Spektrum SPMAR12100 User Manual

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The Spektrum trademark is used with permission of Bachmann Industries, Inc.

Spektrum radios and accessories are exclusively available from Horizon Hobby, Inc.

US patent 7, 391, 320

❚ AR12100 PowerSafe™ User Guide

Applications Important

Giant-scale aircraft Jets with multiple high-current draw servos Scale aircraft with multiple high-current draw servos and accessories (e.g. lights, ESCs, air valves, etc.) Scale helicopters

The PowerSafe main unit is not a receiver. The PowerSafe’s main unit is a power distribution center that provides up to 35-amps continuous and 50-amps peak current to power your system. Through extensive testing our engineers discovered that mounting the receiver in the typical location in sophisticated aircraft (an aircraft with many high-current draw servos and/or conductive materials), at the end of the servo and battery leads, is not the optimum location to provide the clearest RF signal. The AR12100 PowerSafe uses up to four (a minimum of three are required) remotely mounted receivers that can be optimally placed in your aircraft providing the best possible RF link in the most demanding conditions.

Features

Spektrum’s AR12100 PowerSafe™ offers the ultimate solution for powering high-current draw radio systems. In aircraft with multiple high-current draw servos (e.g. giant-scale aircraft, jets, etc.), the AR12100 PowerSafe can provide peak current of up to 50 amps and offers true dual battery redundancy and a fail-on soft switch for the ultimate in reliability. By locating up to four remote receivers throughout the aircraft, the RF link can be optimized in even the most demanding aircraft installations that have significant conductive materials like carbon, stainless steel bypass tubes, tuned exhausts, etc. For models high in carbon fiber content the SPM9546 Carbon Fiber Remote Receiver is compatible with the AR12100.

• True dual battery redundancy—each battery is isolated and if one

fails/shorts the other takes over.

• Utilizes up to four remote receivers for the ultimate RF link in even

the most demanding applications.

• Up to 35 amps continuous and 50 amps peak current handling capability

• Fail-on soft switch in case the switch is damaged

• Two types of failsafe - SmartSafe (throttle only) and preset failsafe

(all servos)

• QuickConnect - if a power interruption (brownout) occurs, the system

reconnects in less than 1/2 second

• Flight Log compatible

• Heavy 16AWG dual battery leads with pre-wired E-flite

EC3

connectors

™

• Compatible with all Spektrum

and JR® full range radio and

module systems

• 2048 resolution

Spektrum AR121001 Spektrum AR12100 2

Specifications PowerSafe Main Unit

Voltage input - 6.0 to 10.0 volts Note: Consult your servo manufacturer’s specifications for maximum allowable voltage. Minimum operational voltage - 3.5 volts Continuous current - 35 amps Peak current - 50 amps Resolution - 2048 Main unit dimensions LxWxH - 46.5 x 52 x 15.3mm Weight - 72 g Connector type - EC3 Regulator - None

Remote Receiver

Dimensions LxWxH - 25.8 x 20.2 x 6.8mm Weight - 3 g

Items Included

Battery Requirements

• PowerSafe Main Unit - SPMAR12100

• Three Remote Receivers - SPM9545

• Soft Switch - SPM6820

• One 24” Remote Receiver Extension - SPM9013

• One 12” Remote Receiver Extension - SPM9012

• One 9” Remote Receiver Extension - SPM9011

• Instruction Manual

• Male/Female Bind Plug-SPM6803

• Two EC3 Battery Connectors, Female - EFLAEC302

• Two JR-type Charge Receptacles

Optional Items

• 1650mAh 6.0V NiMH Receiver Pack - SPMB1650NM 2150mAh 6.0V NiMH Receiver Pack - SPMB2150NM 2700mAh 6.0V NiMH Receiver Pack - SPMB2700NM 4500mAh 6.0V NiMH Receiver Pack - SPMB4500NM LiPo Receiver Pack 1350mAh - SPMB1350LP LiPo Receiver Pack 2000mAh - SPMB2000LP LiPo Receiver Pack 4000mAh - SPMB4000LP LiPo Receiver Pack 6000mAh - SPMB6000LP

