# Zenmuse Z15-A7

2015.09 

### V1.2 

# User Manual

# 2 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

# Warning & Disclaimer
The Z15-A7 gimbal has been calibrated specifically for the designated camera and lens before it leaves the factory. Please mount only the designated camera and lens to the Z15-A7. Do not add any other component/ device (such as filters, etc.) to the camera. Please use the original camera battery, otherwise performance may be hindered and internal malfunctions or damage may occur. Only use the Z15-A7 gimbal with Flight Control Systems developed by DJI (such as the A2 or WooKong-M, and please upgrade to the latest firmware ) for the greatest stability and precision. Please download the corresponding Assistant software and upgrade your Flight Control System’s firmware, otherwise the Z15-A7 may not function properly. When the main battery power is connected, please be careful and operate the Flight Control System in the safest way possible. It is strongly recommended that you remove all propellers, use the R/C or flight pack battery power system, and keep children away during gimbal calibration and parameter setup. Carefully follow the appropriate steps to mount and connect the gimbal to your aircraft. Use this manual as well as the related Assistant. Please respect th e AMA’s National Model Aircraft Safety Code. As DJI has no control over the use, setup, final assembly, modification (including use of non-specified DJI parts i.e. motors, ESCs, propellers, etc.) or misuse, no liability shall be assumed nor accepted for any resulting damage or injury. By the act of use, setup or assembly, the user accepts all resulting liability. DJI assumes no liability for damage(s) or injuries incurred directl y or indirectly from the use of this product. DJI and Zenmuse are registered trademarks of DJI. Names of products, brands, etc., appearing in this manual are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owner companies. This product and manual are copyrighted by DJI with all rights reserved. No part of this product or manual shall be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent or authorization of DJI. 

# Manual Tips
Legend Important Tips 

### Designated Camera and Lens Type for the Z15-A7 Gimbal Camera Type: Sony ILCE-7S, Sony ILCE-7R Lens Type: Sony FE 35mm f2.8 ZA Camera Battery Type for the Z15-A7 Gimbal: NP-FW50 (new version)
Ensure to use the new NP-FW50 battery for the Sony ILCE-7S and Sony ILCE-7R camera, which has been produced by Sony after Jun 1, 2014. It is all black an d weighs 40 g. The Z15-A7 supports both Sony ILCE-7S and Sony ILCE-7R camera. It has been calibrated for the Sony ILCE-7S camera by default. Balancing the tilt and pan axis is required if you are using the Sony ILCE-7R on the Z15-A7.


### Firmware versions of supporting DJI Flight Control Systems WooKong M: V5.26 A2: V2.1 or above© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

# 3 

# Contents
Warning & Disclaimer 2 Manual Tips 2 Product Profile 4 In the Box 5 Z15-A7 Diagram 7 Mount 8 Mounting the Sony ILCE-7S Camera 8 Mounting the Sony ILCE-7R Camera 8 Mounting the Gimbal to the Landing Gear 10 Video Signal Transmission 11 A. AV Wireless Video Transmission 11 B. DJI iOSD Mark II and AV Wireless Video Transmission 11 C. DJI Lightbridge Air System 12 D. DJI Lightbridge 2 13 GCU Wiring 15 GCU Wiring 15 GCU Ports 16 Working Mode/AUX2 Switch Setup 17 Working Mode Switch Settings 17 AUX2 Switch Settings 17 Shutter Control 18 Video Recording Control 18 PC Assistant Tuning 19 Installation and Usage 19 Basic Settings 19 Upgrade 20 Info 20 Pre-Flight Checklist 21 Pre-Flight Checklist 21 Flight Test 22 Appendix 23 Attention 23 1-Pilot Solution 23 2-Pilot Solution 24 Port Descriptions 25 Gimbal LED Indicator 25 Troubleshooting 26 Specifications 27

# 4 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

# Product Profile
The Z15-A7 is a sophisticated gimbal specifically designed for aerial creativity. It has a built-in independent IMU module, special servo drive module, HDMI-HD/AV module, infrared remote control module, and more. The Z15-A7 performs well in all modes, including Orientation-lo cked, Non orientation-locked, and FPV (Reset).



