KAVAN Beta 1400 - Instruction manual

Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of the motor-powered glider BETA 1400. You are about to embark on a magical journey into the fascinating world of electric-powered RC aeroplanes. The BETA 1400, manufactured of virtually unbreakable EPO foam, is packed with FEATURES of the latest 2.4GHz radio technology. It is powered with a mighty brushless motor and the LiPo batteries will help you become an experienced pilot in no time. BETA 1400 is not just an entry-level plane but quite a good thermal glider that will please any Sunday pilot - a newcomer as well as a seasoned pro.

Features

• 100% factory-made, partially assembled model
• Aileron, elevator, rudder and throttle control
• Easy handling and high stability; durable, virtually unbreakable electric motor-powered glider
• Powerful brushless outrunner motor
• Large wing area, low weight
• Advanced 2.4GHz eight-channel radio (RTF Set only)
• Lightweight LiPo flight pack (RTF Set only)
• Fast charger for the flight pack (RTF Set only)

Technical specifications

Wingspan	1400 mm
Length	966 mm
All-up weight	700–770 g
Wing Area	24.5 dm²
Wing Loading	28.6–31.4 g/dm²
Motor	C2814-1400 outrunner
ESC	KAVAN R-20B 20 A with BEC 5 V

Safety precautions

General Warnings

An RC aeroplane is not a toy! If misused, it can cause serious bodily harm and damage to property. Fly only in a safe place, following all instructions and recommendations in this manual. Beware of the propeller! Keep loose items that can get entangled in the propeller away from the spinning propeller, including loose clothing or other objects such as pencils and screwdrivers. Ensure that your and other people’s hands and face are kept away from the rotating propeller.

Note on Lithium Polymer Batteries

Lithium Polymer batteries are significantly more vulnerable than alkaline or NiCd/NiMH batteries used in R/C applications. All manufacturer’s instructions and warnings must be followed closely. Mishandling of LiPo batteries can result in fire. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when disposing of Lithium Polymer batteries.

Additional Safety Precautions and Warnings

As the user of this product, you are solely responsible for operating it in a manner that does not endanger yourself and others or result in damage to the product or the property of others. This model is controlled by a radio signal subject to interference from many sources outside your control. This interference can cause momentary loss of control, so it is advisable to always keep a safe distance in all directions around your model, as this margin will help to avoid collisions or injury.

Never operate your model with low transmitter batteries.

Always operate your model in an open area away from power lines, cars, traffic, or people.

Avoid operating your model in populated areas where injury or damage can occur.

Carefully follow the directions and warnings for this and any optional support equipment (chargers, rechargeable batteries, etc.) which you use.

Keep all chemicals, small parts and anything electrical out of the reach of children.

Moisture causes damage to electronics. Avoid water exposure to all equipment not specifically designed and protected for this purpose.

Never lick or place any portion of your model in your mouth, as it could cause serious injury or even death.

Set contents

RTF Set:

• 100% factory-made, partially assembled model (4 servos GO-09, brushless motor, 20A ESC, 7x6” prop)

• 2.4GHz 8-channel transmitter and 8-channel receiver

• 11.1 V/1600 mAh Li-Po flight pack

• LiPo fast charger

ARTF Set

• 100% factory-made, partially assembled model (4 servos GO-09, brushless motor, 20A ESC, 7x6” prop)

You will also need

For the RTF Set:

4 AA batteries for the transmitter.

Tools: Small Phillips and flat screwdrivers, 1.5mm Allen key or screwdriver.

Glue: Medium or thick cyanoacrylate glue (e.g. #KAV56.9952 or #KAV56.9953), low or medium strength threadlocker (blue - e.g. #KAV56.9970).

For the ARF Set:

At least a 4-channel transmitter and receiver, Li-Po flight pack 11.1 V 1600–2700 mAh.

Tools: Small Phillips and flat screwdrivers, 1.5 mm Allen key or screwdriver.

Glue: Medium or thick cyanoacrylate glue (e.g. #KAV56.9952 or #KAV56.9953), low or medium strength threadlocker (blue - e.g. #KAV56.9970).

