ACR Electronics : 2846.0 Product Support Manual Download

Page: 1 / 44

ACR Electronics, Inc. // 5757 Ravenswood Road // Fort Lauderdale // FL // 33312-6645

Tel: +1 (954) 981-3333 // Fax: +1 (954) 983-5087 // www.acrartex.com

Summary of Contents for : 2846.0

Page 1: ...od Road Fort Lauderdale FL 33312 6645 Tel 1 954 981 3333 Fax 1 954 983 5087 www acrartex com THE SCIENCE PRODUCT SUPPORT MANUAL GLOBALFIX iPRO Q06 MHz GPS EPIRB II Model No RL8 36 Product No 28 16 0 28 18 0 Vl 03 0233 Rev L OF SURVIVAL ...

Page 2: ...uently Asked Questions FAQs section for further information or call our Technical Service Department The website address is www acrartex com If in the future you lose this manual you may access and print a replacement on the ACR website NOTE re Applicable products This manual supports all configurations of GlobalFix iPRO RLB 36 beacons In addition to the part numbers listed on the cover page other...

Page 3: ...FACE SPECIAL ICONS______________________________ 29 APPENDIX C USER INTERFACE DIGITAL DISPLAY DURING OPERATION___________ 30 APPENDIX D USER INTERFACE DIGITAL DISPLAY DURING SELF TEST ____________ 33 APPENDIX E USER INTERFACE DIGITAL DISPLAY DURING EXTENDED GPS TEST____ 36 APPENDIX F USER INTERFACE LANGUAGE TRANSLATIONS ____________________ 37 APPENDIX G THE COSPAS SARSAT SYSTEM __________________...

Page 4: ... able to determine which country s database will have your registration information SAR forces will have information as to who you are as the owner of the beacon the name and type of vessel that you have your homeport and who to contact that might know of your current situation but only if your beacon has been properly registered Valuable search and rescue resources are wasted every year respondin...

Page 5: ...gister is online at www beaconregistration noaa gov 2 Faxing a registration is also acceptable Fax the registration form to the fax number on the top of the registration form NOTE Do not confuse the registration form with the ACR Electronics warranty card 3 If online or fax registration is not available mail the registration form with the pre addressed postage paid envelope to SARSAT Beacon Regist...

Page 6: ...www 406registration com To verify that the unit is properly programmed for your country view the UIN label on the back of the unit In the event that the beacon is not programmed for your country the sales agent if properly equipped can reprogram the unit for the correct country 4 Do I need a radio license In the United States you may or may not need to obtain or update a radio station license Chec...

Page 7: ...ss message is sent to Cospas Sarsat satellites and in turn the distress message is relayed to SAR The distress message contains important information about the beacon and its owner Additional information about the beacon is accessed by SAR from the beacon registration database At the same time the 406 MHz signal is activated a 121 5 MHz signal is turned on The 121 5 MHz signal is used by SAR to ho...

Page 8: ...ure Activation switch with Witness Tab The activation switch embodies a special patented method of activating a beacon Refer to a subsequent section of this manual for how to activate the beacon External GPS interface The external GPS interface serves as the connection to the ship s GPS system Internal GPS engine The internal GPS engine is located where it can most readily get a clear view of the ...

Page 9: ...33 Rev L 8 GPS Interface Internal GPS Receiver Activation Test Switch Red LED Digital Display Screen OFF READY Position TEST Position ON TRANSMITTING Position Top View Switch Positions Strobes Antenna Green LED ...

Page 10: ... Release Unit HRU GPS Interface Cable Front cover hook detent Release Latch Antenna hook Water Sensor Deactivation Magnet Category 2 LowPro 3 Bracket Category 1 SeaShelter 3 Bracket Front Cover Release Tabs GPS Interface Stowage Port Ejector spring Antenna hook ...

