Specifications

07/02/01
2-8
2 OPERATION
Both the membrane switches and display on the control unit's front panel are sealed, and all
openings in the body of the housing are gasketed in order to prevent water damage. However, it
is a good idea to minimize the unit's unnecessary exposure to the elements in order to prevent
possible long-term damage due to corrosion. To prevent unnecessary battery drain, the unit is
powered down automatically after 10 minutes of inactivity (no switches are pressed).
2.1 Pre-Operation Checks
The probe should be inspected before deployment to assure that no foreign materials are present
in the acoustic path. The face of the transducer and the reflector plate should be clean and free of
debris. The probe can be cleaned with mild soap and water without damage, should the need
arise.
2.2 Deployment
Probe deployment is as simple as lowering the unit over the side to the desired depth, and then
retrieving the unit. However, a few operational considerations should be kept in mind while
making velocity casts.
Safety should be a primary concern of the operator! The probe should never be dropped into
areas where it may become entangled in underwater obstructions. Deployment of the probe in
the vicinity the ship's propellers is not only unwise, due to the risk of damage to the equipment,
but it is extremely unsafe as well.
When deploying the unit in bodies of water with little or no current, air bubbles can become
attached to the face of the probe or the reflector plate. Any accumulation of bubbles will disrupt
the operation of the velocimeter. However, they can be removed easily by gently swinging the
probe back and forth under the surface of the water.