Operation
The status LED on the Fiber-optic Transmitter will indicate its state. You
must have this working before you install the cable and Fiber-optic Receiver.
When the status LED is “OFF”, the ignition should be off. Check that when
this LED is off the LED connected to the Fiber-optic Receiver is also off.
When the status LED on the Fiber-optic Transmitter is “ON”, the LED
connected to the Fiber-optic Receiver should also be on.
Testing the installation
The Ignition Cutoff installation is tested by observing the LEDs on both the
Fiber-optic Transmitter and Fiber-optic Receiver in the ON and OFF modes.
They should both be ON and both be OFF with the given transmitter
command. If the switch On/Off position is not the direction you would
prefer, use the channel reverse to change this.
The channel controlling the Ignition Cutoff must have its failsafe set if the
radio is any type other than FM (PPM). To test this, turn the Ignition Cutoff
on using the switch on the transmitter and then turn the transmitter off. The
Ignition Cutoff should turn off. If not, check your failsafe settings for this
channel.
The following table gives some help on tracking down problems:
Symptom Suggestion
Status LED on
Fiber-optic
Transmitter does
not turn on.
a) Check to make sure the Fiber-optic Transmitter is
plugged into the right channel for the switch on the
transmitter.
b) Check the ATV for the channel the Fiber-optic
Transmitter is plugged into. It should be set at least
at 100% for the unit to operate correctly.
Status LED on
Fiber-optic
Receiver does
not come on.
a) Check to be sure the ignition is on.
b) Check the LED is plugged in securely to connector.
c) Check that the connector is in the correct orientation,
red wire to “Red” and black wire to “Blk”.
a) Check that the fiber-optic cable is seated all the way
back in the ferrule. Check that the ends of the fiberoptic cable are clean-cut and clear.
Quest Engineering & Development, Inc.
6125 S Ash Ave, Suite B-8
Tempe, AZ 85283
Regulated Ignition Cutoff
User Guide
Thank you for purchasing the Smart-Fly Ignition Cutoff!
This manual takes you through the installation and operation of the
Smart-Fly Regulated Ignition Cutoff unit.
How it all works
The Ignition Cutoff consists of an optically coupled pair of modules.
The Fiber-optic transmitter connects to your receiver. The Fiber-optic
receiver connects to your ignition system.
The Ignition Cutoff works by
sending infrared light (not visible to the human eye) from the Fiber-optic
Transmitter over the fiber-optic cable to the Fiber-optic Receiver. The
ignition is enabled when the Fiber-optic Transmitter is sending light down
the cable. The Fiber-optic Transmitter responds to a channel on the receiver
controlled by a switch on the radio transmitter. On any radio system except
FM (PPM) the failsafe must be set so that when the transmitter is turned
off the receiver turns off the Cutoff.
Why use an ignition cutoff?
The main reason for installing an ignition cutoff device is safety. The unit
provides several levels of safety to both the pilot and the spectators. If the
radio system is not turned on but the ignition system is turned on the Ignition
Cutoff prevents the engine from starting. Another reason is safety while in
the air. If you were to lose power to the receiver because of a dead battery or
a broken wire, your plane is going to go where it wants at the throttle setting
that you had just before the power loss. This could be any direction. It
could just fly off into the sunset until it runs out of gas or, worse, it could be
headed towards other pilots and spectators. With the Ignition Cutoff in the
plane the engine will be cut when power is lost. This means the propeller
will not be spinning when the plane hits, what ever it hits, and the speed is
reduced. Lastly, the Ignition Cutoff provides a means of cutting the engine if
anything happens to the throttle servo or linkage. Rather than fly until your
tank runs out you can now bring the plane in quickly and safely.
Installation
The Fiber-optic Transmitter should be installed near the receiver. The
channel on your transmitter you want to use for the Ignition Cutoff should be
assigned to a two-position switch. The Fiber-optic Transmitter module is
plugged into the receiver corresponding to the switch channel on the
transmitter. Travel should be set to at least +/- 100%. Double-sided Velcro
tape is an acceptable way to mount the unit.
You should make sure the radio transmitter switch is enabling the Fiber-optic
Transmitter by observing the Green LED on the unit and confirming the LED
is going on and off when you toggle the radio transmitter switch. If the
Green LED is not going on and off with the switch then try putting a small
servo in the radio receiver channel you think should be controlling the
Ignition Cutoff and see if the servo moves back and forth with the toggle
switch on the radio transmitter.
The Fiber-optic Receiver regulates the ignition battery. The desired
regulation voltage should be set before your install the unit. There is a small
shorting-block on the unit “Volt Set” pins. It is placed on the 5.0V setting at
the factory. If you want your ignition regulated to 6.0V then move the
shorting-block to the 6.0V pins.
The Fiber-optic Receiver should be mounted near the ignition unit. The
Fiber-optic Receiver must go between the ignition on/off switch and the
ignition module. Another way to set this up is to have no mechanical switch
and just connect the Ignition Cutoff to the battery and its output to the
ignition. If you do this, remember that the Ignition Cutoff is acting
similarly to a failsafe- or soft-switch and will draw a small amount of
current when off. This is approximately 5mAH per DAY from the battery
pack. The lead marked “Switch” goes to the ignition switch (or battery if
you want to eliminate the mechanical switch). The lead marked “Ignition”
goes to the ignition module.
The LED on the Fiber-optic Receiver will mount in a ¼” hole. If you want
to mount the LED in this way, the easiest way to get the LED into the hole is
to remove the pins from the JR male connector housing and feed the leads
through the ¼” hold you made. Then re-insert the pins in the JR male
housing. The LED may be extended using a standard Futaba or JR extension
3-lead extension. If you do not want to use the LED it is not necessary for
the unit to operate and may be left off.
If you are not using a mechanical ignition switch, you may bring the lead
marked “Charge” out to a charge jack (like an Ernst charge jack) so you can
check the ignition battery during the day and charge the battery.
The fiber-optic cable should be prepared for your length of installation and to
get clean ends to promote efficient light transmission. Both ends of the
fiber-optic cable should be cut with a very sharp razor blade or Xacto
blade. The cut should be as square as possible providing a clear, flat face to
the Fiber-optic Transmitter and receiver. The ferrules on the Fiber-optic
Transmitter and receiver should be unscrewed until they have disengaged
from the threads (do not force off the unit). The fiber-optic cable should then
be inserted as far as it will go (approximately 5/8”). The ferrules should then
be tightened down snuggly, but do not over tighten.
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