KAVAN Alpha 1500 V2 - Instruction manual

Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of the ALPHA 1500 V2, motor-powered glider. You are about to embark on a magical journey into the fascinating world of electric-powered RC aeroplanes. The ALPHA 1500 V2 is manufactured of virtually unbreakable EPO (expanded polyolefin) foam. Packed with the latest 2.4GHz radio technology and powered with a mighty brushless motor and LiPo batteries, it will help you become an experienced pilot in no time. ALPHA 1500 V2 is not just an entry-level plane but actually a high-performance thermal glider that will please any Sunday pilot, newcomer, or even seasoned pro.

Features

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

Technical specifications

Wingspan: 1492 mm
Length: 985 mm
All-up Weight: 780–810 g
Wing Area: 21.8 dm²
Wing Loading: 35.8–37.2 g/dm²
Motor: C2217–1200 out runner
ESC: KAVAN R–30B 30 A with BEC 5 V

Precautions

This RC model is not a toy. Use it with care and strictly follow the instructions in this manual.

Assemble this model following strictly these instructions. DO NOT modify or alter the model. Failure to do so, the warranty will lapse automatically. Follow the instructions to obtain a safe and solid model at the end of the assembly.

Children under the age of 14 must operate the model under the supervision of an adult.

Assure that the model is in perfect condition before every flight, taking care that all the equipment works correctly and that the model is undamaged in its structure.

Fly only on days with a light breeze and in a safe place away from any obstacles.

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 on 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 yours 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 RC 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 that is 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, brushless motor, 30 A ESC, 8.5–6" prop)
2.4GHz 8-channel transmitter and 8-channel receiver
11.1 V/1300 mAh Li-Po flight pack
Li-Po fast charger

ARTF set:

100 % factory-made, partially assembled model (4 servos, brushless motor, 30 A ESC, 8.5–6" prop)

You will also need the following accessories and tools (not included in the kit)

For the RTF set:

4× AA batteries for the transmitter

For the ARF set:

At least a 4-channel transmitter and receiver, Li-Po flight pack 11.1 V 11–1300 mAh

Tools:

Small Phillips and flat screwdrivers

T8FB transmitter controls

ALPHA 1500 V2: Servo reverse switch default position


Channel	Function	Default
AIL (CH1)	Aileron	R (down)
ELE (CH2)	Elevator	N (up)
THR (CH3)	Throttle	N (up)
RUD (CH4)	Rudder	R (down)

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 LiPo)

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 located 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 be destroyed by reversed polarity.)

Charging the transmitter batteries

The accumulators have to be charged prior 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 has to glow. These LEDs indicate the status of the transmitter, not the transmitter battery voltage. The low battery alarm is acoustic - once you will 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 and CH4 DOWN (R), CH2 and CH3: UP (N). Turn the transmitter off.

Charging the flight battery

Your ALPHA 1500 V2 is to be powered by a 3-cell LiPo battery pack. The LiPo 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 also a dedicated KAVAN C3 wall fast charger (230 V/50 Hz) designed for charging of the flight pack using the balance cable.

Charging the flight battery (RTF set)

Connect the power cable to the charger.
Plug the power cable of the charger into the mains socket (230 V/50 Hz). All the LED glow green and flash red indicating the charger is ready to charge.
Plug the balance connector of your flight battery (JST–XH) into the corresponding socket on the charger.
The charger starts charging. LEDs will start to glow red. If 2S pack is connected, Cell 1 and Cell 2 LEDs will glow red. If 3S pack is connected, Cell 1, Cell 2 and Cell 3 LEDs will glow red.
Once a particular cell in the flight battery has been fully charged, the corresponding LED will glow green. 2S pack will be fully charged, if Cell 1 and Cell2 LEDs glow green. 3S pack will be fully charged, if Cell 1, Cell 2 and Cell 3 LEDs glow green.
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 going to charge another battery.

Caution: Charge the LiPo battery with the battery charger included in the RC Set or with a fully compatible charger that assures a safe charge to the LiPo 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 shady place, away from any possible source of fire. Do not cover the charger or the battery with clothes or similar. The ventilation is crucial for the necessary cooling of the devices.

Important: Never leave unguarded the battery in charge. If the battery becomes too hot or starts to “inflate”, disconnect it immediately from the charger.

Assembly

Wing

Locate the steel wire wing joiner (note the "V" shape ensuring the correct wing dihedral) with the plastic adapter and slide both wing halves onto the joiner.
Secure the wing halves using the wing joiner plate.
Use the supplied Y-cables to connect the aileron servos and LED light cables:
A. A radio featuring only one aileron channel (like the T8FB supplied in the RTF set): Connect both two aileron servos (connector label "AILE") to one Y-cable and both two LED light cables (labelled "LED") to another Y-cable. The aileron Y-cable is to be connected to the aileron channel of your receiver (CH1 in the case of T8FB). The LED light Y-cable could be connected to any unused channel of your receiver (the LEDs are just powered by the receiver, they are not remote controlled by the radio).
B: A radio featuring 2 independent aileron servo channels: Connect one aileron servo and one LED light to each Y-cable. Connect the Y-cables to the respective aileron channels of 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).
Secure the wing using two 2.5×15 mm screws to the fuselage.

Tail feathers

Put together the vertical and horizontal tailplane and secure them using two 2.5×15 mm screws to the fuselage.
Attach the plastic quick links of the elevator and rudder pushrods to the outer hole in the respective elevator and rudder horns.

RC set installation

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

1. Remove the canopy. Lift the rear part up to disengage the magnetic lock.

2. Following you radio instruction manual connect the servos, ESC and LED light cables to your receiver – the table shows the channel assignment of the T8FB radio supplied in the RTF kit:

Connector label	Function	Reciever channel (T8FB)
AILE	Ailerons	CH1
ELEV	Elevator	CH2
ESC	Throttle	CH3
RUDD	Rudder	CH4
LED	LED lights	CH5

3. Put your receiver into the fuselage under the wing seat. You can secure it using a strip of Velcro to the fuselage.

4. The flight battery pack is to be inserted into the nose of your ALPHA 1500 V2 and secured by the Velcro tape to the plywood battery trail - the exact position of the battery pack will be determined later during the Centre of Gravity position check.

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 start to spin anytime!

Preflight check

Checking the current set-up

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 the page 6 in this manual.

2. Checking the control surface neutrals
Please check all the control surfaces are in the neutral position if the corresponding transmitter sticks and trims are in the centre position. If not, please release the particular quicklink and set the control surface to the neutral position. The elevator and rudder has to be flush with the horizontal stabilizer resp. the fin, both two ailerons have to be flush with the wing trailing edge. Once satisfied, re-attach the quicklink to the control horn.

Caution: If the quick link got loose during flight, your model could 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 go 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 ruder 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.

4. Testing the rudder

A) The elevator stick is located on the left side on 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.