### Working Modes Orientation-locked Non orientation-locked FPV (Reset)
Gimbal Direction Gimbal pans with aircraft's nose. Gimbal pan and aircraft's nose move separately. Gimbal pan and aircraft's nose are synchronized.
Gimbal and Aircraft's Nose Relative Angle The gimbal direction maintains the same relative angle to the aircraft's nose. The relative angle between the gimbal direction and aircraft's nose is controllable. The relative angle between the gimbal direction and aircraft's nose is 0°. TX Control Controllable Controllable Uncontrollable Attitude Stability* YES YES YES
Vibration Reduction YES YES YES

Stick Movement Definition Roll is locked level in stick commands from 0-2/3 and rotates in commands from 2/3-endpoint; Pan stick commands control the rotation angle and are limited to 360 。 ; Tilt stick commands control the rotation velocity of the gimbal. Stick commands for gimbal rotation velocity are relative to total stick movement. The stick’s center position velocity is 0°/s. Its endpoint is the maximum velocity. ——

Linear Control YES YES

—— Note*: Attitude stability means that the gimbal’s Roll/Tilt will not follow the aircraft’s Roll/Pitch movement.Product Profile© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

# 5 

# In the Box

**Gimbal × 1**

The Z15-A7 gimbal includes built-in servo drive modules, an independent IMU module, an infrared remote control module and a HDMI-HD/AV module.



### Gimbal Controller Unit (GCU) × 1 Connect the GCU to your Flight Control System using the CAN-Bus cable. The GCU will control the gimbal’s pan, roll and tilt movements. Connect the GCU to a video downlink for a video signal. 

### Mounting Bracket × 4 For mounting the gimbal to the landing gear. 

### Mounting Board for Receiver × 1
For attaching the GCU and providing a convenient mount for the receiver or other devices. 

### Camera Mounting Screw × 1
A standard tripod mounting screw. 

### Screw Package × 1 For mounting the gimbal to your aircraft (M2.5*8 cap head screw). 

### 10-Pin to 9-Pin Cable × 2 For connecting the GCU to the gimbal. 

### 7-Pin Cable × 1 For connecting the GCU to the Lightbridge air system.In the Box

# 6 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

### 8-Pin to 6-Pin Cable × 2 For connecting the GCU to the gimbal. 

### Servo Cable Package × 1 For connecting the GCU and the receiver. 

### AV Video Power Cable × 1 For connecting the GCU and the wireless video transmission module, and transmitting the AV signal. 

### iOSD Mark II Cable × 1 For connecting the GCU to the DJI iOSD Mark II. 

### Micro-USB Cable × 1 For adjusting parameters and upgrading firmware via a PC. 

### CAN-Bus Cable × 1 For the CAN-Bus Flight Control System.DJIDJI 

### Spare Package × 1 Vibration Absorbers, Spare Screws, and Mounting Bracket© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

# 7 

# Z15-A7 Diagram

To avoid motor damage, ensure there is nothing blocking the rot ation of the servo drive modules. Clear obstacles or immediately cut off the power if any blockag e occurs. The servo drive modules have two motor command input ports and one private encoder port. The HDMI-HD/AV module converts HDMI to HD (or AV) using a cable connected to the camera HDMI port; it also transforms the TX signal to an infrared remote control module for shutter control and video recording.

Motor lnput Port to G6 Port of GCU Servo Drive Module 1 Damping Unit Receiver Mounting Board

Servo Drive Module 3

IMU Module

Camera Mounting Holes

Gimbal LED Indicator HDMI-HD/AV Module HD/AV Switch HDMI Cable Camera Mounting Position Tilt +50°/-140° Arrow represents the lens direction Pan ±360°

Roll ±40°

Servo Drive Module 2 9-Pin Port to G9 Port of GCUZ15-A7 Diagram

# 8 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

# Mount
Power off the camera during the mounting process. 

## Mounting the Sony ILCE-7S Camera

1. Mount the camera onto the gimbal as shown and tighten the lens retaining ring. 2. Adjust the camera position and tighten the camera mounting scre w.



## Mounting the Sony ILCE-7R Camera If you are using the Sony ILCE-7R camera on the Z15-A7, follow the steps below to mount the camera and balance the tilt and pan axis.

1. Loosen the screws on the bottom of the gimbal of the positioning board. Slide the positioning board about

1 mm back as shown below and then tighten the screws.

Slide back 1mmMount© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

# 9 2. Mount the camera onto the gimbal as shown and tighten the lens retaining ring. Then tighten the camera

mounting screw.

3. Rotate the camera to any tilt angle, if it stays in position, then proper balance has been achieved.

Otherwise adjust the camera’s position by sliding the positioning board until the proper balance is achieved.

4. Loosen the eight screws on the connection point of the pan axis. Then slide the pan axis forward about

0.5mm and tighten the screws. When the proper balance is achiev ed, the pan axis will stay in position after rotating the gimbal 90 degrees. Balancing is complete.

