mcmurdo SMARTFIND E5, User Manual

Page 1: ...SMARTFIND E5 G5 USER MANUAL mcmurdo mcmurdo mcmurdo mcmurdo ...

Page 2: ...to both the E5 Smartfind and the G5 Smartfind Plus EPIRBs The Smartfind Plus contains a GPS receiver for improved positional accuracy some parts of this manual are applicable only to the Smartfind Plus and are marked accordingly ...

Page 3: ...tional authority The function of the EPIRB is to send an alert to the COSPAS SARSAT satellites as described in the Appendix How soon an alert is received depends on the positions of the satellites at the time and can be influenced by overhead obstructions aboard the vessel Rescue time following an alert depends on the overall performance of the Search and Rescue organisations which is outside the ...

Page 4: ... completely from its bracket or enclosure Hold the lanyard spool and throw the EPIRB into the water where it will self activate OR If time permits pull the tear off tab up then press the activation button and slide the switch left ...

Page 5: ...activation 16 5 7 Deactivation 17 5 8 Re fitting EPIRB 17 6 False alerts 21 6 1 Stand down rescue services 21 6 2 Turn off the EPIRB 21 6 3 Dealing with a transmitting EPIRB 22 7 Fully disabling an EPIRB 23 8 Bulkhead bracket installation 24 8 1 Siting 24 8 2 Mounting procedure 24 9 Enclosure installation 26 9 1 Siting 26 9 2 Mounting procedure 26 9 3 Mounting instruction plate 27 9 4 Marking Hydr...

Page 6: ...13 Appendix Satellite Systems 41 14 United States EPIRB registry system 43 15 Product Warranty 44 16 End of Life Statement 45 ...

Page 7: ...is registered with your local authorities Flag State nation see section 2 The EPIRB contains no user serviceable parts Do not open Return to your dealer for battery replacement or other service This device contains Lithium batteries do not incinerate puncture deform or short circuit Take care if you need to dispose of these batteries or the complete EPIRB refer to section 10 3 This device emits ra...

Page 8: ...n an emergency the nearest maritime search and rescue coordination centre MRCC will receive the message and decode the country code eg 232 They will then access the registration database for that country and expect to find details of your vessel its radio equipment and who to contact If they fail to find this information this may slow down any rescue 2 2 How to register Three registration forms ar...

Page 9: ... should update your licence to include your EPIRB For further details see your licence or use these contact numbers USA FCC Tel 888 225 5322 Website www fcc gov Forms Form506 506 pdf UK Ship Radio Licensing Radio Licensing Centre The Post Office PO Box 1495 Bristol BS99 3QS Tel 0870 243 4433 Fax 0117 975 8911 Minicom 0117 921 9550 Website www radiolicencecentre co uk 2 5 Sale or transfer EPIRBs re...

Page 10: ...rescue purposes Fill in the owner registration card immediately on completion of the sales transaction Mail the registration card immediately If the beacon is to enter service immediately complete the registration card and fax the information to the MSA The original card must still be mailed to the MSA for hard copy reference and filing If the current owner is transferring the beacon to a new owne...

Page 11: ...clear lens dome When the EPIRB is activated they will flash every few seconds Red LED Visible through the clear lens dome at the rear of the EPIRB This stays on or flashes to show which mode the EPIRB is in Green LED Where fitted beside the red LED this flashes when the GPS acquires a position fix Sea switch The two studs on the sides of the EPIRB are sea switch contacts Submerge these in water to...

Page 12: ...Page 7 Test button Strobe Red LED Green LED Activation switch Lanyard Sea switch Antenna ...

Page 13: ...section contains the deactivating magnet for the EPIRB so the demounted EPIRB with its attached CARRYSAFE collar cannot be activated by moisture This allows it to be removed easily and transported in for example a wet grab bag WARNING The EPIRB will NOT be activated by moisture while it is in the bracket or in the CARRYSAFE collar but it may activate if placed in close proximity to a magnet The EP...

Page 14: ... as shown below 1 As the vessel sinks the enclosure fills with water The HRU contains a blade which is released due to water pressure acting on a diaphragm Before it reaches a depth of 4 metres the HRU will operate and cut the plastic rod releasing the coil spring 2 The spring pushes the EPIRB and the enclosure lid outwards As the lid pivots off it disengages from the moulding lip that helped hold...

Page 15: ...ealise that the only time the EPIRB is completely off is when it is fitted in its mounting bracket or enclosure As soon as you take it out a magnetic switch activates and puts the EPIRB into its ready state It will not drain the battery in this state but it will turn on automatically if the sea switch contacts are immersed in water The sea contacts are the two studs one on each side of the EPIRB A...

Page 16: ... also indicate the results of self test refer to section 10 1 4 4 4 Interpreting the LEDs There are three principal indications to the user If the red LED is ON continuously the EPIRB is active but has not yet made a transmission There is time to turn it off without causing an alert If the red and green LEDs flash together and alternate with the strobe flash the EPIRB has a valid GPS position whic...

