RGB Tip Controller With Pyro
The RC Tip Controller System is designed to provide pre-set control of RGB LEDS and two channels of pyro ignition. The system is tested for 20W RGB LEDs (two 10W in parallel) and standard (‘all-fire’ 500mA) e-Matches.
The system is designed around common live 3s LiPo (12v) supply and connects the outputs to ground to illuminate / fire. The system forms a common ground between the RX power and the pyro system battery. The RX can be running normal or high voltage.
| FEATURES
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The Pixel driver provides multiple display patterns, TX controlled on standard 2811/2812 pixel strip. Using a serial bus feed from the RX enables control of both pattern and pattern parameter (where applicable). When using a PWM connection only the pattern is changeable. The following patterns are provided:
| Mode Value | Lighting Effect | Parameter Operation |
| -150 to -109 | Bright White | No effect |
| -109 to -95 | Dim White | No Effect |
| -95 to -68 | Solid Colour | Varies the colour as a colour wheel effect |
| -68 to -45 | Strobing Colour | Varies the colour as a colour wheel effect |
| -45 to -22 | Police (alternate double red and blue flashes) | No Effect |
| -22 to 2 | Colour Wheel | Forces low and upper LEDs to be in sync or out of sync |
| 2 to 25 | Random Colour | No Effect |
| 25 to 60 | Strobe | No Effect |
The pattern value refers to the TX channel value - note that the end points should be set to +- 150 if using a serial bus and should be set to the equivalent of 900uS to 2100uS if using a PWM output.
Shipped with PWM input as default setting. User selectable for various serial bus protocols:
- Futaba SBus
- Jeti ExBus
- JR XBus
- Spektrum DSMX satellite
BOARD INSTALLATION
A mount needs to be created to hold the LEDs. This is typically mounted to the airframe using the SFG mount points. The wiring is indicated in the picture below and a simplified installation is also shown:
The input (standard male servo connector) should be connected in the style of a retract servo where positive and negative go to the power source for the RGB LEDs (12v) (typically 3s lipo) and the signal and negative go to the RX. An adaptor lead is available that takes power from a 3S JST-XH balance plug and provides a 2 wire link to the RX. Alternatively in larger installations with multiple boards a Light Power Distribution board can be used. It is possible to place the unit on the wingtip with a local satellite/RX and a Lipo.
The pyro control uses the same algorithm as the Mini Tip Controller.
BOARD CONFIGURATION
Protocol and channel selection is performed using the push button on the board. The mechanism is similar to ESC programming and uses the LED to indicate current settings / values.
Holding the button on power up will enter the programming menu after 2 seconds (fast led flashing).
Red flashes indicate the parameter to be adjusted, green flashes (and orange) indicate the parameter value.
The mini tip controller supports the following three parameters:
- Protocol (1 red flash)
- Pattern channel (2 red flashes)
- Parameter channel (3 red flashes)
- Pyro channel (4 red flashes)
A brief press of the button after the desired parameter has been indicated will enter the value setting mode.
The value is indicated by green or orange flashes, a brief press will advance the value, a long press (2 seconds until led flashes quickly) will store the value and return to the previous menu. The value indicated is specific to the parameter being adjusted.
Protocol values:
- Servo PWM input
- JR XBus input
- Futaba SBus input (system expects inverted style input as per Futaba specifications)
- DSMX satellite input
- Jeti EXBus input
Note that with DSMX satellite protocol selected a short press of the button at power up will cause the connected satellite to enter bind mode. Be aware that you cannot bind a satellite and a 'park flyer' rx to the same model (full range receivers can be bound with additional satellites).
Pattern Channel values:
To assist with counting higher values the channel number is displayed as a combination of short and long flashes. A long flash indicates 5 a short flash indicates 1, so a sequence of long, long, short would indicate channel 11. For DSMX protocol green flashes indicate main channels, orange flashes indicate XPort channels.
Note that when you set the Pattern channel, the Parameter channel is automatically set to the next channel. For example if you set the Pattern channel to 12, the Parameter channel will be set to 13. If you want a different Parameter channel, use the next menu option to change.
Parameter Channel values:
To assist with counting higher values the channel number is displayed as a combination of short and long flashes. A long flash indicates 5 a short flash indicates 1, so a sequence of long, long, short would indicate channel 11. For DSMX protocol green flashes indicate main channels, orange flashes indicate XPort channels.
PyroChannel values:
THIS IS IDENTICAL TO THE PARAMETER CHANNEL VALUE OPERATION.
OPTIONS
Available with DSMX satellite connector and fixed channel setting (Pattern - XPort1, Parameter - XPort2, Pyro - XPort 3)