Vertical Power VP-X How to use

VP#X%Configurator%Release%Notes%

As%of%version%1.6%(May%13,%2013)%

This%document%updated%October%31,%2013%

Contents

1.!Models.......................................................................................................................................1!

2.!Updating the VP-X Pro and Sport firmware (Automatic) ........................................................1!

3.!Software Upgrade Notice..........................................................................................................2!

4.!New features in VP-X firmware version 1.5 & 1.6 ..................................................................2!

5.!Notes about the latest release....................................................................................................2!

6.!General Information..................................................................................................................2!

7.!Configurator Installation...........................................................................................................4!

8.!Connecting to the VP-X Pro and Sport using Ethernet cable ...................................................5!

9.!Troubleshooting an Ethernet Connection “Cannot Connect” error ..........................................7!

10.!Troubleshooting a “Firmware Update Failed” message ...........................................................7!

11.!Troubleshooting a serial data line connection ..........................................................................8!

12.!Copying settings from the on-line VP-X Planner to the Configurator .....................................9!

13.!Connecting to the VP-X using serial cable...............................................................................9!

14.!Using the VP-X Configurator .................................................................................................10!

15.!Troubleshooting: A device is not working as expected ..........................................................10!

16.!Troubleshooting: System Status Faults...................................................................................14!

17.!Manually Updating the VP-X Pro and Sport firmware ..........................................................14!

18.!Updating the VP-X firmware when connected to AFS or GRT EFIS....................................15!

19.!Restoring your settings manually............................................................................................15!

20.!Known Bugs ...........................................................................................................................15!

21.!Appendix A – Restoring network settings..............................................................................16!

1. Models%

VP#X%

VP#X%Pro%&%VP#X%Sport%

2. Updating%the%VP#X%Pro%and%Sport%firmware%(Automatic)%

When you connect to the VP-X using the Configurator application, it checks if you

have the latest firmware installed. If you have an older version installed a message

pops up saying you need to upgrade. Press OK and it will upgrade it for you. The

configurator automatically saves your settings then restores the settings after the

firmware upgrade. See below for connection instructions.

WHEN ASKED TO POWER CYCLE DURING THE UPGRADE PROCESS, BE SURE TO TURN

OFF THE POWER FOR AL LEAST 5 SECONDS BEFORE TURNING IT BACK ON.

Verify that all the settings, circuit breaker values, trim, flap, wig-wag etc. are correct after the upgrade.

3. Software%Upgrade%Notice%%

With any software update you should always do your own flight testing in VFR conditions until you are

satisfied with the software's stability and functionality. Be sure to read and understand the full software

installation AND test procedure described in the Installation Manual.

Firmware updates on any system always carry a risk of failing the unit. Update the

VP-X firmware only when you have a few extra days to resolve any issues that may

arise from the upgrade process.

4. New%features%in%VP#X%firmware%version%1.5%&%1.6%

Refer to the VP-X Installation and Operating Manuals for details on new features.

•Added RV-10 reflex functionality.

•Added “continuous flaps” functionality. Flaps can be set to the second lower position before

reaching the next position.

•Added ability to disable primary alternator (for Rotax, Jabiru, etc.). Note that this may take some

time to be supported by our EFIS partners, so that it displays correctly on the EFIS. If you

disable the primary alternator and it still shows on your EFIS, then re-enable it until the next

EFIS software update is available.

•Fixed bug that showed VP-X Pro circuits on EFIS display connected to VP-X Sport system.

•VP-X now accepts configuration commands over Ethernet only.

•Various minor enhancements.

•Addressed issues with installer not correctly installing VP-X files on some computers.

•Improved Configurator logging capability.

•1.6 enhanced flap current reporting, otherwise identical to 1.5. Upgrade to 1.6 if you have 1.5.

5. Notes%about%the%latest%release%

Be sure to verify correct operation of all circuits, especially trim and flap operation, after you upgrade.

Check for proper direction of travel and indication on the EFIS. Verify correct operation of the backup

trim and flap controls on the EFIS.

6. General%Information%

This version of the VP-X configurator includes the following firmware versions:

VP-X: 2.2

VP-X Pro: 1.6

VP-X Sport: 1.6

The VP-X Configurator is used to configure the VP-X Pro and VP-X Sport models (and VP-X when

used with MGL). It is used to:

•configure each power pin and switch

•configure trim and flaps

•configure wig wag

•configure system settings

•turn devices on and off, move trim and flaps

•view individual device current draw

•reset faults

•save your configuration to the PC

•restore your configuration from the PC

•update VP-X firmware.

