LCS9 Manual | Starside Armory

INTEL/MANUAL_LCS9

LIGHT COLLAR SYSTEM V9

Power Supply

The LCS9 comes with an integral USB-A male plug. Plug it into any USB power bank.
Use the power bank's on/off button to control the collar. The collar has no on/off switch of its own.
Battery life will of course depend on the size of your power bank. In a loose test, a collar was running for 8 hours and used about 50% of a 20,000mAh battery.

Output Voltage Adjustment (advanced users only)

The voltage converter has a small brass knob that adjusts the output voltage. This should only be adjusted if you have a multimeter to measure the output voltage.
Turn the knob with a flathead screwdriver to raise or lower the voltage. This will affect the LED brightness and fan speed/noise. It may require a lot of turns to reach the adjustment range the first time.
The LEDs operate at 3V. This voltage should not be exceed by more than 10%. More likely you may want to lower the brightness for photos.
The fan is rated for 5V, but by design it is tied to the LED circuit so that it runs at a quieter 3V.
The Power Hub Cover has a small depression over the adjustment knob. If you plan to use this frequently, this can be drilled out so that the knob can be adjusted with the cover still attached.

Installation Method 1: Edge Clip

The LCS9 comes with edge clips pre-installed. This method is ideal for a damage-free installation, as well as easy removal for laundry.
Simply attach all four clips to the jacket collar and position as desired.
The Backer pieces which are usually used in the bolt-on method can be clamped under the edge clips if desired.

Installation Method 2: Bolt-on

This method is good for a stronger connection (although the edge clip is plenty sturdy). It may also be useful for applications where the edge clip won't work, or if you think the bolt-on method looks cooler.
Remove the M4 bolts with a 2.5mm hex wrench, and remove the edge clips.
Position the collar sections as desired. Using a pen through the mounting holes, mark where you need to make holes in your garment.
Depending on your garment material, use a tool to pierce a small hole on each mark. A craft knife works for most applications, or an awl heated with flame is good on nylon because it cauterizes the edge and prevents fraying.
Use the included 3D-printed Backer pieces as a washer for the M4 bolts. Position as desired and screw the Backer+bolt in from the outside of the garment.

Hybrid Method

For some garments, a combination of both could be required or desired.
For example, a jacket with a high collar that transitions into a hood (such as the M56 RN-F1) can use the edge clips on the front mounting points and bolts on the rear, as the hood prevents edge clip installation on the rear mounting points.

Power Hub Support

The Power Hub connects the two collar halves and houses the voltage converter. It also has a 1" slot and velcro strap that can be used to suspend it from the coat loop of your garment.
The wires are supported and can handle the weight if you don't have a coat loop, but best practice would be to suspend the Power Hub and take the weight off the wires.
The Power Hub also features provisions for surface mounting with the same bolt-on method as above. To use this method you must provide your own M3 hardware.
- Remove the Power Hub Cover and insert M3 nuts in the nut wells.
- Mark and make holes in your garment.
- With M3 screws and washers, bolt the Power Hub to your garment.

The series 9 Light Collar System is a significant departure from previous models, marking the lightest, brightest, and most flexible version to date.

My earliest version - the Enforcer Heavy Collar - immediately revealed that the rigid structure makes putting the jacket on, wearing it, and taking it off somewhat awkward. All subsequent light collars have taken various approaches to reduce mass and increase flexibility, usually with flexures or hinges in the frame.

The LCS9 removes the frame altogether. An LED filament is inlaid directly in a flexible rubber diffuser during printing, creating a protective sheath and intricate pattern at the same time. While the frames were an interesting look and offered some fun customization options, the LCS9 aims to more seamlessly integrate with certain types of garments.

The custom LED assemblies are designed for jackets and vests with high collars. It will not work on bombers. Two attachment methods are possible, one of which is completely damage-free and tool-less, while the other requires poking holes but works on more garments. These options are covered in the Installation tab of this page.

Another major improvement is that it runs on any USB power bank. Information on the electrical requirements and controls are covered in the Operation tab of this page.

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INTEL/MANUAL_LCS9

LIGHT COLLAR SYSTEM V9

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