1. Introduction

SafePanel™ combines a solid-state turn coordinator + inclinometer with altitude, VSI, and—when connected to the optional Airspeed (ASI) dongle—a live airspeed tape + digital readout.

Without the dongle, SafePanel defaults to displaying AGL instead of airspeed.

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SafePanel installs in any 2¼″ or 3⅛″ instrument hole and continuously charges from the aircraft bus, maintaining its internal battery as a self-contained reserve.

If the bus power is lost or disconnected, the unit alerts the pilot and continues operating on its internal battery.

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SafePanel is an advisory-use instrument, not TSO’d, and is intended for situational awareness and redundancy in Experimental and General Aviation aircraft.

 

 

 

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​2. Specifications

• Display:   2" Sunlight Readable

• Functions: Turn Coordination, Slip / Skid ball, Digital Altimeter, Digital Above Ground Level (AGL) Altimeter, AGL Tape, Digital VSI, VSI Tape, Optional ASI, Optional ASI Tape, Settable Kollsman Window

• Mounting:  2 1/4" or 3 1/8" panel hole (notch required for full 2 1/4" display)

• Power:  Input  9 to 30V

• Power Consumption: 160mah maximum, full bright screen + charging

• Battery:  Internal Lithium for backup (500mah) (4 hours of usage)

• Controls:  Kollsman Up / Down; Dim; Gyro Setting; General Setup

• ALERT:  Shows when external power is present or absent

• Weight:  Approximately two ounces (55 grams)

• Thickness: Approximately 0.75" (2 cm)​

 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​3. Controls and Indicators

Front Display

• Turn indicator with smooth bar and digital yaw rate

• Slip/skid ball for coordination

• Digital altitude and Kollsman setting

• VSI digital readout and trend tape

• AGL digital readout and tape (or ASI digital and tape when dongle connected)

• Battery and bus-power status icons

• BUS DISCONNECTED alert indicator

 

Buttons

 

Power switch is to the right of the buttons.  Slide it up to turn the unit on.  ALWAYS turn it off at the end of your flying session, or you will discharge your backup battery.

• Short press 

  • Left: Kollsman down

  • Right: Kollsman up

  • Both: set STD (29.92 inHg / 1013.5 hPa)

• Long press / hold

  • Left long: brightness step (keep holding to roll)

  • Both long: gyro filter 0→1→2→3→0

  • Right hold: CAL (hold until “CAL” appears; unit saves offsets and reboots)

Settings are retained across power cycles.

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4. Power and Charging

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SafePanel is wired to the aircraft’s 14 V or 28 V bus and automatically maintains charge on its internal Li-ion cell. No pilot action is required; charging is automatic whenever external power is present.

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If the bus disconnects (breaker pull, master off, etc.), the unit automatically switches to battery power and alerts the pilot (and continues operating).

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28 V bus operation (required external resistor): If you power SafePanel from a 28 V aircraft bus, you must install an external series resistor in the power lead to limit input power and heat. Use a 91 Ω, 5 W (minimum) resistor (a 5 W part is recommended). This resistor is not supplied by Radiant. A suitable example is Yageo SQP500JB-91R (91 Ω, 5 W) — available from DigiKey as 91W-5-ND (DigiKey) and from Mouser as 603-SQP500JB-91R (mouser.com). (Equivalent 91 Ω, ≥5 W resistors are acceptable; mount where it can safely dissipate heat.)

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5. Mounting and Installation

• Fits any standard 2¼″ or 3⅛″ instrument cutout.

• Use included mounting ring and hardware.

• Connect aircraft power (typically +12–28 V and GND).

• Optional: connect Radiant ASI dongle to the rear RS-485 connector if airspeed display is desired.

• Avoid mounting near high heat sources or magnetic disturbances.

 

6. Setup and Configuration (AGL and ASI versions)

Important: setup is entered at power-on.

SafePanel’s configuration wizard is entered only during boot by holding a button while powering the unit on. Normal in-flight button presses do not enter the setup wizard.

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Settings are saved in memory and retained across power cycles.

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6.1 Entering Setup

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To enter the setup wizard:

1. Power the unit OFF.

2. Press and hold the LEFT button.

3. While continuing to hold the LEFT button, power the unit ON.

4. When the first setup prompt appears, release the button.

5. Follow the prompts described below.

 

Do not hold the RIGHT button when trying to enter normal setup. Holding the RIGHT button during power-up restores the default AGL profile.

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6.2 How Setup Screens Are Displayed

 

After the Kollsman unit selection screen, setup screens use two large number fields:

• The left number is the setup item number.

• The right number is the value being edited.

 

For example, when the left side shows 1, the right-side value selects whether the vertical tape is used for AGL or ASI.

 

6.3 Button Operation During Setup

 

During setup value entry:

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• Short LEFT press: decrease value by 1

• Short RIGHT press: increase value by 1

• Long LEFT press: decrease value by 10

• Long RIGHT press: increase value by 10

• Long BOTH-buttons press: save the current value and advance to the next setup item

 

For 0/1 choices, use the LEFT or RIGHT button to select the desired value, then press and hold both buttons together to save and advance.

