PRODUCT SUPPORT MANUAL Y1-03-0170 Rev. B PathFinder TM3 Product No. 2714 FCC ID. B66ACR-SART-PF-3 Search and Rescue Transponder (SART) ACR Electronics, Inc. 5757 Ravenswood Road Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33312 +1(954) 981-3333 · Fax +1 (954) 983-5087 www.acrelectronics.com Email: Info@acrelectronics.com A Chelton Group Company Forward Congratulations and thank you for purchasing the ACR PathFinderTM3 Search and Rescue Transponder (SART). The combination of computer aided design; high quality raw materials and quality-controlled manufacturing produce a superior product. The Test Facility at ACR can reproduce some of the harshest environmental conditions known to man. This assures that the products we produce can stand up to the rigors found in a marine environment. With proper care and maintenance, your SART will be in service for years to come. ACR is proud to be certified to the ISO 9001:2000, the international Standard for Quality. This manual provides installation, operation and maintenance instructions for the PathFinderTM3 SART, hereinafter referred to as the SART. This manual also describes the characteristics and details of the SART system. This SART has been tested and approved to IEC 1097-1 standards and meets IMO RES A.802(19). This device complies with the GMDSS provisions of Part 80 of the FCC rules. Meets EC Council Directive 96/98/EC for ship wheel approval. Table of Contents Warning notice..............................................................................................................................3 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0 11.0 12.0 13.0 14.0 15.0 16.0 SART Overview................................................................................................................4 Introduction.......................................................................................................................5 Vessel name ......................................................................................................................7 Life raft stowage ...............................................................................................................8 Activation..........................................................................................................................8 Sequence of Operations ....................................................................................................9 Pole mounted SART .......................................................................................................10 Hanging SART................................................................................................................11 Vessel Mounting / Ship installation................................................................................12 Testing and Maintenance ................................................................................................14 Servicing .........................................................................................................................15 Battery Pack Replacement ..............................................................................................15 Transportation .................................................................................................................16 Technical Specifications .................................................................................................16 Warranty Information .....................................................................................................18 Declaration of conformity...............................................................................................19 2 Y1-03-0170 Rev. B 3 Y1-03-0170 Rev. B 1.0 SART Overview The SART helps search and rescue services to quickly locate a life raft in the event of a rescue at sea. The SART can either be stowed in a life raft, or mounted next to emergency exits and then carried to the life raft in an emergency. During an emergency, simply switch the SART on. When a vessel or aircraft with marine X-band Radar comes within 5 to 7 nautical miles of the life raft, the SART generates a distinctive "distress" pattern on the Radar screen (See figure 1). The radar signal guides the rescuers directly to the SART. Radar Distress Pattern SART Location Radar Screen Figure 1 4 Y1-03-0170 Rev. B 2.0 Introduction The SART is a Search and Rescue Transponder that provides location information to search radars operating in the X-band (9.2 ­ 9.5 GHz). Once activated the SART detects the radar signal of the search craft and sends a series of response pulses to the radar of the search craft that causes a series of 12 equally spaced arcs to appear on the radar display (see figure 1). The arcs indicate the direction to the SART location. The rescue craft follows the direction shown and proceeds to the SART. To achieve the maximum useful range the SART must be mounted at least 3.3 feet (1 meter) above sea level. Increasing the height of the SART antenna will increase the range. For example, lashing the SART to the top of a pole or an oar in the survival craft will increase the height and thus the range. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) requires all vessels of more than 300 GRT to carry at least one SART and vessels 500 GRT and over must carry at least two SART's, while RoRo Ferries are required to carry 1 SART for every 4 survival crafts. Figure 2 on page 6 shows the key features of your PathFinderTM3 SART. The blue activation switch ring is located under the white top cap. Located in the middle of the switch ring is a red pull tab that must be removed to activate your SART. The pull tab locks the switch ring in place and stops the SART from accidentally being placed in the ON position. Turning the switch ring to the left allows you to test the SART. When held to the left, the SART will beep once and continue to flash every four seconds. When released the switch ring will return to the OFF position. TEST mode is identical to ON mode and will generate a "distress" pattern on any Radar within range. Use TEST mode carefully to avoid false alarms. To activate your SART in times of emergency, turn the blue activation switch ring to the left into the test position and remove the red pull tab by pulling down on the lanyard attached to the tab. Turn the blue activation switch ring to the right and into the ON position (see page 9 for complete activation instructions). When first turned ON, the SART will beep once and continue to flash every four seconds. The SART is now operational. When responding to Radar the red light flashes every 1 second and the SART will beep every second. For best results a telescopic pole is supplied in the base of your SART allowing mounting 1m (3.3 ft) above sea level. 