Commercial in confidence
Smartfind EPIRB service manual
Page 14
3.2. Functional test
Self test
1. Press the TEST button until the red LED lights indicating that the self test is
running, then release the button.
2. The EPIRB will test its internal components and then make test transmissions
at 121.5 and 406 MHz whilst monitoring the transmitter output.
3. If all tests are successful, the buzzer will sound and the red LED and white
strobe LED will flash together a number of times.
4. If any test is unsuccessful, nothing will flash and the red LED will go out.
Operation of this test for the Smartfind Plus is identical, except that the green LED will
also flash.
The number of times the LEDs flash is an indication of the accumulated time the battery
has been in use – as long as the strobe flashes at least once then the unit has passed
self test.
Accumulated Battery Use
(hours)
Number of
flashes/beeps
0 to 4
3
4 to 6
2
More than 6
1
Expected battery use per year is 32 minutes (12 Self tests and 2 off GPS tests) – it is
recommended that any unit which has a reduced number of LED flashes should have the
battery replaced in order to ensure that the unit will operate for 48 hours in an
emergency.
Note:
The 121.5MHz transmission made during self test is unmodulated. Therefore it will
not be picked up by the ARG5410 Mk1 message reader or by an air band radio
receiver. The self test inherently checks the 121.5 and 406 power as part of the
test. However if the 121.5MHz must be checked then a Spectrum Analyser or a
suitable EPIRB tester will be required to record the transmission.
Self test failure: See Section 4 Fault finding
Sea switch
The sea switch contacts are gold plated and so care should be taken not to damage or
scratch them
1. Short-circuit the sea switch contacts
2. The red LED should light within 3 seconds and the strobe flash
3. Remove the short circuit
4. The red LED should go out within 8 seconds
5. Place unit into manual bracket or apply magnet to disable the sea switch.
6. Short-circuit the sea switch contacts again
7. The unit should not activate.
To avoid a live transmission the unit must not be allowed to activate for more than
50 seconds.
If the red LED starts to flash, you have made a live transmission.
