User Manual
X45
Version 1.0/2019
Copyright © 2019 by Xicoy Electrònica S.L. All rights reserved
Page
11
10.
Any air ducting to the engine inlet should have sufficient diameter of at least the engine case diameter (60mm
/ 2-1/2”).
11.
If an extended exhaust duct (internal tailpipe) for internal installation is required, it should be 45 to 50mm
(1.8-2”) diameter and stiff enough to resist flattening in the airflow. Leave a gap of 25mm (1”) from tip of the exhaust
to the end of the duct (excluding bell mouth length).
12.
Extreme care should be taken to avoid the possibility of foreign objects, loose parts or debris being allowed to
enter the compartment where the engine is installed. Always use the supplied FOD screen but regard this as a last line
of defence and not as a reason not to practice good housekeeping. Before filling the tank and starting the engine for
the first time, turn the model upside down and give it a good shake to loosen and clear any small bits and pieces lying
in the engine compartment. A go-around with the hoover is also a good idea.
13.
We recommend testing the engine on a test stand prior to fitting to an airframe.
14.
You should have a clear idea how to arrange all the components needed to run the engine inside the model.
The main issues are fuel tank (locate centre of tank to CofG), bubble trap position (if used), locating the fuel pump in
close proximity to the source of the fuel (bubble trap or tank) and adjusting the rece
i
ver and ECU batteries to achieve
optimum location for balancing the model.
15.
Do not
under any circumstances try to run the fuel pump by plugging it into any other FADEC brushless pump
control or similar type 3-phase driver. It does not work like that and you will destroy it in the process.
Component Description
ECU (Engine Control Unit)
The ECU and indeed the whole system used on this engine are totally new and unlike any previous version of Xicoy
ECU. It is a new controller developed specifically for this application by Xicoy Electronica which is in the form of a
small C-shaped pcb fitted under the front cover of the engine. It is connected via the 3-wire cable which plugs into the
engine and to a small connector board called the “Hub” externally. The three wires are just plus (+) minus (–) and
data. The signals in and out of the ECU are via bidirectional digital data link, no direct connection to the outside world
is required, or possible.
The ECU is a powerful new design using a completely new architecture than used before, so represents not an
upgraded version of anything before but a new system completely. This new platform allows us to break from the
limitations of older technologies to make use of the latest high speed connectivity to add many more functions than
were possible before, and all using a single wire data cable. All signals in and out of the ECU go via the Hub which acts
as a clearing house for ECU data and the outside world.
The ECU is programmed specifically for the X45 with the engine operating characteristics, start parameters, throttle
curves and operating routines. Some of these are user settable like the radio setup and maximum thrust settings
which are accessed used via a menu system on a special data display which plugs into the Hub. A version of the Hub
will be available with a display built in and with adjuster buttons which you can mount in your model, to eliminate
