Rebel Sabers Lightsaber Operating Manual
These are the instructions for our Lightsabers. Please be aware, that we are constantly upgrading/enhancing our products, so some changes occur for better usability or quality. We are always innovating and attempting to bring the best saber experience to our customers. To that end, we do attempt to keep these instructions up to date, but some functions may be different if you have older electronics, or we haven’t updated the page yet. If you find any problems or can’t figure out how your saber works, please don’t hesitate to contact us via email or messenger (click on CONTACT US below).
We hope you enjoy your Lightsaber!
We have instructions below for Base-Lit sabers both older and newer models, and Xeno PixelBlade sabers. The first section covers proper charging and safety features that apply to both model types. Then the subsequent sections will cover each model in detail. Finally we cover battery removal for standard and thin neck hilts, in case this becomes necessary.
Charging your Sabers & Safety Information:
Important Information: Please fully charge your saber before first use. Playing and charging time takes around 4hours.
Please use 5V/2amp MAX wall charger or devices with USB port to charge [ Maximum of 5volts and 2 AMPS and no smart chargers, no fast chargers, no iPad or travel chargers] Warranty does not cover damage caused by inappropriate charging devices.
If your charging brick has multiple outputs and ANY are over 5 volts and 2amps, this will damage your board and is not covered by warranty
On some models. when the battery gets completely drained the low voltage protector (safety feature) kicks in. Simply removing and reinstalling the battery will reset the saber for use. (see battery removal/installation at the end of this document)
Charging your saber:
Your saber either has a charging port directly above the power button or it is at the base of the saber under the pommel (on movie replica sabers)
Plug the USB end into a charging block – no more than 5.0V & 2amp power.
Plug the opposite end into your saber charging port, you should hear the saber say “Charging” or it will light up (or both). You’ll hear when it’s completed the charge it will say “Ready”
This takes approximately 4 hours, depending on AMPS on your charging brick. Again, do not use more than 2 amps maximum.
If you received a charging cradle, then the battery must be removed and charged separately. The cradle will start red and turn blue or green when the battery has reached full charge. Use only a 5.0V / 2amp charging brick MAX. This takes approximately 4 hours.
Installing the Blade:
First remove the plastic/rubber cap from the flat end if there is one. Then remove the plastic wrap that is wrapped on the OUTSIDE of the blade. IMPORTANT: You may see clear paper INSIDE the blade - this is diffusion paper and needs to remain inside the blade.
Insert the flat end of the blade into the top part of the saber, the inside of the hilt will have an LED inside the emitter, or a “POGO PIN” if you’re using a PixelBlade.
Locate the small silver bag with the allen wrench and screws.
Use ONE of the blade-retention screws to hold the blade snug and flush against the emitter chamber wall by inserting in one of the holes on the side of the emitter and tighten firmly with the allen wrench. Do not over-tighten. Only one screw should be needed, as this creates more surface contact between the blade and the emitter wall.
On the thin neck sabers (Heroes & Sage) you’ll likely need to install all of the blade retention screws as the emitter is shallower than most sabers. Experiment with one/more and determine which you like best. Don’t over tighten the screws, they should be snug, but if you turn it too hard, you risk stripping the screw and that’s going to be a hassle to deal with.
Lightsaber Operations
Operating Instructions for Base-Lit (older), Base-Lit (newer) and Xeno PixelBlade
Base-Lit Model Older (Models prior to Q3 2021):
(If your power button is covered (control box sabers, for example), you’ll time these flashes at 1⁄2 second per flash approximately)
To wake the lightsaber
Hold down power button for 1 seconds. A sound will play and the light ring around the power button will illuminate. The saber is now in awake mode.
Awake mode operation:
Press the power button: turn the blade on and activate sounds and effects.
