PROAIM PT-JR Jr. Pan Tilt Head with 12V Joystick Control User Manual
- June 10, 2024
- PROAIM
Table of Contents
PROAIM PT-JR Jr. Pan Tilt Head with 12V Joystick Control
Product Information
The Jr. Pan-Tilt Head with 12V Joystick Control (PT-JR) is a camera accessory that allows for smooth and precise movement of the camera in both panning and tilting directions. It comes with a 12V joystick controller that has a safety cap and a 3-meter cable for easy operation. The pan-tilt head has gears for both tilting and panning movements, as well as 12V motors for each movement. The camera platform is adjustable and can be mounted on a tripod or jib using the base platform. The joystick controller has various functions such as pan speed, tilt speed, pan damping, tilt damping, pan direction, and tilt direction.
What’s In The Box
- Jr. Pan-Tilt Head
- 12V Joystick Controller with safety cap and 3-meter cable
- 15-meter XLR cable
- 12V AC Adapter
- Universal Adapter
- Fasteners
- Storage Bag
Product Usage Instructions
- Pan Tilt Head Setup: Attach the Jr. Pan Tilt Head with the jib mounting plate. Align screw holes and tighten precisely to secure the head.
- Attaching Joystick Controller: Install the 12-volt AC adapter (4 pin XLR) in the socket of the joystick box. Attach the 4-pin power cable with the joystick controller. Then attach other cables of the motors with a long cable. Attach the 4-pin male connector of the cable to the 4-pin female connector of the head for panning and tilting.
- Functioning of Joystick Controller: The joystick controller has various functions such as pan speed, tilt speed, pan damping, tilt damping, pan direction, and tilt direction. The tilt direction switch is used when the pan-tilt head is used on a tripod or jib. By switching on the tilt direction switch, we can immediately reverse the direction. The same applies to the pan direction switch.
Note: Any 12-volt battery may operate this Pan Tilt Head as long as the connector and the #1 negative pin & #4 positive pin of the cable meet together. The power specification provided is for 12 volts. For this, a 12V/3A regulated power adapter is provided. In case you use a voltage higher than 12V, it will affect the performance and life of the motor, and there is a high risk of the motor getting damaged.
What’s In The Box
Please inspect the contents of your shipped package to ensure you have
received everything that is listed below.
Parts of Pan-Tilt Head
- Gear for Tilting Movement
- Gear for Panning Movement
- 12V Motor for Panning Movement
- 12V Motor for Tilting Movement
- Adjustable Camera Platform
- Base Platform for Tripod/Jib Mounting
- Joystick for Pan/Tilt Movement
- On/Off Switch
- Pan Speed
- Tilt Speed
- Pan Damping
- Tilt Damping
- Pan Direction
- Tilt Direction
- 4-Pin Power out to Head
- Fuse Holder
- 12V DC Input – 4 Pin XLR
Pan Tilt Head Setup
Attach Jr. Pan Tilt Head with jib Mounting Plate. Align screw holes and tighten precisely to secure the head.
Attaching Joystick Controller
The Pan Tilt Head circuitry is built entirely into the Joystick Controller. The only requirement is AC adapter (Included) or Battery Power (Not included). The AC adapter can handle 100-240 volts. Users will need the appropriate plug adapter for local use.
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Install 12 volt AC adapter (4-pin XLR) in the socket of the Joystick Box.
NOTE : Any 12-volt battery may operate this Pan Tilt Head as long as the Connector and the #1 Negative pin & #4 Positive pin of the Cable meet together.
CAUTION : The power specification we have provided is as per 12 volts. For this, we provide a 12volt/3ampere regulated power adapter. In case you use a voltage higher than 12V, it will affect the performance and life of the motor, and there is a high risk of the motor getting damaged. -
Attach 4-pin Power Cable with Joystick Controller. Then attach other cables of the motors with long cables.
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Attach the 4-pin male connector of the Cable to 4- the pin female connector of the Head for Panning & Tilting.
NOTE : If the Joystick Control is opposite, undo the connectors of the motors, rotate 180°, and re-install. -
Attach & secure your camera on the camera platform of Head with the help of provided checkout.
Functioning of Joystick Controller
The Joystick is a 2-Axis Variable Speed Servo Controller. The further you move
in one direction, the faster the output to that motor. This will be a little
tricky at first, but little practice will improve your success. The joystick
may be operated in a handheld position or from a flat surface such as a
tabletop, or attached to the boom arm of Jib.
