OWNER VESSEL RADIO CALL SIGN UIN #
CAUTION: Before proceeding to install, test or use your new ACR Electronics’ product, please read this Product Support Manual in its entirety. If you have questions regarding the contents of the manual, please contact our Technical Service Department at ACR Electronics, Inc., Telephone +1 (954) 981- 3333. Please be ready to provide the technician with the page number you wish to discuss.
Table of Contents STEP ONE - REGISTERING YOUR BEACON ____________________________ 3 STEP TWO - HOW THE BEACON WORKS _____________________________ 6 STEP THREE - INSTALLING THE BEACON_____________________________ 15 STEP FOUR - MAINTAINING THE BEACON ___________________________ 20 APPENDIX A - USING AND TESTING THE GPS SYSTEMS _________________ 25 APPENDIX B - THE COSPAS-SARSAT SYSTEM _________________________ 27 APPENDIX C - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS __________________________ 28 APPENDIX D - WARRANTY, USEF
STEP ONE - REGISTERING YOUR BEACON 1. Why is registration important? As the owner of this 406 MHz beacon, it is mandatory that you register it with the EPIRB national authority of your country: It is the law. Please note that all 406 MHz beacons are required to have their registration updated every two years by the owner. Your unique ID code programmed inside each EPIRB is transmitted to Search and Rescue (SAR).
2. What country should I register in? Register your beacon with the EPIRB national authority of the country for which the beacon was programmed, typically the country where purchased, regardless of where you do your boating. The beacon must be reprogrammed if you, as the owner, move or the vessel sails under the flag of a different country than the one for which the beacon was previously programmed.
Registration outside of the United States In countries other than the United States, 406 MHz beacons are registered with that country’s national authority at the time of purchase. The sales agent should have assisted you in filling out the forms and sending them to the country’s national authority. Alternatively, many countries allow online registration in the International 406 MHz Beacon Registration Database (IBRD) at www.406registration.com.
STEP TWO - HOW THE BEACON WORKS 1. How your beacon brings help 406 MHz beacons are a type of portable emergency equipment that transmits a distress signal to search and rescue (SAR) organizations. The purpose of these beacons is to aid SAR teams in tracking and locating ships or individuals in jeopardy as rapidly as possible. The 406 MHz frequency is a worldwide dedicated emergency frequency that is detected by a special system of satellites called the Cospas-Sarsat system.
2. Anatomy of your beacon NOTE: When unpacking your beacon, it is recommended that you save the original packaging for re-use when shipping the beacon for battery replacement in the future. // 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. // Optional External GPS interface The external GPS Interface serves as the connection to the ship’s GPS system.
Strobes Top View Antenna Optional GPS Interface Green LED Activation/ Test Switch Red LED Switch Positions OFF/READY Position Y1-03-0250 Rev.
Category 1 – SeaShelter™3 Bracket Spring Release Knob Ejector Spring HydroFix™ Hydrostatic Release Unit (HRU) Optional GPS Interface Cable Antenna Hook Front cover hook (detent) Category 2 – QuickDraw™ Bracket Antenna Hook Water Sensor Deactivation Magnet Release Latch Y1-03-0250 Rev.
3. Activating your beacon WARNING: This transmitter is authorized for use only during situations of grave and imminent danger. Deliberate misuse may incur a severe penalty. Overview Category I beacons are designed to be automatically deployed and activated in the event of a sinking vessel. The beacon may also be hand held on the deck of vessels, 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.
Category I beacons-Automatic deployment and activation If the vessel sinks, the HydroFix™ HRU frees the beacon from the bracket, allowing it to float to the surface. Built-in sensors detect that the beacon is no 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.
Category I and II Beacons-Manual deployment and activation Both Category I and II beacons can be manually deployed by removing the beacon from the bracket. Once removed, the beacon can be activated by placing it in water OR by lifting the Activation Switch to a vertical position, sliding it toward the antenna and pushing down to the opposite side of the beacon. Activating the beacon in this manner breaks off the Activation Witness Tab and allows the switch to properly seat, showing the “ ▌ “ symbol (ON).
TIPS FOR OPTIMUM DEPLOYMENT OF AN ACTIVATED BEACON: When activating and deploying your beacon in an emergency, DO NOT: // Hold or clutch the beacon or antenna // Operate the beacon while hand held, if at all possible // Turn the beacon off for any reason, including to save power // Activate the beacon if you have any other means of self rescue // Operate the beacon inside a life raft or under any other canopy or cover // Tether the beacon to the bracket or vessel When activating and deploying your beacon in
5. False alarms To prevent false alarms, it is important to be aware of how your beacon can be activated. An ACR 406 MHz EPIRB can be activated by two different methods. Whether you have a Category I or Category II, these methods are the same.
STEP THREE - INSTALLING THE BEACON 1. Marking battery and Hydrostatic Release Unit expiration dates NOTE: It is the beacon owner’s responsibility to record the expiration dates for both the beacon battery and the HydroFix™ hydrostatic release unit. This information must appear on the product itself. The left side of the battery housing indicates the battery expiry date. Space is provided for the beacon owner to mark the date the beacon was placed into service.