T8FB transmitter controls

Channel and function	Aileron (CH1)	Elevator (CH2)	Throttle (CH3)	Rudder (CH4)
Default position	R (DOWN)	N (UP)	N (UP)	N (UP)

1. Rotary Knob VrA (CH8)
2. Switch A (SwA, CH7)
3. Elevator/Rudder Stick (Mode 1) Throttle/Rudder Stick (Mode 2)
4. Elevator Trim (Mode 1) Throttle Trim (Mode 2)
5. Rudder Trim
6. Neckstrap Hook
7. Aileron Reverse Switch (AIL)
8. Elevator Reverse Switch (ELE)
9. Antenna
10. Transmitter Handle
11. Rotary Knob VrB (CH6)
12. Switch B (SwB, CH5)
13. Throttle/Aileron Stick (Mode 1) Elevator/Aileron Stick (Mode 2)
14. Throttle Trim (Mode 1) Elevator Trim (Mode 2)
15. Aileron Trim
16. ON/OFF Switch
17. Rudder Reverse Switch (RUD)
18. Throttle Reverse Switch (THR)

Transmitter

System: 2.4GHz FHSS

Frequency Range: 2.400–2.4835 GHz

Output Power: <20 dBm (Tx)/<4 dBm (BT)

Input voltage: 4.8–11.1 V (4× AA alkaline batteries or NiMH accumulators, 2S or 3S Li-Po)

Receiver (2.4 GHz FHSS)

Frequency Range: 2.400–2.4835 GHz

Output Power: -

Range: ca 500 m on the ground, ca 1000 m in the air

Input voltage: 4.8–10.0 V

Dimensions: 48,5×21×11 mm / Weight: 7 g

Transmitter (RTF set version)

Loading the transmitter batteries

Remove the battery hatch on the back side of the transmitter, pushing the cover at the arrow mark with your thumb. Load 4 fresh alkaline batteries or AA-size accumulators, carefully keeping the correct polarity (marked on the bottom of the battery holder). Plug the battery holder cable into the socket at the bottom of the battery compartment, keeping the correct polarity (+) red wire, (-) black wire. (The transmitter features a protection circuitry – if you connect the plug the other way around, the transmitter will not work but will not get damaged by reversed polarity.)

We especially recommend low self-discharge NiMH batteries such as the Panasonic Eneloop® 1900 mAh or KAVAN 2000 mAh.

Put the hatch back in place.

Charging the transmitter batteries

Charge the batteries prior to the first flight.

Caution: Never ever try to charge the primary (zinc-carbon, alkaline...) batteries that are not rechargeable. Otherwise, explosion and/or fire might happen.

Checking the transmitter battery

Turn on the transmitter and check the LED on the front panel - both the red and green have to glow. These LEDs indicate the status of the transmitter, not the transmitter battery voltage. The low-battery alarm is acoustic - once you hear beeping, you have to land immediately and replace/recharge the batteries. If the transmitter beeps immediately after being turned on, DO NOT try to fly at all.

Caution: Do not mix different types of batteries or accumulators or fresh batteries with (partly) discharged. Do not mix regular (zinc-carbon) batteries with alkaline batteries.

Checking the Servo Reverse Switches position

Set the servo reverse switches to the default position - CH1 DOWN (R), CH2, CH3 and CH4: UP (N). Turn the transmitter off.

Charging the flight battery

Your BETA 1400 is to be powered by a 3-cell Li-Po battery pack. The Li-Po battery supplied in the RTF Set features two connectors: one is for the balanced charge of the cells (JST-XH type) and the other one is dedicated to the discharge (XT60). The RTF set contains a dedicated KAVAN C3 wall fast charger (230 V/50 Hz) designed for charging the flight pack using the balance cable.

Charging the Flight Battery (RTF Set)

1) Connect the power cable to the charger.

2) Plug the charger's power cable into the mains socket (230 V/50 Hz). All the LEDs glow green and flash red, indicating the charger is ready to charge.

3) Plug the balance connector of your flight battery (JST-XH) into the corresponding socket on the charger.

