The Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual Contents

Transcript

The Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual Contents I. USER AGREEMENT AND WARRANTY FOR THE FREEDIVERS RECOVERY VEST ...... 3 II. SAFETY INFORMATION ...................................................................................................... 8 III. PARTS: WHAT’S IN THE SHIPPING BOX ......................................................................... 16 IV. MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY AND FILLING .............................................................................. 20 V. FEATURES AND OPTIONS .............................................................................................. 23 VI. PREPARATION AND PRE-DIVE TESTING........................................................................ 28 VII. CARE, CLEANING AND STORAGE OF YOUR FRV .......................................................... 31 VIII. COMPUTER/CONSOLE WARNINGS ................................................................................ 35 IX. TROUBLE SHOOTING ...................................................................................................... 37 X. REQUIRED INSPECTION & SERVICE .............................................................................. 39 XI. FRV STATISTICS AND THE FREE PC ANALYSIS/ARCHIVE SOFTWARE ......................... 40 XII. PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS ........................................................................................... 42 DVD This manual and the accompanying DVD each complement the other. For a complete understanding of how to use your FRV, it is mandatory that you both read this manual and view the accompanying DVD. We suggest that you make a quick review of the manual so that the warnings can be placed into context when you study a second time. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 1 DAN SILVEIRA 3 IMAGES OF WAYDE HAYASHI BY STERLING KAYA Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 2 I. USER AGREEMENT AND WARRANTY FOR THE FREEDIVERS RECOVERY VEST The FRV is designed to deliver the freediver, who exceeds self-set parameters, to the surface in a face-up position where recovery and rescue attempts may be possible. There is no guarantee that the diver will be able to surface, with or without the FRV. There could be obstructions in the path (e.g., overhead seaweed, other divers, or boats) that could prevent surfacing. The FRV is only intended to inflate when the user’s parameters are exceeded. There is no guarantee of survival. A. You Assume Risks and Responsibilities Freediving is an inherently dangerous and risky activity. Even with the best training, planning, and equipment, you may be injured or you may die. If you choose to participate in freediving, you accept the risk of injury or death on behalf of yourself, your heirs, beneficiaries, trustees, successors, assigns and executors. It is your responsibility to take all necessary steps to reduce these risks. Therefore, it is your sole responsibility to obtain appropriate training, to obtain, maintain and conduct appropriate pre-dive tests and checks of appropriate diving equipment, to dive only within your abilities and experience, and to always dive with a capable buddy. Note about freediver blackout: It is important to understand that the FRV will NOT prevent freediver blackout (FB), nor is it designed to prevent FB. FB occurs when the level of oxygen in the brain decreases below the level necessary to support consciousness. Only good diving practices, fitness and good judgment will prevent FB. FB may occur under the water during any phase of the freedive and it may also occur on the surface immediately after ascent. B. IMPORTANT NOTICE THIS OCEANIC SAFETY SYSTEMS LLC (OSS) FRV USER AGREEMENT AND WARRANTY (“AGREEMENT”) IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN YOU AND OSS. YOUR USE OF THE FRV IS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT IN THIS AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT ALSO SETS OUT OSS ’S WARRANTY OF THE FRV, EXCLUSIONS AND LIMITATIONS OF OSS ’S LIABILITY TO YOU, AND OTHER IMPORTANT PROVISIONS. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH ANY TERM OF THIS AGREEMENT, YOU MUST NOT USE THE FRV. YOU MUST READ THE ENTIRE FRV USER MANUAL AND VIEW THE ACCOMPANYING DVD BEFORE USING THE FRV. INCORRECT USE OF THE FRV OR ITS ACCESSORIES WILL INVALIDATE THIS WARRANTY AND CAN CAUSE PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE FRV AND/OR ITS ACCESSORIES AND CAN CAUSE YOU SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, AND YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER RIGHTS WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STATE AND COUNTRY. C. Initial Return Policy You may return the unused FRV within 30 days after the date you receive the FRV for a complete refund less shipping and handling. Before you use the FRV, you must thoroughly read and understand the User Agreement, the Warranty, and the User Manual and watch the accompanying DVD. When you use the FRV, you have agreed to the User Agreement and Warranty. Once used, the FRV may not be returned. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 3 D. Warranty Information NOTE: The original purchaser is automatically registered. If you are not the original purchaser, please consult the OSS website: www.oceanicss.com to validate your warranty and for warranty registration information within 15 days of transfer. All warranty transactions must be accompanied by proof of original purchase. Be sure to save your sales receipt and present it whenever you return your FRV for warranty service or when selling your FRV to another person. The receipt contains the FRV’s 4 serial numbers. Limited Lifetime Warranty Limitations and Exclusions: The Warranty Is Subject to the Following Limitations and Exclusions: 1. Limited 5-year Warranty (Excludes Batteries and the Vest Soft Parts) Your FRV must be used in accordance with the FRV User Manual. The Warranty does not apply to defects or damage caused by: (i) misuse, neglect or improper or rough handling (including punctures, bending, compressing or dropping of the FRV); (ii) any use of the FRV not in accordance with the FRV User Manual; (iii) using the FRV with or connecting the FRV to any product, accessory software and/or service not manufactured, supplied or approved by OSS ; (iv) normal wear and tear; or (v) accidents, fire, power changes, other hazards, acts of God and other causes beyond the reasonable control of OSS . Cosmetic damage(s), such as scratches, nicks and fraying are not covered under warranty except when the product is new, out of the original packaging. This warranty does not extend to the FRV or its accessories used for rental, commercial or military purposes. The Warranty will be void if: (i) the FRV has been opened, modified or repaired by any person other than OSS ; (ii) the FRV’s serial numbers have been removed, erased, defaced or altered in any way or is illegible, as determined by OSS in its sole discretion; or (iii) the FRV has been exposed to chemical products, including, but not limited to, solvents and insect repellants; (iv) This product has been used in excess of 150 feet (46-meters) or in unmanned submersions including, but not limited to, submersions in an unmanned vehicle or on a rope, (v) damaged by accidents, fire, power changes, other hazards, acts of God and other causes beyond the reasonable control of OSS. Only the FRV Computer/Console and strap, vest, and back unit have been designed for underwater use. Never dive with any of the attachments, accessories, or cables connected to the FRV. Doing so will damage the accessories and/or the FRV, and will also void the Warranty. Warranty coverage on your FRV covers the product throughout its useful life, subject to the conditions listed above and utilizes a prorated replacement policy below. OSS warrants to the purchaser for the useful life of the product, from the date of purchase, that the product will be free from defects in materials and workmanship, provided that it is subjected to normal use, proper care and prescribed service subject to the limitations listed above. Some components may be replaced with another component with a different serial number. The replacement component will be either completely remanufactured and tested like new, or at our option, we will make the replacement with new components. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 4 1 a. FRV Components Replacement on a Pro-Rated Basis (Excludes Batteries and the Vest Soft Parts) FRV products that malfunction due to material or manufacturing defects will be replaced on a prorated basis. Prorating will be determined by a percentage factor based on the condition of the FRV and how long the product was used prior to the warranty claim. The following guidelines should be used in determining what prorated percentage will be used. Prorated value schedule (except for the Lithium Ion battery and inflation vest soft parts, which have their own prorated schedule below): (i) Like new FRV and less than 1 year old—OSS pays 100% of replacement or repair costs, customer pays 0%; (ii) Slightly used FRV and less than 3 years old—OSS pays 75%, customer pays 25%; (iii) Very used FRV and/or more than 3 years old—OSS pays 50%, customer pays 50%. (iv) After 5 years or when worn out—OSS pays 0%, customer pays 100%. In fulfillment of the Warranty, OSS may, at its sole discretion, use parts that are new, equivalent to new or reconditioned, and may provide a new, equivalent to new or reconditioned FRV in replacement of another FRV. 1 b. FRV Lithium Ion Battery Warranty Limitations and Exclusions 3-year limited Warranty The Lithium Ion Battery Warranty is subject to the following limitations and exclusions: (i) The Battery Warranty does not apply if the FRV is recharged while in direct sunlight or while exposed to temperatures in excess of 45°C (113°F) or while using a charger other than the charger supplied with the product. (ii) The Battery Warranty does not apply to battery failure caused by: (a) misuse, neglect or improper or rough handling (including punctures, bending, compressing or dropping of the FRV); (b) any use of the FRV not in accordance with the FRV User Manual; (c) use of the FRV with or connection of the FRV to any product, accessory, software and/or service not manufactured, supplied or approved by OSS. (d) accidents, fire, power changes, other hazards, acts of God and other causes beyond the reasonable control of OSS. You are responsible for ensuring that the battery in your FRV is adequately charged before each dive. The Warranty Period is the three (3) year period commencing on the date of shipment of the FRV. In the event that the inflation unit battery fails, OSS’s sole liability and obligation to you, and your sole right and remedy against OSS, is for OSS, at its option, to replace the battery according the prorated basis below. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 5 Prorated values for the Lithium Ion battery: (i) Like new and less than 1 year old—OSS pays 100%, customer pays 0%. (ii) Slightly used and less than 2 years old—OSS pays 50%, customer pays 50%. (iii) Very used and less than 3 years old—OSS pays 25%, customer pays 75%. (iv) After 3 years or when worn out—OSS pays 0%, customer pays 100%. Out-of-Warranty Battery Replacement The FRV battery can only be replaced or repaired by OSS. OSS offers a battery replacement service for a fee, which will be available for a period of not less than ten (10) years from the original date of purchase of the FRV. 1 c. FRV Vest soft parts: 2-year limited Warranty and Prorated values for replacement The FRV soft parts, defined as the neoprene vest, sleeve and inflation bladder are the least durable and the most vulnerable parts subject to potential user abuse. Therefore, the warranty period is less than other FRV components. To extend the utility of the soft parts, be sure to carefully observe handling and cleaning of your FRV components. (i) Like new and less than 1 year old—OSS pays 100%, customer pays 0%. (ii) Slightly used and less than 2 years old—OSS pays 50%, customer pays 50%. (iii) Very used and less than 2 years old—OSS pays 25%, customer pays 75%. (iv) After 2 years or when worn out—OSS pays 0%, customer pays 100%. 2. Warranty Procedure If you believe you have a warranty claim with respect to the FRV, please consult the on-line help resources available at www.oceanicss.com/customerservice or the FRV User Manual before submitting your warranty claim and seeking warranty service. OSS will perform its warranty obligations. You are responsible for all shipping costs (including insurance) incurred when sending the FRV to OSS and for returning your repaired or replacement FRV to you. 3. Transfer of Your FRV You agree not to sell, give, or lend your FRV, or otherwise permit any person to use your FRV, unless that person has agreed to this User Agreement and Warranty, read the User Manual and watched the accompanying DVD. You may sell, give, or lend your FRV to another person, provided that you give that person this Agreement at the same time and they agree to this User Agreement and Warranty. You also agree to give that person, simultaneously with the FRV, proof of your date of purchase of your FRV, without which they will not be entitled to submit a claim under the Warranty. It is important to have the purchaser register their ownership with OSS so that OSS may communicate directly with them regarding offers, upgrades and safety information regarding the FRV and so that we can record the FRV serial numbers for the current owner. This information is important for communication for such things as product updates, notices or for recalls. