Service manual
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SLC500 & SLC600
Solar Marine Lanterns
GPS Synchronisation Option
TheSLC500andSLC600lanternsmaybettedwithanoptionalinternallyintegratedGPSmodule
whichenablesashsynchronisationoflanternsinstalledoverlongerranges.
Whenlanternsashinsynchronisationtheycanbeclearlydistinguishedfromothernavaidsand
confusing background lighting. Users are able to mark a channel, port or river with independently
operatinglanternsthatallashinsynchronisationwhichimprovestheeffectivenessofmarkerlightsby
highlighting the outline each time the lanterns turn on.
No additional power supplies, aerials or control systems are required, and with its microprocessor-
basedsystem,theGPSoptionisspecicallydesignedtoprovidemaximumreliabilityandperformance
over a wide range of environmental conditions. The GPS board is a separate PCB mounted above the
standard lantern circuitry.
Operating Principle
Eachlightoperatesindependentlyandrequiresnooperatorintervention.Aminimumof3satellites
need to be in view for the built-in GPS receiver to collect time data. At dusk, the light sensor will turn
thelighton.Iftimedataisavailablethelightwillcomeonsynchronisedtoeveryotherlightwiththe
sameselectedashcode.
Synchronisation is achieved using an internal algorithm based on the highly accurate time base and
time data received from the satellites. The satellite data is provided from a number of earth stations
using atomic clocks as the time base. Continuous self-checking ensures that the light will continue to
run in synchronisation.
Light Activation
At power-up the microprocessor checks that the internal GPS module is programmed correctly and is
able to provide valid time base and time data.
Thelightthenchecksforday/night.Ifitisdaylighttheinternalmicroprocessorwillgotoidlemodeafter
approximately 10 seconds. This reduces the overall power consumption when the light is not required.
Once outside with a clear view of the sky, valid data should become available within 20 minutes.
Daylight Operation
During daylight hours the microprocessor is in idle mode to reduce power consumption. Time data
continues to be updated once per second. The microprocessor will automatically exit the idle mode as
soon as dark conditions are detected.
Dark Operation
Whendarkconditionsaredetectedthelight:
• Checksforvalidtimedataandisturnedonafteradelaybasedonthecurrenttimeandthelength
oftheselectedashcode;
• Ifvalidtimedataisnotdetectedthelightwillturnonafterapproximately10seconds.Thislightwill
not be synchronised.
• Ifthelightturnsonunsynchroniseditwillcontinuallycheckforvalidtimedata.Oncevaliddatais
found the light will automatically synchronise.
Setup
ToenableashsynchronisationofindependentRFComm-Synclanterns,setlanternstothesame
ashcharacteristic(see“SelectingaFlashCode”sectionofthismanual).
IMPORTANT: only lights set to the exact same ash pattern/code will ash in synchronisation.