5 Y1-03-0170 Rev. B Antenna Pull Tab Lock Activation Switch Ring Pull Tab Control and Battery Housing Hanging Lanyard Lanyard Spool Telescopic Pole Rotate bottom cap to release lanyard and telescopic pole Figure 2 6 Y1-03-0170 Rev. B Approved for GMDSS use WARNING: Contains Lithium Battery To avoid possible fire, explosion, leakage or burn hazard, do not open, recharge, disassemble, heat above +70°C (+158°F) or incinerate. 3.0 Vessel name The SART label has a space where you should mark the vessel name (see Figure 3). This can be done as follows . . . Using an indelible pen With an indelible pen, you can write the vessel name directly onto the SART. Note however, that some indelible inks will fade when exposed to strong sunlight, so a ultraviolet resistant pen is recommended. If the full vessel name will not fit in the space provided, use a recognized abbreviation or the vessel's call sign instead. Name/Vessel Registration Nom/Enregistrement De Navire Vessel Name Here Figure 3 7 Y1-03-0170 Rev. B 4.0 Life raft stowage The SART can either be stowed in a life raft or lifeboat or it can be installed next to an emergency exit for carriage to the life raft in an emergency. For life raft stowage the SART should be positioned for easy access in an emergency. If the SART is hidden from view then labels should be used to show its position. For inflatable life rafts the mounting bracket should be discarded to avoid the risk of damaging the life raft. DO NOT... · Tie Lanyard to vessel · Cover or obscure SART · Apply paint to SART 5.0 Activation Remove the SART from the bracket. Activation of the SART is completed by using the three-position switch ring (TEST-OFFON), as shown in figure 4. 1. Turn the Blue activation switch ring to the left, placing the SART in test mode 2. Remove the red Pull Tab by pulling it down and completely out of the SART 3. Release the activation switch and guide it to the right until it is in the ON position a. The SART will beep once and flash every four seconds b. The flashing red light indicates the SART is ON 4. Turn the bottom cap of the SART and deploy the telescopic Pole to its maximum length 3 ft. (1 meter). 5. Remove lanyard and secure it to the life raft. 8 Y1-03-0170 Rev. B When activated the SART has three Modes of operation. These are: · Receive - waiting for a valid interrogation by a radar signal. · Reply - replying to a valid interrogation by a valid radar signal. · Test self-test sequence that checks both indicator lights and the buzzer. Figure 4 WARNING The SART must only be used in situations of Grave and Imminent Danger. 6.0 Sequence of Operations The SART has primary and secondary indicating systems. The primary system is the indicator lights and the secondary system is the buzzer. When the switch is set to ON, the SART immediately enters the Test Mode. Here both the red light and the buzzer are tested. Note that in noisy environments it may be difficult to hear the buzzer. After about one second the SART goes to Receive Mode. The SART remains in the Receive Mode until it detects a radar pulse. It then switches to the Reply Mode and transmits a series of pulses. These pulses will appear on the interrogating radar display as a series of arcs leading away from the SART`s position. Both SART lights flash rapidly and the buzzer emits a pulsed sound (beep) at about one second interval indicating the Reply Mode. This sequence is repeated each time a radar signal interrogates or transmits a valid radar signal to the SART. When the radar signal interrogation stops the SART automatically returns to the Receive Mode. With a fully charged battery the SART will operate in Receive Mode for a minimum of 96 hours. After this time period it will still respond to normal interrogation radar signals for an additional eight hours. 9 Y1-03-0170 Rev. B 7.0 Pole Mounted SART 1. The PathFinderTM3 is supplied with a telescopic pole to raise the SART one meter above sea level (see figure 5). 2. To operate, simply turn the bottom cap of the SART to release the pole. 3. Pull the pole downward and extend it to its maximum length. 4. To lock pole in position pull firmly across pole joints while twisting slightly. 5. Tie Lanyard to life raft to allow retrieval should the SART fall into the water. 6. Push SART through life raft observation port and place foot of pole in pocket at base of life raft. 7. Use life raft ties to hold SART pole near vertical. 8. Ensure SART is not obscured by metal objects or inflatable Radar reflectors. 9. Periodically check to see if SART is still vertical. 1 Meter Minimum Figure 5 10 Y1-03-0170 Rev. B 8.0 Hanging SART 1. If no pole is available, or if you prefer, you can suspend the SART from the canopy support using the additional lanyard loop provided (See figure 6). Loop the lanyard through the support strap in the life raft and secure firmly. The SART should be as high as possible and at least 1m above sea level. Ensure SART is not obscured by metal objects or inflatable Radar reflectors. 2. 3. 1 Meter Minimum Figure 6 11 Y1-03-0170 Rev. B 9.0 Vessel Mounting To deploy SART on board a distressed vessel, rather than a life raft, hang SART near vertical as high as possible, with a clear view of the horizon. The SART must not be obscured by metal bulkheads etc. Installation The SART should be mounted inside the vessel, next to an emergency exit. Some ships require 2 SARTs one by a port exit and one by a starboard exit. Mount each SART as follows . . . · Mount in plain view, at a convenient height, so that all crew can easily remove the SART. · Position at least 1 meter from the ship's compass. The SART mounting bracket should be bolted to a bulkhead using four (4) suitable M6 (1/4") bolts. The equipment does not include mounting hardware for the bracket, as it will depend on the bulkhead material and its thickness. Bracket mounting holes and SART mounting details are shown in figure 7. To install SART: Remove SART from its packaging and check for shipping damage. Perform the SART test (see Testing and Maintenance procedures on page 15). Select a position for SART Mounting allowing sufficient space for th ...