4) The charger starts charging. LEDs will glow red. If a 2S pack is connected, Cell 1 and Cell 2 LEDs will glow red; if a 3S pack is connected, Cell 1, Cell 2 and Cell 3 LEDs will glow red.

5) Once a particular cell in the flight battery is charged, the corresponding LED will glow green. 2S pack will be fully charged if Cell 1 and Cell 2 LEDs glow green; 3S pack will be fully charged, if Cell 1, Cell 2 and Cell 3 LEDs glow green.

6) Disconnect the flight battery from the charger; LEDs will glow green, indicating the charger is ready to charge another pack. Unplug the charger from the mains socket if you are not charging another battery.

Caution: Charge the Li-Po battery with the battery charger included in the RC Set or with a fully compatible charger that assures a safe charge to the Li-Po pack. Always follow the safety precautions as laid down in the manufacturer’s manual.

In the charging process, keep your charger and your battery in a cool and dark place, away from any possible source of fire. Do not cover the charger or the battery with clothes or similar: ventilation is crucial for the necessary cooling of the devices.

Important: Never leave the battery charging unguarded. If the battery becomes too hot or starts to "inflate", disconnect it immediately from the charger.

Assembly

Wing

1. Locate the carbon tube wing joiner, insert it into the housing in the fuselage and slide both wing halves onto the joiner.
   
   
   

2. Connecting the aileron servos:

   A. A radio featuring only one aileron channel (like the T8FB supplied in the RTF set): Connect both aileron servos to the Y-cable. Connect the aileron Y-cable to the aileron channel of your receiver (CH1 in the case of T8FB).

   B: A radio featuring two independent aileron servo channels: Use two 20–30cm extension cables (not supplied in the kit) to connect aileron servos to your receiver (typically, CH1 and CH5 or CH6 – it depends on the transmitter and its setting – please refer to the instruction manual of your radio).
   
   
   

3. Secure the wing halves by carefully tightening the setting screws on the bottom side of the wing.
   
   
   

Taiplanes

1. Glue the horizontal tailplane into the fuselage using medium or thick cyano. Be sure the elevator horn is on the bottom side.
   
   

2. Before the glue sets, check the correct alignment of the horizontal tailplane - it has to be square to the fin.
   
   

3. Insert the elevator push rod into the push rod connector in the elevator horn.
   
   

RC kit installation

Now you have to install/connect your receiver, servos and electronic speed controller (ESC).

1. Remove the canopy: lift the rear part to disengage the magnetic lock.
2. Following your radio instruction manual, connect the servos and ESC to your receiver – the table shows the channel assignment of the T8FB radio supplied in the RTF kit:
3. Put your receiver into the fuselage (into t
4. The flight battery pack is to be inserted into the nose of your BETA 1400 and secured by the hook-and-loop tape to the fuselage - the exact position of the battery pack will be determined later during the centre of gravity (CG) position check.

Connector label	Function	Receiver channel (T8FB)
AILE	Ailerons	CH1
ELEV	Elevator	CH2
ESC	Throttle	CH3
RUDD	Rudder	CH4

Caution: Always turn on your transmitter first, and only then connect the flight pack to the ESC. From now on, always handle your model as if the motor might burst into life and the propeller started to spin anytime.

Pre-flight check

Checking the current setup

1. Assure that the transmitter is turned on (both the LEDs are on with the T8FB), place all the trims in their neutral positions and set the throttle stick into the lowest position. Connect the flight pack to the ESC - the red LED on the receiver must glow. If it blinks or does not glow at all, the receiver and transmitter require establishing their link by the binding procedure - refer to page 6 in this manual.

2. Checking the control surface neutrals Please check that all the control surfaces are in the neutral position if the corresponding transmitter sticks and trims are in the centre position. If not, please loosen the setting screw of the corresponding push rod connector and set the control surface to the neutral position. The elevator and rudder have to be flush with the horizontal stabilizer resp. the fin, both two ailerons have to be flush with the wing trailing edge. Once satisfied, apply a drop of threadlocker to the setting screw a tighten it.

   Caution: If the quick link gets loose during flight, your model will become partly or completely uncontrollable. Therefore, you should check the linkage regularly.