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 6 4. Terms of Warranty and User Agreement Apply to Borrowers, Transferees, Assigns, Users The terms of this User Agreement and Warranty are binding on all transferees, buyers, assigns, users and borrowers of the FRV, their heirs, successors, executors, trustees, and beneficiaries. 5. Personal Injury or Death YOU AGREE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT ALL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH FREEDIVING, AND THAT OSS, ITS MANAGERS, PARTNERS, AGENTS, REPRESENTATIVES, HEIRS, SUCCESSORS, BENEFICIARIES, ASSIGNS, EXECUTORS, TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS ARE NOT LIABLE TO YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, YOUR HEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, TRUSTEES, SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS, EXECUTORS, AND PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES, FOR ANY LOSS, DAMAGE, COST, EXPENSE OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF, CAUSED BY OR RELATING TO PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH WHILE DIVING, EVEN IF THE PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH IS CAUSED IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OR DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BY THE FRV, AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THE FRV FUNCTIONED PROPERLY OR WAS DEFECTIVE IN ANY WAY. YOU HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE AND RELEASE AND AGREE TO INDEMNIFY OSS FROM ANY LIABILITY OR OBLIGATION TO YOU OR YOUR HEIRS, BENEFICIARIES, TRUSTEES, SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS, EXECUTORS AND PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES FOR ANY LOSS, DAMAGE, COST, EXPENSE OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF, CAUSED BY OR RELATING TO YOUR PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH WHILE DIVING, EVEN IF YOUR PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH IS CAUSED IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, BY THE FRV, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THE FRV FUNCTIONED PROPERLY OR WAS DEFECTIVE IN ANY WAY. 6. NOTICE This warranty gives you specific legal rights. You may have rights which vary from state to state and country to country. OCEANIC SAFETY SYSTEMS LLC. DISCLAIMS AND EXCLUDES ANY LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. SOME STATES IN THE U.S. AND CERTAIN FOREIGN COUNTRIES DO NOT ALLOW EXCLUSIONS OR LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THIS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. Acronyms used in this manual: Oceanic Safety Systems LLC is OSS; and Freedivers Recovery Vest is FRV; and Overpressure Valve is OPV. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 7 The User Manual is delivered to you on the DVD included in the FRV package, and is available at the OSS website: www.oceanicss.com You must read this entire FRV User Manual before using your FRV. Incorrect use of the FRV or its accessories will invalidate your Warranty and can cause permanent damage to the FRV or its accessories. This manual is copyrighted, all rights reserved. It may not, in whole or in part, be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated or reduced to any electronic medium or machine-readable form without prior consent in writing from OSS. It may not be distributed through the Internet or computer bulletin board systems without prior consent in writing from OSS. ©2011, Oceanic Safety Systems LLC. II. SAFETY INFORMATION Symbols for Warnings, Cautions, and Notes Pay special attention to information provided in warnings, cautions and notes that are accompanied by one of these symbols: Warnings indicate a procedure or situation that may result in serious injury or death if instructions are not followed correctly. Cautions indicate any situation or technique that will result in potential damage to the FRV, or render the FRV unsafe if instructions are not followed correctly. Notes are used to emphasize important points, tips and reminders. General Precautions & Warnings Warning This manual provides essential instruction for the proper fitting, adjustment, inspection and care of your new FRV. Because OSS. utilizes patented and patents pending technology, it is very important to take the time to read these instruction in order to fully understand the features of this product made specifically for freedivers. Improper use of this FRV could result in serious injury or death. Warning Although this manual provides some basic guidelines for certain aspects of freediving, it is not a substitute for training from a professional diving instructor. Do not dive until you have obtained the necessary instruction from a diving instructor. Warning Before using this Freediver Recovery Vest (FRV), you must review the instructions in the accompanying DVD and have had basic instruction in freediving. Use of the FRV by untrained persons is dangerous and can result in injury or death. Warning Study the contents of this manual and accompanying DVD and become familiar with it first in a controlled environment ,such as deep swimming pool or in shallow, clear water, in order to weight yourself properly and to become comfortable with using the FRV’s many features and adjustments. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 8 Warning The FRV is manufactured to utilize 3,000 psi of inflation pressure, which could result in implosion or explosion hazards during use. Please review the special warning and use section dealing with compressed gasses. Warning The FRV is not for use for duration and/or depth attempts which exceed the FRV’s specifications. The FRV should not be used when it is not being worn by the diver, such as sending the unit down under the water on a rope line. Warning The FRV is not for use in environments with overhead hazards, or line or net entrapment environments, which might trap the diver under the water when the vest inflates. Warning The FRV is not a substitute for safe freediving practices, for example but not limited to: sufficient surface intervals between freedives, diving within the freediver’s physical ability, or diving with a dedicated partner. Warning The FRV is not intended to replace a freediver’s dedicated partner who is capable of monitoring the user’s progress and assisting in an emergency. On the other hand, use of the FRV in the presence of other divers may lead to collision with them should the other divers be positioned above the user when the user’s vest deploys. Warning The FRV will not protect the unconscious diver from avoiding a collision with any hazard, including, but not limited to, oncoming boats, kelp beds, oil rigs, or sea life. Warning Never use this device while scuba diving and be very careful about combining freediving activities with scuba diving. Conducting freedives within a 24-hour period after conducting scuba dives, combined with the effects of multiple rapid freedive ascents, increases your risk of decompression sickness, which may cause serious injury or death. Warning The FRV is intended for use with the standard weight belt worn around the waist. Any other items worn over the FRV will compromise its effectiveness and could be hazardous. Divers should always apply their weight belt last so that it can be ditched easily if needed. Caution Do not place the FRV in microwave ovens, high-pressure containers, or on induction cookware. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 9 Warning Before every dive day, perform a complete pre-dive inspection according to the procedure prescribed in this manual to ensure that all components are functioning properly and no signs of damage or leaks are present. If you find that your FRV is not functioning properly or is damaged, remove it from service until it can be repaired by OSS. Warning Your FRV is not a lift bag. DO NOT use it to bring heavy objects to the surface. Doing so may cause permanent damage to the FRV. Warning DO NOT inhale from your oral inflator. The FRV is not a breathing apparatus or a source for emergency air. Air in the FRV may contain harmful contaminants or gasses, which could cause suffocation or air embolism injuries Warning Factory prescribed service for this FRV must be performed any time the FRV malfunctions. Disassembly of the Computer/Console, vest, or the back unit may only be accomplished at the factory. Unauthorized service will render the warranty null and void. Warning This FRV is designed for use with compressed air only. Any use of gas mixtures with increased oxygen content above 40% oxygen, or the addition of helium or other substances, may cause corrosion, deterioration, and/or premature aging of the FRV leading to component failure of the metal and rubber parts. The component failures could lead to a loss of buoyancy control and/or pressure integrity of the FRV resulting in injury or death. Warning You must not use the FRV to extend your dive profile. Using the FRV can never be an excuse for unsafe practices. Don’t exceed your safe dive profile and don’t depend on the FRV to protect you from unsafe dive practices. Specific Warnings Regarding Compressed Air Systems The FRV uses a high-pressure (3,000 psi) cylinder fitted into the back unit’s inflation manifold. The FRV also uses high-pressure valves, one to fill the manifold, one in-cylinder valve to help maintain the cylinder’s pressure during storage, and two redundant valves used to inflate the vest.      Warning NEVER OVERFILL the FRV cylinder above 3,000 psi (207 bar), which is the air pressure stamped on the cylinder. Refill the cylinder ONLY with purified, dry compressed air. Warning DO NOT fill or use the FRV if it has been exposed to heat exceeding 250 °F (121 °C), or open flame. Instead, discharge the cylinder completely and return it to OSS. Warning DO NOT FILL if the cylinder has not been hydro tested within the last 5 years or has not been visually inspected within the last year. Warning NEVER lubricate the cylinder or valve threads with hydrocarbon-based oils such as motor oil or household oil. Use only a high-quality food grade spray silicone or a thin coat of silicone grease. Warning NEVER use the FRV if any of the threaded fixtures have damaged threads. Never force the parts together and always use the thread protectors with this product. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 10 Care and handling of compressed air cylinders and their valves DOs and DON’Ts DO • Have the Pressure Cylinder inspected. The FRV inflation cylinder has a DOT 3AL3000 rating and must be hydro-tested every five years by a certified hydro-test facility and will bear stampings to this effect including the date on the shoulder of the tank leading up to the valve. Hydrostatic testing is the method of determining the cylinder’s expansion properties in an overfilled pressure state. Pressure cylinders are required to be visually inspected at least once a year by a qualified technician . The visual inspection consists of removing the valve and having a thorough look inside and outside the tank for evidence of corrosion, cracking or other damage that could lead to an explosion or other failure of the tank. After an inspection with no faults found, an Evidence of Inspection (EOI) sticker is attached to the tank by the inspector, with date and standards used to evaluate the cylinder noted. • The filling port valve should be visually inspected at each refill for any signs of damage or leakage. • The in-tank cylinder valve should be visually inspected at each removal and insertion. After the valve has been removed, cover exposed ends with the supplied valve thread cover/protector. • Contact OSS when a valve malfunctions and you cannot diagnose the problem. • Open the filling adapter slowly to prevent development of high pressure surges and heat generation on downstream equipment. • When the cylinder is not in use, even when empty, the ON-OFF valve should be in the off position. • Check the condition of both the inlet and outlet threads before inserting a valve into a cylinder to ensure that the threads are not damaged, especially the first thread. A damaged first inlet thread could adversely affect insertion and the part must be replaced by the OSS. • Handle valves carefully to avoid damage, especially to threads, which could prevent proper connection to mating parts. • Hand tighten the tank with the installed valve until all threads and the “O” ring disappear and the connection is made metal-to-metal. (Do not overtighten or use a wrench.) • Use only the manufacturer supplied filling adapter to fill the tank or the Spare Air filling adapter available at many scuba dive shops. • Carry the Vest by grasping the carry strap, which takes pressure off the soft parts. Temporarily losing your balance due to tripping or avoiding someone could cause the apparatus to fall. If the valve shears off, that tank instantly becomes a dangerous projectile. Always carry the tank in a manner to protect the valve in the event of an unexpected droppage. DON’T • Don’t use a damaged valve where function or integrity might have been affected. • Don’t continue to use a valve that operates abnormally, for example, when it becomes noisy or it becomes progressively harder to operate. • Don’t use an automatic operator, adapter, wrench, or other tool to obtain a greater mechanical advantage on handwheel-operated valves without first consulting with the valve manufacturer to ensure that the applied torque does not exceed the safe operating torque for the valve. • Don’t fill tank from any source over 3,000 psi (207 Bar). • Don’t fill tank with any gas other than compressed air or nitrox as described later. • Don’t use adapters not supplied with this product. • Don’t try to repair or recondition any valve. With the possible exception of the fill valve, there are no user-repairable items in this product and all repairs must be performed by the manufacturer. • Do not use petroleum-based solvents or lubricants anywhere near the airflow connections such as valves, or cylinder connection points. Silicon grease such as Dow 111 ™ is typically the only dive industry recommended lubricant to be used where exposure to high-pressure air is possible, and that should be applied sparingly. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 11 Note Always store the high pressure cylinder with some pressure. This will help prevent internal corrosion and the need for premature replacement of the cylinder Specific High Pressure Warning for the Manifold Cover: Nine different O-rings separate the inside of the inflation unit from the high-pressure side of the manifold. The leak or rupture of any of these O-rings can allow pressure as high as 3,000 psi to enter the air space contained within the plastic manifold cover, which can cause it to rupture or separate from the manifold. We have designed the cover to separate from the manifold at an internal pressure of approximately 10 psi. There are two modes of failure, one due to a slow leak, the other to a fast leak of high pressure under the manifold cover. During a slow leak, when the internal pressures reach 10 psi, the manifold cover pops loose from a special plastic screw intended to release in this instance. The screw is on the side of the fill port, which causes the manifold cover to pop away from the user. The metal screw on the other side helps to prevent the cover from separating completely from the manifold and becoming a missile. A faster, higher pressure leak produces essentially the same result but can exceed 1,000 psi. In this case, the manifold cover pops off with a loud pop. In the worst case, if the plastic cover separates it may jump off the manifold and could cause serious injury. This separation is most possible during filling of the FRV or when you open the cylinder valve handle with an attached full cylinder, which releases high pressure very quickly into the manifold. While the chance of an internal pressure release is very unlikely**, as a precaution, we recommend that you always fill the inflation manifold while contained within the FRV zipper pouch and that you stand to the side—not in line with the long axis of the manifold and inflation cylinder. Likewise, any time you open the cylinder valve (from off to on,) which may also release high pressure quickly, you should stand to the side and make sure that the inflation unit is contained within the zipper pouch. (Left) The results of low pressure, and very high pressure tests with air injected under the manifold cover show that the cover reacts essentially in the same fashion. It lifts off the manifold and vents air. Warning Always fill the manifold in the pouch and stand to the side when filling. ** Our tests show that even with rapid entry of 3,000 psi, when the inflation mechanism is contained within the pouch, the manifold cover stays confined within the pouch, which helps prevent if from flying off dangerously and striking someone. The O-ring system designed for the FRV is very robust. In order to induce a test of a rapid influx of air under the manifold cover, we cut a valve O-ring in 3 places and completely severed it in another. After reinstalling the defective O-ring, we were amazed that the completely transected O-ring assembly withstood 3,000 psi and did not leak—not a single bubble! We had to cut a 1/4-inch section from the O-ring to induce a rapid leak. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 12 Warning Whenever you open a charged cylinder to the manifold, by turning down the handle, you must make sure that you do this with the inflation mechanism contained within the vest’s zippered pouch pointed away. This will prevent a popped-off manifold cover from becoming a missile. Warning When filling the FRV, always stand to the side, perpendicular to the long axis of the inflation tank. Always make sure that the back inflation unit is contained within the FRV pouch when you fill the FRV. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 13 Specific High Pressure Warning for a Charged Cylinder: Dropping a charged cylinder directly on the valve can cause an exaggerated bounce. While there is little danger of an explosive release of air, our tests show that if a cylinder is dropped from a height of 6 feet directly on the valve, the cylinder will make a bounce to 15 inches, instead of the natural bounce of 7 inches that an unfilled cylinder makes. To avoid this issue, always handle a charged cylinder carefully, do not store it where it can fall, and always store it with the white protective cap in place. Warning To avoid an exaggerated bounce of a charged cylinder, handle it with care, do not store where is may fall, and always protect the valve with the supplied white valve cover. Illustration on left compares the difference between the natural bounce and the exaggerated bounce of a full cylinder falling from 6 feet and striking the cylinder valve (7-in. versus 15-in.) Specific Warnings and Cautions regarding batteries while being used. Because the battery is sealed into the inflation unit, it must not be accessed or tampered with by the user. Warnings • Do not place the battery in fire or heat the battery. • Do not disassemble or modify the battery. The battery (Lithium Ion in the back unit only) contains safety and protection devices which, if damaged, may cause the battery to generate heat, rupture, or ignite. • Do not place the battery on or near fires, stoves, or other high-temperature locations. Do not place the battery in direct sunlight, or use or store the battery inside cars in hot weather. Doing so may cause the battery to generate heat, rupture, or ignite. Using the battery in this manner may also result in a loss of performance and a shortened life expectancy. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 14 Caution Immediately discontinue use of the battery if while using, charging, or storing the battery, the battery emits an unusual smell, feels hot, changes color, changes shape, or appears abnormal in any other way. Contact OSS. if any of these problems are observed. Caution In the event the battery leaks and the fluid gets into one’s eye, do not rub the eye. Flush for 15 minutes with water and immediately seek medical attention. If left untreated, the battery fluid could cause damage. Specific Warnings and Cautions regarding the charging of Lithium Ion batteries. Warnings • When charging the battery, use only the supplied specified charger. • Do not attach the batteries to a power supply plug or directly to a car’s cigarette lighter. • Do not place the batteries in or near fire, or into direct sunlight. When the battery becomes hot, the built-in safety equipment is activated, preventing the battery from charging further. Heating the battery can destroy the safety equipment and cause additional heating, breaking, or ignition of the battery. • Do not disassemble or modify the battery. The battery contains safety and protection devices which, if damaged, may cause the battery to generate heat, rupture or ignite. • Do not place the FRV on or near fires, stoves, or other high-temperature locations. Do not place the battery in direct sunshine, or use or store the battery inside cars in hot weather. Doing so may cause the battery to generate heat, rupture, or ignite. Using the battery in this manner may also result in a loss of performance and a shortened life expectancy. • Do not continue charging the battery if it does not recharge within the specified charging time of 2.5 to 3 hours. Doing so may cause the battery to become hot, rupture and ignite. Caution The temperature range over which the battery can be charged is 32 °F (0 °C) to 114 °F (45 °C.) Charging outside of this range may cause excessive heating, breakage or may reduce battery performance. Specific Warnings and Cautions regarding batteries while being discharged. Warning Do not discharge the battery using any device except the FRV. When the battery is used in devices aside from the FRV, it may damage the performance of the battery or reduce its life expectancy. If the device causes an abnormal current to flow, it may cause the battery to become hot, rupture, or ignite and cause serious injury. Caution The temperature range over which the battery can be discharged is - 4 ° F (-20 °C) to +140 °F (+60 °C .) Use of the battery outside of this temperature range may damage the performance of the battery or may reduce its life expectancy. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 15 CHARGING THE FRV BATTERY: We recommend charging your FRV fully once you have received it. Your FRV should automatically start charging once the bulkhead adapter and AC Adapter are connected. Charging should take approximately 2.5 hours when the battery is fully discharged. When you connect the charger cord, you will generally see an immediate increase in the battery charge indication. In general, the FRV lasts for over 20, 8-hour dive days with the back light off and for 10 days with it on. Do not leave the charger connected to the FRV for more than a few hours. Unplugging the charger from the wall with the charger cord still connected to the FRV may allow the FRV to discharge into the disconnected charger. III. PARTS: WHAT’S IN THE SHIPPING BOX FRV CARRY BAG WITH VEST AND COMPUTER/CONSOLE PACKED INSIDE BATTERY CHARGER DVD CAPS AND O-RINGS COMBINATION USB/CHARGER CORD SCUBA TANK FILL ADAPTER 1.7 CUBIC FOOT CYLINDER (3,000 psi) COMPLETE BACK UNIT WITH ATTACHED CYLINDER VALVE AND PROTECTIVE CAP Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 16 A. Computer/Console Basic Use: Displays dive and surface intervals, dive statistics, messages, and to transmit maximum depth and time settings to the back unit. Two LEDs occasionally light during use. For trouble, the Red LED lights. For monitoring of the surface interval, the Green LED lights PARTS AND FEATURES: Depth rating: 150 feet (45 meters) Casing: Polycarbonate, encased in a pliable, protective housing Strap: Velcro with a Velcro pad on the bottom for retaining to the vest sleeve and two arm straps Temperature measurement range: 14 to 120 °F (-10 to 50 °C) LCD display Memory: for 4,000+ dives (more if the average dive time is less than 2 minutes) Connection wire between back unit and Computer/Console 3 input buttons The SWIPE ZONE indicated in the illustration below shows where the magnetic sensors reside. For the best swipe detection, make sure to rotate the Computer/Console so that the swipe zone is closest to the magnets imbetted in the chest strap when you bring your arm up to swipe. SWPE ZONE RED LED GREEN LED TOP “SET” BUTTON—Increments choices. Used to scroll a list and makes some choice selections. MIDDLE “MENU/ESCAPE” BUTTON Turns the unit on and brings up the menu, and used for escaping backwards through menus as well as toggling between surface interval mode and time mode BOTTOM “SELECT” BUTTON—For choice selections. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 17 B. Back Unit BASIC USE: To inflate the attached vest, receive and send input to the Computer/Console and to store trigger settings. Once the triggers have been set, the back unit will function autonomously from the Computer/Console (except when a swipe is required.) Depth rating: 150 feet. (45 meters) Casing: Polycarbonate cap over aluminum high-pressure/low pressure manifold. PARTS AND FEATURES:1. Battery: Lithium Ion, rechargeable—replaceable by the factory; 2. A mechanical quick-disconnect connects to inflation vest ; 3. A bulkhead connection that connects to the Computer/Console and acts as an on/off switch when connected; 4. A second bulkhead connection for charging and connection to a PC via a USB connection with cap; 5. A mechanical connection valve to recharge the unit with a scuba tank; 6. 