Product related questions & answers for Carbon Butterfly (scroll down) and Zenwheels Micro Car.
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For more detailed information please see Manuals.
ZenWheels Micro Car
What is the ZenWheels Micro Car?
Plantraco's ZenWheels Micro Car is a remote controlled "R/C" car that you control from your iPhone, iPad, iTouch or Android OS device.
While it has many similarities to traditional R/C cars, the way you control it is totally different! Instead of the usual radio control transmitter, you command this vehicle completely from your iOS device (iPhone, iPad, iTouch), or your Android device with the free ZenWheels R/C Command app.
Do I need to get the App to use the ZenWheels Micro Car?
Yes, it's the only way to control it! The App is Free.
How do I get the App?
You can download the FREE app automatically once you pair up your iOS device or Android device to the ZenWheels Micro Car. You pair up with Bluetooth, and then it will prompt you to download the app - very simple! If you want to download the app manually, you can do so by visiting the App store or the Google Android Play and search for ZenWheels
Can I use my computer to control the ZenWheels Micro Car?
No, it is an app controlled device, and is controlled from an Apple or Android device.
Is the App available for iPhone and Android?
Yes, the ZenWheels R/C Commander app is available for Apple devices and Android Devices
Can I use iPad and iTouch?
Yes, the app works on iPhone, iPad, iTouch and Android devices
Do I need to plug in anything into my smartphone, iPhone or Android?
No, it operates using Bluetooth Wireless technology, so you do not need to plug in anything into your smartphone device. Your device has Bluetooth built-in. Other cheaper toy products you have seen may need a "dongle" to be plugged into the iPhone or Android, but that's not very cool. Bluetooth is better. Enjoy!
Does it need batteries?
No, the rechargeable battery is installed permanently inside. You recharge it with the included micro USB cord.
Do I have to drain the battery completely before recharging it with the included micro USB cord?
No, the battery has no "memory" effect or any bad features of outdated battery technologies. You can discharge and recharge at any time with no adverse effects.
Is it Rechargeable?
Yes, every ZenWheels Micro Car includes a Micro USB cable that you can plug into any powered USB jack to recharge the Lithium Polymer Battery inside the car. You can recharge from your laptop or desktop computer, or even the charger that came with your iPhone.
How can I tell if the car is fully charged?
See the instruction manual in the app for full details about charging. When you plug in the micro USB cord into the rear of the Micro Car, you will notice the Blue LED glowing - this indicates that it is charging. When charging is complete (in about 40 - 60 minutes typically), the blue LED will go out. Additionally, you can actually read the voltage in the battery when you are paired up in the app, at the top right of the app screen, you will see the voltage and the percentage of battery left in the car. When the car gets low on power, it will automatically shut down.
What is the included USB cord for?
The included micro USB cord is used strictly for charging purposes. It carries no data whatsoever, it merely uses the 5V USB power source to charge the car. Plug it into any standard USB socket and you will be able to charge your ZenWheels Micro Car.
What is the range?
The ZenWheels Micro Car is a Bluetooth wireless device. Range is 10m or 30 feet. This is more than enough range because the car is so small you can barely see it at long range :)
How do I turn on the car?
You switch on the car by pressing the small red button on the bottom rear of the ZenWheels Micro Car. Press the button and release it. You will hear a start up chime sound and will see some LED's lighting up letting you know that you have successfully powered it up.
How do I pair to the ZenWheels Micro Car?
See the instruction manual in the app for full details on pairing. When you press the startup button on the car to turn it on, you will see some LED's glowing in the rear window. Visit "settings" on your iPhone or Android and pair to the device with the name "MicroCar". It's pretty easy.
Is it a Wifi wireless Device?
No, it is a Bluetooth wireless device. Bluetooth makes it very simple to "pair up" to the ZenWheels Micro Car without having to do any wireless network configuration whatsoever. You want to play, not hack your firewall right? . See the instruction manual included in the ZenWheels R/C Command app for more information about Bluetooth pairing. It's about as simple as we could make it.
Can I drive more than one car at once?
Yes! You can drive many many micro cars in the same room - no problem. There is virtually no limit. So invite your friends and have fun driving together!
Can I drive it on a dirty dusty floor?
No, avoid this if possible. The ZenWheels micro car is intended to be driven on clean surfaces only. It might be fun to drive on the floor for a while, but if you do this you will run the risk of picking up dirt and dust bunnies that can clog the axle and jam up the mechanism. Dirt and debris on the axles can reduce performance of the car, and it's difficult to clean these areas of the car. Always drive on a clean surface for best results
Can I drive it underwater?
Not for very far! Please keep your ZenWheels Micro Car dry at all times!
Do the sounds come from the App or from the Zenwheels Microcar itself?
Both! - The App plays the sounds through the speaker on your iPhone and the Car Plays them through a tiny speaker inside the car. Both volume controls are adjustable from the settings area of the app.
What is "Trim" for?
Trim is a term taken from the R/C hobby industry - high quality R/C transmitters have the "trim" function, and trim is used to make small adjustments to the way the car behaves. It is quite normal for your ZenWheels Microcar to drive forwards in a less than perfectly straight line due to small variation in the mechanical assembly. By using the trim function, you can adjust it so that it drives a mostly straight path when throttle is applied on it's own.
