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Copyright © Parallax Inc. 

ELEV-8 Quadcopter Kit (#80000) 

Version 1.

1

   Page 4 of 26  

 

ELEV-8 QUADCOPTER ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS 

These instructions are for assembling the ELEV-8 quadcopter in its most standard configuration.  Some steps are optional; we’ll explain those 

along the way.   The ELEV-8 quadcopter platform is designed for creative experimentation and adaptation; however, we recommend that you try 
the standard configuration first, and then experiment at your own educated risk.   

 

These instructions are available online as a full-color PDF; go to 

www.parallax.com

 and search “80000”.  

Preparation 

1.

 

Read the entire assembly instructions before beginning.  
Assembly and testing takes about eight hours on average. 

2.

 

If you are missing any components, email 

support@parallax.com or call 888-512-1024 (inside 

continental US) or 916-624-8333. 

3.

 

Gather all of the additional items and tools required. 

4.

 

Charge your LiPo batteries with their charger. 

Additional Items Required 

 

RC radio controller and receiver; 5-channel minimum required 

for flight 

 

LiPo Battery, 3000 to 4400 mAh 3-cell 30 C discharge rate 

 

LiPo Battery Charger 

Tools Required 

 

Soldering iron, solder, and flux 

 

Component vise  

 

#1 Phillips screwdriver 

 

1/4 inch wrench, box-end or socket 

 

11/32 inch wrench or nut driver 

 

Wire strippers/cutters (12-16 AWG)  

 

Scissors 

 

Needle-nose pliers 

 

Ruler or measuring tape 

 

Heat gun or blow dryer (for heat-shrink tubing) 

Step 1: Motor Set Screws 

Start by applying Blue Loctite to the motor set screws, to prevent them from coming loose during flight and causing equipment failure.   
 

1.

 

Locate the Blue Loctite 242, the four motors, and the small Allen wrench in the ELEV-8 Hardware Kit. 

2.

 

Refer to the drawing on the next page. Using the Allen wrench, carefully remove the Motor Set Screws (item 2) from each motor (item 1).   

The screws may be very tight; be careful not to break your Allen wrench. 

3.

 

For each motor, apply a small amount of Blue Loctite to the Set Screw threads and carefully reinstall the screws.  Seat each screw firmly but 

do not over-tighten. Allow the Blue Loctite to set for 10 minutes.  It fully cures in 24 hours.   

Summary of Contents for ELEV-8

Page 1: ...control software Custom plates protect motors and electronics Designed to easily attach a camera mount Specifications Weight without battery 2 5 lbs 1 13 kg fully assembled Payload capacity excluding...

Page 2: ...adcopter could cause risk of catastrophic equipment failure personal injury to you or others and property damage Perform initial electronic speed controller ESC programming before installing the prope...

Page 3: ...3 00025 4 Standoff 4 40 1 1 4 Nylon 800 00021 2 16 Red Pluggable Jumper Male 712 00004 4 Washer 6 3 8 OD Zinc 750 90002 4 Brushless 1000Kv Motor ELEV 8 Airframe Kit Contents 80050 710 00100 8 Screw 4...

Page 4: ...ms Required RC radio controller and receiver 5 channel minimum required for flight LiPo Battery 3000 to 4400 mAh 3 cell 30 C discharge rate LiPo Battery Charger Tools Required Soldering iron solder an...

Page 5: ...Copyright Parallax Inc ELEV 8 Quadcopter Kit 80000 Version 1 1 Page 5 of 26...

Page 6: ...ollow the instructions below 1 Gather together your motors the red 16 AWG wire EC3 connectors wire cutters wire stripper ruler and soldering supplies 2 Using a ruler and wire cutters measure and cut t...

Page 7: ...1 8 inch 0 3 cm of metal on the end of each speed controllers blue wire leads 7 Solder an opposite gender EC3 connector to the end of each speed controllers blue leads 8 Connect the male EC3 connector...

Page 8: ...9 cm pieces 36 pieces total 2 Slip a piece of tubing over each solder joint on each motor lead 3 Apply heat with a heat gun or blow dryer to shrink the tubing over the solder joint as shown top 4 Slid...

