIT CONTENTS

1. 1Si Quadcopter

2. HMX 465 SLT Transmitter

3. Heli-Max 350mAh LiPo

Battery pack (1)

4. USB Charger

5. Extra set of blades, 2 black, 2 white

6. Small Phillips screwdriver

7. 4 Blade Guards with screws, 2 gray, 2 white

8. AA Batteries (4)

9. 2G Micro SD card (HMXE0832 only)

10. Card reader (HMXE0832 only)

11. Camera (HMXE0832 only)

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FEATURES & SPECIFICATIONS

Features

● Switchable TAGS-FX™ Sensor Fusion stabilization system

● On board micro digital video camera (HMXE0832 only)

● On board micro snap-shot digital picture camera (HMXE0832 only)

● USB Micro SD Card reader (HMXE0832 only)

● 2G Micro SD removable card (HMXE0832 only)

● LEDs for orientation built into frame

● Actual Direction Control ﬂ ight mode

● Auto Return function

● Optional rotor blade guards

Product Speciﬁ cations

Size: 125 mm (4.92") Quadcopter (Diagonal from motor

center to motor center) Motors: 20×7 Coreless (4) Empty Weight: 31g (1.09 oz) 35g with camera Weight RTF: 41g (1.62 oz) 45g with camera Blade Length: 56 mm (2.20") Overall Length: 138 mm (5.44") Height: 45 mm (1.77") Width: 138 mm (5.44")

Camera Speciﬁ cations

Memory: Accepts Micro SD card Size: 40 mm×20 mm×8 mm L×W×H Codec Video: Motion JPEG, 1280×720, 30 fps, file extension .avi Codec Audio: PCM S16 LE, mono Still Image capture: 1280×720, 96 dpi, file extension .jpg

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Operational Warnings

Failure to follow these safety precautions may result in injury to yourself and others.

● Keep your face and body as well as all spectators away from the rotating

blades whenever the battery is connected.

● Keep loose clothing, shirt sleeves, ties, scarfs, long hair or loose objects

such as pencils or screwdrivers that may fall out of shirt or jacket pockets

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away from the rotors. The spinning blades of a model of this type can cause serious injury.

● When choosing a ﬂ ying site stay clear of buildings, trees and power lines.

AVOID ﬂ ying in or near crowded areas.

● DO NOT ﬂ y close to people or pets. Maintain a safe distance from the

quadcopter.

● Do not alter or modify the model. Doing so may result in an unsafe or un-

ﬂ yable model.

● When and if repairs are necessary you must correctly install all components

so that the model operates properly on the ground and in the air. Please check the operation of the model before every ﬂ ight to insure that all equipment is operating and that the model has remained structurally sound.

● Please allow a 10 minute cool down period after each ﬂ ight so the motor

controller and motors can cool down. Failure to do so may cause loss of control due to the controller overheating and shutting down.

● Inspect the rotor blades before each ﬂ ight for nicks. If any damage is found

or if the blades have been damaged, replace the blades before ﬂ ying the model again.

● After a crash you must inspect all plastic parts on the quadcopter for

damage before attempting to ﬂ y the model again.

Battery Warnings and Usage Guidelines

Please read and understand the following regarding the usage of LiPo batteries.

● NOTE: Heli-Max Quadcopter battery packs are not

cross compatible with Heli-Max NOVUS brand battery packs or chargers.

● Through the use of the included LiPo battery you have assumed all risk

and responsibility regarding a LiPo battery and its use.

● ALWAYS unplug your battery from either the charger or Quadcopter after use.

NEVER store your Quadcopter with the battery plugged into the Quadcopter.

● Do not attempt to charge your battery if it becomes swollen or hot.

● It’s best to store your batteries charged and at room temperature. Storing

a fully discharged battery may cause irreversible damage to the battery.

● Never disassemble, puncture or modify the battery pack in anyway.

● Never allow the battery temperature to exceed 150° F [65° C].

● If your battery begins to swell or “puff” during charge or discharge or

becomes damaged in any way, stop using it and contact Hobby Services at 217-398-0007 to learn the proper way to dispose of your battery.

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Charge Warnings

● Only use the included charger with the included LiPo battery.

Do not attempt to use the provided charger with NiCd, NiMH or batteries with other chemistries.

● Do not leave the charger unattended while in use and always charge your

battery in a ﬁ re-resistant location.

● Disconnect the battery and remove input power from the charger immediately

if either becomes hot!

● Do not allow water or other foreign objects to enter the charger. Keep the

charger away from moisture and do not submerge in water.

