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en:manuals:service-notes-for-mitail [2025/11/02 21:44] – [Board-level Repairs and Modifications] darkgrueen:manuals:service-notes-for-mitail [2026/08/02 16:41] (current) – darkgrue
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-Before starting, read all the sections of this guide. Take photos or videos of your disassembly, to assist you in reassembling the tail. The sections that most users have are in the area of setting the servo home position, reassembling the control board to the case, and reassembling the case halves. Tips have been provided for each of those trouble areas.</WRAP>+Before starting, read all the sections of this guide. Take photos or videos of your disassembly, to assist you in reassembling the tail. The sections that most users have trouble in are in the area of setting the servo home position, reassembling the control board to the case, and reassembling the case halves. Tips have been provided for each of those trouble areas.</WRAP>
  
 This requires that the case be opened, the two batteries taken out of the case (they may stay attached to the control board), the control board removed from the case half, the four servo frame mount screws be removed to free both servos and the tail spine from the case half, and the servo pulley be removed from the servo (one screw in the center). The cable must be removed from the pulley (requiring 7 screws removed from the pulley) to remove the case half from the cable. This requires that the case be opened, the two batteries taken out of the case (they may stay attached to the control board), the control board removed from the case half, the four servo frame mount screws be removed to free both servos and the tail spine from the case half, and the servo pulley be removed from the servo (one screw in the center). The cable must be removed from the pulley (requiring 7 screws removed from the pulley) to remove the case half from the cable.
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 ===== Installing Batteries ===== ===== Installing Batteries =====
  
-The MiTail Battery is a 3.7V 103665 LiPo battery with a "JST PH 2-pin" connector. There are two of them.+The MiTail Battery is a 3.7 V, 3000 mAh, 103665 (approximately 10 x 36 x 65 mm) LiPo battery with a "JST PH 2-pin" connector. There are two of them.
  
 {{ :en:manuals:battery.jpg?nolink&600 |}} {{ :en:manuals:battery.jpg?nolink&600 |}}
 +
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 +FAA rules on installed batteries are that devices containing lithium batteries (laptops, phones, and also tails) can be checked, but carry-on is preferred to prevent damage/fire. There is a battery capacity limit generally allowing capacities under 100 Wh. The tails, with two 11.1 Wh batteries, have a total capacity of 22.2 Wh, well under the device capacity limits. Travel rules and restrictions should be reviewed in advance, but the Tail Co devices fall well under realistic limits being an "installed, non-removable battery" and a very modest capacity that should be acceptable anywhere a cellphone or laptop would.
 +</WRAP>
  
 The positive lead for the batteries is oriented to the left for J1 and J2 (closest to the corner of the PCB). The positive lead for the batteries is oriented to the left for J1 and J2 (closest to the corner of the PCB).
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 ==== Servo Connections ==== ==== Servo Connections ====
  
-Internally, the firmware refers to the servos as Servo 1 (the "top" servo) and Servo 2 (the "bottom" servo). The bottom (the one that emerges from the "bottom" of the case when the servo bracket is installed) servo cable goes to the bottom (closest to the board itself) PCB pins.+Internally, the firmware refers to the servos as Servo 1 (the "top" servo) and Servo 2 (the "bottom" servo). The bottom servo cable (the one that emerges from the "bottom" of the case when the servo bracket is installed) goes to the bottom (closest to the board itself) PCB pins.
  
 {{ :en:manuals:bottom_servo.png?nolink&600 |}} {{ :en:manuals:bottom_servo.png?nolink&600 |}}
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-==== Resetting Servo Home Position ====+===== Installing Cable Pulleys / Servo Horns =====
  
- To do this correctly, first power up the PCB with the new servo attached directly to the board. That will center or "home" the servo before you reattach the pulley. Secondly, make sure the pulley is in the following "ten minutes to the hour" position; the topmost screw head will also align with the servo mount rib below it (note that the servo splines may not line up perfectly and may land a tooth to the left or the right slightly or a particular trail might bias more towards the center screw):+There are seven screws holding the pulley assembly halves together. Three are at the edge, near the cable slot. And four more that hold the servo horn to the pulley. All seven must be removed or loosened to free the cable from the pulley (which is required if the case is being replaced). The screws are M3 × 5.75 mm, Pozidriv PZ1 drive, 7.75 mm overall length. 
 + 
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 +Note that the pulley screws are soft metal. Using a medium-sized electric screwdriver that's slow and steady with very firm downward pressure so the bit doesn't skip and grind out the heads. Do not install or remove the screws with the pulley attached to the servo to avoid damaging the servo shaft and/or gearbox. 
 +</WRAP> 
 + 
 +==== Pulley Calibration / Resetting Servo Home Position ==== 
 + 
 +To do this correctly, first power up the PCB with the new servo attached directly to the board. That will center or "home" the servo before you reattach the pulley. Secondly, make sure the pulley is in the following "ten minutes to the hour" position; the topmost screw head will also align with the servo mount rib below it (note that the servo splines may not line up perfectly and may land a tooth to the left or the right slightly or a particular trail might bias more towards the center screw):
  
 {{ :en:manuals:pulley_alignment.jpg?nolink&600 |}} {{ :en:manuals:pulley_alignment.jpg?nolink&600 |}}
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 ===== Charging ===== ===== Charging =====
  