Page 11: ...a has not been successfully downloaded into the beacon the digital display will give you tips like GIVE CLEAR VIEW TO SKY In Self Test the display illustrates the test result of each step with indicating a pass and X indicating a failure There are a total of five tests plus a battery check If all tests pass SELF TEST PASS will be displayed at the end of the Self Test mode This will be followed by ...

Page 12: ...els or floated in water and attached to a raft or life vest with the lanyard provided Category II beacons are designed to be manually deployed from the bracket Two conditions must be met for a Category II beacon to automatically activate It must be out of its bracket It must be wet NOTE Either condition by itself will not automatically activate the beacon Category I and II beacons can always be ma...

Page 13: ... longer in its bracket and when continuity is created by water between two of the top cap screws an activation circuit is completed NOTE Transmission of the 121 5 MHz and 406 MHz signals will not occur until 100 seconds after activation HRU releases the rod separating the front and back cover of bracket at a depth between 4 13 feet Ejector Spring launches EPIRB from the bracket allowing it to floa...

Page 14: ...egory I or II beacon MANUALLY activates with the following sequence 1 Remove the beacon from its bracket 2 Activation method one Place beacon in water 3 Activation method two Lift the switch to a vertical position Slide the switch toward the antenna Push the switch down to the opposite side of the beacon see illustration below Category I and II Beacons Manual Activation Without Deployment The beac...

Page 15: ...ssion either by floating it resting it or holding it in this position Manually activate the beacon if it has not been automatically activated 5 Turning off the beacon If your beacon was manually activated and you wish to deactivate return the thumb switch to the OFF position If automatically activated and you wish to deactivate remove the beacon from the water and dry the unit or place the beacon ...

Page 16: ...bracket Reporting Should there be for any reason an inadvertent activation or false alarm it must be reported to the nearest search and rescue authorities The information that should be reported includes The EPIRB 15 digit Unique Identifier Number UIN Time and date Duration and cause of activation Location of beacon at the time of activation To report false alarms in the United States contact the ...

Page 17: ...te calendar as seen below 2 Mounting location The selection of a mounting location will vary from vessel to vessel Beacons should be protected from outside influences while being readily accessible at all times in the event of an emergency The location selected must be sufficiently rigid to support the weight of the total installation Hazards to avoid when selecting a mounting location Vibration E...

Page 18: ... Avoid mounting locations that subject the bracket to breaking waves Avoid mounting locations that do not provide protection from harmful UV rays of the sun The bracket must be mounted facing inboard to avoid being lost overboard due to impacts of breaking waves personnel or loose gear Visually inspect the area surrounding the mounting bracket installation site for hidden hazards or obstacles that...

Page 19: ...e at the bottom of the base The lid is tethered to the base to help prevent loss Pull the beacon with steady pressure from the bracket It is not necessary to remove the HydroFix Hydrostatic Release Unit HRU to mount the bracket using four of the holes For extreme conditions a fifth hole is available when the HydroFix is removed and the ejector spring is deployed The bracket can be held in place to...

Page 20: ...our pre drilled screw holes to use for securing the bracket to a flat surface Remove the beacon from the bracket To do this while holding the assembly lift the latch to release bracket pressure from the beacon The beacon will slide up and out of the bracket On either side of the bracket are release tabs Simultaneously depress each tab to separate the bracket from the mounting block The mounting bl...

Page 21: ...on it that must be aligned with the two notches on the Category II beacon bezel The connector is then gently inserted downward into place and turned 90 to lock the connector into the bezel If the external GPS receiver is operational and the connection has been correctly made to the optical interface the green LED in the optical interface will start flashing at activation NOTE The baud rate output ...

Page 22: ...d be inspected for deterioration and or residue buildup that may affect the function of the beacon or automatic release Part of the visual check includes checking the antenna for tightness Clean the beacon and the mounting bracket to remove any residue buildups It is recommended that the beacon and mounting bracket be wiped with a damp cloth Carefully inspect the beacon case for any visible cracks...