• VR6010 Voltage Regulator 10A, 6V - SPMVR6010

• Flight Log Data Recorder - SPM9540

• Additional Remote Receiver - SPM9545

• 6” Remote Receiver Extension - SPM9010

• 9” Remote Receiver Extension - SPM9011

• 12” Remote Receiver Extension - SPM9012

• 24” Remote Receiver Extension - SPM9013

• 36” Remote Receiver Extension - SPM9014

• SPM9546 Carbon Fiber Remote Receiver

• 12” EC3 Extension - SPMEXEC312

• 24” EC3 Extension - SPMEXEC324

• EC3 Battery Connector, Female (2) - EFLAEC302

Using One Battery

The PowerSafe allows the option of using one or two battery packs. When using one battery simply plug the battery into either one of the two battery connectors (BATT 1 or BATT2). Be sure to secure the unused battery connector. Note that the open contacts of the unused battery are not back powered (not electrically hot), however, the unused connector should be secured to prevent it from entangling during flight. When the system is powered using one battery, a single blue LED will constantly emit when the system is powered on.

Using Two Batteries

The PowerSafe offers a true redundant dual battery system. When using two battery packs, each pack functions independently and is isolated from the other, so that if one pack should fail (open circuit, short-circuit, or become discharged), the other battery will provide power to operate the system.

When using dual batteries, it’s important that both batteries be of the same capacity and ideally of the same age and condition.

Note: It’s normal for one battery to discharge slightly more than the other. This is the nature of a truly redundant isolated battery system. The battery that has the higher voltage or lower internal resistance will discharge at a faster rate. Generally the difference is negligible (less than 10%). Because of this it’s normal for only one blue LED (Batt 1 or Batt 2) to be on when the system is not under a heavy current load

Spektrum AR121003 Spektrum AR12100 4

depending on which pack is providing more power.

When using two batteries, the total available capacity equals the sum total

of both batteries e.g., BATT1—2000mAh + BATT2- 2000mAh = a total

capacity of 4000mAh.

Note: 12- and 24-inch EC3 battery extensions are available for installations where the battery is located a distance from the main PowerSafe unit.

Using Dual Voltage Regulators

Spektrum offers a 10-amp (16-amp peak) 6.0-volt regulator (SPMVR6010) specifically designed for use with the AR12100 PowerSafe.

Important: When using two batteries powered through two regulators, each regulator operates independently and it’s common for one battery to be discharged at a slightly higher rate depending on the condition of the battery (internal resistance, voltage, etc.) and the tolerance of the regulators. This causes one battery to discharge before the other and it’s important to check each battery using a loaded battery tester (HAN171) at a recommended 1-amp load before each flight monitoring the voltage of each pack and recharging when the weakest pack reaches 40% capacity. (See Battery Capacity pg. 5)

Spektrum AR121005

Spektrum AR12100 6

Battery Capacity

Fi le: J a sonNoll. FD R Session:Al l Se ssions

Seco nds

35030025020015010 05 0

PackAmps_A

P ackAmps_A : M i n 0.00 M a x 17.80 Avg 2.62

45040 0

File: sukhio Session:All Sessions

PackAmps_A: Min 0.00 Max 6.92 Avg 0.82

Seconds

450400350300250200150100500

PackAmps_A

6.5

5.5

4.5

3.5

2.5

1.5

0.5

Battery Capacity (continued)

It’s important to select a battery(s) that has more than adequate capacity

to provide the necessary flight time. Our staff has been recording in-flight

data to determine typical current consumption of aircraft in flight. Following are two graphs that illustrate the in-flight current draw of the radio system.

Note: Current draws may vary depending on your servos, installation and flying style.

The following setup is shown as a worst-case scenario indicative of some aerobatic pilots’ setups. It is not recommended to use this setup without proper voltage regulation for your servos.