Page 17: ...NOTE Satellite coverage at the time an alert is transmitted and if activated onboard a ship or raft overhead obstruction on the ship or raft may affect whether and how soon an alert is received by the satellite system 5 2 Abandon ship If the vessel is sinking and there is time to fetch the EPIRB then this should always be done Release the EPIRB from its mounting bracket as described in section 5 4...

Page 18: ...uations this section provides guidance on how to get the best from your EPIRB Aboard ship DO Place the EPIRB in the open clear of overhangs Keep the EPIRB upright hold it if necessary Switch on the EPIRB DON T Place the EPIRB close to large structures Lay the ERIRB on its side Place the EPIRB under cover Secure the EPIRB lanyard to the vessel OK NO NO ...

Page 19: ... sure you switch on the EPIRB Hold the EPIRB up as high as possible Note the high intensity flashing strobe light may cause discomfort if viewed for prolonged periods We recommend that the EPIRB is used floating in the sea OK BEST ...

Page 20: ...om a bulkhead bracket If you have an EPIRB fitted into a bulkhead bracket pull the R clip out of the bracket to release the retaining strap Hold the antenna to prevent it springing loose and lift the EPIRB out of the mounting points ...

Page 21: ... it manually as shown below Note that once activated it will flash immediately but it will not transmit a distress call for 50 seconds This gives you a chance to turn it off if you activated it in error Once activated the EPIRB must have its antenna as upright as possible and it must have a clear view of the sky for proper operation Laying it on its side or placing it next to a metal bulkhead will...

Page 22: ...lows If EPIRB is still flashing then it has a fault Refer to section 6 on False Alerts 5 8 Re fitting EPIRB 5 8 1 Refitting into bulkhead bracket The EPIRB is now in its ready state but its sea switch is still armed and will activate if it gets wet To de activate the EPIRB fully it must be replaced in its mounting bracket where a magnet in the bracket will make the EPIRB safe Hold the bracket coll...

Page 23: ...Page 18 Align slot with lug Locate end of antenna in slot Fit R clip ...

Page 24: ...RB into the enclosure to engage the retaining clip Bend the antenna as shown and retain it in the recess Refit cover squarely engaging the guides at the top end and the rod through hole in cover Locate cover onto backplate then snap down over locating lug Check that the cover is correctly located see following page Refit R clip through hole in end of release rod CAUTION Failure to fit EPIRB correc...

Page 25: ...Page 20 Cover correctly fitted to base ...

Page 26: ...From any location 01326 317 575 EPIRB Unique ID UIN Vessel name ID Date time duration Cause of activation Location when activated 6 2 Turn off the EPIRB If the EPIRB was activated by mistake then turn it off Remove the EPIRB from any water and dry its sea switch contacts Wait about 8 seconds for the sea switch to de activate If the EPIRB is still flashing then it must have been turned on manually ...

Page 27: ...n the antenna Wrap the EPIRB in metal foil and take it below decks or Cut off or fold down the antenna and place the EPIRB in a metal container or locker Take care when dealing with the antenna Handle the antenna as little as possible Refer to Section 1 for warnings Leave the EPIRB in this condition for 3 days until its battery is dead then refer to section 10 5 for instructions on returning the E...

Page 28: ...ed in section 6 3 Leave for 3 days until the battery is used up WE DO NOT RECOMMEND ANY OTHER COURSE OF ACTION However if it is absolutely necessary to fully disable an EPIRB by unplugging its battery proceed as follows Take the EPIRB below decks into a dry area Locate a cross headed screwdriver Unscrew and retain the 3 sealing screws Lift the lens dome off This will lift the circuit board Avoid t...

Page 29: ...from any compass equipment If there is any likelihood of the EPIRB being replaced in its bracket after activation then ensure that the antenna has as clear a view of the sky as possible 8 2 Mounting procedure The bulkhead bracket is supplied with four stainless steel screws 25mm 1 in length The bracket mounts against a flat surface using 4 fixing points Offer the bracket into the chosen position a...

Page 30: ...plate which has basic visual instructions showing how to operate the EPIRB in an emergency Mount the instruction plate next to the EPIRB so that it is easily visible in an emergency During vessel maintenance ensure the plate does not get painted over or cleaned down with strong degreasing solvents ...

Page 31: ...ance Positions within 1m 3 of any compass equipment Mounting within 2m 6 of any Radar antenna Direct impact from waves Siting where damage is likely Exhaust fumes chemical and oil sources 9 2 Mounting procedure The enclosure mounts against a flat surface using 4 fixing points See illustration for mounting dimensions or use the backplate of the enclosure as a marking guide To do this pull out the R...

Page 32: ...oon as it gets exposure to a marine environment Hence the 2 years starts at installation and it is left to the customer to mark this date during installation A date 2 years into the future should be marked on the HRU body and copied onto the label on the side of the enclosure The HRU is marked by cutting out the corresponding dates on its label as shown on the separate leaflet The enclosure should...

