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Web www.njttechnical.co.uk e-mail niglyn@googlemail.com Telephone 07768 790066
Setting up the Lost Model Finder Ver 3
There are three modes of operation. They are selected by setting the switches on the LMF as appropriate. This is a far simpler process than the lengthy setup routines found on many speed controllers. This also prevents the LMF being accidentally re-programmed as can happen with ESCs if we turn our model on with the tx throttle open. The switches have been designed deliberately stiff and flush with the bezel to avoid accidental operation. The use of a pointed tool is recommended to set them. A scriber or jewellers’ screwdriver is ideal
TO SET YOUR LOST MODEL FINDER:- a) Read this page and then select the mode that suits your needs. Set the LMF switches as shown in the table. b) Turn overleaf and follow the instructions to set the timeout alarm period.
Note:- Your LMF is preset to Transmitter Control Mode and 30 minute timeout, which is the recommended setup for most IC planes. If this suits your needs there is no need to set anything, just plug into channel 5 and fly!
1) TX CONTROL MODE. Connect the LMF to a spare channel on your receiver. A good choice is channel 5 as this is switch controlled from the transmitter (normally used for landing gear).
The alarm will sound by operating the channel 5 tx switch.. The reverse setting on the transmitter can be used to reverse operation of the tx switch if desired.
When the LMF is turned on, a single ‘pip’ will be heard indicating tx control mode has been selected.
The alarm sounds by:- Switch operation from the TX (normally channel 5)
Additionally if using some single conversion ppm receivers, turning off the transmitter will sound the alarm.
2) Y LEAD MODE. Connect the LMF with a Y lead to either the aileron or elevator servo. This mode is used when channel 5 is not available.
In Y lead mode, the LMF monitors the servo pulses from the rx to the servo and will alarm when there has been no movement of the servo for three minutes. The LMF does not start monitoring until it has been ‘armed’. This arming procedure avoids unnecessarily triggering of the alarm before flight. You do not need to arm the LMF, it will arm itself when it detects servo movement of approximately 3 control surface deflections and will then emit a ‘pip’. You can of course try this on the ground to get an idea of how much control movement is required before arming occurs. (Do not confuse the arming ‘pip’ with initial ‘pips’ heard when turning on). Glitching may also cause servo movement and thus arm the LMF. Connecting the glow-lead (metal to metal contact) is one source of glitching.
When the LMF is turned on, a ‘pip pip’ will be heard, indicating Y lead mode has been selected.
The alarm sounds when:- 25 minutes have elapsed and the control surface has not been moved at all. 3 minutes elapsed since control surface movement (after initial arming)
Additionally if using some single conversion ppm receivers, turning off the transmitter will activate the alarm.
3) FREE FLIGHT MODE. Connect the LMF to a spare channel on the receiver, or a Y lead, or directly to a 4.8V battery.
Both the transmitter control and Y lead alarm will be disabled. The LMF will only sound after the timeout period has expired. This option is not recommended other than for free flight models.
When the LMF is turned on, a ‘pip pip pip’ will be heard, indicating free flight mode has been selected.
Switch 1 2 3 4 TX Control Mode off off off on Y Lead Mode off on off on Free Flight Mode off off on on
Now set the timeout alarm….. The LMF incorporates an ‘if all else fails’ timeout alarm. After the timeout period, the alarm will sound regardless of which mode has been set and cannot be silenced by any means other than cycling the power. This ensures you can still find your model in situations for example, where the tx or rx has failed, there is serious radio interference or malicious jamming.
The timeout period may be set from 1 minute to 4 hours. The LMF has been pre-set to 30 minutes. This is ideal for most IC planes. If this value suits your needs you may skip the ‘To set your timeout alarm’ section. We advise that the timeout period is set to a far longer time than your normal flight time, to allow for start-up and engine tuning.
To set your timeout alarm:- 1) Connect your LMF to your model as described in the previous section and attach flight battery. (Alternately you can connect the LMF directly to a 4.8V battery via a switch harness for setting up on the bench)
2) Set switch 1 to ‘ON’. (Switch 4 is always on) and turn on your model.
3) The LMF will now ‘pip’ once per second. Each pip increases the timeout period by one minute, starting from 0. (For example, to set for 15 minutes, count 15 ‘pip’s).
4) Set switch 1 to ‘OFF’. There will be a pause of 1 second then a ‘pip’ or series of ‘pip’s will be heard (Indicating which mode has been set). Turn your model off.
Your timeout alarm period is now memorised by the LMF. Each time your LMF is turned on it will remember the timeout period that has been set. It can of course be changed again by following the above procedure. Tip. If setting longer times, rather than counting the pips, use a stopwatch or clock to time seconds. (We get 1 pip per second and each pip increases the timeout alarm by 1 minute). For example, to set 90 minutes, set switch 1 to ‘ON’, turn on the LMF and start the stopwatch. After 90 seconds set switch 1 to ‘OFF’.
If the maximum timeout period of 4 hours is reached, the pips will stop and the LMF will memorise 4 hours. The LMF may now stay silent or sound the alarm, depending on the rx type and mode of operation. Ensure switch 1 is set to ‘OFF’ before turning off your model. This saves having to count 240 ‘pip’s if you wish to set the maximum timeout period.
After installation and before the first flight, carry out a full range and control check.
Hints and Tips For the alarm to work after a heavy landing, the battery, receiver and LMF must stay connected. Mounting them all on the same bulkhead is a good option. Batteries have high kinetic energy, mount so there is no possibility they can fly forward and detach during a heavy landing.
For maximum volume mount the hole in the LMFs sounder box directly behind a 6mm hole drilled in the fuselage. Insure this is in an area where fuel contamination cannot occur. Alternately if it is preferred not to make a hole in the plane it can be mounted near cooling vents or push rod exits or in an open cockpit. The LMF will work perfectly well if just placed in the fuselage but obviously will not be as audible. For foamies, a 20mm hole can be cut and the whole LMF can be secured in the hole.
Should the 3 minute no movement alarm sound unnecessarily, a quick waggle of the control surface will reset the timer. This could happen for example, if you have ‘armed’ the timer during pre-flight checks and have a delay before take off.
Electronics should never be turned off and back on very quickly. Leave them off for a second or two. This gives the electronics time to reset. This is true for all types of electronics, including transmitters, receivers digital servos, voltage monitors and indeed the LMF.
Switch 4 is used in the factory for setting the LMF and should always be left ‘ON’ If you are curious and try moving it to ‘OFF’ the LMF will go into free flight mode.
If the LMF sounds during normal flight, it is an indication that serious glitching has occurred. If this repeatedly happens, land and investigate!
The mode switches on the LMF are very stiff to operate and are flush with the surrounding bezel. This is deliberate. Whilst it makes initial setup a little more fiddly, it stops the switches being snagged and inadvertently altered.
Finally, thank you for purchasing one of our products. We hope it will give long and useful service, saving you much time wading through crop fields or looking up into the tree tops. We are always happy to offer technical help, welcome customer feedback and suggestions for improvements or new products
For technical help, suggestions or to order please feel free to contact us.
www.njttechnical.co.uk e-mail niglyn@googlemail.com
Telephone 07768 790066 |
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Warning Competitors lost model finders only work with single conversion ppm receivers and are more expensive than ours
Our LMF works with ALL ppm, pcm and 2.4gig receivers |
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Warning Competitors lost model finders only work with single conversion ppm receivers and are more expensive than ours
Ours work with ALL ppm, pcm and 2.4gig receivers |
