The ECU is programmed specifically with the engine operating characteristics, start parameters, throttle
curves and operating routines. Some of these are user settable like the radio setup and maximum power
settings which are accessed or modified via a menu system on a display. The display can be the full
colour backlit version (Hub “Lite”) which plugs into the Hub, or directly on the Compact Hub black and
white display. Both have adjuster buttons and can be mounted in your model to eliminate the need to
plug in anything. The colour screen is very bright making it easy to observe the start-up on the display
from a short distance through a canopy, for instance.
Menu Items.
Users familiar with other Xicoy ECUs will notice the menu structure is very similar to
previous generation ECUs, but with some display items in new positions, some extra functions added
and some removed. This is because the ECU is specially produced for the X45 so functions which have
previously been general purpose are now tuned specifically for the engine and fixed. Anything which
could be preset or should not require adjusting has been removed from access to shorten the menus as
much as possible to declutter.
See the Menu section on for details and presets.
Connector board, the “Hub Lite” and “Compact Hub”
To enable connection of the power supply and signals to and from the outside world to the ECU, a small
component which we call the “Hub” is provided. There are two types, the “Hub Lite” is a small shrink
wrapped flat board, the “Compact Hub” is housed in a small box and includes a small integrated LCD
backlit display.
Both Hubs form the connecting point for:
•
The receiver throttle signal (max voltage 10v)
•
ECU battery (volts 7.4 – 9.9v)
•
Fuel pump
•
ECU on the engine
•
Any additional display
•
Additional input sensors such as pitot pressure, rpm from a 2
nd
stage, etc
•
Additional output devices such as telemetry, SD memory storage, bluetooth etc.
Auto Power-Off
The Hub has intelligence of its own in that it can take a signal from the ECU and isolate (power down)
the ECU battery after a cooldown has completed and the receiver turned off. The ECU will complete the
cooldown process even if the receiver is turned off, it does not need a radio signal to do this. This saves
the battery in the transmitter and receiver and helps stop the possibility of leaving them on for long
periods accidentally.
Ambient Sensors
The Hub unit (Compact and Lite) contain ambient sensors to measure temperature and pressure and
use these to provide the ECU with data to enable it to automatically adjust for ambient air density
conditions. These include automatically adjustment of starting parameters, acceleration and deceleration
rates, and idle rpm setting. Where an “Auto” option in any menu is offered, the ECU will use the Hub
data to adjust the setting to the most appropriate for the conditions.
Page 28