Airplane - 40% YAK Servos - 9-JR8711’s 1-8317 (throttle) Batteries - Two 4000mAh 2-cell 7.4-volt LiPos Regulator - None Note: JR8711’s and 8317’s are rated at a maximum of 6-volt 5-cell use.

Using higher voltages will void the warranty.

Engine - DA150 Weight - 40 lb Flight envelope - Aggressive 3D Average current - 2.62 amps Peak current - 17.8 amps Milliamps used per 10-minute flight - 435mAh

In the example above, the average current was 2.62 amps, which calculates to 435mAh per 10 minutes (typical flight length). It’s recommended that only 60% of the available capacity be used to ensure plenty of reserve battery capacity. In this example using two 4000mAh batteries (8000mAh total capacity) x 60%= 4800mAh (available usable capacity) divided by the capacity used per 10-minute flight, 435mAh would allow up to 11 flights, of 10 minutes each.

Airplane - 33% Sukhoi Servos - 7-JR8611’s 1-8317 (throttle) Batteries - 1- 4000mAh 2-cell 7.4-volt LiPo Regulator - 6 volts Engine - DA100 Weight - 26 lb Flight envelope - Moderate 3D Average current - .82 amps Peak current - 6.92 amps Milliamps used per 10-minute flight - 137mAh

Recommended Guidelines for Battery Capacity

40-45% Aerobatic aircraft w/ 9-12 high-current servos: 4000–8000mAh

33-35% Aerobatic aircraft w/ 7-10 high-current servos: 3000–6000mAh

25% Quarter Scale Aerobatic aircraft w/ 5-7 high-current servos:

2000–4000mAh

Jets - BVM Super BANDIT, F86, Euro Sport, etc.: 3000–6000mAh

Giant-Scale Jets - BVM Ultra Bandit:4000–8000mAh

Scale aircraft - The varieties of scale aircraft and the accessories they use vary tremendously, making it difficult to give capacity recommendations for

these types of aircraft. Using the previously mentioned aerobatic guidelines

relative to the size and number of servos used will provide a conservative capacity for your scale aircraft. As always, check battery charge condition before each flight.

Spektrum AR121007

Spektrum AR12100 8

Battery Voltage

Installation

IMPORTANT: D0 NOT use a 4-cell 4.8-volt battery to power the PowerSafe.

Four-cell 4.8-volt batteries do not provide enough voltage headroom (additional margin needed) necessary to power the system when heavily

loaded. Under load the system voltage can drop below the voltage system’s

minimum operating voltage threshold (3.5 volts) and cause loss of control.

The PowerSafe is capable of handling voltages from 6.0 to 10.0 volts. The voltage limitations are generally the servos. Most servos are compatible with 5-cell 6-volt packs. Five-cell 6-volt NiMH packs have become the standard for many giant-scale applications.

Be aware that NiMH batteries have a tendency to false peak when being fast charged. Be especially careful when using NiMH

batteries that they are fully charged and have not false peaked.

Many pilots are using 2-cell LiPo batteries to power their aircraft. LiPo’s offer greater capacity for their size and weight, and are easier to manage when charging. Before using LiPo batteries, please check the voltage

specifications of your servos. Use of a voltage regulator, such as the

Spektrum VR6010 (SPMVR6010), might be necessary.

Note: When a battery is connected to the PowerSafe, a low current drain of less than 1mA occurs even when the switch is turned off. If the system is going to be stored for any length of time, it’s important that the battery(s) be disconnected from the PowerSafe to prevent over discharge.

The PowerSafe requires a minimum of three remote receivers to operate, and one receiver must be plugged into the A receiver port. Four remote receivers are included and, in most cases, it is recommended that three or four receivers be used. Each receiver functions independently and additional receivers (up to four) offer a more secure RF link in difficult environments. The added security of redundancy should a failure occur will outweigh the slight additional penalties of cost and weight.

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