Page 23: ... http www acrartex com In the case of the RLB 36 the product contains small batteries that are non hazardous However regulations can change Be advised that it is best to verify the shipping requirements at the time you are preparing to ship the unit 4 Shore based maintenance for SOLAS vessels SBM IMO MSC Circ 1039 The Maritime Safety Committee has approved guidelines for shore based maintenance of...

Page 24: ...ost or stolen Contact NOAA at 888 212 7283 212 SAVE or your national authority with the following information o Police department name o Police department phone number o Police case number If your EPIRB were to be activated the information you provided will be forwarded to the appropriate search and rescue authorities who will ensure that your EPIRB gets back to you If someone attempts to register...

Page 25: ... bracket to malfunction Check the date of manufacture on the new HRU Follow the instructions that accompany the HydroFix for marking the next expiry date and for selecting the correct rod adapter for the SeaShelter3 To install the new HRU Apply pressure to the ejection spring and hold it flat against the bracket With your free hand place the new HRU into the key way in the 5 o clock position and r...

Page 26: ...Do not exceed sixty 60 Self Test cycles limit in the five year life of the battery to conserve the battery for emergency use The functional Self Test is initiated by momentarily lifting the Activation Switch to a vertical position and holding it in this position for at least one second and at most four seconds A beep indicates the initiation of the Self Test sequence Self Test will check battery c...

Page 27: ... beacon owner wishes to verify internal GPS engine viability An extended GPS test may be invoked by holding the switch in test position for 10 seconds after Self Test completes The display will show the message LONG GPS DATA TEST START while the internal GPS is acquiring coordinates data Once the data is acquired the display will post the message GPS TEST followed by the LAT LON coordinates as a c...

Page 28: ...y lead to a faster rescue Since the last valid GPS position data may stay in the memory for up to 4 hours the user should take care to make sure that the GPS position data stored is accurate This can be accomplished by two methods By always leaving a properly functioning external GPS receiver connected to the beacon before activation or By connecting a properly functioning external GPS receiver wi...

Page 29: ...as Sarsat emergency system When the beacon is turned on the internal GPS is immediately turned on and it attempts to acquire positional coordinates GPS coordinates can be acquired any time that the GPS is on but only valid data is saved Once the beacon acquires valid coordinates the data is included as part of the next transmitted 406 MHz digital message The internal GPS operates on a schedule dur...

Page 30: ...sit the ACR website at www acrartex com APPENDIX B USER INTERFACE SPECIAL ICONS Characters displayed during beacon operation include the following The battery gauge appears on certain screens to indicate the remaining level of battery charge The gauge illustrates the remaining charge in the battery as a percent of the total possible charge e g The gauge will show the system to be charged in the fo...

Page 31: ... performance i e greatest likelihood of acquiring coordinates position the beacon so that it has a clear view of the sky The system reminds you that for optimum transmission of the emergency message allow the beacon to float and do not hold the antenna aerial The system reports that the 406 MHz emergency message has been sent If this message accompanied by a green LED flash the GPS coordinates hav...

Page 32: ...n available Updated GPS coordinates are sent every twenty minutes The system reports recently acquired GPS coordinates You may be able to communicate the coordinates to SAR or other persons assisting in the rescue The green LED flash indicates that GPS coordinates have been sent Coordinates will scroll from right to left with the following information LT XXº XX XX N and LG XXXº XX XX W The system ...

Page 33: ...rdinates have been sent If accompanied by a red LED flash the GPS coordinates have not been sent NOTE If GPS coordinates were not sent the system will continue to attempt to acquire the data and add it to the 406 MHz distress signal when available Updated GPS coordinates are sent every twenty minutes The system reminds you that optimum performance of the beacon is achieved when the system is float...

Page 34: ... battery life is greater than 48 hours at 20 C the test passes The first test checks the available hours of battery life battery witness seal If remaining battery life is less than 48 hours at 20 C the test fails The second test checks the beacon message for absence of errors EEPROM memory If no errors are present the test passes The second test checks the beacon message for absence of errors EEPR...