● Please keep all electronic components out of the reach of children!

BATTERY CHARGING

● WARNING!! The charger supplied with the Heli-Max 1Si

Quadcopter contains protective circuitry. If you experience any difficulties while charging the battery, please disconnect the battery from the charger and unplug the charger from the power

source. Allow the battery and charger to rest for two hours as this will allow

the charge protection circuit to reset. If this issue re-occurs during normal

use, please contact technical support for further assistance.

❏ Plug the flight battery into the end

of the USB charger.

❏ Plug charger into a USB port. A

steady red light will glow letting you know the battery is charging. The light will flash slowly when the charge is complete. Remove the battery from the charger. Under normal operating conditions, the battery may take up to 60 minutes to recharge. Never leave the battery attached to the charger after charging is complete.

NOTE: A fast flash indicates a charge error. This is usually an indication that your battery is defective and should be replaced.

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Transmitter Setup

❏ Install 4 AA batteries in the

transmitter by removing the battery cover from the back of the transmitter. Double-check the polarity of each battery before replacing the battery cover.

❏ Turn the Transmitter on and make

sure that there is a blue light behind the Heli-Max panel at the top of the transmitter. The LCD screen should be on, with a throttle position indicator and other information.

❏ Make sure the electronic trim

indicators on the display are centered.

TRANSMITTER CONTROLS

All controls are described with the tail pointing directly toward you. This is the best way to fly in the beginning since it keeps the control inputs oriented the same direction.

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INSTALLING THE BLADE GUARDS

Installing the optional rotor blade guards is recommended. Besides protecting the rotor blades from damage, these parts can also allow the 1Si to continue to ﬂ y if it brushes up against a wall or other solid object.

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❏ Slide the guard over the motor and

position the hole for the mounting screw over the dimple on the top of

the arm.

❏ Secure the guard to the frame with

the included screw.

FLYING YOUR 1Si QUADCOPTER

Electric motors are very dangerous. Do not work on the model while the flight battery is plugged in as interference may cause the main rotor blades to spin, possibly causing injury.

❏

Turn on the TX465 transmitter. Install

the flight battery by sliding the battery

into the battery compartment. Connect the battery to the power connector and tuck the wires on the side of the compartment. Place the quad on a flat

surface and wait for 2 seconds to allow the TAGS-FX control board to calibrate.

NOTE: The 1Si will be “ON” at this

point. Your quadcopter has a safe

start feature built in that prevents the motor from activating unless the throttle stick has been lowered to the lowest position. If the motors won’t run, please make sure the throttle stick is all the way down and the throttle trim is at or below center. Wait a couple of seconds and try advancing the throttle again.

Takeoff

Advance the throttle until the model is at least a foot off the ground and out of ground effect. If flying outdoors it’s important to stick to light winds. If you

plan to take off and land in grass, place a rubber mat or pad down on the

grass so the small rotating parts don’t get hung up in the grass.

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Hovering

Once the quad is in the air simply try to keep it in one spot. This will take

some practice. Remember that even a light breeze will have an effect on the stability of the quad.

Landing

Level the quad into a steady hover and slowly decrease power until it lands.

You might notice as the Quadcopter is ready to touch down it moves around

a little. This is normal as the Quadcopter enters ground effect.

BASIC MANEUVERS

Once you are comfortable with hovering in one place start working on orientations. By this we mean, hover the Quadcopter in all positions, nose to the right, nose to the left and the nose pointing at you (nose-in). Getting good at this fundamental discipline will allow you to progress much faster

in some of the more advanced flying maneuvers.

Slow Pirouettes

Move the left stick (left or right) you can rotate the Quadcopter around 360°, which is called a pirouette.

Forward Flight

Now it’s time to work into basic forward flight. Just take the basic hovering

maneuvers listed above and slowly fly out farther and faster and always bring the Quadcopter back after one pass. Practice controlled slow flight in close as well. The more time you spend practicing here, the easier things will be later on.

POST-FLIGHT PROCEDURES

Before turning off the transmitter, make sure that all the trim indicators on the transmitter are centered. If you ﬁ nd that the model is consistently drifting in one direction, the sensors on the 1Si may need to be re-calibrated (see Troubleshooting).

Remove the battery from the 1Si. Allow it cool to room temperature and

recharge it. Do not leave the battery connected to the 1Si after the ﬂ ight is completed.

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If the model is to be stored for a long time period, please remove the batteries from the transmitter to avoid damage to the contacts. If storing the model for

several weeks, the batteries for the quadcopter should be charged to 50% of a full charge and checked after 3 to 4 months.

