Canopy Sequencer Plus Instruction Manual

When using the Autochute II Plus unit for canopy control, the following lines of instruction must be inserted into the Autochute II manual for proper operation of the unit.

Insert the shorting block onto the SB1 pin set in the upper right corner of the Autochute II Plus unit.

The following instructions should be inserted into the Autochute II Manual between the LOW Throttle setting and the Deployment servo endpoint settings.

1. Once the low throttle ATV has been set, the brake position for the canopy control needs to be set in order to control the canopy thru the Autochute II Plus unit.

2. The red light will be on and blinking slowly just after the low throttle has been set. Turn the brakes to the full "OFF" position on the transmitter. Press and release sw1. The red light will go out and the green light will come on briefly, then go out.

3. The red light will come back on and be blinking slightly faster than the last step. Turn the brakes to "ON" full. Press and release sw2. The red light will go off and the green light will come on again briefly, then go out. This completes the canopy control setup. The Autochute II programming will resume with the setting of the deployment ATV for the drag chute.

Introduction:

The canopy sequencer Plus unit has been designed to operate thru instructions from the Autochute II Plus drag chute deployment system. Both systems are also designed to use NO separate receiver channels. This is very advantageous when trying to save on precious open radio channels. In order for the Canopy Sequencer Plus unit to function properly, you MUST have an Autochute II Plus unit or the Canopy Sequencer Plus unit will no work. 

Canopy Sequencer Plus Programming Instructions.

Be sure your Autochute II Plus unit has been programmed per it's instructions and has been tested and functioning properly. Once this has been done, the Canopy Sequencer Plus unit can then be programmed and will obey the Autochute II Plus' commands.

DIAGRAM 1 Sequencer Plus Pin Ports:

Note that the "s" represents the signal servo/Rx lead, usually orange, yellow or white, depending on the servo manufacturer. The small boxes denote the plug orientation to the pin ports.

Connecting the Canopy Sequencer Plus to the Autochute II Plus unit:

1. Locate the connector port marked MCUPWR on the Canopy Sequencer unit. Plug this into the port marked CANOPY on the Autochute II Plus unit. The orange signal wire faces towards the center of the box. Up when reading the label upright. This is the only connection between the Autochute II Plus and the Canopy Sequencer Plus unit.

2. Locate the port marked SERVO PWR on the Canopy Sequencer unit. This port supplies the power to the lock and canopy valve servos. The orientation of the wires is the same; the signal wire faces the top of the label. Plug this double male connector into an available 6 volt power source. If using a power box type supply, simply plug the connector into a Battery port on the power box. If you do not have an available plug in, use a "Y" connector from one in use to supply the SERVO PWR port.

3. Plug the 2 locking servo connectors into the ports marked LOCK1 and LOCK2 on the top left side of the sequencer unit. Remember to orient the signal wires from the servos the same as the other ports with the wires facing the top side edge of the box. NOTE*: You may use any extension up to 36" for the servo connections from the locking servos to the control unit.

4. Plug the canopy valve servo into the port marked CANOPY on the lower left side of the unit. Once again, an extension of up to 36" can be used for the canopy valve servo to the control box.

5. Plug the 2 system status lights into the ports marked, "LOCK" (green system light/canopy-closed-locked) and, "OPEN" (canopy open-un-locked). The colored wires face the label side of the sequencer.

6. Once all connections have been made, turn on the receiver power and check to see that the "system rdy" light is lit on the Autochute II Plus unit. If it's on, you are now ready to program the canopy sequencer unit for the first time. If the "system rdy" light is not on, on the Autochute II Plus unit, simply cycle the unit using the remote switch feature. Follow the Autochute II Plus reset procedure until the "system rdy" light is ON.

SB2 is NOT Used for the Canopy Sequencer Plus unit. Be sure nothing is plugged into the SB2 port pins.

Resetting the Canopy Sequencer Plus for programming:

Before proceeding, be sure the brakes on the transmitter are all the way off and the flaps are down slightly. Charge the air bottle for the canopy valve and rotate the valve by hand to be sure of both the "canopy open" and "canopy closed" valve direction. The canopy should go up and down smoothly. Make a note of the two positions, as a mistake can cause damage to occur to the locking servo/system.

1. Press and hold both sw1 and sw2 simultaneously. Release both switches and the red light should be on and blinking. This is the RESET function for the sequencer. Follow this procedure any time the box needs to be re-programmed.

IMPORTANT: Be sure the servo arms on both the lock servos and the canopy valve servo are not on the servos before preceding to the next step. The ATV's can off during setup and cause servo to damage to occur by over rotating and binding the servos during setup.

Canopy valve servo ATV programming:

1. After the system is reset, press and release sw2 and the red programming light will go from blinking to steady ON. If the light is still blinking, simply repeat the button press and release once again until the light is On steady.

