User Manual XC Tracer Mini V1.0
Rev 01 25.2.2016
Introduction
XC Tracer Mini is an acoustic variometer powered by a solar cell. The lag-free indication of lift / sink
makes it much easier to find and core thermals than when using a conventional variometer.
XC Tracer Mini has a built-in solar cell that delivers 3x more energy than is needed for running the
device (when oriented perpendicular to the sun). The surplus energy is stored in a lithium polymer
battery. The variometer will run for 8-12 hours with a fully charged battery without any sun,
depending on the sound level. The built-in battery can be charged over the Micro USB connector
should this ever be necessary.
Expose XC Tracer Mini to the sun as much as possible. Often you may have to wait for better
conditions before launch so orientate XC Tracer Mini in such a way that the solar cell catches as
much sunlight as possible (whilst taking care that the device doesn’t overheat). As a rule of thumb
in winter when the sun is low you should expose the variometer to the sun when necessary,
however during the summer months the intensity of the solar radiation should be such that it’s not
necessary to expose the variometer to the sun before launching.
Important: XC Tracer Mini charges the battery even when it’s not switched on!
Mounting
XC Tracer Mini uses data from a 9-DOF IMU (9 Degrees Of Freedom Inertial Measurement Unit),
and from a pressure sensor, to compute the real-time climb rate and altitude, avoiding the
undesired time lag that conventional variometers suffer (due to data filtering). For this reason
mount your XC Tracer Mini in such a way that it moves as little as possible whilst you’re flying.
It’s therefore important that the XC Tracer Mini isn’t dangling from a cord or attached to your
helmet. The best approach is to attach XC Tracer Mini to your cockpit, or on the shoulder strap of
your harness, or on your thigh.
But when attaching XC Tracer Mini, please remember that it needs to have the best possible view
of the sun in order to maximize solar charging.
Switch On / Switch Off
Turn XC Tracer Mini on by pressing and holding the red button until you hear beep-beep. Next the
battery charge status is indicated by a series of beeps (this feature is described further below).
Finally XC Tracer Mini makes a beep-beep-beeeeeep and it’s now ready for flight.
Turning XC Tracer Mini off is just the same - press and hold the red button until you hear beep-
beep.
If you forget to switch off the vario after a flight then it will switch off automatically if it hasn’t
detected lift or sink for 1 minute.