The main functions of the VP-X Configurator are shown below. The installation manual describes how

to configure each individual item.

Hardware'and'software'version

Functions

Press'to'

Save'

settings

Connection'Status

Connect/

Disconnect

7. Configurator%Installation%

The VP-X Configurator works with Windows XP, Vista and 7. Customers have reported it works with a

Mac running Boot Camp, Parallels, or VMWare, but is not officially supported. It has not been tested

with Windows 8.

Prior to installation, verify that:

[ ] You have administrative rights on your account (you are allowed to install software)

[ ] You have internet connectivity (some files may be downloaded automatically from the internet when

you initially install the configurator. After the configurator is installed you do not need to be connected

to the internet.)

To begin installation:

1. Go to verticalpower.com, then Support, then Software Upgrades

2. Click on the VP-X Configurator link and save the Configurator file to your desktop. If that

doesn’t work, right mouse click on the VP-X Configurator link and select “Save Target As…”

then save the Configurator file to your desktop.

3. Double click on the Configurator Setup file located on your desktop.

4. Windows will pop up various security windows. Press OK or Yes when prompted. If it prompts

you to install the Microsoft .NET framework 4.0 select YES or OK.

5. Wait until the installation process is complete, and then exit the installer. You are ready to run

the VP-X Configurator. Instructions on running the Configurator are shown in the next section.

8. Connecting%to%the%VP#X%Pro%and%Sport%using%Ethernet%cable%

This is the standard way to connect the VP-X Pro and Sport to your computer. Your PC can be

connected to the VP-X using Ethernet in one of three ways. We recommend the first way for non-

technical users, and offer options 2 and 3 for more tech-savvy users. These directions apply to both the

VP-X Pro and VP-X Sport.

THE ETHERNET CABLE SHOULD ONLY BE PLUGGED IN FOR CONFIGURATION. We

recommend plugging it in and leaving it until you're flying, but once you are flying do not leave the

Ethernet cable connected to the VP-X. During Phase 1 period, you may need to plug it in again to make

adjustments to your initial configuration, but in general you won’t need to connect your laptop once you

are flying.

1. Connect the PC’s Ethernet port directly to the VP-X Ethernet port using the Ethernet crossover

cable supplied with the VP-X.

VP-X

Crossov er cable

(pr ovided)

2. Connect through a network switch or router using a standard Ethernet cable. The VP-X is set

to IP address 192.168.0.51 and the subnet must be 192.168.0 with no other device assigned to .51

address. The VP-X address is not configurable at this time.

Network

Switch

VP-X

Standard patch cable

3. Connect through a wireless router using a standard Ethernet cable and WiFi. The VP-X is set

to IP address 192.168.0.51 and the subnet must be 192.168.0 with no other device assigned to .51

address. The VP-X address is not configurable at this time.

Wireless

Router

VP-X

Standard patch cable

Plug the Ethernet cable into the TOP jack on the VP-X.

Turn on the aircraft master switch. The green light and the orange light on the top jack should

turn on and blink. The green light indicates a link has been established and the orange light

indicates the internal VP-X processor is running. On the VP-X Pro, the orange light on the

bottom jack should also be blinking.

From Windows, go to the START Menu -> Programs -> Vertical Power folder, click on the VP-

X Configurator to start the application.

oThe first time you run the application it will ask for your name and tail number.

The connection screen appears automatically. Press the “Connect using Ethernet” button to

connect. You must establish a connection between the VP-X Configurator and the VP-X to

configure it or update firmware.

If you get a window that says the firmware must be updated, follow the prompts to update

the firmware.

If you get an error message saying that system files are missing, try re-installing the

configurator, then call VP Tech Support if the issue is not resolved.

If you get an error message saying it cannot connect, please see the troubleshooting section

below.

Once the connection is established the Configurator reads the existing configuration from the

VP-X.

NOTE: YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET OR YOUR

REGULAR NETWORK WHILE THE VP-X CONFIGURATOR IS RUNNING.

ALWAYS EXIT THE VP-X CONFIGURATOR PRIOR TO

PUTTING THE PC TO SLEEP OR SHUTTING DOWN.

Please see the VP-X Pro & VP-X Sport Installation manual for details on configuring the VP-X.