Slide the pan axis forward about 0.5mmMount

# 10 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. Ensure the lens is pointing in the same direction as the aircra ft's nose. Ensure the top and bottom plates of the damping unit stay parallel when mounting. This prevents stretching and distortion. Maintain good overall balance when mounting in order to ensure the center of gravity is balanced on each of the three axis lines. The gimbal’s center of gravity has been set by the factory. The center of gravity directly determines the gimbal’s overall performance. Follow the instructions in this manual to adjust the center of gravity if you are using the Sony ILCE 7R camera, otherwise do not adjust the gimbal’s center of gravity. The gimbal is highly precise and depends on this precision for optimal performance. Do not remove any screws on the gimbal, as this may result in poor performanc e or damage to the gimbal. Do not unplug any cables attached to the gimbal ports or change the mechanical structure. Make sure the wiring is correct, otherwise the gimbal may behav e abnormally. X Y Z S1000+ Landing Gear

Lens Direction

Aircraft's Nose Direction 

## Mounting the Gimbal to the Landing Gear The following diagram shows the gimbal mounted on a DJI S1000+. Mount the gimbal onto the landing gear with the mounting brackets. Tighten the screws and use thread-l ocking fluid. You may also mount the gimbal onto different landing gear by re ferring to this diagram. Whenever you test the gimbal, ensure all the screws on the gimb al are tightened.© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

# 11 AV Video Power Cable **Wireless Video Transmission Module Air Unit**  Connect to the power source according to the module’s voltage and current requirements. ROLL TILT PAN MODE SHUT AUX1 AUX2 AUX3 GCU

1 **Wireless Video Transmission Module**  **Air Unit**

Video Signal Port G7

ROLL TILT PAN MODE SHUT AUX1 AUX2 AUX3 GCU Yellow Video Signal Port G7 Power Video Signal

GND A7-HD

**14V 52V**  **14V 52V** 

A7-HD 

# Video Signal Transmission
A wireless video transmission module is required for remote vid eo. 

## A. AV Wireless Video Transmission

1. Solder the AV Video Signal and GND cables to the wireless video transmission module (Air Unit) as shown

above. 2. Plug the AV video power cable into the GCU’s G7 port. 3. Toggle the HD/AV Switch to the AV position. (See Page 7 for the location of the HD/AV Switch) 4. Power on the gimbal. If the gimbal LED indicator blinks yellow, it is functioning normally. If the LED indicator

shows a constant yellow light, the video signal is lost. Check the connections between the camera and the HDMI video input.
Complete the connection between the wireless video transmission module and the GCU before powering on the gimbal. A standard AV video power cable is recommended. Be sure to solder the AV video power cable to the wireless video transmission module correctly. As the cable carries power, ensure the cables are insulated or wra pped to prevent a short circuit. Connect the wireless video transmission module to a power source, as the GCU cannot supply power. Make sure the power source provides a safe voltage for your own devices according to the wireless video transmission module’s requirements.


## B. DJI iOSD Mark II and AV Wireless Video Transmission

AV Video Power Cable **Wireless Video Transmission Module Air Unit**  Connect to the power source according to the module’s voltage and current requirements. ROLL TILT PAN MODE SHUT AUX1 AUX2 AUX3 GCU

1 **Wireless Video Transmission Module**  **Air Unit**

Video Signal Port G7

ROLL TILT PAN MODE SHUT AUX1 AUX2 AUX3 GCU Yellow Video Signal Port G7 Power Video Signal

GND A7-HD

**14V 52V**  **14V 52V** 

A7-HDVideo Signal Transmission

# 12 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. This example is based on a Z15-A7 gimbal and the A2 flight contr ol system.
1. Connect the Gimbal Port on the Lightbridge Air System to the G7 port on the Z15-A7 GCU using the

supplied HD video power cable (7-pin cable). 2. Connect the DBUS port on the Lightbridge Air System to the DBUS port (X2 port) on the A2 flight control

system. Toggle the HD/AV switch to the HD position. 3. Refer to the Lightbridge and A2 flight control system manuals to complete the connection.
To transmit gimbal and aircraft signals, connect the RC receiver to the DJI Lightbridge ground system when connecting the GCU. Always connect the wireless video transmission module to the GC U before powering on. A standard HD video power cable (7-pin cable) is recommended. Complete the other connections according to the Lightbridge use r manual. If the gimbal LED indicator blinks red continuously, please power cycle the gimbal. (Power it off, then power it back on) If the video signal does not transmit, check each step. 1. Connect the iOSD Mark II cable to the GCU’s G7 port. 2. Complete the other connections between the iOSD Mark II cable and the wireless video transmission

module, according to their manuals. 3. Toggle HD/AV Switch to the AV position. (See Page 7 for the loc ation of the HD/AV Switch) 4. Power on the gimbal. If the gimbal LED indicator blinks yellow, it is functioning normally. If the LED indicator

shows a constant yellow light, the video signal is lost. Check the connections between the camera and the HDMI video input.

