2
INSTALLING TRANSMITTER BATTERIES:
Your transmitter uses 8 “AA” size batteries. They should be
alkaline dry cells, or nicad rechargeable batteries. The battery
compartment is located in the bottom of the transmitter. To remove
the battery door, push down on the tab and lift open the door. Be
sure that the switch is turned off before installing the batteries.
Insert the batteries into the battery compartment making careful
note of the polarity. Now, snap the battery door back into place.
Slide the on/off switch on the transmitter to the “on” position.
Check for a solid red light (not flashing). If there is no light, check
to be sure the batteries are installed correctly. If the light is flash-
ing, the transmitter batteries are weak and should be replaced.
Weak batteries in either the model or the transmitter will cause
the range of your model to be limited, and you could lose control.
RECEIVER BATTERIES:
The Traxxas receiver is equipped with B.E.C. (battery eliminator
circuitry). This circuit eliminates the need to carry a separate 4-
cell battery pack to power the radio system in battery-powered
electric models. Thus, no extra receiver batteries are required.
Fuel-powered (nitro) models will require the use of the
separate 4-cell battery pack.
Making careful note of the polarity,
install 4 “AA” alkaline batteries into the battery holder.
Stretch a
rubber ballon around the battery holder to protect the bat-
teries from short circuits and fuel contamination. This step
is very important.
Mount the battery holder securely in the
model and then neatly route the power cable to the receiver.
CENTERING YOUR SERVOS
Before installing the radio system, you must find the center
neutral position of the steering and throttle servos. If other manu-
facturer’s radio system components are going to be combined
with the Traxxas radio system, pay careful attention to the wiring
sequence. The Traxxas radio system is directly compatible with
Futaba systems. The red wire coming from the battery pack or
Traxxas speed control is positive, the black wire is negative. The
white wire is the control signal.
On some Airtronics/ Sanwa
and Novak systems, the positive and negative outputs are
reversed from the Traxxas sequence. Refer to their instruc-
tions to determine which wires are positive and negative so
that they can be connected properly to the Traxxas receiver.
Failure to do so will cause severe damage to your receiver.
With the radio components out of the model, connect the steering
servo to “channel 1” on the receiver. Connect the throttle servo to
“channel 2.” Connect the red and black cable from the Traxxas
speed control or 4-cell battery holder (with fresh batteries) to the
“BATT” terminal on the receiver.
Place fresh “AA” batteries in the transmitter and turn the power
switch on. Turn the throttle and steering trim adjustments on the
transmitter to the center “0” position. Plug a freshly-charged battery
pack into the speed control (or turn the battery holder switch to
the on position). The servos will jump to their center position.
Now, unplug the battery pack (or turn off the battery holder
switch) and turn off the transmitter. Be careful not to move the
servo shafts when installing the servos into your model.
• SYSTEMS WITH MECHANICAL SPEED CONTROL:
Connect the red and black wires which come from the speed
control to the “battery” terminal on the receiver. This will eliminate
the need for the 4-cell battery pack. Power for the radio system
comes from the main battery pack when it is plugged into the
mechanical speed control. When the main battery becomes weak
and loses its charge, the voltage available for the radio system
will also decrease. When the voltage becmes too low, the servos
will stop working andthe model will continue out of control with
the last command it had from the transmitter. This is not a defect
in the radio system. The servos simply do not have enough
power to return to center. Stop operation of the model at the first
sign of sluggish performance and slow servos. Loss of control
can be prevented by using the 4-cell battery pack in conjunction
with the mechanical speed control (see “Using the 4-Cell Battery
Pack” below).
• SYSTEMS WITH TRAXXAS ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL:
Traxxas electronic speed controls have a B.E.C. and do not
need the 4-cell battery pack. Plug the electronic speed control into
the “channel 2” slot in the receiver. Leave the “battery” receptacle
empty. Power for the radio system comes from the electronic speed
control when it’s connected to the main battery. One advantage to
a Traxxas electronic speed control is that it allows full control of
the model when the main battery voltage is extremely low.
CHANNEL 1
STEERING
SERVO
CHANNEL-2
THROTTLE
SERVO
4-CELL
BATTERY HOLDER
PART# 3170
CHANNEL-1
ANTENNA
RECEIVER
ON/OFF
SWITCH
BLACK
NEGATIVE
RED
POSITIVE
CHANNEL-2
BATTERY
WIRE COLORS
BLACK
RED
WHITE
Antenna
Power Indicator
Steering Trim
Throttle Trim
Throttle Neutral Adjust
Throttle Trigger
Steering Wheel
Power Switch
Servo Reversing Switches
Steering (R), Throttle (L)
Battery
Compartment