Page 9: ...Use two more 3 8 Panhead Screws and Internal Tooth Lock Washers item 6 to attach each Motor Mount top plate item 3 to the Nylon Standoffs item 7 4 One end of each Boom item 4 has two holes spaced abo...

Page 10: ...Screw Pan head Stainless Steel 2 3 Motor Mount top 1 4 Boom Arm Black 1 5 3 8 Screw Pan head Stainless Steel 4 6 Internal Tooth Lock Washer 4 4 7 Nylon Standoff 4 40 x 5 8 2 8 Motor Mount Bottom 1 9 S...

Page 11: ...s and two black white Booms 2 Locate the black and red 22 AWG wires in the ELEV 8 Electronics Kit Cut each 22 AWG wire into two pieces approximately 8 inches 20 cm long and then strip 1 4 inch 0 6 cm...

Page 12: ...3 Position a Motor Boom assembly item 2 on the Bottom Chassis Plate item 3 The Boom tube rests on top of the plate with the motor axle pointing upward and the LED tape facing downward The free end of...

Page 13: ...1 3 4 5 2 ITEM NO PART NUMBER QTY 1 Stand off Nylon 5 8 4 40 screw size 2 2 Assy Boom Arm 1 3 Quad Chassis 1 4 Screw 4 40 1 1 4 pandhead ss steel 1 5 Screw 4 40 1 1 4 panhead SS steel 1...

Page 14: ...bing past each of the two solder joints you just made on the power harness so that they sit closest to the ESCs Don t shrink them yet just keep them out of the way of the solder joints 4 Position the...

Page 15: ...it You will need two bullet connectors and one plastic housing 10 Solder a bullet connector onto the end of each 12 AWG lead Insert the exposed tip of the wire into the cup end of the bullet connector...

Page 16: ...on with these settings Transmitter Setting Recommendations Box Model Type ACRO Plane Mode End point adjustment Set to 50 initially If the ELEV 8 still seems too reactive reduce to 30 until you get use...

Page 17: ...to line up the black wire with the red wire with and the white wire with Signal WARNING Do not connect to the Programming Card s BEC port and Batt port at the same time this would damage the card 3 Se...

Page 18: ...wo black checkered white LED Booms 3 Put a piece of tape on the output shaft of each motor so you can easily tell the direction of rotation 4 Connect an ESC s 3 pin socket to the Throttle port on your...

Page 19: ...on Standoffs item 1 3 Attach each Nylon Standoff item 1 to the top of the Top Chassis Plate item 2 with a 3 8 Panhead Screw item 3 4 Attach the Top Chassis Plate to the standoffs on top the Booms usin...

Page 20: ...1 2 3 ITEM NO Description QTY 1 Stand off nylon 1 1 4 Thread 4 2 Quad Chassis 1 3 Screw 4 40 3 8 Pandhead stainless steel 4...

Page 21: ...ITEM NO Description Part Number QTY 1 Screw 4 40 3 8 panhead stainless steel 710 00036 4 2 4 SS Steel Washer 4 3 Rubber Grommet 4 4 HoverFly Open PC Board 1 5 ELEV 8 Control Board Mount Plate Assy 72...

Page 22: ...Control Board Top Plate over the Control Board The small hole near the center of the Control Board Top Plate is for a light pipe Make sure this hole is directly above the LED on the Control Board This...

Page 23: ...omes 5 8 long Cut to length needed ITEM NO PART NUMBER QTY 1 light tube 1 2 Screw 4 40 x 1 Pandhead SS Steel 4 3 ELEV 8 Control Board Top Plate 1 4 Spacer Nylon 1 2 4 40 screw size 4 5 Assy PC Board H...

Page 24: ...r on the front edge of the Control Board 1 Connect the Receiver to the Receiver Port with the five signal connections listed below Use the 3 wire extension cables included in the ELEV 8 Electronics Ki...

Page 25: ...s are rounded side up 1 Disconnect the battery from the Power Harness 2 Refer to the diagram on this page for the correct placement of each blade 3 Connect each blade to its motor referring to the dia...

Page 26: ...1 2 3 4 6 5 Use Blue Loctite Before installing ITEM NO PART NUMBER QTY 1 Propeller Nut 1 2 10 Inch Propeller 1 3 Cone Lock 1 4 Collet 1 5 Motor 2 1 6 Set Screw 2...

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