Operation Manual for Model
Balloons
Control Card Version SCU V2.2
Attention !
Always keep a fire
extinguisher handy during inflation and operation of the model balloon.
Make sure you have charged the sender and control box before you operate the
model. The best is to charge both, the sender and the control box directly
after the flight and keep it plugged to the charger. That ensures that the
model balloon is always ready for flying. A damage to the batteries is not
likely, as high quality NiMH batteries are used.
Better accu care can be ensured by using special chargers. For example
NC-Master from Simprop, Schulze Lader or ELV ALS7000 /9000.
After refuelling the fuel cylinders, see Operation Instruction Model Balloon Fuel Cylinder, the fuel lines have to be
connected to the control box. Make sure that all connectors have their O-rings
in place. That ensures a leak free connection from the control box to the fuel
cylinders. Then open one fuel cylinder valve for each burner and check
optically and acoustically that all connections are properly connected without
any leak.
If everything is o.k., switch on the radio first, then the sender. Make sure
that the aerial / antenna doesn't get into contact with metal, as that can
cause interferences and unwanted burns. Use the switch on the radio to open the
magnetic valve for the pilot light. Then open the fuel cylinder valve for the
pilot light. The pilot lights can now be ignited. By using the fine regulator
valve, you can control the pressure for the pilot light. The more the control
screw gets screwed in, the higher the pressure becomes. For the pilot light
with a tube: Screw the control screw in as far as the pilots lights are burning
with a small a sharp whistling flame. The top of the flame is just a little bit
above the flame tube. Is the flame not sharp and small and bubbles while
burning, the pressure is to high and the pilot light can stop burning during
flight.
For the pilot light with a glowing net: Screw the control screw in as far as
the net of the pilot lights is glowing in dark red. If it glows in light red or
if you have a big blue flame on top of the net, the pressure for the pilot
light is to high and the glow net can get damaged.
If both pilot lights are burning correct, you can test the main burners by
using the switch on the control box. If all works alright, you can shut down
the pilot light and connect the envelope to the basket. Then you can inflate
the balloon with the fan, filling it with plenty of air. Air is not expensive, but
a repair to the envelope is. Then you can open the pilot light again and
reignite it. Heat up the envelope slowly by using the switch on the control
box.
After the model is ready for lift of, you can use the radio to control the
burners and open all fuel cylinders. The flight can begin. Never get to close
to power lines and check that you have calm and steady wind conditions. When
flying be close to your model and stop the pilot lights when you want to land
or something goes wrong.
Attention:
The radio-control is equipped with a Fail-Safe function. That means, that the control card will switch to a defined status when it receives invalid signals. The defined status is switching shutting down all fuel for pilot light and main burners and the release the drop line.
At the beginning you should always switch on the sender before you switch on
the receiver. Then a green LED will shine. If you switch on the receiver in the
control box first, or the signal is invalid or jammed, the controller will go
in Fail-Safe-Mode. The red and the green LED will shine and all valves will
shut down and the rope will be released. By switching the control box off and
on again when the sender is on, the box will switch back to normal operation
mode.
Note:
The receiver is also equiped with an IPD (Intelligent Pluse Decoding) receiver that can enable a Fail-Safe function but the control box uses its own Fail-Safe function from the control card. The Fail-Safe function of the receiver may not be programmed or actived because it will interfere with or disable the Fail-Safe function of the control card.
If you follow these instructions, you will have a lot of fun with your model.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us.
Gentle winds and happy landings!
First, all fuel lines should be connected and the rope should be linked into
the release mechanism.
Then your model should look like this.
Afterwards a fuel cylinder for inflation should be opened to test if all lines
are sealed. Then the pilot light can be opened.
If everything is tight, the pilot light can be ignited to check the complete
system is working properly.
If the system works fine, the envelope can be pulled out and the model can be
prepared.
The lines have to be attached to the basket
and inflation can begin.
Fill the balloon as much as possible. Only open one fuel cylinder for the
burner and the valve for the pilot light. This is to be able to shut down all
gas in case of an emergency.
During the first burns, the fan should run further. Air is not expensive but it
helps a lot for preventing holes in the envelope.
For burning, only short burns should be performed. By this the balloon is
easier to control and the burner will continue burning after the control
impulse is removed. That is because there is still fuel in the lines, which has
to burn out.
If the balloon is completely inflated and stabilized, the crow ring and the
mouth lines can be attached to the basket.
Then the balloon can become airborne by burning many times in short periods. This
will take some time as the volume of about 80m³ needs to be heated up to
approx. 100°C.
Then your flight can begin. Please make sure that there is enough space for
your flight before you start. Care about obstacles of all kinds like power
lines, cranes, railroads, buildings and other obstacles you can not pass like
rivers and motorways or forests.
If you follow these instructions, you will have a lot of fun with your model.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us.
Gentle Winds and Happy Landings!