Make sure to connect the wireless video transmission module and the iOSD Mark II cable to the GCU before powering on. 

## C. DJI Lightbridge Air System

GCU A7 HD

-Video Signal Transmission© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

# 13 Camera

HDMI HDMI signal HDMI-HD/AV cable

HD/AV signal Monitor
Input Gimbal

7-Pin Cable

Self-prepared by user Wireless video transmission module
Air unit Wireless signal
5.8G/2.4G/1.2G Ground unit Wireless video transmission module 10-Pin to 9-Pin Cable HD/AV signal HD/AV signal GCU

G9 G7Video Signal Transmission 

### The following diagram shows how a video signal is transmitted f rom the gimbal.



## D. DJI Lightbridge 2 Connect the system as follows: 1. Connect the G7 port on the DJI HD gimbal and the CAN BUS port on the flight controller to the gimbal port

on the Air System. 2. Connect the X2 DBUS port on the flight controller to the DBUS po rt on the Air System. 3. Refer to the user manuals for the gimbal and flight controller f or details.



### DBUS Cable

Gimbal Cable

Only use the DJI HD gimbal and DJI flight controller with the latest firmware. The GCU firmware for the HD gimbal must be v2.6 or above. If you are using the DJI A2 Flight Controller, connect the gimbal cable to the CAN 2 port on the flight controller.

# 14 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

### Press the shutter button [1] on the Ground System to capture photos. Press the record button [2] to record video. Turn the Gimbal Dial [3] to adjust the tilt motion of th e camera. In Dual Ground System Mode, the pan, tilt or roll motion of the camera can be controlled by the Slave Ground System, depending on your settings in the DJI GO app. Refer to the Lightbridge 2 User Manual for details. [1] [3] [2]© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

# 15 

# GCU Wiring GCU Wiring The gimbal should be used with an A2 or WooKong-M flight control system. The GCU wiring is based onWooKong-M. For WooKong-M, connect to any spare CAN-Bus port on the flight control system via a CANBus cable.

**Battery** Connect the XT60 connector to the GIMBAL on the center frame if a S1000+ used. Attention: Be aware that the S1000+ power supply voltage should be within the defined limits (6S), even when using one battery for both S1000+ and Gimbal power supply. Refer to S1000+ User Manual for details. Turn to the next page to obtain the corresponding channels between the GCU channels and S-Bus receiver. ROLL TILT PAN MODE SHUT AUX1 AUX2 AUX3 Woo Kong- M

•

•

• S - B u s 2-Position Switch 2-Position Switch 3-Position Switch 2-Position Switch

2-Position Switch

2-Position Switch 3-Position Switch

2-Position Switch USB Port PC connection for configuration and firmware upgrades with an USB cable.

Ensure the side with copper contacts is facing upward towards the heat sinks. RC Receiver (Aircraft control)
Battery (4S~12S)

Wireless Video Transition Module Air Unit RC Receiver ( JR ) 8 Channels

RC Receiver (Futaba/Hitec)

8 Channels

S-BUS Receiver (Futaba) OR

OR **G7**
**G9 G6**  A7-HD

WooKong-M Please refer to your WooKong-M User Manual for all connection a nd configuration details. Gimbal Control Unit (GCU) 1. Make sure all ports are accessible when installing your MC so a s to facilitate wiring and software configuration. 2. In 3-pin ports, the pins near the nicks are the signal pins. 3. Use the 6-pin cable for the G6 port, and the 10-pin to 9-pin ca ble for the G9 port. 4. DO NOT cover the heat sinks, and keep them unobstructed at all times. 5. The GCU module is NOT water or oil proof.
RC Receiver 1. The diagram on the previous page shows example connections. The aircraft signal will transmit through

the DJI Lightbridge ground system. After connecting to Lightbridge, it is not necessary to connect with an RC receiver. 2. Prepare 2 TXs, one for gimbal control, and the other for aircraft control. Refer to the 2-Pilot Solution for more

details. If only one receiver is used for both aircraft and gimbal control, refer to the 1-Pilot Solution for moreGCU Wiring