9. Troubleshooting%an%Ethernet%Connection%“Cannot%Connect”%error%

If you cannot connect, please check the following items:

1. Check that the system is powered on by verifying that the orange light on the Ethernet

jack is blinking. On the VP-X Pro there should be 2 orange blinking lights, one on each

jack. The VP-X Sport should have a single orange blinking light on the top jack.

2. The Ethernet cable is connected to the top jack (see picture above).

3. Verify that the green light on the top Ethernet jack on the VP-X is blinking.

4. Try reconnecting again several times. Sometimes Windows is just finicky.

5. If you are using a laptop with wireless Wi-Fi capability, most laptops have a switch that

enables you to turn off the Wi-Fi. Please turn it off.

6. Disconnect any other Ethernet cables from the PC.

7. Restart the computer. Try to connect again.

8. If you are using a laptop, shut off the laptop and remove the power cord, then remove the

laptop battery for a few minutes, then put everything back together and restart. Try to

connect again.

9. Start the Configurator. Close the connect window and select View Log on the left side of

the configurator. The contents of the log have been placed automatically in your

clipboard. Open an email to [email protected] and paste the clipboard contents

into the email. Send the e-mail and VP Tech Support will review the log to determine

what is causing the problem.

10. Troubleshooting%a%“Firmware%Update%Failed”%message%

This message appears during the firmware update process, and can mean different things

depending on when it appears. If it appears during the update process with a horizontal green

progress bar, go to step 9a below. If it appears after the progress bar is complete and you have

power cycled the VP-X and the pressed OK, go to step 9b below.

Step 9a

Follow these steps to diagnose the issue:

1. The failure message is followed by a code (loc #) where # is a number. Record this

number.

2. Turn off the VP-X and exit out of the screen that displayed the error message.

3. Turn on the VP-X, wait about 5 seconds, and observe the orange light(s) next to the

Ethernet jack on the VP-X. (A VP-X Sport has one orange light and a Pro has two.) Both

orange lights should be blinking slowly (only one for the VP-X Sport), about once per

second.

a. If a light is not on, or one is blinking rapidly, then a problem exists. Contact

Vertical Power tech support for further guidance.

b. If both are blinking normally (slowly, but at dissimilar rates) then re-connect the

Configurator restore your settings as shown in step 9c below.

Step 9b

More than likely you did not turn the VP-X off long enough for the system to fully power down,

leaving it in update mode. It then failed the update because it could not restore your settings.

Perform the following steps:

1. Turn off the master switch.

2. After waiting about 5 seconds, turn on the VP-X and observe the orange light(s) next to

the Ethernet jack. (A VP-X Sport has one orange light and a Pro has two.) Both orange

lights should be blinking slowly (only one for the VP-X Sport), about once per second.

a. If a light is not on, or one is blinking rapidly, then a problem exists. Contact

Vertical Power tech support for further guidance.

b. If both are blinking normally (slowly, but at dissimilar rates) then re-connect the

Configurator and restore your settings as shown in step 9c below.

Step 9c

Before the Configurator does a firmware update, it saves your settings automatically to a file

located in the C:\VerticalPower directory. This file can be used later to restore your settings

manually. It is important that you restore your settings after a firmware update, even if the

settings appear in configurator. Go to section 19 Restoring your settings manually.

11. Troubleshooting%a%serial%data%line%connection%

The RS-232 serial data line goes between the VP-X and the EFIS. The VP-X sends data to the

EFIS, and the EFIS sends data to the VP-X. Therefore, both the serial transmit and receive lines

must be operating correctly. If the EFIS is receiving data, it may show the VP-X page, but the

EFIS must also transmit data for the system to operate correctly. Be sure both transmit and

receive lines are functioning. This section describes how to check both lines.

Checking the VP-X transmit line (EFIS receive line)

Each EFIS is slightly different, and this describes the general procedure. Go to the EFIS setup

menu where the serial ports are configured. Look for some sort of indicator that shows data is

being received. This may be a green check mark or an incrementing byte counter. If no data is

being received by the EFIS, check the serial wiring on both ends.

Checking the VP-X receive line (EFIS transmit line)

Connect the Configurator to the VP-X using the Ethernet line as shown earlier in this manual.

Select System Status from the left-hand menu.

Check the EFIS Data Missing field for one of the following states:

Data being received from EFIS NO data being received from EFIS

If no data is being received from the EFIS, check the serial wiring on both ends.