FLIGHT MODE OPTIONS

The TX465 transmitter has a dual rate

function. This feature toggles between a ﬂ ight mode that reduces the model’s range of motion to make the 1Si easer to ﬂ y and one that allows the full range of motion so the 1Si can ﬂ y in a more aggressive manner. To toggle between these two ﬂ ight modes, press down on the right control stick and release

it. When the transmitter is in low rates,

the ellipse in the lower center of the LCD screen will show a half ellipse and emit a single low pitch single beep. For high rates, the ellipse will be complete and the transmitter will emit a

single high pitch beep.

Adjusting the Flight Sensitivity

You can also make the transmitter for the 1Si more or less sensitive by

changing the control setting. To do this, press and hold the right stick down. When the transmitter starts to beep continuously, move the throttle up or down to adjust the sensitivity percentage which will be indicated on the LCD

screen. A higher value will make the controls more sensitive. When you have

the desired setting, release the right stick and return the throttle to 0%. We

have found that 30% is good all-around setting. Warning: If this value gets

bumped to 0 your quadcopter will respond very slowly to any right stick input.

Braking

When the 1Si is turned on, it will be in the normal flight mode. In this mode, the control board will apply “Braking” to level the 1Si and slowly return the

model to a hover when the right control stick is centered. This feature was

added to reduce the chance that the 1Si will be damaged in a crash.

The Braking feature can be turned off by pressing the F Mode button. To

indicate that the 1Si in now in the manual mode, the LED on the back of the

1Si will flash twice quickly, turn off for a second, flash twice quickly again,

then remain steady. When the 1Si is in this mode, the model will continue

moving when the right stick is centered.

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To return to the normal flight model, press the F Mode button again. The rear

LED will flash twice, stay steady for a second, flash twice again, and then

remain steady. This sequence indicates that the accelerometers and the

Braking function are active again.

Actual Direction Control

When the ICM button is held down for a couple of seconds, the rear LED on the 1Si will start to flash slowly. This indicates that the Actual Direction Control mode is active and the pilot’s position is now the reference point for the controls. In this mode, moving the right stick forward and backward will

move the model closer or farther to the pilot’s position. A stick movement to

the left or right will make the model move left or right. In this mode, it does

not matter which direction the front of the 1Si is facing. The antenna must be

pointed towards the 1Si at all times for this feature to work correctly.

To turn this feature off, hold the ICM button down again for couple of seconds. The rear LED will become steady to indicate that the model is back in normal

flight mode.

Auto Return

When the ICM button is pressed quickly and released, the 1Si will enter the Auto Return mode. The rear LED will flash quickly and model will start to fly toward the transmitter. The pilot can use the throttle to control the altitude, but any movement with the right stick will cause the model to return to the

normal flight mode. When the model gets close, the pilot should expect to use the transmitter to slow the 1Si and bring it to a hover.

CAMERA OPERATION

The camera will be in VIDEO mode when it is ﬁ rst powered up. Press the

VIDEO button to start recording a video. You will see the LED on the side of the camera ﬂ ash slowly while the video is being captured. To stop recording and store the video, press the VIDEO button again. The LED will stop ﬂ ashing to indicate that the camera is ready for use. If the card is removed or the battery unplugged while the camera is recording, the video will NOT be

saved on the card.

Before the camera can take a photo, it must be in the Picture mode. Press the PICTURE button one time, to change the mode. The LED on the camera will remain steady while the camera mode is changed. Press the PICTURE button to take a photo. You will notice that the LED will ﬂ ash rapidly as the picture is recorded and stored on the micro SD card. When the LED stops ﬂ ashing, the camera is ready to take another photo. If the Picture button is pressed while the LED is ﬂ ashing, the camera will not capture another photo.

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The VIDEO button must be pressed once to change modes before the camera

will capture a video.

Installing the MicroSD Card

Remove the SD card from the

protective case. Flip the model over

and push the SD card into the slot on

the side of the camera module. When

the card is correctly installed, it will

click. To remove the card, simply press

on the card again and the inner spring

system will help eject the card. Note:

The card must be in place to capture

video or Pictures. The camera has no

internal memory.

Downloading the video and pictures from the camera:

Install the MicroSD card into the reader.

Plug the reader into the USB port of

your computer.

The USB connection will be auto

recognized and the files ready to be

transferred.

At this point you can copy or transfer

your files to your folder structure.

TROUBLESHOOTING

PROBLEM: 1Si does not react to any stick movements.