# 16 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. details. 3. Setup the Aileron, Elevator, and Rudder channels on the gimbal control TX. The command stick will control

gimbal rotation velocity. The center position is 0, and the end point is maximum velocity in both clockwise and counter clockwise directions. (The end point is 100%) 4. Choose one 3-position switch/channel to use as the Z15-A7 Wo rking Mode switch. (MODE) 5. Choose one 2-position switch/channel to use as the camera shutter control switch (SHUT), and another

2-position switch to use as the camera lens orientation switch in Reset Mode (AUX2). 6. Choose one 2-position switch/channel to use as the camera vi deo recording control switch (AUX3). 7. Please refer to the Wookong-M User Manual for aircraft contr ol settings. 8. Connect the receiver to the GCU correctly.


## GCU Ports The following table shows the connections between the GCU chann els and the relevant TX channels.

TX Channels GCU Chan

nels Indications JR Futaba/Hitec AILE 1 ROLL For roll axis control (left/right). Velocity is zero if disconn ected. ELEV 2 TILT For tilt axis control. Velocity is zero if disconnected. RUDD 4 PAN For pan axis control. Velocity is zero if disconnected. AUX2 7 MODE For Working Mode switch. 2-position switch channel SHUT For camera shutter control. 2-position switch channel AUX1 Reserved channel.

Or Futaba S-Bus channel AUX2 When AUX2 is connected to a 2-position switch channel, it is used as a camera orientation (down or forward) switch in FPV Mode (Reset). The camera orientation is forward if disconnected. Or if you are using a S-Bus receiver, connect the recever to the AUX2 port. 2-position switch channel AUX3 For camera video recording control.
The following table shows the corresponding relationship betwee n the GCU and the S-Bus channels.

S-Bus Channels GCU Channels S-Bus Channels GCU Channels 1 ROLL 5 SHUT 2 TILT 8 AUX1 4 PAN 9 AUX2 7 MODE 6 AUX3© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

# 17 

# Working Mode/AUX2 Switch Setup Working Mode Switch Settings
For whichever 3-position switch you select to use as the Working Mode switch, wire the relevant channel from the receiver to the MODE port. At each switch position, use end-point fine tuning to set a channel AUX2 (JR) or 7 (Futaba/Hitec) for all three Working Modes:
Orientation-locked Back to center FPV (Reset) MODE channel end-point 60%~90% Non orientation-locked MODE channel end-point 60%~90%
The gimbal will work in Orientation-locked mode if the MODE cha nnel is disconnected. FPV mode is the default startup mode when the MODE channel is c onnected. The Working Mode from the previous power cycle will be retained if the cable between MODE and the RC receiver is disconnected during operation. For a 3-position switch, you may assign:

2-Positon Switch 3-Positon Switch 3-Positon Switch Position-1 to Non orientation-locked Position-2 to Orientation-locked Position-3 to FPV Mode (Reset) Position-1 and Position-3 can be inversely assigned. One 2-position switch can be assigned for any two of the workin g modes, if preferred.


## AUX2 Switch Settings
The Z15-A7 supports toggling the camera lens down or forward in FPV Mode (Reset). Please choose a 2-position switch for this function and wire the relevant channel of the receiver to the AUX2 port. You may assign: Position-1 to DOWN; Position-2 to FORWARD; or reverse t he assignment.

2-Positon Switch 3-Positon Switch 3-Positon Switch

This function will only work in FPV Mode (Reset). When this function is active, if the Working Mode is ever changed to FPV Mode (Reset), the gimbal will force the camera lens to face forward or down, depending on current the location of the AUX2 switch. The camera orientation is forward if AUX2 is disconnected. If AUX2 is connected to a Futaba S-Bus channel, it is then used as the input channel for S-Bus

control.Working Mode/AUX2 Switch Setup

# 18 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. If the shutter control does not work correctly, please check ea ch step.
The following diagram shows how the shutter control works. 2-Positon Switch 3-Positon Switch 3-Positon Switch 

# Shutter Control
The Z15-A7 gimbal can transform a TX command into a shutter control signal. Select a 2-position switch/ channel to use for remote shutter control. For whichever 2-position switch you select, connect the correct receiver channel to the SHUT port. Toggling the 2-position switch works as follows: Position-1 Position-2: Take one photo Position-2 Position-1: Reset switch position (no shutter effect or action ) Position-1 Position-2: Take another photo



# Video Recording Control
The Z15-A7 supports starting and stopping your camera’s video record function by using a 2-position switch through AUX3. Connect the relevant channel of the receiver to the AUX3 port. Toggle the switch to start/stop recording. Position-1: Start recording Position-2: Stop recording

If the video recording control does not work correctly, please check each step.