CAUTION: Category I brackets must be mounted free from obstruction to allow the beacon to automatically float free from the vessel in case of sinking. The SeaShelter3™ can be mounted on a vertical surface with the beacon antenna pointing skyward or a horizontal surface with the beacon face up. Avoid mounting locations that subject the bracket to breaking waves. Avoid structures like dodgers or cabin tops that could trap the beacon upon deployment.
3. Category I bracket The SeaShelter3™ Category I bracket has five pre-drilled screw holes to use for securing the bracket to a flat surface. Remove the SeaShelter 3™ lid by turning the spring loaded knob on the lid 1/4 turn counterclockwise and pull. The lid will lift away from the top of the base and disengage 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.
4. Category II bracket Category II brackets are designed to hold the beacon securely in place. The beacon must be manually deployed. The bracket can be mounted on a vertical flat surface with beacon antenna up or on a horizontal flat surface facing skyward. This location must be easily accessible in order to manually deploy the beacon or to perform the required maintenance and functionality tests. Typical locations include near the helm station or just inside the companionway door.
5. Installing the Optional optical GPS interface cable The beacon is fitted with an optical interface to connect with an external Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver that will determine the latitude and longitude of its position. The black lead wire with white stripes should be connected to the output of the external GPS receiver positive transmitter pin. The black wire should be connected to the negative pin.
STEP FOUR - MAINTAINING THE BEACON 1.
Always refer battery replacement and any other beacon service to a factory authorized Service Center. Find a Center near you at http://www.acrelectronics.com/brc.htm. Battery replacement includes servicing the beacon by replacing all o-rings, testing the water seal and the electrical properties and doing a full functional test on the unit. NOTE: There are no user serviceable items inside the beacon. Do not open the beacon except to disable (in case of faulty or accidental activation).
6. Changing ownership or contact information As the owner of the beacon, it is your responsibility to advise the national authority of any change in the information on the registration form. If you are transferring the beacon to a new owner, you are required to inform the national authority. You can do this by using their online database or by letter, fax or telephone and informing the authority of the name and address of the new owner.
NOTE: Whenever a beacon is returned for service, it must be accompanied by the bracket. To remove the expired HRU When opening the SeaShelter3™ lid, note that the beacon is installed with the lanyard face in. Pull the beacon with steady pressure from the bracket. Do not get beacon wet while out of bracket. The HRU has a keying feature that locks it to the bracket. If you view the HRU rod as the center of a clock, a properly installed HRU will rest at the 7 o’clock position, as shown in the picture above.
CAUTION: Do not force the lid closed. If the lid does not close easily, check to see that the beacon is properly installed in the bracket and the HydroFix™ is properly seated. 9. Servicing the QuickDraw™ To remove a beacon from the Category II bracket, press the “PUSH” lever to release the beacon from the bracket. The beacon will now be able to forward and down out of the bracket. ™ It is not anticipated that the QuickDraw cleaning or, rarely, replacement.
APPENDIX A - USING AND TESTING THE GPS SYSTEMS 1. How the external GPS interface works The beacon is fitted with an optical interface to connect with an external Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver that will determine the latitude and longitude of its position. This data is transmitted to the emergency system. When the beacon is coupled to a working external GPS receiver, it immediately begins downloading data.
bypasses the normal, programmed, waiting time of 20 minutes for the automatic update of GPS position data. If no valid GPS position data is available, the beacon will keep the previously stored GPS position data for up to 4 hours. In this case, call ACR Customer Service at +1 (954) 981-3333 for instructions on how to reset the beacon with the default message. A new beacon is programmed with the GPS position data set to a default.
APPENDIX B - THE COSPAS-SARSAT SYSTEM 1. General overview EPIRBs transmit to the satellite portion of the Cospas-Sarsat system. Cospas-Sarast satellites are an international system that utilizes Russian Federation and United States’ low altitude, near-polar orbiting satellites (LEOSAR). These satellites assist in detecting and locating activated 406 MHz satellite beacons. Cospas-Sarsat satellites receive distress signals from EPIRBs transmitting on the frequency of 406 MHz.
APPENDIX C - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS GENERAL/ ENVIRONMENTAL Beacon size (without antenna) 17.7 H X 10.67 W X 9.09 D cm (6.97 X 4.2 X 3.58 in) Beacon weight 581 g (20.
APPENDIX D - WARRANTY, USEFUL LIFE POLICY, NOTICES 1. Limited Warranty This product is warranted against factory defects in material and workmanship for a period of 1 (one) year* from date of purchase or receipt as a gift. During the warranty period ACR Electronics, Inc. will repair or, at its option, replace the unit at no cost to you for labor, materials and return transportation from ACR. For further assistance, please contact our Technical Service Department at ACR Electronics, Inc.
EC DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY ACR Electronics hereby declares that the following product is in conformity with Council Directive 96/98/EC of 20 December 1996 on Marine Equipment (MED) last amended by Commission Directive 2009/26/EC of 6 April 2009, and has been type examined as described in this Declaration.