Blaster deflection – When blade is lit: Tap the button
Saber lock-up Hold button for 1 Flash of the LED, then release
Cycle blade colors: Hold button until LED flashes 2 times, then release. Tap button on chosen color
Saber Force (Character Quotes): Hold button until LED flashes 3 times, then release
Power off the blade: Hold button until LED flashes 4 times
Sound volume & mute selection
While the saber is awake but the blade is off: Hold the power button down for 1 LED flash , let go of the button , you’ll hear “soft sound” or “loud sound” or “no sound”, we don’t suggest you use “loud sound” in normal play, it can sound a bit distorted, it’s meant for use in loud places.
Blade effects (stable, unstable, and pulse) selection
While the saber is awake but the blade is off: Hold the power button down for 2 LED Flashes, let go. Your blade effect will change and each time you hold for 2 flashes it cycles to the next effect, giving a voice description of each.
Music Selection or Turn Off the music. (5 sets available).
While the saber is awake but the blade is off: Hold the power button down for 3 LED flashes. This will start a music track. Repeat this process to cycle through each music track, and to turn them off, cycle through them all until you reach the empty track.
Sound fonts selection (9 sets available)
While the saber is awake but the blade is off: Hold the power button until the LED flashes 4 times. As you cycle you’ll hear the sound font declared, they are: Kylo Ren, Kenobi (voiced by Grevious), General Leia, Count Dooku, Fallen Order, Vader, Dark Saber, Emperor, Rey Skywalker.
To make the saber sleep
While the saber is awake but the blade is off: Hold 10 seconds. If the saber sits idle for 10 minutes it will also enter deep sleep again. The saber may cycle to the next sound font while attempting this, but just continue to hold down and the saber will eventually sleep.
Base-Lit Model Newer (Models after Q3 2021)
Updates to this firmware are: No music and no Force Effects quotes - Better Smooth Swing Algorithm - new solid blade colors
(If your power button is covered (control box sabers, for example/Maul Saber), you’ll time these flashes at 1⁄2 second per flash approximately)
To wake the lightsaber
Hold down power button for 1 seconds. A sound will play and the light ring around the power button will illuminate. The saber is now in awake mode.
Awake mode operation:
Press the power button: turn the blade on and activate sounds and effects.
When the blade is lit, the power button operates thusly:
Tap -blaster deflection
Saber lock-up -Hold 0.5 second,button LED flashes 1 time, then release
Rainbow RGB Cycle Color Change -Hold 1 seconds,button LED flashes 2 times,then release to cycle rainbow blade colors. Once a desired color is reached, tap it to set the color.
Solid Color Change -Hold 1.5 seconds,button LED flashes 3 times,then release to cycle solid blade colors.Once a desired color is reached, tap it to set the color.
Power off the blade: Hold button until LED flashes 4 times
Sound volume & mute selection
While the saber is awake but the blade is off: Hold the power button down for 1 LED flash , let go of the button , you’ll hear “soft sound” or “no sound”.
Blade effects (stable, unstable, and pulse) selection
While the saber is awake but the blade is off: Hold the power button down for 2 LED Flashes, let go. Your blade effect will change and each time you hold for 2 flashes it cycles to the next.
While the blade is off, but still in wake mode, Holding the power button down for 1.5 seconds, button LED flash 3 time, will select a new sound fonts. (9sets available).
Sleep
Hold 10 seconds to make the saber sleep. lf the saber sits idle for 10 minutes it will also enter deep sleep again. While holding the sound font selection will activate - continue to hold and the saber will sleep.
Sleep mode operation: When the saber is in deep sleep there will be no lights or sounds
XENO PixelBlade Instructions
BASIC INSTRUCTIONS:
● Press and hold the LED button to bring out of sleep mode. You will hear a ‘Power On’ voice, and the LED button will turn on.
● Press the button once, quickly, to turn the blade on.
● The following controls activate when the blade is on, and are based
on the flash of the LED button light:
1) A quick press will initiate a single blaster deflect effect.
2) Press and hold the button for one flash, then release. This will initiate the drag effect. A quick press will end the drag effect.
3) Press and hold the button for two flashes, then release. This will initiate the color cycle. When the color you want shows, a quick press will end the color cycle.