The following diagram shows how the shutter control works. 2-Positon Switch 3-Positon Switch 3-Positon Switch TX
2-Position Switch TX Command TX Command TX Command Wireless RC Receiver

3-Pin Cable Internal Cable HDMI-HD/AV Module Gimbal

Camera GCU

Shutter Button 2-Position Switch Channel SHUT

Infrared Remote ControlShutter Control/Video Recording Control© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

# 19 

# PC Assistant Tuning Installation and Usage

1. Ensure the most recent drivers are installed correctly. This should be done before using the A2 or

WooKong-M software. 2. Download the appropriate Assistant installer from DJI.com. 3. Double click the Assistant installer and follow the steps to fin ish the installation. 4. Run Assistant. 5. Upgrade the firmware or configure parameters using Assistant as n eeded.
The Assistant installer can be used on Windows XP, Win7, and Wi n8 (32 or 64 bit). 

## Basic Settings You can set transmitter channels for roll, tilt and pan control, and also switch between working modes during flight. Move your cursor to each area or refer to this ma nual for more details. TX
2-Position Switch TX Command TX Command TX Command Wireless RC Receiver

3-Pin Cable Internal Cable HDMI-HD/AV Module Gimbal

Camera GCU

Shutter Button 2-Position Switch Channel SHUT

Infrared Remote ControlPC Assistant Tuning

# 20 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

## Upgrade You can view the latest firmware version information on this page. Upgrade the firmware by following the steps below: 1. Connect the gimbal to your computer with a Micro-USB cable, and wait until the blue indicator LED in the

Assistant is blinking. 2. Click” Upgrade”. 3. Wait for the download to finish. 4. Click “Upgrade” again then click “Confirm”. 5. Power cycle the gimbal after the upgrade is complete.
Ensure your computer is connected to the internet. Close any antivirus programs and network firewalls during the up grade. Ensure the gimbal is powered on during the upgrade. Do not disconnect the USB cable during the upgrade. Make sure that before turning on the gimbal it already has a ca mera mounted. Make sure there are no obstructions when turning on the gimbal.



## Info

You can check the Assistant version via Info. S/N is a 32 digit authorization code for function activations. The authorization code for your unit is filled in at the time of manufacture. In the future, you may be asked to fill in a new S/N if you require function upgrades. Fill in the S/N and then click the Write button. If you fill in an invalid S/N more than 30 times, your gimbal will be locked and you will have to contact DJI customer support.© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

# 21 

# Pre-Flight Checklist Pre-Flight Checklist

Ensure the gimbal is properly installed and attached to the landing gear, and that the camera is mounted correctly and securely. Before powering on, spin the gimbal through its complete rotation by hand on each axis to ensure nothing is blocking its movement. Ensure all cables are connected correctly, without any plugged in backwards or into the wrong ports. Ensure the AV video power cable is properly soldered and shielded if an AV video transmission module is used. Verify TX settings. Verify a proper connection between the GCU and the RC receiver. Verify a proper connection between the GCU and the flight contro l system. Ensure the latest Flight Control System firmware is installed. Refer to the Gimbal LED Indicator section in the Appendix to understand the connection status between the camera and gimbal. Refer to the Troubleshooting section in the Appendix if an abnormal situation occurs.Pre-Flight Checklist

# 22 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

## Flight Test

1. Ensure the batteries are fully charged for your TX, GCU, and al l of the other devices on your aircraft. 2. Make sure all connections and wiring are in good condition. 3. Switch on the TX. 4. Adjust the camera to a level position on the roll axis of the g imbal. 5. Power on the gimbal and wait for the self initialization test to complete. The roll, pan and tilt axis will rotate

quickly at the same time. 6. After self-initialization, the camera lens will point towards the aircraft’s nose and each axis of the gimbal

should be in the position illustrated above. 7. The gimbal will then go into a second stage of initialization. At this time, each axis will rotate very slowly. 8. Once each axis stops moving, the gimbal is fully initialized an d ready to use. 9. Toggle the assigned Working Modes switch on your TX and make su re it is working properly. 10. Switch the Working Modes to Non orientation-locked, FPV Mode (Reset), and Orientation-locked Mode respectively. Then push the controller sticks lightly in the Roll, Tilt and Pan directions to check that the gimbal moves in the corresponding directions. If not, see Working Mode/AUX2 Switch Setup to correct your settings.
Power off the camera during the initialization. If the gimbal does not match the diagram after initialization, please refer to the Troubleshooting section in Appendix.© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

# 23 

# Appendix Attention **For safety reasons, please pay careful attention to all of the following items:** 1. To avoid motor damage, ensure nothing blocks the servo drive mo dule’s total range of movement. 2. Before powering on, spin the gimbal through its complete rotation by hand on each axis to ensure nothing

is blocking the mechanical movement of the gimbal. 3. Be sure to mount the side of servo drive module 1 with the port s facing towards the aircraft's tail. 4. The gimbal’s center of gravity has been preset. The gimbal balance is directly related to its performance.

