E-VARIO

User Guide
V1.0
 e-Vario

Disclaimer
Warning: THIS PRODUCT IS NOT A TOY. Read all these instructions before using this product to
avoid misuse of the product, which could lead to damage to both the product itself, and damage
to other people or property. RC Light Systems is supplying a high quality unit, which you, the
user, will use to provide features to your R/C aircraft. The final set up is in the hands of you, the
user. RC Light Systems cannot monitor the installation of this product, and therefore will in no
way accept liability or responsibility due to misuse of the user installed product. Any
responsibility or liability must be accepted by you, the user. If you, the user, will not accept full
responsibility, return this product to the original place of purchase. This product must only be
used in a safe manner, in accordance to the ANO if used in the UK, or the respective guidelines
provided by the governing body of your country. Every single product is tested for full
functionality before shipping.

RC Light Systems e-Vario instructions

The RC Light Systems e-Vario provides both vario and optional voltage measuring features. The vario
data includes pressure, altitude and vario, the optional voltage measurement supports up to 30V (6S
packs) and is intended for monitoring of the flight pack in electric gliders.

The e-Vario works with all common radio systems, and is configured by the user for their particular
radio type.

The e-Vario is also available in a configuration that outputs an RX channel decoded from the combined
telemetry/channel data stream. This is intended for use in Spektrum SMART systems when using a
traditional (non-SMART) ESC.

Specifications
Voltage 4v to 12.6v (rx voltage)
Altitude resolution 10cm (10x oversampling on sensor)
Altitude algorithm ISA, reference pressure 1013.25
Barometric sensor MS5607 (20cm resolution)
Supported Radios Spektrum (SRXL2), Futaba, JR DMSS, Jeti (Ext and ExBus), PowerBox Core, FrSky
Weight 12g
Dimensions 47mm x 14mm x 8mm

Operation
The e-Vario is connected to the telemetry port on the RX. If the optional voltage lead is present this is
connected to the flight pack to be monitored. WARNING: the voltage measurement shares a common
ground with the RX. This sensor can only be used to measure single pack systems.

The e-Vario will zero itself 10 seconds after power up (this is user configurable).

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Configuration
The e-Vario supports various radio systems, before you can use it you must set the configuration to
work with your radio.

The configuration is set using the button on the unit. The mechanism is similar to ‘stick programming’ of
an esc, but uses the button and a LED embedded within the unit to provide feedback.

To set the configuration you need to hold down the button whilst applying power to the e-Vario. You
will see the LED slowly flash orange. After 2 seconds the LED will start rapidly flashing, you can now
release the button, you are in configuration mode.

In configuration mode you will see the LED flash a count in red indicating which item you are
configuring. This count runs from 1 to 4 (or 5 if Futaba is selected) and then repeats.

The list of items you can configure is as follows:

Count Item Description
1 Sensor Mode Sets the radio type the e-Vario will be talking to.
2 Start-up delay Sets the number of seconds to wait before setting 0 reference and starting data return
3 Throttle channel Sets the channel used for throttle when using a serial bus.
4 Sensor Slot / Id For Futaba/SRXL2 only:
1-24: Sensor slot number (Futaba)
1-10: FC Id (Spektrum-SRXL2 – note TX does not yet support multi FC setups – you should only
use ‘1’ at this time)

If you click the button when you see it count ‘1’ you will be able to set the sensor mode.

The LED will now start flashing green, again indicating a count that relates to the selected mode.
Clicking the button will cycle through the counts allowing you to select the correct mode.

The modes are mapped as follows:

Count Sensor Mode
1 Jeti ExBus
2 Jeti Ext
3 PowerBox (P2Bus)
4 JR DMSS
5 Spektrum SRXL2
6 FrSky S.Port
7 Futaba SBus2

Once you have selected the mode for your system you can exit to the main menu (red flashes) by
pressing and holding the button until it flashes quickly.

Note, when you set the mode the throttle channel will be set to the default for that system. For
example for Futaba it will be set to channel 3, for all others it will be set to channel 1. If you have
changed your throttle mapping from the default you must use the throttle channel configuration option
to set the correct throttle channel (applies to PowerBox, Futaba, Jeti, Spektrum SRXL2).

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From the main menu you can select other configuration items to set or you can save and exit. To do this
press and hold the button whilst at the main menu until you see the fast flashing. When you release the
button all the settings will be stored and the unit will return to normal operation.

Setting the Start delay

The start-up delay defaults to 10 seconds. This allows you to power up and prep the model for flight
before the 0 reference height. The delay can be changed between 3 and 20 seconds. To change the
delay setting you need to access the delay set menu.

When you see the LED flash red twice click the button, this takes you in to the delay set.

The number is flashed in green using log flashes for 5s and short flashes from 1s. 10 seconds would be
shown as two long flashes. 6 seconds would be shown as 1 long flash and 1 short flash. Use the button
to advance the count.

Once the desired delay is selected press and hold until you see fast flashing to exit back to the main
menu.