2-LEDs; 7. Galvanic protection Zinc; 8. A burst disk, rated to 3,300; 9. Pin pressure gauge; 10. On-Off handle; 11. Support strap; 12. Ports for water pressure sensor Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 18 C Vest Components: BASIC USE: The neoprene vest and inflation bladder Inflate with air supplied from the manifold through the inflation hose. Houses the back unit in a protective pouch and connects the over pressure valve (OPV) and the oral inflation valve. The sleeve contains the wire communicating information from the Computer/Console to the Inflation Unit. The OPV holds pressure and release excess pressure as the vest fills. Warning Never leave the FRV in a position from where it may fall. The weight of the Back Unit may make in invisible puncture to the inflation bladder rendering it unsafe and useless. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 19 IV. MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY AND FILLING First, review all of the warnings and cautions under the compressedgas warning section found earlier in this manual. Your FRV ships with the high-pressure cylinder, separated from the cylinder valve installed into the manifold—the same way you will have to store them for air travel. To assemble, make sure that you carefully align the threads and screw the cylinder into the cylinder valve—hand tight only, because the O-ring makes the seal. Cylinder valve Filling the inflation cylinder with the supplied scuba tank Adapter using these steps: 1. Locate and install the scuba tank adapter onto a scuba tank with more than 1,500 psi. Make sure that the scuba tank valve has an adequate O-ring. Place the scuba adapter onto the scuba tank valve and tighten. 2. Partially unzip the back unit pouch and make sure that the cylinder on/off handle is rotated in the open position, which is parallel to the cylinder in the down position. 3. Unscrew the black cap covering the Check Valve filling Scuba Tank port. Adapter 4. Screw the scuba tank adapter onto the check valve filling port and turn the knurled ring of the adapter clockwise (from behind the scuba tank) until the adapter is hand tight against the check valve filling port. 5. Before you open the scuba tank valve handle, make sure that the inflation manifold is inside the FRV pouch and that your body is not in line with the cylinder or the manifold cover. 6. To fill, slowly open the scuba valve and allow 60- to 120 seconds for a complete fill. Observe the Computer/Console to monitor the progress of the fill. Double check the mechanical pressure pin indicator next to the check valve filling port. The mechanical pressure pin indicator gives an approximation of the amount of pressure in the cylinder. Do not use the FRV if either the Computer/ Console or the Pin Indicator do not indicate an adequate charge. 7. Close the scuba tank valve. Warning DO NOT force either the cylinder valve from the manifold or the cylinder valve from the inflation cylinder. Excessive force may damage the threads. To help loosen the threads, try soaking the apparatus in a 1-1 solution of warm water and vinegar for 3 hours. If either end of the cylinder valve cannot be removed, you will need to send your inflation manifold assembly to OSS for repair and/or replacement. Note Before you assemble the cylinder valve and manifold, lubricate the O-rings sparingly on both ends of the valve with a silicone spray available at dive shops. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 20 Cylinder Valve Handle in the Open Position Check Valve Filling Port Scuba tank Adapter Be sure that the scuba tank adapter is hand tight against the check valve filling port. If the filling scuba tank adapter is not tight, the Oring will pop out from under the seal and you will hear a loud hissing sound. In this case, shut off the scuba tank and remove the scuba tank filling adapter. Inspect the O-ring and reinstall the scuba tank filling adapter hand tight making sure that it is tight against the check valve fill port. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 21 White Pressure Pin Indicator 8. Check that the white center pin of the pressure pin indicator has extended and that the Computer/Console pressure agrees. 9. Turn the knurled ring of the scuba tank dapter counterclockwise (from behind the scuba tank) to bleed pressure from the scuba tank dapter. It is important that you allow time for all the air to be released before attempting to remove the scuba tank adapter. Try to turn this ring open as slowly as possible because when it releases pressure quickly, the check valve O-ring is forced against its seal. Rapid decompression will shorten the life of this O-ring 10. Remove the scuba tank adapter and replace the black valve cap. 11. Listen for leaks. Warning. When filling the FRV, make sure that the inflation unit is inside the vest pouch and that you stand to the side. Do not stand directly over the Knurled inflation manifold while filling, or in front of the plastic manifold cover. Ring Note Filling too fast can result in an inaccurate air pressure reading and can result in damage to the internal components inside the check valve. FILLING THE CYLINDER AT A SCUBA DIVE SHOP The Spare Air company ( http://www.submersiblesystems.com/ ) sells a special adapter between the scuba tank fill hose and the check valve fill port. FILLING THE CYLINDER WITH NITROX The FRV shall not be used with pure oxygen, or nitrox with greater than 40% oxygen. When using nitrox, only a halocarbon based lubricant such as Christo-Lube MCG 111 or Tribolube -71 should be used on the cylinder valve threads. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 22 V. FEATURES AND OPTIONS CUSTOM FITTING THE VEST. Your FRV is equipped with 4 custom fitting location points. 1. Start by putting on your FRV, over your wetsuit if you use one, and begin by putting the sleeve on first then put your right arm through the opening on the right. 2. Adjust the chest pad first by folding or unfolding the Velcro patch so that the opposite panel attaches for comfortable pre-dive breathing. 3. Adjust the waist buckles so that the lapels are of roughly equal distance between them—the same distance as the chest opening. After you have adjusted the belts, tuck in the remaining belt into the vest for streamlining. Further adjust the waist fit by opening the Velcro panel in the back. Shorten or lengthen the elastic belt for comfort and unrestricted breathing. The elastic belt will help compensate for depth. 4. Adjust the optional crotch strap. The primary purpose of the crotch strap is to keep the vest from riding up against the back of the diver’s head and to help retain the vest in very heavy surf. Many divers will not need this feature to achieve a comfortable fit. 5. To adjust the position of the Computer/Console, put on the sleeve and then press the Computer/ Console onto the Velcro in the best position for viewing. For some, this position is inside the arm, whereas others prefer the standard “watch” position. The Velcro keeps this position between dive sessions. For the final fit, tighten the Computer/Console band. There are two adjustment flaps. Use the outside flap to roughly position the unit and then cinch up with the inner flap. When you remove your FRV, start first with the sleeve by grasping the end and sliding your hand backward as you remove your left arm first. HANDLING YOUR FRV. Your FRV comes equipped with two methods for carrying. For most transportation, use the carry bag. When moving the FRV out of the bag, be sure to use the carry strap, which attaches directly to the back unit and takes most of the heavy load off the soft parts. This will extend the life of your vest. YOU DECIDE HOW TO PROGRAM YOUR FRV. You have the option of setting your maximal depth and time. This will take some fine-tuning for those who do not know their precise diving envelope—that is, how deep you can safely dive and for how long. We advise that you give some thought to your dive profile when you set your triggers. Keep in mind your normal depth and time. Setting these parameters too far outside your safe envelope will limit the value of the FRV to you. If you set them too conservatively, for example setting the time at 1:00 minute when you frequently dive for one minute and 30 seconds (1:30,) you will be frustrated and inefficient and you will find yourself on the surface having to repack and recharge the unit. Along with choosing your time and depth triggers, you have the option of having the FRV monitor you at the surface following a dive by your choice of settings in the Surface Minder options. You may change your trigger settings on the surface between dives. A very important feature of the trigger settings is that you MAY NOT change them once a dive has started. The idea is that you made the most rational trigger settings while you were fully oxygenated on the surface. Once a dive starts, these settings are nonnegotiable. TIME AND DEPTH TRIGGERS The FRV allows you to program an envelope in which you expect to dive without deployment of the FRV. In other words, you will set your own limits for depth and duration for the dive. The following example represents a depth of 30 feet and a time setting of 1:00 minute. (Note, this is the default setting of your FRV.) As long as you do not dive deeper than 30 feet or exceed 1:00 minutes under the water, the FRV does not deploy. It will deploy, however, if you exceed 30 feet in depth or stay more than 1:00 minute under the water. Typically you will set the time trigger 5 or 10 seconds past your personal longest reasonable dive. But you are Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 23 free, of course, to set your own time buffer. Another way to view these selections is to ask yourself, what is the duration of the dive that you never want to exceed and at what depth do you desire the FRV to inflate? For your depth setting, consider selecting a depth that is 5- or 10-feet deeper than the deepest dive you plan to make during this dive session. Keep in mind that if you set the maximum depth deeper than the bottom you are diving over, this trigger will be useless. The depth setting menu screen also provides feedback about the amount of lift the FRV will provide at that depth with the current charge in your cylinder. We will discuss the importance of proper weighting later in this chapter. You may change these settings any time you are on the surface. For example, you might want the FRV to fire if you ever find yourself deeper than 50 feet or submerged for more than one minute and 45 seconds (1:45 minutes.) As long as you remain on the surface you may change these settings, however once you have started a dive, you may not change these settings until you reach the surface and clear the FRV. Setting the time and depth triggers Caution Your usual breath hold time may be cut in half by factors such as , but not limited to, your physical condition, the surface interval from your last dive, the depth of the dive, and the amount of work during the dive, as well as a host of other factors. Consider this carefully when you set your maximum time and depth triggers. Display screen when diving Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 24 DIVE START: The FRV starts recording a dive when you descend below 6 feet and only after the FRV has been cleared from the previous dive. The FRV is in the cleared state when it is first turned on for the day or when you clear it after a dive as described below. DIVE ENDS: When you ascend to within 3 feet of the surface, the dive ends. CLEARING THE FRV: The FRV is cleared by either a press of any of the 3 buttons or after you swipe your Computer/Console by the magnets in the chest retainer strap. This action is called a “swipe.” Depending on the mode, Surface Minder On or Surface Minder Off, the method of clearing is different. SURFACE MINDER ON: When you choose this option, you obligate yourself to clear the FRV after every dive. Upon ending a dive, the screen displays the message, “dive complete.” For the next 30 seconds the green LED is turned on with a steady light and the display counts up the surface interval. After 30 seconds the green LED starts blinking and the screen reads “SWIPE.” During the next 15 seconds, you must either swipe by the magnets or press any button, otherwise the FRV will deploy. SURFACE MINDER OFF: With the Surface Minder Off, if you do not dive within the first 30 seconds after surfacing you do not need to clear the FRV, and after 30 seconds the FRV automatically clears itself. However, if you wish to make a new dive after 10 seconds and before the FRV automatically clears in 30 seconds, you must swipe or press any button to clear the FRV. Note: the first 10 seconds after a dive is considered a particularly vulnerable time and you may not clear the FRV even with the Surface Minder Off mode. If you dive within the first 10 seconds, you start a “Premature Dive.” DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SURFACE MINDER ON AND OFF: With Surface Minder On, you are obligated to clear the FRV after every dive. With Surface Minder OFF, you are not required to clear the FRV at the end of the 30-second surface interval AND you may clear the FRV for immediate diving after the first 10 seconds of the surface interval have elapsed. One disadvantage of the Surface Minder OFF choice is that should you become disabled and remain on the surface, the FRV will not respond. One advantage of Surface Minder Off is that you are not required to clear the FRV —many experienced divers find that the FRV soon “disappears” from their consciousness and they then forget to clear the FRV. With Surface Minder ON, if you forget to clear the FRV at the end of 30 seconds, you will find yourself flipped over on you back in a comfortable lounge chair position after the FRV deploys. Again, the FRV offers many choices and this is an important one. Choose the option that best suits your preference. PREMATURE DIVE: For the case when the diver has dropped something or for whatever reason, needs to dive early (before 30-seconds have elapsed), we have programmed the FRV with a Premature Dive State. A Premature Dive occurs when you descend below 10 feet BEFORE the FRV is cleared. (Even with Surface Minder Off, you cannot clear the FRV for the first 10 seconds.) Upon reaching 10 feet, the green LED will blink and the screen will display the “SWIPE” message. You than have 15 seconds to acknowledge that this dive is intentional by making a swipe or pressing any button, which will TEMPORARILY clear the FRV for 15 seconds (perhaps enough time to catch some sinking gear or fish or avoid a boat.) After 15 seconds, the green LED again blinks and the screen reads SWIPE. A premature dive may be continually extended but will end either if you fail to respond, in which case the FRV will deploy, or you ascend above 3 feet, at which time a new surface interval is started, complete with the 30-second surface timer. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 25 COMMAND INFLATION: Any time, during a dive only, you may command your FRV to inflate. Simply press the middle button followed by the other outer buttons in any sequence. To prevent the buttons from “accumulating” or storing pushes throughout the dive (for example bumping something and pushing a button), this sequence must be completed in 5 seconds. While you are on the surface, you may inflate the FRV two ways, by using the menu command under “TEST VEST,” or by using the oral inflation tube behind the left lapel. To manually inflate the FRV, reach behind the left lapel and expose the oral inflation tube. Rotate the cap several times counterclockwise to allow downward movement and then blow into the hose while at the same time pressing against the spring-loaded valve. DESCRIPTION OF MAIN MENU ITEMS Main Menu items in a column: Triggers, Test dives, Surface Minder, Set the time and Menu-2 Menu items with the “-->” following their name have sub menus. Triggers: Using the “+” and “-” buttons, adjust the maximum duration and depth for your not-to-exceed dive envelope (see the low pressure warnings later in this manual). Test Vest: This item allows you to pre-dive test the swipe and button function as well as the individual valves and the vest inflation chambers to ensure that they are working properly. Your choices are Test Dive A, Test Dive B and Inflation. Surface Minder: With Surface Minder ON, after 30 seconds of reaching the surface, you must clear the FRV after every dive. With Surface Minder OFF, after 30-seconds the FRV clears itself and you are free to make a new dive. (See the complete discussion of the surface minder options above.) Set Time and Date: Use to set the current time and date. Once you set the time and date, the real-time clock in the FRV, with its separate battery, will keep track of the time even if you have disconnected the power to the FRV (by disconnecting the Computer/Console cord), or if the main battery wears down. You will want to change the date when you first program the FRV and when you travel out of your time zone. At midnight, the FRV begins a new dive day and reverts the dive number to 0. Pay attention to the a.m.-p.m. choice because if you choose p.m. instead of a.m. in the morning, when the 12:00 hour is reached, your FRV thinks it is midnight and will revert your current dive history to “0” dives and start counting up from 1. DESCRIPTION OF MENU ITEMS–Menu-2: Menu-2 items in a column: Firmware, display, units, language, turn off vest. This is primarily a listing of more menu items that allow for advanced configuration of the display, provides information about the current firmware and for shutting the FRV off. Firmware: States the current software version using a date convention. Display: Used to turn off, turn on, or to adjust the intensity of the back light. Using the backlight consumes more battery charge. In normal dive conditions, the LCD supplies enough contrast that the backlight is not needed. It is useful in very subdued light, or at night. You can adjust the contrast to suit your viewing preference. Units: Select metric or English units. Language: Select the appropriate language. Turn off: Places all of the electronics in a mode that reduces battery consumption. The FRV enters sleep mode from this menu choice. When the middle button (menu/esc) is pressed for 2-seconds, the FRV “wakes” and re-initializes the software. Putting the FRV to sleep and waking it is an effective way to calibrate the water pressure sensor to the current atmospheric conditions, which provides the best dive depth accuracy. During use, when the surface interval exceeds 99 minutes, the Computer/Console shuts off the display and backlight. However, it is “awake” and will immediately respond to the push of a button or by making a dive. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 26 Dive Logs Menu: This menu and the “Dive Stats” sub-menu allow you to access your dive history directly on the LCD. Graphs will display a graphic representation of your last dive, which includes the date, time, dive number, duration, maximum depth, temperature and the proceeding surface interval immediately preceding this dive. To cycle backwards through your dives, press the bottom button. Use Dump logs to download your dive history to your Windows-based PC. (See the software documentation available from our web site.) Clear logs will clear your dive history from your view. We suggest that you download your previous dives before choosing this menu item, because all personal dive data will be erased during this operation. The Dive stats sub-menu provides information over a range of dives you select— the last 100, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000 or all dives. This item will provide you with the time spent , in tabular format, at each depth during the range selected. The first screen displays the statistics for this day, or if no diving was done that day, then the last dive day. By pressing the bottom “select” button, the resultant screen displays the calculations of increasingly larger ranges of dives. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 27 VI. PREPARATION AND PRE-DIVE TESTING Before each use of the FRV, You must make a thorough visual inspection and functional test. NEVER dive with a FRV that shows signs of damage to its bladder or valves until it has received a complete inspection and service from OSS. Use the Inspection Checklist and tests. A check list is sewn into the back of your vest and appears on your Computer/Console each time it is initialized—turned on or awakened. Prepare the FRV by using the procedures below: 1. Open the cylinder by turning the on/off handle down, parallel with the cylinder. Failure to open the valve will prevent the FRV from inflating. For safety reasons, always make sure that the inflation unit is in the zipper pouch before opening the cylinder valve. 2. Connect the inflation hose and ensure that it is tight. Inspect the quick-connect connection from the vest to the inflation unit for tightness. Make sure that the hose connecting the vest and inflation unit is not cracked or otherwise damaged. Give it a good pull to make sure that it is connected and visually verify that it is seated fully.WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU NEVER DISCONNECT THE INFLATION HOSE UNTIL THE END OF THE DAY. 3. Operate both the OPV and the oral filling valve and test for spring movement. 4. Inspect the electrical connection from the Computer/Console to the inflation unit for tightness and condition of the wire, which should be intact and not frayed or damaged. 5. Turn the FRV on (by connecting the Computer/Console cord) or waking the unit from sleep state (by pressing the middle button). The Computer/Console screen will initially provide a checklist of items to inspect. When it is cleared the next screen will display information on the status of the cylinder charge and the remaining battery life as well as your trigger settings. 6. Perform computer-generated test dives. The test dive menu selection offers you the ability to test each valve, the buttons and the swipe function. Test Dive A and Test Dive B and Inflate are found under “Test Dives” heading from the main menu. Choose Test Dive A to cause a quick, simulated dive on the Computer/Console. The console will display a simulated dive with descent, ascent, divecomplete message and a short surface interval screen before the “SWIPE” message occurs. Pass the Computer/Console over the chest magnets to test the swipe function. To test the valve only, make another Test Dive A to test the Valve A by ignoring the “swipe” message. Valve A will then fire for a short interval. (Test dives take about 30 seconds to complete and release only a small amount of air.) 7. To test the second valve, Repeat with Test Dive B and listen for the short valve actuation. 8. Finally, once a month, completely inflate the vest by rotating the on-off handle to the on position and choosing the “Inflate Vest” item from the menu. Fully inflating the vest will allow you to inspect for leaks and test the competency of the OPV located behind the bottom of your right inflation bladder near your waist. Inspect the vest for leaks or worn areas, and make sure that the vest remains fully inflated for 5 minutes and that the cylinder is exhausted. The vest should remain taut and fully inflated for at least 5-minutes. Test the OPV by pulling and then releasing the dump cord. Manually re-inflate the vest by blowing on the oral fill tube until the vest is again taut. Once again, observe that the vest remains taut for 5 minutes and listen closely for leaks. To deflate the vest, pull the cord on the OPV and push on the inflation bladder. Repack the vest by pressing the edges of the inflation bladder together to engage the Velcro stays. Observe that the OPV operates. When you are ready to dive, be sure to remove all excess air from the FRV. The last bit of air can be sucked out at the oral inflator. Remember, never breath in this air. Warning If you can hear any leaks, or if the bladder begins to deflate within 5 minutes, DO NOT attempt to use the FRV until it has received service by OSS. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 28 SUGGESTED GET-ACQUAINTED TRIAL DIVE SCHEDULE: We suggest that you make several dives to become familiar with the FRV’s functions. You should do this in shallow water or in a pool deeper than 6 feet, and in either case, with a buddy diver attending you.. Because the FRV moves rapidly through the water after it inflates, Make sure that there are no overhead obstructions such as a boat propeller that could injure you . Before you dive, check out your Computer/Console. Look for and confirm the following: • Toggle between the time-of-day display and the elapsed time display by pressing the middle button. • Trigger time • Trigger depth • Cylinder pressure • Battery charge Before you dive, perform a test dive from the Computer/Console menu, which will familiarize you with the sequence of displays that you can expect to see during a dive, and that will allow you to test the swipe function: From the menu, choose “test vest” and then either test dive A, or test dive B from the sub menu. When the shortened demonstration dive is completed, swipe your Computer/Console by the chest magnets to confirm that the swipe has been received. Begin by making a shallow dive greater than 6 feet with Surface Minder OFF and observe the Computer/Console for the following: • Set Surface Minder to “Off” from the menu, which is the default setting. • Check that the display switches from surface mode (or time-of-day mode) into dive mode. • Look for the incrementing dive time, current depth, temperature and trigger settings. • As you ascend, look for the change to surface mode after you reach 3 feet and look for the “Dive Complete” message and the steady green LED. • Watch the steady green LED go out at the end of 30 seconds. • Repeat this dive, then return to the surface but this time, after 10 seconds, clear the FRV with a swipe or a button press and look at the green LED as it goes out. At this point, you are cleared to make another dive. Make a shallow dive greater than 6 feet with Surface Minder On. Observe the following: • After you surface and at the end of 30 seconds, the steady green LED starts blinking and, • The Computer/Console displays the blinking message “SWIPE” and the green LED blinks. • In the next 15 seconds, to prevent the FRV from deploying, either swipe the Computer/Console past the chest magnets or simply press any button. • Watch for the blinking green LED to go out and the “SWIPE” message to disappear followed by the surface-interval display. Make a shallow dive dive greater than 6 feet, resurface and then dive quickly (within 10 seconds) as if you are trying to catch some falling gear. This will cause the FRV to enter the “Premature Dive State.” Observe the following: • After achieving a depth of 10 feet, the Computer/Console displays the “SWIPE” message. • By swiping or pressing a button within 5 seconds, the message disappears, which suspends the “SWIPE” message for 15 seconds before it reappears or you surface and begin a normal surface sequence. • Ignoring the “SWIPE” message for 5 seconds will cause the FRV to deploy. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 29 Perform a dive that exceeds your trigger time setting and practice rescue maneuvers: • Set your time trigger to a short interval, say 20 seconds and make a dive. Observe the computer/ console count down the last 10 seconds before the FRV fires. • When the FRV inflates, pretend to be disabled and be prepared for a brisk ride to the surface. • On the surface, allow your body to remain limp and notice how your head is positioned well above the water. • Have your buddy position himself for rescue breathing. • Also have your buddy grab your vest in the right shoulder area to practice towing and guiding you through the water as if toward a rescue boat or the shore. RESCUE RESCUE BREATHING BREATHING VEST VEST CARRY CARRY Note: When practicing with the FRV, avoid opening the OPV while the valve is under water. Doing so will allow water to enter the vest requiring you to clean it later. If you want to release pressure while you are in the water, make sure you are on your back and that the OPV is in the air. Perform a test dive exceeding your depth setting: Set your trigger depth to a shallow depth. Make a dive and observe: • How the FRV fires at your exact trigger depth and note that a few feet before you reach your trigger setting, the Computer/console provides a blinking console drawing your attention to the depth. • During ascent, let yourself go limp and feel the FRV positioning you into the head-up position. • At the surface, force yourself onto your stomach so you are facing head down. • Relax and note how the FRV immediately turns you over to the head up position the second you stop fighting it. Practice the Command Inflation feature: Make a dive and then press the middle button first and each of the other outer buttons in any sequence. To prevent the computer from “storing” accidental button pushes during a dive, the command inflation sequence needs to be completed within 5 seconds. Remember, middle button first followed by upper then lower, OR ,middle button followed by lower then upper—all within 5 seconds. Warning : NEVER wear your weight belt under the FRV-ALWAYS attach your weight belt last so that it can be ditched without interference from the FRV. Note Many divers who use a back-mounted weight belt have found that they can successfully wear a belt in the waist location by wearing a modified back brace that spans the lower back to the buttocks, which takes pressure off of the lower back. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 30 Review your last dive from the Computer/Console using the dive log menu. Observe: • The graph with the dive number, date and time of the dive. (Work backwards by pressing the bottom button). • The length of the dive • The maximum depth of the dive • The temperature • The elapsed surface time BEFORE the dive displayed. At this point, you should be familiar with each of the Computer/Console screens and the overall FRV function. Redo any of the above exercises until you are completely comfortable with the FRV, its options, and functions. A little time spent in a safe, controlled environment, with a capable buddy, will go a long way toward making you a competent and confident FRV user. WEARING PROPER WEIGHT IS A CRITICAL PART OF YOUR DIVE PROFILE AND ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESSFUL FUNCTION OF YOUR FRV. Setting your maximum depth trigger: When you set your maximum depth trigger, the Computer/ Console will compare the amount of charge in the cylinder against your depth setting. Any depth that the cylinder cannot provide at least 18 lbs (8.2 kilo) of lift at that depth will cause the console to message that the trigger depth setting is too deep. At this point you have two options: 1. Decrease your trigger setting, or 2. Charge the cylinder with more pressure. Wear proper weights for your current profile: Experts agree that you are properly weighted at the surface when you will not sink even if you fully exhale. Successful use of the FRV calls for another criteria. You must not be more than 3 lbs (1-kilo) negative weight at your trigger depth. It is entirely possible for the diver to overweight and thus defeat the lift values at the trigger depth. Take for example the diver who dives shallow for white seabass in California, who routinely wears 22 lbs of weights to be neutral at 10 feet and who is also wearing a 7-mm wetsuit. Suppose he sets his trigger depth to 50 feet and has a charge of 1,500 psi in his FRV cylinder, which will provide 18 lbs of lift at 50 feet. Should the diver descend to 50 feet, it is entirely possible that because of the wetsuit compression and his excessive weights that his combined negative weight will exceed 18 lbs, which will render the FRV useless. For proper use of the FRV, it is critical that you do not overweight so that you are more than 3 lbs negative (1 kilo) at your trigger depth. In the above example, the diver should remove extra weight and/or decrease his trigger depth to a level that will support a higher lift value, or increase the fill in the cylinder, if possible. VII. CARE, CLEANING AND STORAGE OF YOUR FRV Rinse the FRV at the end of every day. The basic idea is to flush salt water from crevices and threads that will later either promote corrosion of the parts or leave abrasive salt crystals behind. CAREFULLY CLEANING AND DRYING YOUR FRV IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT AND TO ENSURE RELIABLE FUTURE PERFORMANCE. This is an example of severe corrosion during tests for lubricants and material compatibility. Your FRV could look like this if you never cleaned it and left it unattended in the pouch after diving. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 31 • • • • • • • • • • • • Remove the back unit from its pouch, reconnect the inflation hose, the carry strap and the Computer/Console wire (if you removed it) and soak the entire unit in warm fresh water. Soak time is 30 minutes, but first do the following: Direct a spray of water into the two water pressure sensor holes With the unit under water, press each Computer/Console button several times to help clear salt from the mechanism. (This will wake up the unit if it has entered sleep mode. You have the option of placing the unit back into deep sleep mode by using the menu item “TURN OFF VEST”, or simply allowing it to resume sleep mode after 99 minutes of inactivity. Unscrew the threads on the oral inflation fitting and depress the end several times Rotate the on-off handle several times and leave in the horizontal position to close the valve which isolates the cylinder from the FRV manifold. Leaving the inflation hose connected, move the quick-connect flange several times to flush. Flush the OPV. Separately towel dry the activation unit and check the zinc (a sacrificial anode to protect the metal parts of the FRV manifold). For long-term storage, unplug the Computer/Console wire, making sure that the connectors are dry first. This will conserve the battery. After the FRV cylinder has emptied, refill the cylinder as soon as practical to keep moisture from collecting inside. Always store the FRV with some residual pressure. The inflation hose is equipped with a red flag. Its purpose is to warn the user that this hose is disconnected. Whenever the hose is left disconnected, attach the red flag to the back unit pouch with its Velcro connection to remind you to reconnect before use. The plug for the USB/charger port also has a red flag attached. Anytime it is not plugged in, stick it to the pouch in a prominent place that cannot be ignored when you reassemble the FRV for use. Note To clean the Computer/Console lens surface, use a light detergent solution with fresh water. Do not use any organic solvent. If the lens becomes scratched, you may try the Polycarbonate Rectification Kit available from Micro-Surface finishing products (http:// www.micro-surface.com) to restore the finish CLEANING THE INFLATION BLADDER AFTER WATER HAS ENTERED IT: It is critical that you clean the inside of the vest bladder if salt water or chlorinated water has entered it. Normally, water will not intrude into the bladder, but it will do so if the OPV was opened in the water. This is common when divers partially deflate the vest while swimming back to their boat. A punctured bladder will also allow water to enter the bladder chamber. Salt crystals will eventually form, which will abrade and eventually damage the bladder. You can avoid having water enter you vest by only pulling the OPV cord when the OPV is in air. To clean the inside effectively, you will have to remove the Over OPV cap, spring and seal. Before you unscrew the OPV cap, take a look at and remember the normal gap distance between the cap and the valve body—about 1/16-inch (1.25mm). Also note the amount of distance that the pressure-release cord travels—about 1/8-inch (~3mm) Unscrew the cap, and remove it along with the spring—about 3.5 rotations. Inspect the rubber seal for nicks or cuts, then set aside. It will dangle close with retainer loop sewn into the vest lining. Use a hose to flush the inside of the vest taking care not to force anything into the valve body which might puncture the bladder. Rinse and drain the bladder by raising the opposite end higher than the valve then rotate across the neck to channel most of the water out. Allow the vest to dry inside. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 32 Reassemble the OPV by carefully seating the spring in both the cap and the rubber-seal holder. By pulling on the cord, you can compress the spring and bring the rubber seal into the cap. Taking great care not to cross-thread the cap, screw it into place while simultaneously holding the spring closed. This should take the same number of rotations as disassembly—about 3.5 rotations. Inspect the cord and spring for normal movement then inflate the vest to check the OPV’s function for seal and release. The valve should retain air and then release it when the cord is pulled. Check that the cord moves about 1/8-inch (~3mm). Caution The proper function of the OPVis vital to prevent damage to the inflation bladder. Unauthorized service or tampering may render these valves inoperable, and could cause the bladder to leak or burst. This type of damage is not repairable. Warning It is very important that you do not allow the pull cord to become entrapped in coils of the springs. It the cord is entrapped and the unit is screwed tight, the valve will be defeated and the FRV bladder will rupture REASSEMBLY FOR USE: Rotate the on/off handle to the on position (vertical along side of the inflation cylinder). Insert into back unit pouch by feeding the carry strap through the pouch slot and by feeding the Computer/ Console wire through its hole, and by feeding the inflation port through its hole. Reconnect the inflation hose and take great care that the quick-disconnect is firmly locked. If you have stored the FRV with the Computer/Console cable disconnected from the back unit, connect it now. Inspect the Computer/Console cord for defects. Reconnect the carry strap to the vest and use it to carry the FRV to take tension off the vest soft goods. Follow the pre-dive Testing procedure. To maximize streamlining, check that the Velcro stays all around the vest are locked together and secure. To remove all air from the vest, you can submerse it a bucket of water except for the oral inflation hose where you can bleed off the last small amounts of air. LONG-TERM STORAGE: You should prepare your FRV for long-term storage when you do not plan to use the unit for a month or more. Rotate the on-off handle to the horizontal, off position, to isolate the compressed air cylinder from the manifold. The manifold will retain a slight charge. Use the “Inflate vest” menu item on the Computer/Console to completely drain the manifold. At this point, you may remove the charged inflation cylinder from the manifold if you wish. To remove the charged cylinder, begin by unscrewing the cylinder. If the cylinder itself begins to unscrew first from the cylinder valve, retighten it and use pliers on the hex portion of the cylinder valve, closest to the manifold. Unscrew a few turns until it is easy to manually unscrew. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 33 To preserve the maximum battery charge, disconnect the Computer/Console cord at the back unit connection. This is optional because the FRV uses very little battery during sleep mode. Store the FRV partially inflated, away from direct sunlight, and in a clean, dry area. Avoid harsh environments like the trunk of a car in hot weather. PRESERVING THE LIFE OF YOUR FRV SOFT GOODS: To extend the life of your FRV, you need to follow these preventative maintenance guidelines: 1. Store the FRV partially inflated, away from direct sunlight, and in a clean cool, dry area. Do not store the FRV in an enclosed space, such as a car trunk, where temperatures may fall below 0ºF (-18ºC) or rise above 120ºF (49ºC). 2. Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and extreme heat. Nylon fabric can quickly fade when exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, and extreme heat may damage the welded bladder seams. 3. Avoid repeated or prolonged use in heavily chlorinated water, which can cause the FRV fabric to discolor and decay prematurely and will require more frequent maintenance. 4. Do not allow the FRV to chafe against any sharp objects or rough surfaces that could abrade or puncture the bladder. Do not set or drop heavy objects such as block weights on the FRV. 5. Avoid any contact with oil, gasoline, aerosols, or chemical solvents. 6. Whenever you travel, protect your FRV from falls from heights,as the weight of the Back Unit could puncture the inflation bladder and render it unsafe. PREPARATION FOR AIR TRAVEL: All airlines require you to travel with an empty cylinder, In addition, Airline or security officials (TSA) might want to verify that the cylinder is empty by looking directly into it. To comply, you will need to drain the cylinder and remove the cylinder valve, which you can then leave screwed into the manifold. You will need to cover the cylinder with the supplied dust cap. To make the FRV ready for air travel: • Open the cylinder to the manifold by rotating the on-off lever into the vertical ON position. If you do not want the vest to inflate, you can disconnect the inflation hose at the quick-disconnect. • Use the “Inflate Vest” option from the Computer/Console menu. • After the pressure is exhausted (usually within 30 seconds), you may unscrew the cylinder. • If the now empty cylinder unscrews at the cylinder valve, simply replace the dust cover over the cylinder and you are ready. • If the cylinder and cylinder valve unscrew from the manifold, you may need to use a pliers to separate the two. • To keep dust and dirt from entering the manifold during travel, lightly screw the cylinder valve into the manifold and place the valve cap or a piece of tape over the valve end to keep it clean. • Replace the cylinder valve O-rings after 3 assembly cycles. • Unplug the Computer/Console cord from the back unit to fully turn off the FRV. Note: For carry-on baggage, the Transportation Security Association (TSA) prefers that you separate the FRV from your bag and send it through the scanner separately, just like a computer. CONNECTIONS: It is essential that both of the electrical connections are made in a dry area only and that the plugs are not wet, especially with salt water, which might corrode the electrodes. Combination charger and USB cord: • Remove waterproof cap and set aside. • Connect combo charge and USB pigtail. You may simultaneously download information and charge the FRV. • Be sure to return the protective waterproof cap when you finish. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 34 Computer/Console connection: • Connecting the Computer/Console plug turns the FRV on, and disconnecting turns it off. Your dive data, settings, and the time-of-day are all saved on nonvolatile memory chips, which retain this data even when the FRV is off. • Twist off the locking sleeve and remove. • To fully seat the plug, replace firmly and then twist down the locking sleeve. Note: To facilitate the insertion of the wet mate connector into the back unit, you may lightly lubricate the rubber only (not the metal pins) with silicone grease. Caution Failure to connect the waterproof cap before diving can result in the electrodes being exposed to water, causing damage to the connector itself (rapid corrosion of the pins) and internal damage to the circuit board (direct short.) VIII. COMPUTER/CONSOLE WARNINGS (please also see the Trouble Shooting Guide at the end of this manual) Low Battery: When the battery level falls to 20%, this 20% will begin to blink. When the battery level drops to 10%, the Computer/Console display will alternatively blink “LOW BATTERY” and the red LED will light. This indicates that the battery is close to shutting itself off to preserve its internal components and to prevent a harmful deep discharge. Leave the water and recharge the FRV. Low Air Pressure: When you set your maximum depth trigger, the Computer/Console will compare the amount of charge in the cylinder against your depth setting. Any depth that the cylinder cannot provide at least 18-lbss (8.2 kilo) of lift at that depth will cause the console to message that the air pressure is low. At this point you have two options: 1. Decrease your trigger setting, or 2. Charge the cylinder with more pressure. The fully inflated vest provides 43 lbs (19.5 kilo) of lift. Any trigger setting that provides more than 43 lbs (19.5 kilo) lift will cause the Console to message that the vest will fully inflate. The Computer/ Console will message the approximate lift for values between 18 lbs (8.2 kilo) and 43 lbs (19.5 kilo.) For example, if your cylinder contains 2,000 psi and you make a trigger setting of 90 feet, the Computer/ Console will message 20 lbs (9 kilo) of lift at that trigger depth. When the FRV inflates and the diver ascends, the lift value increases as the surrounding water pressure decreases. In all allowed trigger settings, the vest will become fully inflated before you reach the surface. Get into the habit of observing the air-pressure reading and the battery level. Falling air pressure indicates that there is a leak in the system. See the previous discussion that follows on proper weighting for your maximum depth. The 18 lbs (8.2 kilo) of lift is an arbitrary number. You may feel that this is inadequate for your dive profile. You are free to make your own flotation minimum, and the reference lift value at the depth-trigger setting screen makes this easy. Water Pressure Sensor Failure: This warning indicates that the water pressure sensor is sending outof-bounds numbers, which is indicative of one mode of failure. Lost comm with back unit: This warning indicates that the Computer/Console is not talking to the back inflation unit. Air Pressure Sensor Failure: We are not able to offer this warning on the low side because when the sensor fails, it reads “0”, which is an actual possibility. You can confirm failure of this sensor by observing the pressure pin indicator. If the pin shows pressure and the Computer/Console reports 0 pressure, you can suspect a failure of the air pressure sensor. Another way to confirm this is to fill the FRV cylinder and compare the fill pressure with the Computer/Console number. A failure message will appear if the sensor fails on the high side. (>3,300 psi.). Memory Chip Failure: If the large memory chip becomes corrupted, the FRV will default to the smaller onboard microprocessor memory sector. You will be warned when the FRV starts up. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 35 These tables shows the multiple possibilites of lift at a given depth and avaialable cylinder pressure: Red are values below the arbitrary 18 lbs (8.2 kilo), Blue are values above 43 lbs (19.5 kilo.) Your FRV reports values in white on the Computer/Console whenever you change your trigger depth. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 36 IX. TROUBLE SHOOTING Warning UPON ENCOUNTERING ANY UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR OF YOUR FRV OR ANY OF THE PROBLEMS LISTED BELOW, DISCONTINUE THE USE OF THE FRV IMMEDIATELY AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR REPAIR OF EACH TYPE OF PROBLEM. DO NOT USE THE FRV UNTIL THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECTIFIED. Your FRV is losing air pressure: Check to see that both the cylinder and the cylinder valve are screwed on firmly and that the O-rings are not damaged. Fill the FRV and place the activation unit into a bucket of water and observe where the air leak is. If the leak comes from around the cylinder, the most likely problem is a defective O-ring. If a new O-ring does not stop the leak, return the FRV for service. If the manifold leaks through the check valve filling port, the cause is probably a defective checkvalve filling port O-ring—return the FRV for service. The Computer/Console display locks up or makes a non-standard display: Some symptoms you might see include a slow screen refresh, failure to keep time, failure to respond to a swipe or a button press, or any unusual response. Reset the system by unplugging the Computer/Console from the back unit at the back unit. Locking or freezing of the FRV is very unusual. If it continues, do not use the FRV and return the FRV for service with a brief description of the problems you observed. The Computer/Console display is blank: This will occur when the battery is extinguished. This condition may also indicate a serious problem such as an electrical failure possibly due to a water leak or a critical component failure. Return to OSS for repairs with an explanation of the problem. The cylinder completely empties when the on-off lever is in the OFF position and during a full test inflation: The problem most likely is that the cylinder valve O-ring is damaged. Remove the FRV from service and return the cylinder valve for service by removing it from the manifold and the cylinder. When attempting to fill the inflation unit, air leaks at a rapid rate at the location of the burst disk: The burst disk has ruptured, most likely because of attempting to fill with pressures exceeding 3,000 psi. Contact OSS for a replacement disk. The Inflation cylinder is slow to fill and/or slow to empty: This can be the result of internal corrosion within the manifold and inside the cylinder valve. Empty the FRV and dissemble the cylinder valve and its connection to the manifold and inspect for corrosion. Return to OSS for service. When filling the FRV with the scuba tank adapter, air continues to exhaust from the FRV even though the air supply has been turned off at the scuba tank. The most common cause is a ruptured O-ring at the inside of the check valve filling port responsible for blocking the air from escaping from the internal check valve. The rupture of an internal O-ring allows air to leak from the valve. Another source for the leak could be a failed pressure pin indicator. You may return the FRV for service, or alternatively, you can send for a replacement check valve filling port or pressure indicator pin gauge. The FRV inflation baldder leaks air after inflation: Use the oral inflation hose to fill the vest then observe it submerged in a bucket of water. Possible leak points include the oral inflation adapter, the OPV, the connections on each end of the inflation hose, or a puncture of the inflation bladder. In most cases, you will neet to return the FRV for service. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 37 The computer/display flickers or shows signs of a poor connection One possible cause is a poor connection at the wet-mate plug into your inflation unit from the Computer/Console. Jiggling this connection will help confirm that this is the problem. While we use only the most robust gold-plated connectors, which are designed to provide years of service, over time the contacts may degrade from salt water corrosion. If you suspect the contacts of a connector may require service, simply soak them in a solution of white vinegar and a small amount of salt until they are once again bright and shiny. This is a simple yet time proven method of restoring electrical contacts. If necessary, also apply silicone lubricant on the connector rubber (not the contacts) to help them mate smoothly and easily. Your dive number on the surface time screen suddenly reverts to 0 at midday: You have incorrectly set the a.m./p.m. setting in the time set menu. Because the FRV is programed to report the numbers of dives since midnight, the computer will start a new dive number at noon if the a.m./p.m. setting is incorrect. Revisit the menu and reset the proper 12-hour time designation. COMPUTER/CONSOLE WARNINGS Many computer related problems can be solved by a total system reboot, which is accomplished by unplugging the Computer/Console cord from the back unit and waiting 30 seconds before reconnection. This remedy should be used only rarely. Persistent problems must be addressed by returning your FRV to OSS for evaluation and repair. LOW PRESSURE: The pressure in the cylinder is inadequate to support the trigger-depth setting . You will always see this warning when turning on the FRV for the first time before you have added air pressure to the inflation cylinder or if the pressure in the cylinder is less than 1,500 psi. A recurring warning can be caused by a leak in the high pressure system or a sensor malfunction. Return to OSS for service. LOW BATTERY: This warning begins when the battery level reaches 10% battery life remaining. At 20% the battery indication blinks to draw you attention to the low battery level. Recharge the battery. If the battery life is short you should return to OSS for a replacement. WATER PRESSURE SENSOR FAILURE: The water pressure sensor is reporting out-of-bounds readings. Return to OSS for service. AIR PRESSURE SENSOR FAILURE: LOST COMMUNICATION WITH BACK UNIT: MEMORY ERRORS: The air pressure sensor is reporting out-of-bounds readings on the high side. If the air pressure reading is low and the pressure pin indicator indicates pressure, the sensor has failed. Return to OSS for service. The Computer/Console and the back unit communicate 8 times a second. If the communication is broken, the “lost comm” warning will appear. You may try to correct this condition by pressing the middle button for two seconds or by rebooting the system as described above. This is a serious condition and if it persists, you will need to return your FRV to OSS for repairs. The FRV is equipped with a large memory chip and a smaller memory sector on the primary microprocessor. A message will appear at start up if either of these memory modules is faulty. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 38 X. REQUIRED INSPECTION & SERVICE 1. Do not assume that the FRV is in good working condition because it has received little use since it was last serviced. Prolonged or improper storage can nonetheless result in internal corrosion and/ or deterioration of O-ring seals and valve springs, as well as deterioration of the bladder seams. 2. You should obtain prescribed dealer service for your FRV at least once a year from OSS. Your FRV must be inspected and overhauled every 5 years. Warning Except as described in this manual, DO NOT attempt to perform any disassembly or service on your FRV. The FRV contains few user-serviceable parts. Service requiring disassembly must only be performed by OSS. It is important to send your FRV at least annually to OSS for service. Your personal safety depends on the mechanical integrity of this device. FRV used for rental or training purposes in salt, chlorinated, or silted fresh water, will require complete overhaul and factory prescribed service every three to six months, or whenever it is suspected that moisture has entered the system. Use in chlorinated swimming pool water will accelerate the deterioration of most rubber components, and require more frequent service than in other typical conditions. FOR PRODUCT SERVICE You may send your FRV to OSS for repair or service. It is mandatory that all returns, warranty or otherwise, be authorized in advance. Our Product Return Form will assist you in completing your return. You will find this form at www.oceanicss.com/service. Please fill this form out before calling to request a Return Authorization (RA number). Please make a copy of this completed form and include one with your return. The RA number must be clearly printed on the outside of the box/package. We can provide you a RA number by the following methods: • Calling to or by sending a Fax to: (805) 650-3014, or • by Email: [email protected] Please make sure you remove any accessories from the product being returned that are not related to the service. Also, download the data in memory as all data will be erased during factory service. All items returned for service will receive a full factory service, be tested, and will be like new. No partial services are available. Most of our non-warranty services are charged at a flat rate per item and can be quoted in advance. Warranty service will be provided based on the warranty schedule found earlier in this manual. Please review the terms and requirements for warranty service. Non-Warranty items serviced will receive a 6-month Warranty. If the service was completed under warranty, the original purchase date remains in force. A new warranty period does not begin when a warranty service is performed. California residents must add your local sales tax to all service charges. Our preferred payment is by Visa or MasterCard. To process your order we need your account number, expiration date, name on the card, security code, and billing address. You may also prepay for your service with a cashier's check or money order. Personal checks will delay the shipment a minimum of two (2) weeks. CODs are not accepted. A signature is required when shipping to an individual. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 39 Return shipping will be by UPS Ground unless otherwise requested. Shipping and handling charges to locations outside of the continental US will vary. Please advise how your area is best served. Some components may be replaced with another component with a different serial number. The replacement component will be completely remanufactured and tested like new. In some cases, we will make the replacement with new. Estimates will be provided at no-charge when necessary or requested. Non-warranty service must be prepaid. In the United States, if you decline our service estimate, or if the product is not serviceable, we will return your FRV or component ground return freight at no charge. When shipping, we recommend you use an insured, traceable shipping method. We will not be responsible for a non-traceable shipment, or if damaged results from poor packaging. We will decline any shipments sent freight-collect. XI. FRV STATISTICS AND THE FREE PC ANALYSIS/ARCHIVE SOFTWARE Computer/Console Analysis Your FRV is equipped with a high-capacity memory chip (16 Mbit serial flash), capable of storing and downloading at least 4,000 2-minute dives—more if the average dives are less than 2 minutes. You may access each dive through the menu (Menu -> Dive Logs -> Graph). Here you may review each individual dive in sequence, working backward from the most recent. Information on the surface interval prior to each dive is useful for divers to assess their diving efficiency under different surface interval scenarios. Under the “stats” area ( Menu -> Dive Logs -> Dive Stats), you may review statistics for a range of dives: today, last 100, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and all dives. The statistics will show: average depth, average duration, total dive time at various depths—total time at 30 ft (10 m), total dive time at deepest depth achieved, total time of deepest dive less 10ft (3m) and total time at deepest dive less 20 ft (6m). Free PC Analysis/Archive Software Your FRV comes with optional and free, dive-analysis software, which we maintain and upgrade through the OSS website. You will need to install the USB driver for the FRV before plugging in the USB/Charger cord and connecting it to your PC (sorry not Macs). Installation information is available on the FRV DVD and on our website. Features: You may archive your dive history by downloading your dive history file from the FRV. This may be important for you to do periodically because the FRV memory, once full, overwrites your oldest dive information with the newest. Besides displaying each dive in graph format, you will have access to the following dive statistics over a range of dates: average dive time, average depth, descent rate, ascent rate, average surface interval (may be long because of lunch breaks etc.), and water temperature data. It will also display inflation events and their cause, for example, inflation due to exceeding time, depth, or due to failing to acknowledge a premature dive or the end of the surface interval as well as command inflation while diving, or inflation through the menu. It addition it will display your trigger time and trigger depth. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 40 The computing power and the flash memory required for the core operation ofthe FRV also offers opportunities for the presentation of impressive graphs and statistics rivaling any freedive computer. The calculation of the surface interval is especially important for those who wish to study their dive profile and refine their breath-hold skills. This is a typical graph of an individual dive. The software calculates the graph’s dimensions on the fly so that each dive utilizes the complete viewing space for maximum resolution. The graph is self-explanatory. Note the calculation of the all-important surface interval proceeding this dive: 2 min, 37 sec. Note: While test dive A and B will appear as dives in the graphic mode, they are not included in the dive satistics tables calculated below. The creation of a dive statistics page was especially fun. Compared to scuba divers, many freedives spend a considerable time underwater. The statistic pages allow you to study your dive profile in a different way. When you select “Dive Stats” from the “Dive Logs” menu, you are presented with this day’s statistics, or if you did not dive this day, then the last day you dove. Pressing the bottom button increments your stats between this day or last diving day, last 100, 500, 1,000, 2,000 dives, and all dives. The line at the top identifies the dive range on which calculations are made. The headings are selfexplanatory. “TOTAL” presents the total number of days, hour, minutes and seconds you have been underwater for the range identified at the top of the page. Below the TOTAL line are the total submerged times of 3, 10-feet dive ranges. These ranges key off of your deepest dive. In the example to the left, the diver spent 2:26 at the depth range between 40 and 50 feet. He spent 4:07 in depths greater than 30 feet, and 6:08 deeper than 20 feet. Had his deepest dive been 98 feet, the dive ranges presented would be: >90, >80,>70. Note: If you wish to remove old dives from your statistics and start new, you can select “CLEAR LOG” from the “DIVE LOGS” menu. We strongly suggest that you download you dive history to your PC before using this option by using the free statistical program, which you may download from the OSS Internet page. Clearing the logs will erase all previous dive history, which prevents from accessing graphs and logs of previous dives. OSS is working with Divers Alert Network (DAN) to gather data on routine freediving practices with a special interest in near misses (samba, for example) and actual events that lead to vest inflation. The software provides a function to transmit this data directly to DAN. We encourage you to support this research. DAN will not release confidential or personal data, and reports confidential data only in summary or aggregate form without personal identifiers. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 41 XII. PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS CHARGER: Input: 120/240 V ac; Output 16.7 V dc at 1Amp POWER: Lithium Ion Battery nominal voltage 14.4 V; Factory replaceable battery, recommended every 5 years; Fully Charged Voltage: 16.7 V; Low Battery Message 13.8 V; Charging time for low battery: 2.5 hours; Battery life at continual operation with full backlight: 100 hours (12 dive days); Battery life at continual operation with blacklight off: 144 hours(18 dive days); Battery life in sleep state: One Month; Back unit circuit board 14.7 to 13.8 Vdc and 3.3 V dc; Computer/Console circuit board 3.3 V dc. INFLATION VALVE: Operating pressure 0 to 3,000 psi; Minimum opening voltage at 3,000 psi 9V at 10 Watts. HIGH PRESSURE CYLINDER (INFLATION CYLINDER): DOT 3AL3000 rating and will require HYDROSTATIC TESTING EVERY FIVE (5) YEARS and a VISUAL INSPECTION ANNUALLY; Maximum filling pressure 3,000 psi; over pressure burst disk bursts at 3,300 psi DISPLAY MODES Time of day Mode shows: Time, Date, Surface Minder Option, Cylinder pressure, Battery Charge, Trigger Time, Trigger Depth. Diving Mode shows: Duration, Temperature, Depth, Trigger Time, Trigger Depth. FACTORY SETTINGS: Time set to Pacific Time, Surface Minder Off, Trigger time 1 minute, Trigger depth 30 feet. LCD DISPLAY: Backlight Adjustment, Contrast Adjustment NUMERIC DISPLAY: Time of Day Hr, Min, Sec in one second resolution; Dive number 0 to 4,000 plus (based on 2-minute dives; more than 4,000 if dive average is less); Current Depth 0 - 150 feet in one foot resolution; Elapsed Dive Time Hr, Min, Sec in one second resolution; Elapsed Surface Interval between dives: 0 - 99 minutes 59 seconds. OPERATIONAL ACCURACY: Depth: one foot; Timers: 1 second per day, air pressure 100 psi. MEMORY: Stores at least 4,000 dives for review on the LCD (based on 2-minute dives, depending on your average dive length, it may store more or less dives); When dive memory is full, newest dive information deletes the oldest dive. ALTITUDE AND ATMOSPHERIC CALIBRATION: The FRV computer automatically adjusts for altitude and atmospheric pressure changes each time the FRV is turned on or wakes up from sleep. DIVE MODE ACTIVATION: Dive starts when descends past 6 feet from 0; Dive ends when ascends past 3 feet from deeper than 6 feet. OPERATING TEMPERATURES: Out of water—between 20 °F and 140 °F (-6 and 60 °C). In the water—28 °F and 95 °F (-2 and 35 °C) At extremely low temperatures, the LCD may become sluggish, but this will not affect its accuracy. If stored or transported in extremely low temperature areas (below freezing), you should warm the unit and its battery before diving; Storage Temperature: Out of the water (in storage bag) - between 14 °F and 158 °F (-8 and 70 °C). INFLATION VEST: Overpressure valve spring opening pressure 2.5 lbs; Bladder material 1,000 denier. MAXIMUM DEPTH: 150 feet, (45 meters). RoHS COMPLIANT MATERIALS USED (Lead Free electronics and solder). RoHS regulations, a European Union Directive, restrict the use of more than agreed levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants in electronic equipment. Freedivers Recovery Vest User Manual, copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2011 42