Solution 1: Make sure that the battery voltage is above 4.0 volts

Solution 2: If the LED on the rear of the model is not steady, unplug the

battery and turn off the transmitter to allow the control board to reset itself. After about a minute, turn on the transmitter and reconnect the battery.

PROBLEM: Flies with poor power or buzzes.

Solution: One of the props may be bent. Carefully bend it straight.

PROBLEM: You notice that one of the motors spins noticeably slower

or feels tight.

Solution: Replace the motor. This is done by removing all 4 props and

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loosening the screws holding the frame together. Remove the top of the frame and unplug the defective motor wire from the control board.

The LED board can be popped off the alignment posts with a small

screwdriver. The motor will slide out of the frame and the new motor/ LED board can now be installed. A couple of small pieces of tape will hold the LED board in place.

PROBLEM: The 1SI will not return directly to you in Auto Return mode.

Solution: Calibrate the transmitter and or the control board.

Control Board Sensor Calibration

Press and hold down on the right stick assembly. While holding the right stick down, press down on the left stick assembly 4 times. Release both stick assemblies and press up on the throttle trim button. The rear LED on the 1Si should flash rapidly. When it stops flashing, press down on the left stick assembly to exit the calibration mode. This procedure will usually correct a consistent drifting problem when flying the 1Si. If you still have problems with drifting, the props and motors should be checked for damage.

Transmitter Calibration

Press on the ICW button while turning on the transmitter. The display will show a “1” briefly then display a “2”.

Place the transmitter down on its back with the antenna pointed away from you. Slowly rotate the transmitter clockwise three times, then three times counterclockwise.

Pick the transmitter up by the sides and rotate it so the antenna moves toward you. Rotate it three times, then three more times in the opposite direction.

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Hold the transmitter by the antenna and bottom with antenna

pointed away from you. Rotate the transmitter left to right three times. Rotate it three more times from right to left.

Hold the transmitter by the upper

right corner and lower left corner

so the antenna is pointed 45 degrees to the right. Rotate the transmitter three times with the antenna moving toward you, then three more times in the opposite direction.

Put the transmitter down with the antenna pointed away from you and push the ICW button. The display should read “0”.

Press the F Mode button. The display will indicate 90 and the transmitter

should be rotated so the antenna is at 90 degrees. Each time the F Mode button is pressed, the display will increase 90 degrees and the transmitter should be rotated to that position before the button is pressed again. When the display reads “0”, press the F Mode button to exit the calibration mode.

This procedure will usually correct problems with the Auto Return or

Actual Direction Control modes. If you continue to have problems, please try the model in another area. There may be some interference in your flying location that is affecting the sensors.

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REAR LED CODES

1 Long, 3 Short, Off, 1 Long, 3 Short …

Steady

1 Short, Off (rapidly flashing)

1 Long, Off (slowly flashing)

2 Short, Off, 2 Short, Remains ON

2 Short, 1 Long, 2 Short, Remains On

Control board is not linked with transmitter

1Si is ready for flight

Auto Return mode is active

Active Direction Control mode is active

1Si is changing to Manual Flight mode

1Si is changing to Normal Flight mode

THIS SIGNAL MEANS THAT THE

PROBLEM: The Camera System will not take a photo or start recording a video.

Solution 1: Install the micro SD card if it is not in the slot.

Solution 2: Eject the card and check for any debris on the contacts.

Solution 3: Make sure card is OK by putting the card in reader and

checking on your PC.

MAINTENANCE

When installing the rotor blades on the 1Si, please use this photo as a guide.

There is also an arrow molded on the frame to show the direction the rotor

blades will spin.

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REPLACEMENT PARTS

Key Part No. Description

1 HMXE2203 Blade Guard (4) 2 HMXE2202 Rotor Blades Black / White 3 HMXE2244 Body / Frame Gray 4 HMXM2053 TAGS-FX Controller Board 5 HMXE2243 Motor / LED Right Front Blue 6 HMXE2242 Motor / LED Left Front Blue 7 HMXE2241 Motor / LED Right Rear Red 8 HMXE2240 Motor / LED Left Rear Red 9 HMXE2180 Control Board Dampeners 10 HMXE2245 Receiver Mount 11 HMXP1015 LiPo 1S 3.7V 350mAh 12 HMXZ0001 Video / Picture Camera 13 HMXE7339 Screw Set 14 HMXE2246 Landing Pads (4) HMXJ2029 TX465 Transmitter SLT HMXP2023 USB Charger HMXZ0002 USB Micro SD Reader

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EXPLODED VIEW

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