CHARGER XL FAQ

  

LiteHawk CHARGER XL - Specs

  • Length: 560mm (22”)
  • Beam: 195mm (7.68”)
  • Powerful 9g Metal Rudder Servo
  • Water Cooled 30A brushed ESC w/BEC
  • Water Cooled 550 motor
  • Hull Material: Plastic Molded
  • 3 blade propeller
  • 2 Channel 2.4 Ghz
  • 100% Factory Assembled & Fully Tested
  • Battery: 11.1V 1300mAh 35C Li-Po
  • Wall Mount Charger and 2S/3S Balance Charger Included!

LiteHawk CHARGER XL - Operational Range

Your LiteHawk CHARGER XL comes with a 2.4 Ghz radio system, which allows you to play without the fear of ever losing control! Race or play with countless other drivers. The range of your boat is approximately 250ft which, due to its size, is in excess of normal vision. The farther the boat goes away from you the smaller it will become and the harder it will be to determine the boat’s direction We suggest you drive at a distance between 20ft-50ft, this keeps your boat within a safe operational distance.
- Make sure your hands are clear of the propeller and rudder when you are placing the boat in and out of the water. For your first few runs try to keep the boat within 10-30ft of you so you can see how the boat reacts to steering and throttle input. Once you have more experience you can venture a little farther away. Remember the controls are proportional just like a real boat. Ease on and off the throttle until you are comfortable. 

LiteHawk CHARGER XL - Charging
You will notice that there are 2 plugs with wires coming out of the battery. The white plug with the white, black, and red wires is the balance plug. This is the plug you use with the supplied balance charger. This is a keyed plug and will only go in one way.
1. Plug your wall mount power supply into a 120V outlet and connect the balance charger into the opposite end. The red light on the balance charger will be solid red to indicate there is power.
2. Connect the battery’s white 4 pin balance connector into the corresponding port on the balance charger. The red light will turn off, a green light will blink to indicate charging. Charging time is Approx 1.5-2 hours.
3. Charging is completed once red light and the green light are both solid on. If both lights are still not solid on within 2.5 hours, unplug battery as the charger may be defective. Discontinue use immediately and call LiteHawk Technical Support.
It is normal for the battery to get warm during the charging process. Do not charge the battery on a surface that is flammable or can be damaged by heat.
- Do not leave the battery and charger unattended while charging.
- Do not store the battery plugged into the charger

LiteHawk CHARGER XL - Deck Removal and Battery Placement

To remove the deck, find the black lever at the rear of the boat. Next, turn the lever either left or right, then pull up. The deck is now open.


To place the battery in the proper location. Find the Velcro strip at the back of the motor.


The included battery has the strip that mates with the one in the boat, place the battery on the strip and gently push down. Sliding the ESC forward might be needed to get the battery in.


Reverse procedure to mount the deck, making sure that the small nub goes into the hole at the front of the deck as shown.

LiteHawk CHARGER XL - Propeller Replacement

- Hold the propeller with one hand and use the pliers or wrench to unscrew the nut counterclockwise, and set it aside. Be careful, as the blade can be quite sharp. The nut has a plastic washer inside which keeps the nut from coming loose during use, so it is quite tight during removal.

- If you wish, you can use a second set of pliers to hold the brass coupling at the end of the flex shaft. Be careful not to damage the screw holding the brass coupling in place.

- Slide the propeller off the flex shaft. In the pictures you can see that the propeller and the flex shaft are keyed so they can fit together without slipping. -It might be a good time to use the supplied allen key to make sure the screw holding the brass coupling on the end of the flex shaft is tigh

- To replace, simply slide the new propeller onto the shaft, making sure you line up the notch on the propeller with the key on the brass coupling at the end of the flex shaft.

- Reattach and tighten the nut on the end of the flex shaft.

LiteHawk CHARGER XL - Flex Shaft Removal and Maintenance
Every two or three runs with your CHARGER XL you should lubricate the Flex Shaft so that the propeller keeps on turning smooth and free, and also to seal the hull from water entering along the Flex Shaft.

You will need two 10mm wrenches and a little bearing or axle grease ( from any automotive store ). Remove the Deck cover to get to the interior of the boat.

Loosen the motor/flex shaft coupler with two 10mm wrenches.

A gentle tug on the propeller will pull the flex shaft from the coupler. 

Pull the Shaft about 3/4's of the way out, and lubricate with bearing or axle grease. Reassemble in reverse order, and you are good to go! Have Fun!

LiteHawk CHARGER XL - Water-cooled and water-resistant electronics
All LiteHawk Marine items are water-cooled! Your LiteHawk CHARGER XL picks up water from the base of the rudder, as the boat is moving through the water. The water is forced through the Electronic Speed Control (ESC) and then into the water-cooled motor mount. This helps to keep everything cool. For added protection the Electronic Speed Control (ESC) has been waterproofed. All this protection helps to avaid the classic problem that all R/C power boats have - how to keep everything cool.
- Before using your new boat carefully check the silicone cooling tubes are connected securely and not blocked. Ensure that the water inlet in the rudder is not obstructed. A good way to check for blockages is to use your mouth to blow air into the outlet tube and make sure you have air exiting the inlet at the base of the rudder.
- If you are running the boat in salt water, than you should blow out the cooling system as mentioned above after use. If possible run in fresh water for a minute or so to flush the lines.
- Your Receiver has a O-ring gasket to help keep water out. The wires going into the receiver have also been sealed. However water could penetrate the seals. If you notice ANY loss of control stop driving and un-plug the battery and remove the receiver from the boat and allow to air dry. Removing the screws from the bottom of the receiver will allow you to open up the receiver. This makes the air drying far more effective.
 LiteHawk CHARGER XL - Electrical / Water Cooling Diagram

LiteHawk CHARGER XL - Changing Rudder and Setting Trim
Remove the rubber cooling line by pulling it off the rudder . Next loosen the rudder collar screw so the push rod slides out easily. Remove the two screws holding the rudder to the hull of the boat and gently pull it off.

To remove the push rod unscrew the servo horn and pull the push rod out through the hull of the boat. If replacing the push rod take the plastic servo horn off and place it on the new one.
With everything removed follow these steps in reverse to re attach.

Tip: To centre the rudder make sure the trim setting on the remote is centred and then loosen the push rod collar screw.

Turn the boat on and let the servo and push rod centre itself. Then looking at the back of the boat straight-on make sure the rudder is centred and tighten the push rod collar screw.