FS8 Co-Pilot™ user guide
10
FMA Direct
Advanced Servo Buffer
Servo or servo extension
connected to pins on bumpy side
of buffer
Receiver
4. Insert an FMA receiver crystal in FS8 Co-Pilot’s crystal
socket.
ROLL PITCH
Roll throw adjust
Pitch throw adjust
Pitch/Roll Sensor cable
Vertical Sensor cable
Button/LED Module cable
Antenna
Crystal
Telemetry/Battery
Channel 1
FS Co-Pilot
(component side)
Channel 8
Note:
This diagram shows FS8 Co-Pilot™ from the
component side of the circuit board (away from the
label). You can also use the label to identify com-
ponent locations and pins.
5. Set the Throw controls:
n
If you will be controlling flight stabilization with a propor-
tional (knob or slider) channel: Turn both Throw controls
fully clockwise.
n
If you will be controlling flight stabilization with an on/off
(switch) channel...
or
If you won’t be controlling flight stabilization from the
transmitter: Set both Throw controls as shown in the dia-
gram below.
Full manual control
No flight stabilization
30%
For expert pilots
50%
For intermediate pilots
100%
For beginning pilots
(but don’t fly inverted!)
6. Connect the servos to FS8 Co-Pilot™, according to the chan-
nel assignments in your transmitter. If you are using an
onboard elevon mixer (required for flying wings), follow its
instructions to connect it inline with two servos.
Label
Black or brown wire
Crystal
Note:
Black or brown wires on servo/battery con-
nectors go away from label side of receiver. (
Do
not use “old style,” pre-”Z-type” Airtronics servo
connectors.)
Failure to observe correct servo/bat-
tery polarity voids warranty. Damage may result to
both receiver and servos.
7. Plug the Pitch/Roll Sensor cable into FS8 Co-Pilot™.
8. Plug the Vertical Sensor cable into FS8 Co-Pilot™.
9. Plug the Button/LED Module into FS8 Co-Pilot™.
10. Connect the switch harness to FS8 Co-Pilot™.
11. Connect the receiver battery to the switch harness. If you
aren’t
installing the FS Flight Recorder, you can connect the
switch harness to the Telemetry/Battery pins on FS8 Co-Pi-
lot™.
12. Wrap FS8 Co-Pilot™ in 3/8" or 1/2" foam rubber to protect
it from vibration.
Note:
Failure to use foam rubber to protect FS8
Co-Pilot™ will void your warranty.
13. Place FS8 Co-Pilot™ in the fuselage (or helicopter) and se-
cure it to prevent movement.
Tip:
For electric aircraft, keep FS8 Co-Pilot™ at
least 1" away from the motor and battery power
wires, as these radiate RF noise.
14. Route the antenna so it is fully extended. Do not coil an-
tenna, as this substantially reduces range.
Note:
You may cut antenna to as short as 18" with-
out de-tuning the receiver. However, range will be
reduced. Be sure to range test and cut off a little bit
at a time until antenna reaches desired length.
Go to “Set up the system.”
Æ
continued
Special installation considerations
For large aircraft with long servo extensions, or for any air-
craft powered by a gasoline engine, FMA recommends in-
stalling the Advanced Servo Buffer (Part no. 605SB). For
use with analog and digital servos, this device:
n
Filters out electromagnetic interference generated by gas
engine ignition systems.
n
Filters out RF interference picked up by long servo wires.
Typical symptoms include multiple failsafes during flights,
erratic servo movement or receiver “swamping.” The Ad-
vanced Servo Buffer is 100% effective in eliminating these
problems.
1. Connect the servo wire to the pins toward the bumpy
side of the Advanced Servo Buffer.
2. Connect the Advanced Servo Buffer cable to the appro-
priate pins on the FS8 Co-Pilot™.