2. Rotate the adjustment trim pot (ATV) to the approximate center point between the right and left. Then attach the servo arm to the servo. Once the arm is on the servo, rotate the pot in either direction to set the canopy open endpoint for the canopy valve servo. This is the point where the valve is moved to "OPEN" the canopy. Be sure the valve doesn't bind the servo at the endpoint. Once satisfied with the valve/servo position, press and release sw1. The red light should go "OUT" and the green light should come on briefly and go out.

3.The red light will once again be "ON". Rotate the pot to adjust the valve servo to set the canopy closed endpoint. This the the point where the valve is moved to "Close" the canopy. When satisfied with the valve/ servos position, press and release sw2. The red light will go out and the green light will come on again briefly, then go out. The red light will then blink twice and go to steady on. This finishes the setup for the canopy/valve servo ATV's.

Canopy Lock servo ATV Programming:

 Rotate the pot to the approximate center once again and attach both lock servo arms to the servos. Each lock servo operates independent of each other, so there is no need for reverse on either servo.

1. Lock1 Open ATV: Rotate the pot to set the "lock1 open" position for the lock1 servo until the servo begins to "whine". Then back off on the pot just a tiny bit until the servo quits "whining". This is the maximum open position that the servo can pull the locking arm open without binding (whining of the servo). Press and release sw1 to set the lock1 open position. The red light will once again go out, the green light will come on briefly and then go out. Remember which direction you turned the pot to set the open ATV. You will need to turn it the opposite direction to set the locked position next.

2. Lock2 Closed ATV: The red light will once again be steady ON. Manually close the canopy until the canopy is nearly seated against the fuse sill flange with the canopy hooks fully engaged in the lock slots. Allow the canopy to be slightly unseated, up, off the flange (up off the flange about 1/16" in the front of the canopy section) Be sure it is quiet so you can hear the servos when adjusting the closed ATV. Rotate the pot in the opposite direction from open SLOWLY until the locks start to engage the canopy hooks. You'll know when this occurs because the canopy will start to pull down and close the 1/a6" gap between the sill and the bottom edge of the canopy. Keep turning the pot until the canopy seats completely onto the sill. The servo may "whine" a little bit. If it does, back off the pot, ever so slightly, until the "whine" stops. Release the canopy and check to see how the lock is pulling on the lock1 side of the canopy. If the servo isn't whining and the canopy is tight to the sill, press and release sw2. The red light will go off and the green light will come on again briefly and go out.

3. repeat steps 1 and two lock2. You will not be able to gap the canopy when setting the lock2 ATV. You can however, check to see how well the lock2 side of the canopy is held in place by the lock and adjust the pot to get the same tension as the lock1 side. Once the steps for the lock2 side are completed, the green programming light will blink 4 times to signal completion of the sequencer setup. Once the green light stops blinking, the canopy sequencer will enter into system ready mode and the "Locked", canopy green light will turn on. When this occurs, you will know the canopy sequencer has been correctly programmed.

TESTING THE UNIT FUNCTION and setting the lock delay time:

Install the remote pushbutton switch onto the 2 uppermost pins on the port marked "TIMERSW" on the canopy sequencer unit. See diagram 1. This switch will only be used when setting the "locks open" time. This is the time between when the canopy is closing, closes and then the locks engage.

1. Move the brakes to the full "ON" position on the transmitter. Move the flap lever to full "UP". The locks will disengage and the canopy valve will start to move. Once the valve servo completes it's slow travel, the canopy will open and the locks will remain open.

2. Be prepare to press the remote switch when instructed to do so.

3. Move the flaps to a lower position, the canopy valve will start to move, then close the canopy once the valve completes it's travel. The remote switch can be pressed ANYTIME after the canopy has closed all the way. Once the remote switch is pressed, the locks will then close and the sequencer will remember the delay time for the locks for ever, or until the remote switch is pressed again. If you do make a mistake, simply repeat the canopy open procedure, re-close the canopy and then repeat the remote switch press.

4. Once the lock delay timing has been set, remove the remote switch from the sequencer unit to prevent accidental pressing of the switch.

FINAL TEST FOR THE UNIT:

With the unit still on, cycle thru the opening and closing of the canopy using the flap switch several times to check the canopy operation and the correct locking of the lock system. Be sure to check the "LOCK" green light and the "OPEN" red light for proper operation with the canopy being closed and locked and when the canopy is open to prevent any accidents from occurring. Also when the canopy is closed and locked, move the brakes to the off position and then move the flap lever. The canopy SHOULD NOT OPEN with the brakes in the off position. Once it is established that the canopy will not open with the brakes off, move the brakes to the full on position and the canopy should then open with the flaps "UP".

If you have any questions or need help setting up your system, you can send us an e-mail or give us a call.

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