Follow the instructions in this manual to adjust the center of gravity if you are using the Sony ILCE 7R camera, otherwise do not adjust the gimbal’s center of gravity. 5. The gimbal is a sophisticated device. Do not remove any screws from the gimbal. Doing so may result in

poor performance or damage. 6. Do not unplug any cables attached to the gimbal ports or change the mechanical structure. 7. Make sure all wiring is correct, otherwise the gimbal may not o perate correctly or efficiently. 8. Make sure to connect the wireless video transmission module to the GCU prior to powering on the system. 9. We recommend use of the included AV video power cable, if neede d. 10. Be sure to solder the AV video power cable to the wireless video transmission module correctly. Ensure the cables are insulated and protected to prevent any type of s hort circuit. 11. Pay close attention to the voltage of S1000+ and be sure it is within the defined limits (6S) when using one battery for both the S1000+ and as a power supply for the g imbal. 12. Never touch the contact points of a power cable to the gimbal, this may lead to a short circuit of the gimbal, resulting in complete failure. 13. Before powering on, adjust the roll axis of the gimbal to be le vel. 

## 1-Pilot Solution

**14V 52V** 

Flight Controller ( DJI WooKong-M ) GCU ROLL TILT PAN MODE SHUT AUX1 AUX2 AUX3

Gimbal Control Unit ( GCU ) 3-Position Switch 3-Position Switch 3-Position Switch 3-Position Switch 2-Position Switch

2-Position Switch 2-Position Switch 3-Position Switch 14 Channels Receiver(Futaba)

**Gimbal Control Flight Control**  Transmitter

A7 HD -Appendix

# 24 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 1. Prepare one 14-channel TX/RC receiver for the aircraft and gimbal control. Above is an example of the

wiring configuration. 2. Setup the Aileron, Elevator, Throttle, and Rudder channels on your TX for aircraft roll, elevator, throttle, and

rudder control. Also, connect the TX’s AUX2 for aircraft control modes (Please refer to your Flight Control System’s user manual). 3. Choose three 3-position switches to use for the gimbal Roll, Tilt, and Pan rotation control. The center

position of each switch is 0 velocity, and the end point positi ons are maximum velocity. 4. Choose one 3-position switch/channel as the gimbal’s Working Mo des switch (MODE). 5. Choose one 2-position switch/channel as the camera shutter cont rol switch (SHUT). 6. Connect the receiver to the GCU and Flight Control System corre ctly. 

## 2-Pilot Solution

OR OR

S - B u s GC U ROL L TI L T PA N MOD E SHU T AUX 1 AUX

2 AUX 3 RC Receiver A

Gimbal Control Unit ( GCU ) Transmitter A



### Gimbal Control

Flight Controller RC Receiver B
RC Receiver ( JR )
8 Channels RC Receiver ( JR ) 8 Channels

S - B u s Transmitter B

OR

OR DJI WooKong-M Flight Controller RC Receiver (Futaba/Hitec)
8 Channels RC Receiver (Futaba/Hitec)

8 Channels

S-BUS Receiver (Futaba) S-BUS Receiver (Futaba) 2-Position Switch 2-Position Switch 3-Position Switch 2-Position Switch

2-Position Switch 2-Position Switch 3-Position Switch 2-Position Switch **14V 52V**  A7 HD

- Two transmitters and two receivers are required. Transmitter A and receiver A are used to control the gimbal. Transmitter B and receiver B are used to control the aircraft. Make the connections as shown in the diagram below:



### Please refer to the GCU Wiring 

### section for more details.Appendix© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

# 25 Port Descriptions

GCU ROLL For roll axis control TILT For tilt axis control PAN For pan axis control MODE For working mode switch SHUT For camera shutter control AUX1 Reserved channel AUX2 For gimbal orientation (down or forward) switch in FPV mode ; S -Bus receiver AUX3 For video recording

G7 1. Connect to the wireless video transmission module, for transmitting AV or HD signals. 2. Connect to DJI Lightbridge, for transmitting HD, gimbal and air craft control

signals. XT60 Connect to the battery (or to GIMBAL if DJI S1000+ is used)