4) Continue to hold the button past 2 flashes to turn off the blade.
● While the blade is off, the following controls are activated based on the flash of the LED button light:
1) Press and hold the button for one flash, then release. This will change the volume. There are 3 volume settings: Volume High, Volume Low, and Mute.
2) Press and hold the button for two flashes, then release. This will change the blade effect. There are 5 blade effects: Steady, Pulse, Rainbow Blade, Unstable, and Fire Blade.
3) Press and hold the button for three flashes, then release. This will change the blade mode. There are several blade modes, including Some pre-on effects. Blade effects will affect pre-ons, but will not have any effect on Blaster Blade and Ghost Blade modes. Only blade color and font selection impact these modes.
4) Press and hold the button for three flashes, then release. This will change the sound font. The selection of fonts can be customized by the user.
ADVANCED CONTROLS: MOTION
There are several motion or manual controls available on the Xeno PixelBlade.
1) A direct and quick stabbing motion with the hilt level will turn the blade on, or off.
2)A quick twist while the hilt is pointed down will change the font to the next on the list. Either direction will prompt the change as long as the hilt is pointed downward.
3)A quick twist while the hilt is pointed up will play a music track, if one or more are available in the selected fonts folder. A quick twist again will stop the music.
4)Hold the button and impact the hilt/blade to activate lockup. Release the button to end lockup.
5)While holding the button, a quick twist while the hilt is pointed down will change the selected blade color. Release the button to select the current color.
6)While holding the button, a quick twist while the hilt is pointed up will play a special effect. This will also play a sound if the correct file in included in the font.
UPDATING FIRMWARE:
When there is an update available for download, we will list it here with the date of update, and if you purchased your saber before this date, the update will be useful to you.
Currently no new update is available, but will be before end of Nov 2021.
In order to update effects, fix potential issues, and make Improvements, firmware updates may released as needed. To make this as easy as possible to update, we currently only require one file be added to effect the upgrade.
Please follow the steps below to upgrade your XenoPixel board:
1) Remove the grip and pommel to access your XenoPixel chassis.
2)Carefully remove the battery. This is most easily done by lightly tapping the end of the chassis against your hand. Remember the chassis is marked to ensure, on reinserting the battery, that the positive and negative ends line up correctly.
3)Locate the micro SD card in the chassis. Be sure to note the orientation to make re-installation easier.
4)Carefully remove the micro SD card. Use your fingers or tweezers. Do not force the card upward or downward, as this could damage the connector.
The next set of steps are for the installation of the firmware:
1) Contact us for the link to download the ‘update.bin’. Open the file’s location on your PC or Mac.
2)Open the micro SD card plugged into your PC/Mac, and open the ‘set’ folder.
3)Drop the ‘update.bin’ in the ‘set’ folder.
4)Once the .bin file is in the ‘set’ folder, safely eject your micro SD card, and install it back into your chassis.
5)Install the battery, but do not turn the hilt on; wait for sound confirmations, once the battery is installed, indicating that the update has begun, followed by one that indicates it has been completed. Please listen carefully as the sound may be difficult to make out. Normal updates should take only a few seconds.
CONVERTING SOUNDFONTS:
Converting sounds over to work with XenoPixel can take some patience, but is not a difficult process. At this time, conversion must be done manually.
The font folder must be numbered sequentially; XenoPixel will not read folders with names. You won’t likely have to edit any sound files from existing popular soundfont formats, such as Proffie or CFX, but you will have to remove some files, and rename others.
The above example shows XenoPixel accepted sound file types. Although the example only shows a maximum of 2 for each sound, you can add many more (tested up to 16). Windows 10 will automatically number renamed files of the same name, making converting multiple files of the same sound type much easier.
Battery Removal Instructions
On some models, when the battery gets completely drained the low voltage protector (safety feature) kicks in. Simply removing and reinstalling the battery will reset the battery protection and allow charging the saber/use again.
