Mini-Flash LED PC-Programmable Controller ith R/C Controls

If 600mA per channel is not enough fro your application, then check out the "MAXI-FLASH". This is basically the same Mini-Flash controller but instead of small transistor outputs, the Maxi-Flash controller has 4 high current switching MOSFET. The MOSFETs will use its own power source (i.e., not the receiver's) to power high current loads such as Incandescent bulbs, winch motors, and other electro-mechanical devices. This can be used to power glow plugs, high output LEDS, incandescent lights, motors/pumps, bomb drops, and other devices that require high power switching. Stay tuned...

IMPORTANT! : It is highly recommended that you first install and test drive the Mini-Flash programming software before making a purchase. Few customers have run into issues when trying to install/run the software, often getting an error like that shown below:

Click the OK button to attempt to install the required files. If you still experience an error when trying to run the software (different error that starts w/ a "&H"), the only known fix to this MS issue is to install an MS Office product, such as one of the two below:

This issue is caused by the MS operating system accidentally deleting or not installing the proper DLL and/or OCX files needed for Visual Basic distribution code to run properly (such as the Mini-Flash software). Installing MS Office (any variant) seems to install the required files... and mysteriously, the Mini-Flash software begins working! Go figure! It has also been confirmed recently that the Mini-Flash software still works OK even after uninstalling the free ActiveX Control Pad software noted above! Cool!

Q1. How do you compensate for differing forward voltages and current drawn by differing LED's?

A1. Ah.... good question....
The input voltage to LEDs is all not that important (usually 5v is fine for all). It is the current that you push through the LED that is important, as you do not want to drive them with too much current. You usually always need to put a series resistor inline with one of the LED leads such to limit the current. I use a neat calculator, I even have a link for it on my webpages. You really need to know the specs on the LEDs, particularly the LEDs rated current (typical 5mm LEDs run around 20-25 milliamps). Here's the calculator:

You simply enter the supply voltage (in the controller's case, 5 volts), the LEDs forward voltage (this varies from LED to LED) then enter the rated LED current (typically 20-25 milliamps). Then hit the "find R" button and the program calculates the resistor value you need for that LED (typically a 68-120 ohm resistor is required). Be careful also as there exists some LED that already have the series resistor incorporated in the LED (not all that common though). Once the resistor value is determined, I usually then solder it to the end of one of the LED leads. The wires then leading from this LED assembly is then connected directly to the controller using a miniature machine-pin female socket (I will provide at least 8 with every controller). Putting the series resistors on the PCB would take up space (unless they were SMD maybe).

Q2. I have a question: So tell me how you could control different sequences with a TX like a 6102 which is a 6 channel but the 2 extras are more like landing gear, and flaps?

A2. Great question.... ( I knew I'd eventually have write about this, as most will probably use a switch and some will have the luxury of having a spare variable channel, like a rotating knob or lever).

Is the landing gear channel on your system controlled by a switch ? (most likely). How about the flaps, are these a switch too or is this a rotating knob (like I think my Futaba 9C has) ??

If the channel you have the flasher plugged into is controlled (Tx) using a toggle switch, you will still be able to control the 4 LED channels/sequences, but you will only have two possible servo control positions, on (*---) and off (---*). If you were to look at the "Servo Control" pull-down in the software, you have 16 different "servo zone" combinations you can chose. All 16 work only when you are using a variable Rx channel, such as a channel being controlled by a knob, slider or stick. If you are only using a "switched" Rx channel and you want to simply use the switch to turn the channel on or off, you would set up the "servo control" such that it is "*---". What this would do is make the selected LED channel active only when the switch is in the down position (actually, it is as if the stick is in the position, 0->1/4 deflection). Now catch this, if you were to choose the "**--" option or the "***-" option, this would still have the same effect. When using a toggle switch on your Tx to control the LED flasher, the receiver will never output the middle two zones (-**-). Therefore selecting these zones in a channel's servo zone will do nothing.

