User's Manual

6
4 DESCRIPTION
The Precision 406 is a powerful self-contained distress transmitter. It is powered by a
light weight Lithium battery that has a replacement interval of 5 years. An EPIRB is
intended to be a one-shot device; once activated it can operate for at least 48 hours. It
operates best while floating in water, but it can also be operated while on board or in a
liferaft.
Refering to the previous figure, the key components of your Precision 406 are as
follows:
Antenna This is a flexible whip. It must be near vertical when
operating.
If the antenna gets bent, gently straighten it out.
Strobe light This is the glass U-tube visible through the clear lens dome.
When the Precision 406 is activated this will flash every few
seconds.
Red lamp Visible through the clear lens dome at the rear of the
EPIRB. This stays on or flashes to show you which mode
you are in.
Green lamp This flashes when the GPS gets a position fix.
Program point A dimple in the clear dome, through which your supplier can
optically input the coded message unique to your Precision
406. You
must
register the coded message with local
authorities.
READY button Press this key once to de-activate the EPIRB. Hold it down
to run the built-in self-test, which checks basic operation.
ON button Press this key to activate the Precision 406 manually. The
key is protected by a sliding door which is fitted with a
tamper seal.
Sea switch The two screw heads below the keys are sea switch
contacts. Submerge these in water to automatically activate
the Precision 406.
Lanyard Pull the lanyard spool down to free it. Use the cord to tether
the Precision 406 to a survival craft.
Never
tie the Precision 406 to your vessel.
4.1 Wall bracket
If you purchased the manually activated version (406m), this is normally supplied with
a wall mounting bracket (see section 8). The bracket is made from white plastic so it
will not rust. Its top section is sprung loaded, so that one simple squeeze will quickly
release the Precision 406 allowing it to be carried to a liferaft. The wall bracket should
be sited in plain view near an emergency exit. This bracket is more than just a stowage
point, it contains a magnet which disarms the EPIRB’s sea switch. If you do not stow
the Precision 406 in its bracket, there is a risk of it activating if it gets wet.