 

6.4 Step 0 — Select Kollsman Units

 

The first setup screen selects the barometric pressure units.

 

SafePanel displays two choices:

• Left box: 2992
  Selects inches of mercury, shown as 29.92 inHg.

• Right box: 1013
  Selects hectopascals / millibars, representing standard pressure of 1013.5 hPa.

 

To avoid accidental selection, release the buttons once after entering setup. Then make the selection:

• Press LEFT to select inHg.

• Press RIGHT to select hPa / millibars.

The choice is saved and shown briefly for confirmation.

 

6.5 Step 1 — Select AGL or ASI Vertical Tape

 

On ASI-equipped SafePanel units, setup item 1 selects what the right-side vertical tape displays.

When the left side shows 1, set the right-side value as follows:

• 0 = AGL tape

• 1 = ASI tape

 

For airspeed display, set item 1 to 1.

 

Press and hold both buttons together to save and advance.

 

AGL-only units may skip this step and proceed directly to AGL landmark setup.

 

6.6 Step 2 — Select Airspeed Units

 

This step appears when ASI mode is selected.

 

When the left side shows 2, set the right-side value as follows:

• 0 = knots

• 1 = MPH

 

All ASI speed settings entered later in setup must use the selected unit.

 

Press and hold both buttons together to save and advance.

 

6.7 Steps 3–7 — ASI Speed Settings

 

When ASI mode is selected, setup items 3 through 7 set the ASI color bands and speed limits.

 

Setup Item          Setting              Meaning

3                            VSO                   Stall speed, landing configuration

4                            VS1                    Stall speed, clean configuration

5                            VFE                   Maximum flap-extended speed

6                            VNO                  Maximum normal operating speed

7                            VNE                   Never-exceed speed

 

Enter these values in the selected airspeed unit: knots or MPH.

 

The values must be entered in strictly increasing order:

VSO  <  VS1  <  VFE  <  VNO  <  VNE

 

Minimum allowed value is 22.

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Maximum allowed VNE is:

• 220 when using knots

• 250 when using MPH

 

If the values are not in valid increasing order, the new ASI speed set will not be accepted.

 

After item 7 is saved, the unit exits setup and returns to normal operation.

 

6.8 Steps 3–6 — AGL Tape Landmarks

 

When AGL mode is selected, setup items 3 through 6 set the AGL tape landmark values.

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Setup Item  Setting       Typical Value    Meaning

 

3                    Val0              400                     Lower AGL cue

4                    Val1               800                     Pattern altitude / main AGL reference

5                    Val2               900                     Upper cue

6                    Val3              1200                    Top of AGL tape / redline

 

The values must be entered in strictly increasing order:

Val0  <  Val1  <  Val2  <  Val3

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Val3 must be less than 10000.

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If the values are valid, they are saved and used immediately for AGL tape behavior.

 

6.9 Quick Restore: Default AGL Profile

 

To restore the default AGL profile:

1. Power the unit OFF.

2. Hold the RIGHT button.

3. While holding the RIGHT button, power the unit ON.

4. Release the button after startup.

 

This forces and saves AGL mode with the default VFR pattern landmarks:

• Val0 = 400

• Val1 = 800

• Val2 = 900

• Val3 = 1200

 

Use this only when you want the vertical tape restored to AGL operation. If you want ASI operation, enter normal setup with the LEFT button and set setup item 1 to 1.

 

6.10 ASI Default Profile Shortcut

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On ASI-equipped units, holding both buttons during power-up may restore a factory ASI profile and save it to memory.

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This shortcut is intended only for restoring a known default ASI setup. It is not a substitute for entering the correct V-speeds for your aircraft.

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After using this shortcut, verify all ASI speed settings before flight.

 

7. Calibration (CAL)

Perform calibration on a level surface or in straight-and-level flight.

1. Hold Right ≥ 7 s.

2. Display shows “CAL.” Offsets are stored and the unit reboots.

Calibrate whenever the ball appears off-center in level flight or after installation angle changes.

 

8. Normal Operation

• Unit powers on automatically with aircraft bus.

• Display shows Turn + Slip/Skid, Altitude + Kollsman, VSI, and AGL or ASI depending on dongle presence.

• Brightness and filter preferences remain as last set.

• If bus voltage drops or disconnects, “BUS DISCONNECTED” appears and internal battery takes over.

• When bus returns, charging resumes automatically.

• AGL zero is auto-captured on first valid altitude after boot.

• AGL is clamped to your top-of-tape value (Val3 behavior).

 

​​​​​​​​​​9. Safety and Regulatory

SafePanel is an advisory-use instrument intended for situational awareness only.
It is not TSO’d and should not be relied upon as a primary flight instrument.

 

10. Troubleshooting

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11. Warranty and Returns

All Radiant instruments carry a three-year warranty from invoice date.
Returns must be in new, uninstalled condition within 14 days of receipt.
Ship to: Radiant Technology Company, PO Box 20690, Wichita, KS 67208.
For support or warranty service, contact support@radiantinstruments.com.