Setting the Throttle Channel

This option is intended for use when using Spektrum SRXL2 and a SMART RX. The e-Vario will use the
throttle port to talk with the RX and send telemetry data, but this then means that throttle is not
available from the RX. The e-Vario provides a feature to decode the throttle signal from the serial data
and output as a normal ‘servo’ feed to the ESC. This option requires a specific hardware version of the e-
Vario (please contact us for details).

If you use the standard throttle configuration from your radio (channel 3 for Futaba, channel 1 for
everything else) there is no need to set anything here. If you use a different channel and are using
Powerbox, Jeti, Futaba, Spektrum Smart then you must set the correct value here.

At the main menu, wait or three red flashes and then click the button. The green light will flash a
combination of quick and slow flashes to indicate the channel number. A slow flash is ‘5’ and a quick
flash is ‘1’, so “slow, slow, fast” would be channel 11.

If you have a Spektrum mode selected the light will flash 1-12 in green and then 1-8 in orange. The
orange colour indicates X-Plus channels.

Use the button to select the correct channel and then press and hold to exit back to the main menu.

Setting the Sensor Slot (Id)

This menu option will only be present if you have selected Futaba or Spektrum mode.

Futaba: The sensor defaults to slot 8 as the starting slot, but you can select any value from 1 to 24. Note
that some slot options will not allow you to display all the items (this is a Futaba TX limitation). Odd slot
numbers are good options. Please see the Futaba section to understand how sensor data is transferred
to the Futaba TX and what slot values can work.

To change the slot from the default of 8 wait for 5 red flashes and click the button. The slot number will
be indicated using fast and slow flashes. Once the desired number is set press and hold the button to
return to the main menu.

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Spektrum: The e-Vario reports as a flight controller (controller 0 – Id 1). If you are using an SRXL2 based
flight controller you will need to change this Id (for example the RCLightSystems Serial Expander also
reports as a flight controller).

e-Vario Data
The e-Vario generates the following telemetry information.
Item Description Units
Pressure Absolute atmospheric pressure mBar
Altitude Relative height above reference 0 (set after M
start-up delay)
Vario Rate of change in altitude m/s
Voltage Optional voltage measurement (30V maximum) V

Radio Specific Information

Jeti

The e-Vario uses Ext or ExBus return telemetry information to the RX. You
RCLS Vario
will typically have to configure an RX output to be EXBus. This is performed
in device manager on the TX with the RX powered on.
Zero Alt

Once connected rescan for new sensors. The e-Vario provides support for
JetiBox menus and can be accessed via the JetiBox application on the Thr Channel
transmitter for direct configuration of e-Vario parameters.
Store Settings

PowerBox Core

The e-Vario uses the P2Bus to return telemetry information to the RX. The P2Bus port is a dedicated
port on the RX and so should be available, if you have another sensor connected you will need to y-lead
them together.

Once connected the telemetry items should appear when you add a new telemetry widget to the
screen. If the sensor does not appear select the option to re-scan the bus. You can also access the menu
for the sensor and directly configure the e-Vario settings.

JR DMSS

The e-Vario connects to the sensor port on a DMSS RX.

Once connected enable the following telemetry items: Pressure, Altitude, Vario, and Voltage if this
option is enabled.

Spektrum SRXL2

The e-Vario acts as a ‘Flight Controller’ talking to a SMART RX to provide vario and voltage data. The e-
Vario can work in parallel with a SMART ESC (using a Y-lead). If using a traditional ESC the optional
output channel version is required to provide a ‘servo’ signal for the ESC. Contact RCLightSystems for
details.

Once the e-Vario is connected scan for telemetry data in the telemetry menu.

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FrSky

The e-Vario connects to the S.Port on the RX.

Once connected you will need to scan for new telemetry data. The e-Vario reports as the following
sensors:
Sensor ID Contains
Altitude 0x0100 Altitude
Vario 0x0110 Rate of change of altitude
ESC-Voltage 0x0B50 Voltage (only if the option is installed)

Futaba

The e-Vario uses SBus2 to return telemetry information to the RX. The SBus2 port is a dedicated port on
the RX and so should be available.

Once connected you need to configure the sensors in the linkage menu. The e-Vario uses the following
definitions for Spektrum and Castle ESCS:
Slot Sensor type Information
8 (+1) Vario 1672 Vario + Altitude
10 SBS-01V (Voltage) Voltage (only present if option installed)

The default configuration sees the e-Vario use slot 8 as the first slot and consumes 2 or 3 in total.

Appendix 1 – Configuration Table

Count Item
1 Sensor Mode
3 Throttle channel
6 Sensor Slot
Values
1: Jeti (ExBus)
2: Jeti (Ext)
3: PowerBox Core
4: JR DMSS
5: Spektrum SRXL2
6: FrSky
7: Futaba
1 – Max Channel (defined by sensor mode (Radio) selection)
For Futaba/SRXL2 only:
1-24: Sensor slot number (Futaba)
1-10: FC Id (SRXL2)

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