12. Copying%settings%from%the%on#line%VP#X%Planner%to%the%Configurator%

You can export settings from the on-line VP-X Planner to your VP-X. When you do this, any

existing settings on the VP-X are overwritten by the settings from the planner. Once the settings

have been copied to the VP-X, any changes you make to the web Planner will not be

automatically updated on the VP-X. Because the actual settings are unique to each airframe, the

trim and flap settings must be configured on the VP-X itself and cannot be done using the

planner. If you’ve made any changes to the configuration on the VP-X, we recommend noting

these changes in writing, then going back to the Planner and manually entering the changes so

you have a “master list” of changes. You can print your configuration from the VP-X Planner.

Here’s how to copy your settings from the Planner to the VP-X:

When you have all the settings configured in the on-line Planner, go to the VP-X Pinout tab and

click on the download VPX configuration file (.vpx) link.

The browser will ask if you want to open or save the file. Select Save As… and save it to your

desktop or somewhere on your computer where you can find it again.

Launch the VP-X Configurator and connect to the VP-X.

From the File menu, select Restore Configuration… and then select the file you saved earlier.

The settings are then sent to the VP-X.

Follow the prompts on the screen and power cycle the VP-X, and then re-connect.

Set the trim, flaps, wig-wag and system settings.

Verify all of the settings are correct.

13. Connecting%to%the%VP#X%using%serial%cable%

Customers using the original VP-X (the box with 4 black connectors and a 37-pin d-sub

connector) and the MGL Odyssey or Voyager should connect using a serial cable. Wiring

instructions are in the VP-X Installation Manual.

Turn on the aircraft master switch. TURN OFF THE EFIS WHILE THE VP-X

CONFIGURATOR IS CONNECTED.

If you want to run the VP-X Configurator while the EFIS is running, be sure to go to

Simulated Data section of the VP-X Configurator and UNCHECK the “Send Simulated

Data” item (do this once connected).

From Windows, go to the START Menu -> Programs, click on the VP-X Configurator to

start the application.

oThe first time you run the application it will ask for your name and tail number.

The connection screen appears automatically. Press the “Connect” (using serial) button to

connect. You must establish a connection between the VP-X Configurator and the VP-X

to configure it or update firmware.

Once the connection is established the Configurator reads the existing configuration from

the

VP-X.

Note: if you cannot connect check the following: 1) transmit and receive lines are wired

correctly. Swap them around and see if that fixes it. 2) verify you have the correct serial

port 3) verify the USB to serial adapter driver is installed and working correctly.

Please see the VP-X Installation manual for details on configuring the VP-X.

14. Using%the%VP#X%Configurator%%

Be sure the VP-X is connected and the aircraft master switch is on.

Double click on the VP-X Configurator icon on your desktop or locate the VP-X Configurator in

the Start->Programs menu.

Go through EACH of the settings pages (the list on the left side of the screen) and verify each

item is as it should be. Specific instructions to configure the VP-X are listed in the VP-X

Installation manual.

When the VP-X Configurator starts, it saves the current Ethernet port settings. When you

connect to the VP-X using Ethernet, it may need to change the network settings in order to

connect. The VP-X Configurator does not affect wireless network configurations. When you quit

the program, it restores the network configuration to its previous state. Sometimes this restore

operation can fail, and the result is that you cannot connect to a network using your hardwired

Ethernet port. Please see Appendix A for instructions on restoring your network settings

manually.

ALWAYS EXIT THE VP-X CONFIGURATOR PRIOR TO PUTTING

THE PC TO SLEEP OR SHUTTING DOWN.

15. Troubleshooting:%A%device%is%not%working%as%expected%

Once you have imported your configuration or manually configured the VP-X, some items may

not work as expected. Sometimes a device won’t turn on, or a switch will turn on unexpected

devices. Usually this is because the VP-X is not configured or wired correctly, and this section

explains how to troubleshoot those issues. Trim and flap configuration is discussed in the VP-X

Installation Manual.

VERIFY THE BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED. IF IT IS NOT, THE

VOLTAGE CAN DROP WHEN TURNING DEVICES ON. THE VP-X

OPERATES DOWN TO ABOUT 6 VOLTS, WHEREAS MOST

AVIONICS OPERATE DOWN TO 10 VOLTS.

We’re going to break things up into their logical sections, and troubleshoot and isolate each one

individually. First, we’ll look at how the switches are wired. Then we’ll verify that the VP-X is

configured correctly and there are no circuit faults. Finally, we’ll double check the wiring from

the VP-X to the devices. These sections are shown below:

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