Black magic F1Q

Functionality summary

There is a version of the Black Magic three servo timer specifically intended for F1Q.

One of the three servos must be an electric motor controller with BEC capability. This servo is controlled by the timer to start and stop the motor. In addition if the motor controller has BEC {Battery Elimination Circuit} capability then the propulsion battery can be used to power the timer. The BEC capability is mandatory for F1Q but may be optional for other classes. What makes this timer different from the regular F1B/C three servo timer is the ability to take advantage of the BEC capability. Note that if this is not required and a separate battery can be used for the timer, then it may be possible to use a regular two or three servo timer.

Other than the above the F1Q requirements are satisfied by the existing Black magic capabilities. The steps may be set in increments of 0.01 seconds. The functioning of the motor management is as follows.

The start setting of the motor controller is set so the motor is stopped. The armed setting starts the motor and the motor stop will return the motor to a stopped position.

  1. The sportsman prepares his model. When ready to fly he turns the timer on.
  2. The timer beeps out the d/t time, a standard Magic Timers capability.
  3. The sportsman holds the model in a launch attitude.
  4. The sportsman presses and holds the start button. The motor will start. The timer start button is configured so it must be held for 0.3 seconds before the start is signaled and the motor controller may require the motor to be turned on for a pre-determined time before the motor actually starts. The motor controller may put the motor through a slow start sequence.
  5. When the motor is at operating speed the sportsman releases the model. The action of lifting the hand from the timer start button caused the timer timing sequence to be initiated.

The motor is then stopped at the pre-determined time and the flight continues in glide mode.

At the end of the flight the model will D/T. After D/T the timer is put in sleep mode. In this state the power switch has to be cycled or the reset button pressed before the timer can be armed again and the motor started. The method of doing this is not obvious to the casual observer and can be further protected by hiding these controls behind a hatch or the like.

Note that this is a three servo timer and one of the three is reserved for controlling the electric motor. The other two can be used for all other flight functions. These servos can move the flight surfaces directly or release levers like a mechanical timer. It is up to the individual sportsman to determine what will work best for his model.

On some Black magic timers there is a servo power save feature. This optionally causes power to the servos be turned off after the servo has moved to save battery power. Seeing the propulsion battery has ample power and will be recharged between flights and positive control must be applied to the motor controller this feature is not a available on the F1Q timer.

Further information is available from Magic Timers