A3. No Problem! You can use an USB-to-Serial converter that plugs into a spare USB port on your computer. On the other end of the cable is a female RS-232 connector you plug the Mini-Flash programming cable into.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW A LIST THAT IS KNOWN TO WORK !

Recently, I finally got around to designing a new Mini-Flash programming cable that is USB vice the older RS-232 serial (9-pin) connector type. All of the Mini-Flash kits I sold in the past included a serial cable and since most new computers do not even come with a serial port, customers use to have to purchase a separate USB-to-Serial (RS232) converters (some models noted below even). So, I built & tested a new USB programming cable and even sold a few to some recent customers. So far, the feedback is great. The only extra step customers have to do is install the USB driver (supplied on disk or via downloading from this site (see below in notes) before plugging in the new USB programming cable.

The new USB programming cable drivers and programming software can be downloaded from here (it is included as part of the Rev4 Zip package you can download using the link below):
http://www.diyrc.com/Mini-Flash-Rev4.zip

Download and unzip/extract all files to a new directory of your choice (preferably a new directory named MiniFlashRev4 or something like that)

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Installation Procedures (USB Driver & Mini-Flash Software)
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1. Install USB Drivers (only for Mini-Flash USB programming cable, not the older RS232 version)

INSTALLATION OF USB DRIVERS ON A WINDOWS Vista or 7 OPERATING SYSTEMS
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If you are installing on a Window 7 machine, follow these instructions sent by a customer:

a) Plug in the Mini-Flash USB programming cable into a spare USB port, you will probably here a ding or two...
b) After possibly a ding or two, you will see a message pop up saying it can not find a driver...
c) Choose the option to search for one from a specified location...
d) Browse to the "USB Driver" directory on the disk/download and then choose the "Win2K_XP" directory and press OK
e) The install should complete successfully, and a message could pop up that says your hardware is ready to use.

If the Install procedure above do not appear to work, try these:
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(be sure you unplug the USB dongle before proceeding with the procedures below)

a) Explore disk and double-click (open) the "USB Driver" Folder...

b) In this USB Driver folder, you should find a "SETUP" or INSTALL file... double-click it to run the application (if more than one Install/Setup file exists, choose the proper one for your computer system, (Vista or XP/7)

c) Follow instructions and when completed, you should then plug in your USB programming cable (not before)

d) You should hear your PC make a few ding sounds and software should install automatically. Should a window pop up during install, follow all direction, possibly having to search for the driver software...

e) After complete installation, you should see a displayed message that says your hardware is ready to use.

f) You should check your hardware settings (particularly the Comm Port number which the Mini-Flash software settings need to program the controller)...

g) To run the Device Manager, right-click on the My Computer icon on your desktop and select "Properties"

h) From Properties, select the Hardware tab, then press the Device Manager button

i) In this list of devices, you should see a category called "Ports". In this category list you should see a new entry named "USB Serial...". the COM number that follows in parenthesis is the communications port number (usually 1-10) you will have to set in the Mini-Flash programming software (under settings, see step b) below)

2. INSTALL THE MINI-FLASH REV4 SOFTWARE & CONFIGURE SETUP SCREEN (PORT#)
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a) Install Mini-Flash software by exploring the install disk's main directory. Here you should see a SETUP.EXE file... simply double-click on this setup file to install the Mini-Flash programming software... follow all directions (typically clicking OK using default settings). If during the install process it mentions that your computer has newer files than those trying to be installed... simply select to not over-write the current files. When completed, you will not see a desktop icon but you will see the Mini-Flash program under the START button (you could always right-click on the Mini-Flash program under START to copy a shortcut to your desktop)

b) IMPORTANT! Before using the Mini-Flash software to program a Mini-Flash, be sure to configure the programming port# under the SETUP screen in the software. This port number should be selected to match that viewed in step i) above (Installation of USB Driver)