Page 33: ...to mark the vessel name during installation It is strongly recommended and is mandatory in some countries that the vessel name is marked on the rear of the EPIRB itself and also on the enclosure if you have one Use the alpha numeric stickers provided to mark the vessel name or its abbreviation on the top line of the EPIRB s rear label and again on the enclosure label Protect the markings with a se...

Page 34: ...cessful the buzzer will sound and the red and white strobe LEDs will flash together a number of times 4 If any test is unsuccessful nothing will flash and the red LED will go out Operation of this test for the Smartfind Plus is identical except that the green LED will flash or not in step with the red LED 5 The number of times the LEDs flash is an indication of the accumulated time the battery has...

Page 35: ...During this time do not shield the EPIRB and do not stand over it 4 If the GPS receiver acquires a position the green LED will light continuously and the buzzer will sound 10 times If the receiver fails to acquire a position the red LED will light continuously and the buzzer will sound 10 times 5 Whether the test passes or fails the white strobe LEDs flash to indicate how many Long GPS Self Test r...

Page 36: ...uspect and the battery should be replaced at the earliest possible opportunity It is however possible to verify the condition of the battery to a limited extent by using the indication of the self test as described in section 10 1 1 If the LEDs flash more than once then there is a good chance that the battery will provide the specified performance IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BATTERY IS REPLACED REG...

Page 37: ...old down the lever arm to take up the force of the spring Push the HRU back then upwards out of the slot in the lever arm When the rear clip disengages slowly release the lever arm The HRU with its breakable rod can now be lifted free and replaced Using pliers remove the rear E clip and slide off the old HRU Fit the new HRU over the new rod with its label facing outward Refit the washer and the re...

Page 38: ... the service agent to reset the Long GPS Self Test counter in the Smartfind Plus For a description of this counter refer to Section 10 1 Lithium batteries have special disposal requirements Never incinerate a Lithium battery Never dispose of one at sea Your service agent will deal with battery disposal 10 5 Servicing All servicing must be carried out by a McMurdo approved service agent Always call...

Page 39: ...tional legislation They will check the expiry dates and activate the EPIRB to prove that it really works and they will read the identity message stored inside the EPIRB to check that you have registered it properly Leisure vessels are not subject to these inspections However in some countries passenger and fishing vessels are covered by the legislation ...

Page 40: ... authorities Successive satellite passes refine and confirm this information Alternatively beacons such as Smartfind Plus can use the GPS system to obtain a very accurate position This position is then transmitted as part of the distress signal For an explanation visit the webpage http www cospas sarsat org DescriptionOverview doppler htm The network of orbiting satellites can detect signals over ...

Page 41: ...nganese dioxide Operating life 48 hours minimum Shelf life 5 years typical in service Environment Operating temperature 20 C to 55 C 4 F to 131 F Storage temperature 30 C to 70 C 22 F to 158 F Automatic release depth 4 metres max 13 feet Physical Weight 770 grams 1 7 lb Height of body 21 cm 8 2 inches Length of antenna 18 cm 7 inches Approvals Satellite system Cospas Sarsat T 001 T 007 Europe IEC ...

Page 42: ...Page 37 12 1 Declarations of Conformity ...

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Page 46: ...tes are arranged to scan the entire surface of the Earth on average a satellite comes into view every 45 minutes Distress transmissions from EPIRBs are picked up by the satellites and retransmitted to ground receiving stations which then pass the message to the appropriate rescue organisation On average the total delay from activation of an EPIRB to the message being received by the rescue service...

Page 47: ... four satellites per plane as shown below These are arranged so that at least five satellites are within range of any receiver which can be anywhere at all times Each satellite transmits information which enables its position and distance from the receiver to be calculated By combining these data for multiple satellites the position of the receiver can be calculated Operation of GPS receiver size ...

Page 48: ...e given above However you register the beacon you will be sent a decal which must be attached to the beacon Emergency Contact It is VITAL that the Emergency Contact information is accurate particularly regarding the telephone number as this will be used to validate an alert Only if the beacon registration and approximate location details can be confirmed will USCG United States Coast Guard launch ...

Page 49: ...o event shall McMurdo be liable for any breach of warranty or other claim in an amount exceeding the purchase price of the EPIRB This warranty does not affect any statutory rights of the consumer In order to be valid claims must be made under the above warranty in writing as soon as practicable after discovery of the defect or failure and within the warranty period referred to above Proof of purch...

Page 50: ...om the main body of the EPIRB Disposal The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment WEEE Directive aims to minimise any adverse impact of electronic equipment on the environment both during the product lifetime and when it becomes waste Within the European Union this legislation is mandated by Directive 2002 96 EC and there is similar legislation in most other continents The directive applies to ...

Page 51: ...o A Division of Signature Industries Ltd Silver Point Airport Service Road Portsmouth PO3 5PB United Kingdom Phone 44 0 23 9262 3900 Fax 44 0 23 9262 3998 Email customerservice mcmurdo co uk Website www mcmurdo co uk ...

Page 52: ...82 810 001 Issue 4 ...