**VERY IMPORTANT IF YOU HAVE THIN NECK SABER** (See additional instructions below)
Remove the handle of the saber by twisting it off. The handle usually connects just below the power button. This will expose the battery in the Chassis.
Remove the battery by giving it a good firm smack into your palm, but start with less force and increase as needed. Be careful not to put too much pressure on the chassis itself.
If you find the battery won’t come out with this procedure, you can find a wooden wedge (don’t use metal) to pry the bottom of the battery out. You can also use something small and wooden/plastic to push the battery out from the opposite side of the chassis, through the small opening there (you should be able to see the battery through the hole).
Leave it out for 20 seconds and then reinsert – positive end towards the buttons/blade. Plug in the charger and wait 10 minutes before unplugging and trying the saber. If it works, immediately turn off your saber and charge it to full.
**If that doesn’t work. We’ve found that sometimes the battery tabs have flattened, and the battery has lost contact. I’ll walk you through a quick fix. Please try the following:
Remove the battery as stated above.
Then use a flat edge screwdriver or the Allen wrench provided to carefully and slowly bend the metal battery tabs outward a bit. If they are extremely flat or sloped inward, pry from the middle of the tab to create a gentle bend in the middle, pointing outwards so good battery contact can happen.
**VERY IMPORTANT IF YOU HAVE THIN NECK SABER** (See additional instructions below)
The way the thin necks emitter needs to be connected to the electronics has a set of small wires going through the neck piece. It is important to access the electronics specifically so as not to tear or disconnect these wires.
To access the battery compartment on thin necks, first you must remove the control box button by sliding it out of the control box, then turning over the saber and dumping out the button inside the control box (or buttons, in older models). Now you can unscrew the handle as described above.
Be careful to remove the handle, and down’t allow the electronics to come away from the neck area / top portion, so that you don’t accidentally disconnect the emitter, don’t twist the electronics kit, you may tear the wiring. Essentially you want the electronics to stay as close to the thin neck as possible.
Remove the battery as described above. If the battery tabs need adjusting, adjust the battery tabs as described above.
When you replace the battery, hold your finger on the back side of that bottom tab, so it doesn’t push through the back of the board when you install it. You’re back in the battle!
If this does not fix the problem, please let me know right away. We want you to have a working saber ASAP!
Caution: If you end up separating the chassis from the emitter, hopefully you have simply unplugged the wires and none are broken. You will need to separate the neck from the emitter to reassemble this plug.
Separate the copper part of the neck from the black/striped part of the hilt. While unscrewing this, the chassis should be LOOSE in the hilt and allowed to spin with the twisting. This will expose a plug that connects the wires from the hilt to the emitter. Con next the plugs again.
If the copper piece isn’t turning, then you’ll have to loosen the LED from the emitter so it can turn freely and not twist the wires from the chassis. You will see what appears to be a blade retention screw, but at the base of the emitter. This is what holds the LED or POGO PINS in place. Unscrew that to allow the LED/POGO housing to spin freely, if you need to turn the emitter from the thin neck section. This should only be necessary if you accidentally unplug the connection.
If you are uncomfortable with any of these procedures, do not attempt. Contact us so we can help you further!
Additional Items that may have been included:
Here we describe some of our accessories and other items that may have been included with your Lightsaber.
Blade Plugs: These install just like the blade and are fun for use when displaying your saber, practicing your spins, or just hanging onto it while watching your favorite Star Wars show. They also protect the LEDS/POGO Pins from dust or other foreign material.
Shims: These are used to insert between the hilt and emitter to shorten the thread length and allow repositioning of the emitter to align better with the power button if needed, some of the s-shaped emitters will misalign over time due to the threading in the connection, and this will allow you to align it as you like.
Thumb Screws: These are used much like blade retention screws on some of our sabers, such as the Akimbo. They are also used to hold the electronics chassis in place in the Vengeance saber.
Saber Hilt Stand: Assemble by sliding the end joints over the end of the center of the saber stand. This provides a small footprint display holder for your saber hilt. Looks best when used with a blade plug.