-MiTail requires a USB Power Delivery (USB PD) capable charging adapter. PD charging is only possible using a USB-C to USB-C cable and a USB PD chargers together. Adapters with USB-A output, even with a USB-A to USB-C cable will **NOT** charge a MiTail. The adapter should provide at least 9V - almost all PD adapters can. If the adapter's rated power is less than 24W, charging will take around 3 hours.+Some versions of tail-series controller hardware require specific charging support. The version of hardware can be determined by looking at the "About your gear" in The Tail Company App, the "Hardware Version" will  say "MITAIL 3.x", which can be used to determine what kind of charging is required. 
 + 
 + 
 +==== USB Power Delivery (USB PD) ==== 
 + 
 +MiTail hardware versions v3.2 through v3.5 require a USB Power Delivery (USB PD) capable charging adapter. PD charging is only possible using a USB-C to USB-C cable and a USB PD chargers together. Adapters with USB-A output, even with a USB-A to USB-C cable **WILL NOT** charge a MiTail. The adapter should provide at least 9V - almost all PD adapters can. If the adapter's rated power is less than 24W, charging will take around 3 hours.
  
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-If the MiTail red LED is not "breathing" red, it is not charging!+If the MiTail Red LED is not "breathing" red on a PD-required tail, it is not charging!
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
 |  {{ :en:manuals:usb-a_to_usb-c.jpg?nolink&400 |}}  |  {{ :en:manuals:usb-c_to_usb-c.jpg?nolink&400 |}}  |   |  {{ :en:manuals:usb-a_to_usb-c.jpg?nolink&400 |}}  |  {{ :en:manuals:usb-c_to_usb-c.jpg?nolink&400 |}}  |  
-|  This **WILL NOT** charge a MiTail (but will charge an EarGear 2).\\ Even though this is a PD charger, it's using a USB-A to USB-C cable,\\ and the tail and charger can't negotiate.  |  This **WILL** charge a MiTail (and an EarGear 2).\\ This is a PD charger, with a USB-C to USB-C cable.  |  +|  This **WILL NOT** charge a PD-required MiTail (but will charge an EarGear 2).\\ Even though this is a PD charger, it's using a USB-A to USB-C cable,\\ and the tail and charger can't negotiate.  |  This **WILL** charge any MiTail (and an EarGear 2).\\ This is a PD charger, with a USB-C to USB-C cable.  |   
 + 
 + 
 +==== "Plain" USB ==== 
 + 
 +MiTail hardware versions v3.6 onward require a USB charger. Charging can be performed through any USB-C cable (such as the EarGear2 USB-A to USB-C charging cable and charger). Note that on these boards, the Red LED is controlled directly by the battery charger and there is **NO** breathing animation. Instead, the Red LED is constant on when charging, and off when charging is disconnected or when charging is complete.
  
  
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 The following visual indicators are presented by the firmware on the board: The following visual indicators are presented by the firmware on the board:
 +
 +
 +==== Blue LED ====
 +
 +The Blue LED (D4) has five states:
 +
 +  - **Off** when powered off.
 +  - **Blink on-off** when BLE is disconnected.
 +  - **Fade-off** when BLE is disconnected and Autonomous Mode (either iOS Casual Mode or No-phone Mode) is active.
 +  - **Constant on** when BLE is connected.
 +  - **Fade-on** when BLE is connected and Autonomous Mode is active.
 +  - **Blink fast three times** when the button is held for more than 3 seconds (but less than 13), indicates the device is ready to power off when the button is released.
 +  - **Blink fast continuously** when the button is held for more than 13 seconds, indicates the device is ready to factory reset when the button is released.
 +
  
   * Red LED: Slow breathing = tail is charging (when connected to USB PD power).     * Red LED: Slow breathing = tail is charging (when connected to USB PD power).  
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   * Green LED: ON = USB power is charging batteries. Visible only on the PCB.     * Green LED: ON = USB power is charging batteries. Visible only on the PCB.  
  
-Please make sure the PCB has the latest firmware. Firmware may be updated from The Tail Company app, support Python utility, or directly (e.g. using PlatformIO).+==== Red LED ==== 
 + 
 +For v3.2 through v3.5 tail-series controller hardware, the Red LED (D5) has four states: 
 + 
 +  - **Off** during normal operation. 
 +  - **Breathing** while charging. 
 +  - **Constant on** when charging is complete. 
 +  - **Short flash** on, followed by pause to indicate a low (<= 10%) battery condition. 
 + 
 +For v3.6 tail-series controller hardware, the Red LED (D5) has two states: 
 + 
 +  - **Off** when charging is disconnected and when charging complete. 
 +  - **Constant on** when charging. 
 +   
 +**Note:** Unlike the DIGITAiL, MiTail, and MiTail Mini **can** be used while charging. 
 + 
 + 
 +The Green LED (D8) is only present on v3.2 through v3.5 tail-series controller hardware, and is not visible from outside the device case. The LED is a visual indicator for the ''STAT'' pin of the battery charger: 
 + 
 +  - **Constant on** is charge in progress. 
 +  - **Off** is charge completed. 
 +  - **Blink on-off** indicates a fault condition.
  
  
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-== Copyright 2023-2025 © The Mechanical Tail Company Limited contact@thetailcompany.com. All Rights Reserved. ==+== Copyright 2023-2026 © The Mechanical Tail Company Limited contact@thetailcompany.com. All Rights Reserved. ==