Recorder Buoy User Guide
April 2020
P.6
Deployment
1.
Set-up Recorder Buoy for deployment (See
.).
2.
Vessel should be stopped while lowering equipment over side of vessel.
3.
Start deployment with bottom of array cables.
a.
Lower weight on end of cables into water.
b.
Slowly feed in the hydrophones and cables of the array.
Special care should be taken with heave plates and hydrophones.
c.
The Buoy will be the last instrument lowered to the water.
Recovery
1.
Transit to buoy.
2.
Use gaff hook to secure buoy.
3.
Tie a rope to the top ring of the buoy to secure while recovering.
4.
Retrieve the buoy from the water.
a.
Place the buoy on deck while holding onto rope attached to cabled array
below. [Winch can be used to allow easier retrieval of buoy on deck.]
b.
Slowly pull out heave plate and recover remaining array by hand, with special
care handling hydrophones.
5.
Turn off buoy (OFF Position: 0).
6.
Hydrophones can be Powered Down to retain battery at 100%.
For each hydrophone: Attach the test cable to the hydrophone. Insert and then remove
the hardware reset tool (9V battery) plug into the barrel connector of the test cable.
7.
Rinse the buoy and equipment with fresh water.
Hard Drive Retrieval
1.
Recover the Buoy (see above).
2.
Dry the buoy fully.
3.
In a dry environment ensure all hardware is clean and dry.
Special care should be paid to moving parts and crevasses.
4.
Ensure buoy is in OFF Position: 0.
5.
Unscrew the eye nuts on the top of the buoy to remove the top hat.
6.
Gently pull up the top hat without pulling on the cables within the buoy.
a.
The top of the buoy will only be opened momentarily, and cables should remain
attached while retrieving the hard drive.
7.
Remove the hard drive by unscrewing the 2 thumbscrews securing the drive.
Before Deployment:
It is suggested that users secure top hat of buoy before deployment. This can be done with
a vinyl coated steel cable and pad lock. Thread the cable through the eye nuts and padlock
to secure in place. This will ensure the eye nuts will not become loose and it will prevent
opening of the top hat until retrieved.