3. Testing the Ailerons
   A. Move the aileron stick to the left; (looking from the tail to the nose) the left aileron must move up and the right aileron must drop down simultaneously.
   B. Move the aileron stick to the right; the left aileron must drop down and the right aileron goes up simultaneously.
   C. Return the aileron stick to the centre (neutral) - both two ailerons will return to the neutral position. Note: If the ailerons are moving in the opposite direction, you will have to reverse the direction by flipping the aileron reverse switch (AIL) on your transmitter.

4. Testing the Rudder
   A. Move the rudder stick to the left; (looking from the tail to the nose) the rudder must move to the left.
   B. Move the rudder stick to the right; the rudder must move to the right.
   C. Return the rudder stick to the centre (neutral) - the rudder will return to the neutral position.

   Note: If the rudder is moving in the opposite direction, you will have to reverse the direction by flipping the rudder reverse switch (RUD) on your transmitter.

5. Testing the Elevator
   A. The elevator stick is located on the left side of the Mode 1 transmitter or on the right side on the Mode 2 transmitter. Pull the elevator stick down; the elevator must move up).
   B. Push the elevator stick up; the elevator must move down.
   C. Return the elevator stick to the centre (neutral) - the elevator will return to the neutral position.

   Note: If the elevator is moving in the opposite direction, you will have to reverse the direction by flipping the elevator reverse switch (ELE) on your transmitter.

6. Control Surface Throws

   A. Radio featuring only one aileron channel
   Control	Low rate	Normal rate	Expo*
   Aileron	7 mm up and down	10 mm up and down	10–20 %
   Rudder	10 mm left and right	12 mm left and right	0–10 %
   Elevator	6 mm up and down	8 mm up and down	20–30 %

   B. Radio featuring 2 independent aileron servo channels
   Control	Low rate	Normal rate	Expo*
   Aileron	8 mm up/4 mm down	10 mm up/5 mm down	10–20 %
   Aileron (airbrake)	13 mm up	113 mm up	–
   Rudder	10 mm left and right	12 mm left and right	0–10 %
   Elevator	6 mm up and down	8 mm up and down	20–30 %
   Elevator (airbrake)	2 mm up	2 mm up	–

   *Expo – set to decrease the sensitivity around the neutral (Futaba, Hitec, Radiolink, Multiplex: -10/-20, Graupner: +10/+20 etc.)

   If you carefully followed the instructions in the previous sections of this manual, the correct default control surface throws have been set automatically. The control throws are set by the ratio between the length of the servo arm and the control surface throw - the actual throws set this way are listed in the column “Normal Rate” in the table below. (The throws are always measured at the widest point of the particular control surface.) It is always better to try to reach the requested throws mechanically, adjusting the arm/horn length ratio - even if you have a fancy computer radio. If you have such a transmitter, you can use the function “Dual Rate” (D/R) to get an even more forgiving setup - please refer to the “Low Rate” column. You can also do it mechanically - simply move the push rod Z-bends on the servo arms closer to the centre.

7. Testing the Power system

   KAVAN T8FB/R-20B: Check the throttle channel reverse switch (THR) is in the “N“ (up) position on the transmitter. Now perform the throttle range calibration procedure as described in the KAVAN R-20B manual (refer to the attachment) and check the motor brake function has been turned on.

   A) Turn on the transmitter, set the throttle stick to the lowest position, connect the flight pack to the ESC in the model (ESC has to be set to the “Brake OFF” mode - if your ESC features this option). If the prop rotated slowly, please check the position of the throttle stick and throttle trim.

   B) Slowly move the throttle stick up, the prop should start to rotate clockwise (looking from behind). If it spins in the opposite direction, pull the throttle stick back, disconnect the flight battery and swap any two of the three cables between the motor and the ESC. The re-check again. Repeat the ESC throttle range calibration. Then re-check again.

   Note: If the motor does not respond to the throttle stick advance, check the model power cable connection and the state of charge of your battery.

   Caution: Keep away from the propeller once the battery is connected to the model. Do not try to stop the propeller with your hands or anything else.