Page 35: ... test passes The sixth test checks four LEDs collectively the LED strobe for functionality If all LEDs are not working the test fails If all six tests pass the system advises you that Self Test passed This message appears if Self Test has passed The display indicates that the external GPS has updated its coordinates during Self Test This message will scroll across screen right to left if Self Test...

Page 36: ...st failed The system advises you to seek service from an authorized Service Center Not only should the beacon be fixed immediately it also should not be placed into service until the problem is addressed NOTE SEEK FIX NOW has the same meaning as FIX NOW This message appears if Self Test has passed but the battery is low Take the beacon to an authorized Service Center for a battery replacement NOTE...

Page 37: ...ly 100 seconds while the GPS is acquiring data The system informs you that the beacon has passed the extended GPS test This message appears if the extended GPS test has passed The display indicates that the external GPS has updated its coordinates The system provides the user with the GPS coordinates acquired during a successful test Coordinates will scroll from right to left The system informs yo...

Page 38: ...V DEJA RDBLZ ON HASTA RESCA EPIRB AN BIS HILFE LASCI EPIRB ON KEEP EPIRB UP RIGHT TENIR RLS VERT TEN LA RDBLZ RECTA EPIRB AUFR HALT TENGA DRITO BATT 48HR BATT 48HR BAT 48 HR BATT 48H BATT 48HR MEM MEM MEMO MEM MEM BOARD TEST PANAU TEST CIRCU TEST BOARD TEST BOARD TEST 406RF TEST 406RF TEST FREQ 406 MHZ TEST 406RF TEST 406RF TEST GPS TEST GPS TEST GPS TEST GPS TEST GPS TEST LIGHT TEST LAMPE TEST LU...

Page 39: ...Coordination Center RCC The RCC dispatches Search and Rescue SAR forces The addition of the GEOSAR satellite system greatly improves the reaction time for a SAR event This satellite system has no Doppler capabilities at 406 MHz but will relay the distress alert to any of the LUT stations When there is GPS data included in the distress message SAR authorities instantly know your location to within ...

Page 40: ...ass 2 30º C to 70º C 22º F to 158º F Class 2 406 MHz TRANSMITTER Frequency 406 037 MHz Power output 5 W Digital message format Standard location protocol for the USA Beacon can be reprogrammed at a service center to other coded formats and to national location protocol 121 5 MHz TRANSMITTER Frequency 121 5 MHz Power output 25 mW PEP Modulation type AM 3K20A3X LED STROBE Light color White Output po...

Page 41: ...RRANTY OF ANY KIND EXPRESS OR IMPLIED AS TO MERCHANTABILITY FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR ANY OTHER MATTER WITH RESPECT TO THIS PRODUCT The Company shall not be liable for consequential or special damages To place the warranty in effect register online at www acrartex com or return the attached card within 10 days Five years for the following products EPIRB PLB S VDR SSAS 2 Notices ACR Elect...

Page 42: ...Y1 03 0233 Rev L 41 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK ...

Page 43: ...Y1 03 0233 Rev L 42 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK ...

Page 44: ... requirements for Passenger ships 12 passengers and Cargo ships 300GT engaged in international voyages or The expirationdateonthebatterylabel The Satellite EPIRBs affected by the above mentioned text and manufactured by ACR Electronics Inc are ACR Satellite2 406 RLB 32 Cat I Cat II ACR RapidFix 406 RLB 33 Cat I Cat II ACR GlobalFix RLB 35 Cat I Cat II ACR Float Free 406 Memory Capsule RLB 35MC Cat...

Search results

Summary of Contents for : 2846.0

Reviews:

Related manuals for : 2846.0

Brands by name

Popular brands

ACR Electronics : 2846.0, Product Support Manual

Search results

Summary of Contents for : 2846.0

Reviews:

Related manuals for : 2846.0

Brands by name

Popular brands