G6 Connect to gimbal, for transmitting motor commands G9 Connect to gimbal, for transmitting the video signal Micro-USB port: for PC connection (Assistant configuration and firmware upgrades) CAN-Bus port: Use CAN-Bus to connect GCU to the flight control s ystem Gimbal HDMI-HD/AV Port To camera HDMI port Motor Command Input Port To GCU G6 10-Pin to 9-Pin Cable Port To GCU G9


## Gimbal LED Indicator

**Description LED Indicator**  HD mode, HDMI-HD/AV module transmits normally LED is blinking green. HD mode, without camera HDMI video input Green LED is constant on. HD mode, DJI Lightbridge App video source has been set to “HDMI/AV” Yellow LED is constant on. AV mode, HDMI-HD/AV module transmits normally LED is blinking yellow. AV mode, without camera HDMI video input Yellow LED is constant on. HD video transmission module and gimbal is disconnected LED is blinking red.Appendix

# 26 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

## Troubleshooting

NO. The Problem The Cause What to Do

1 The gimbal keeps drifting after initialization. (1) The TX trims are too high. (2) The GCU and Flight Control System have been disconnected. (3) The gimbal direction is not pointing in the same direction as the aircraft’s nose. (1) Adjust the TX trims. (2) Connect the GCU and Flight Control System. (3) Ensure the gimbal direction is pointing in the same direction as the aircraft’s nose.

2 The gimbal is in an incorrect position after initializing. Abnormal calibration after manufacturing. Please contact your local dealer or DJI customer service.

3 Cannot distinguish the gimbal’s direction when in use. BVR (Beyond Visual Range) flight. Switch to FPV Mode first, then to another Working Mode as needed.

4 The gimbal LED is blinking red. (1) There is a disconnected cable between the gimbal and camera. (2) The camera is off. (3) Camera setup failure. (1) Make sure all cables are securely connected. (2) Power on the camera. (3) Set the HDMI resolution to 1080i.

5 The gimbal’s green or yellow LED is continuously on, but no video is displayed. (1) The HDMI-HD/AV transmission module is disconnected from the camera. (2) The camera is powered off. (3) In HD mode, the DJI Lightbridge App video source has been set to “HDMI/AV”. (1) Check HDMI-HD/AV transmission module connection. (2) Power on the camera. (3) Change the DJI Lightbridge App video source to "HD Gimbal".Appendix© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

# 27 Specifications

General Built-In Functions Three Working Modes Orientation-locked control Non orientation-locked control FPV mode (Reset) Built-in independent IMU module DJI gimbal special servos drive module HDMI-HD/AV module Infrared remote control module Wireless video transmission supported Camera shutter/video recording control supported Wide range voltage input supported S-Bus Receiver supported 

### Peripheral Supported Camera Sony ILCE-7S; Sony ILCE-7R Supported Lens Sony FE 35 mm f2.8 ZA GCU Input Power 4S~12S LiPo (Recommend 6S if with S1000+) Control Requirement At least four spare receiver channels Assistant Software System Requirements Windows XP SP3; Windows 7; Windows 8 (32 or 64 bit)



### Mechanical & Electrical Characteristics Working Current Static current: 200mA (@25V) Dynamic current: 400mA (@25V) Locked-motor current: 4A (@25V) Operating Temperature -10 °C ~ 50 °C Weight 1.3 Kg Dimensions 210 mm × 204 mm × 246 mm GCU Weight 63 g GCU Dimensions 64.2 mm × 34.1 mm × 19.5 mm 

### Working Performance Load Weight (Reference Value) 622 g(@Sony ILCE-7S with Sony FE 35 mm f2.8 ZA, battery, lens hood and SD Card) ; 580 g(@Sony ILCE-7R with Sony FE 35 mm f2.8 ZA, battery, lens hood and SD Card) Angular Vibration Range ±0.01° Maximum Controlled Rotation Speed * Pan axis: ±130°/s Tilt axis: ±130°/s Roll axis: ±30°/s Controlled Rotation Range Pan axis control: ±360° continuous rotation Tilt axis control: +50°/-140° Roll axis control: ±40° Note*: Gimbal’s Maximum Controlled Rotation Speed corresponds t o TX stick input pushed to 100% end-points.AppendixThe content is subject to change. 

### Download the latest version from http://www.dji.com/product/zenmuse-z15-a7

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. If you have any questions about this document, please contact D JI by sending a message to DocSupport@dji.com

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