What is the "Panic" button for when I am driving using the "Alien" mode?
The "Panic" button is used to prevent you from having a "runaway" car that is out of control. The new and interesting method of controlling the car using the accellerometers of the iPhone is very challenging to master. We encourage you to try it, but if you ever find that the car is getting away from you, you can remove your fingers from the screen to stop the car, or if desired, you can press the "Panic" button to give an "All Stop" signal to the car and prevent it from running away while you are trying to orientate yourself to this very dynamic control system.
What is the strange plastic ramp thing with the checkered flag and metal bar inside?
The timing gate is a plastic ramp with a magnet inside. The ZenWheels MicroCar has a Hall-Effect sensor inside that can detect the magnetic field when it rolls over the timing gate. When you do this on the iPhone version of the app, you will notice a new button will appear on the app screen that says "Start Race" If you tap the start race button, the app will count down to start a timer. (make sure your volume is turned up on your iOS device). Every time you drive over the timing gate the timer will mark a completed "lap" time. When you push the "Stop Race" button, a summary of all laps will be displayed, and you can see what your best lap time is. Now your friend can try to beat your lap time!Who is the best driver?
Why is it called ZenWheels?
Think Remote Controlled cars about the size of HotWheels cars for super skilled Zen like drivers! Something like that :)
The ZenWheels Micro Cars have attributes of high maneuverability and precision. They exist in a micro world of their own, and we hope to capture your imagination and activate feelings of harmony and wonder. A 10 minute driving session with the ZenWheels Micro Car might possibly be regarded as a mild relaxation session. At Plantraco we feel that taking a short break from work promotes a healthy and optimistic outlook. Play should be part of everyones life. ZenWheels promotes relaxation and is part of a holistic approach to a healthy lifestyle!
Think of harmony and balance and peaceful co-existence of human beings with creatures, and ummm . . . robots :) We like to think of the ZenWheels Micro car as having a bit of a personality - not quite a "creature" of course, but a bit more than just a "toy".
There are many meanings to the term Zen, but perhaps to really understand you need to simply try driving the ZenWheels Micro Car around your desk for a while. We think you will understand more when you try it!
Carbon Butterfly
Is this aircraft suitable for my 8-year-old child?
No. The carbon frame is fragile to handling abuse, and the operational requirements are beyond the skill set of most children. It requires the patience and dexterity of an adult hobbyist.
Can I fly it outside in my backyard?
Only on days with absolutely zero wind. Even a light breeze (1-2 mph) will overpower the 3-gram aircraft, leading to loss of control. It is designed primarily for indoor spaces.
Do I need to buy a separate charger?
No. The transmitter (HFX900) has a built-in charger designed specifically for the LP30 battery. However, you must ensure the AA batteries in the transmitter are fresh to ensure a full charge.
There's no elevator, how do I control the pitch?
The Carbon Butterfly is so lightweight that pitch can be controlled with throttle alone. New pilots often experience "porpoising" (where the nose bobs up and down) when applying too much power. If the plane is pitching up too aggressively, you should slightly reduce the throttle or initiate a turn to level it out. Physical pitch tendencies can be permanently tuned by adjusting the wing incidence (sliding the trailing edge of the wing up or down on the pylon) or by adjusting the propeller's thrust line (bending the gearbox to add down-thrust).
Why does the motor cut out when I apply full throttle?
This is likely a voltage sag caused by a poor connection at the magnetic terminals. The high current draw of the motor at full throttle causes a voltage drop across the dirty contacts, triggering the receiver's low-voltage reset. Clean the magnets with alcohol or "scrub" the battery against the contacts.
My plane flies in circles and I can't stop it. What's wrong?
This is a trim or alignment issue. Check that the rudder is centered when the stick is neutral. If it is, check the Thrust Line. The gearbox may need to be bent slightly to point the propeller in the opposite direction of the turn to counteract motor torque.
The LED on the receiver is blinking S-O-S (three short flashes).
This is the Low Voltage Cutoff warning. The battery is critically low. Land immediately and recharge. Do not continue to fly, or you risk permanent damage to the battery.
Can I use a larger battery for longer flight times?
While physically possible to attach a larger cell (e.g., 50mAh), the added weight will significantly degrade flight performance. The 3-gram flight envelope relies on minimal weight. A heavier battery will increase stall speed, making "living room" flight difficult or impossible.
I'm having trouble attaching my new propeller.
When you are attaching a brand new propeller for its first time, it will require more force than reattaching a used one. The propellers must be 'broken in'. You will notice that used ones have a slight ribbed effect on their adapter, while brand new ones are smooth.
I broke a wire on the actuator. How do I fix it?
You must solder it back to the pad on the receiver. Note that the wire is coated with insulation that must be stripped. You must also match the polarity; if you reverse the wires, the rudder will move in the wrong direction.
Can I use my Spektrum DX6 transmitter?
Not with the stock receiver. The Carbon Butterfly uses a proprietary 900MHz protocol. To use a Spektrum transmitter, you would need to perform a complex modification involving replacing the onboard receiver with a DSM2-compatible micro-receiver.