NOTE : After plugging the power cord into a proper outlet, press ‘Power
On’. The LED light on the control box should illuminate and the head may jump
slightly on start up or shut down. This is normal. This can be controlled by
Dead Spot. Adjust the Joystick to ensure correct movement of head. It may be
necessary to reconnect to the motors if required.
Speed
This is the power control knob. Turning to the right will be full power and
back to the left will decrease the available power to both pan and tilt
operation. The advantage of power control is to be able to limit power when
only slow accurate movements are needed. With the power control at half power
(approx. 8 volts max. output) the full range of motion on the joystick will be
between 0 and 8 volts making finer adjustments possible. The power control
will be usable between approximately 4 volts to 12 volts.
Linear or Logarithmic Taper Joystick Control
All joysticks are linear, meaning that each degree of movement of the stick
correlates to the output. On the 12-volt Pan Tilt Head, half deflection of the
joystick means approximately 6 volts is sent to the motors. But with the
advent of Digital, we can now control the taper of the joystick, making in
Logarithmic as well. Logarithmic taper means that the first joystick movement
only sends a small amount of power to motors and the last of the deflection
will send more power per degree of deflection. On the Logarithmic taper, 1/3
of joystick deflection might yield 2 volts output, the next 1/3 will yield 4
volts output and the last 1/3 yields 6 volts for a maximum again of 12 volts.
This mode gives the operator fine slow movements yet retains the ability to go
to maximum speed, if necessary.
Tilt Direction Switch
When the Pan-Tilt Head is used on a Tripod or Jib.
When the head is shifted from Jib to Tripod, it needs a reversal of direction
as the location of head will be inverted. By switching “on” the tilt direction
switch, we can immediately reverse the direction. So, when the joystick is
moved to the right, it gives right rotation as it gives while mounted on the
tripod directly.
Pan Direction Switch
When the Pan-Tilt Head is used on a Tripod or Jib.
When the head is shifted from Jib to Tripod, it needs a reversal of direction
as the location of head will be inverted. By switching “on” the pan direction
switch, we can immediately reverse the direction. So, when the joystick is
moved to the right, it gives right rotation as it gives while mounted on the
tripod directly.
Damping Knob
Damping is the ability to control the “damping” effect of joystick interface
with pan/tilt action of the head being controlled. It does not matter what
head you are using; the damping effect is a characteristic of joystick output.
Balancing
Balancing the camera on head is critical for smooth operation.
- Find the horizontal balance point of your camera by using two fingers of one hand while holding the handle with other hand.
- Mark this point on the side of camera with chalk or tape.
- Turn the unit on and move tilt control until the camera plate is vertical.
- Loosen the two screws holding tilt motor (Do Not Remove).
- Grasp the motor and turn slightly to disengage gears.
- Mount the camera onto camera plate with the screw provided.
- Tighten by threading the nut up to the bottom of camera plate securely.
- Make sure your balance point previously marked with chalk or tape is in the middle of plate.
- Loosen the knob below camera plate and slide the camera and plate up or down until the center line of your camera is about in the middle of large gear. Now tighten the knob.
- If the camera is perfectly balanced it will stay in any position while motor gear is still unattached.
- Grasp the motor and turn it back until the gears mesh.
- Gently tighten motor screws.
- Secure the camera.
NOTE : All reduction boxes have a small amount of backlash. The balancing of the camera will reduce the backlash to a minimum making it felt at the top of the tilt arc.
Operation
- With the camera set up, as previously described above, switch ON the power on Joystick Controller.
- For inverted use, disconnect the leads to the motors, rotate the control box 180° and re-install.
NOTE : Always watch the cables for binding.
YOUR PROAIM JR. PAN-TILT HEAD ALL DRESSED UP AND READY TO GO!
Warranty
We offer one year warranty for our products from date of purchase. Within this period of time, we will repair it without charge for labor or parts. Warranty doesn’t cover transportation costs nor does it cover a product subjected to misuse or accidental damage. Warranty repairs are subjected to inspection and evaluation by us.
Liability
We are not liable for damage caused by products that we do not supply or from
mishandling in transit, accident, misuse, neglect, lack of care of the
product, or service by anyone other than our company.
Contact Us: In case of any kind of dissatisfaction, please Contact us
immediately and we promise our utmost support and care until you use our
product.
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