NovaSail NS SUNTRACK Operating Manual
High performance solar powered
navigation compass
Operating Manual
v1.0
NS-SunTack Operating Manual
2
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
• Specifications .................................................................. 3
Installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Operations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
• Buttons & display............................................................. 5
• Switching power on and off ............................................ 5
• Battery recharge .............................................................. 6
• Switching backlight on and off ......................................... 7
• Display............................................................................. 7
• Heading mode ................................................................. 8
• Manual capture of port & starboard reference angles ..... 9
• Automatic capture of the reference angles.................... 11
• Timer mode ................................................................... 12
Advanced operations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
• SET mode...................................................................... 14
• Bar graph resolution ...................................................... 15
• LCD contrast adjustment ............................................... 16
• Display refresh rate ....................................................... 16
• Compass Heading sensitivity ........................................ 16
• Device offset.................................................................. 16
• Angle reference computation......................................... 17
• Firmware version ........................................................... 17
• PC mode........................................................................ 18
User Calibration of the magnetic compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Disclaimer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Contents
NS-Suntack Operating Manual
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The is an all class compliant, solar powered, gimbaled,
magnetic compass complete with a timer, shift indicator with bar graph, and super
clear readout displayed on a red backlit LCD, making it ideal for night sailings.
It features a wireless link to the optional USB dongle in order to access additional
features, thanks to the PC software ‘NS-SUNTACK Wireless Manager’, which
include:
Class compliancy
Embedded software upgrades
User friendly parameters entry
Compact (128 mm x 94 mm x 30 mm) and intuitive, the is
light, portable and completely waterproof.
Powered by a solar panel and one standard rechargeable AA battery, the
gives accurate information for over 300 hours without being
recharged (140 hours with the backlight enabled).
It can be installed in minutes without the need to drill a hole in the hull or use a
wired connection.
We hope you enjoy sailing with the and encourage you to
read this manual thoroughly to learn about the features of your new NOVASAIL
product.
Specifications
9 axis gyro-gimbaled compensated magnetic compass with NOVASAIL
proprietary algorithm
3 levels of heading sensitivity with angle shift & bar graph indicator
Countdown and time elapsed timer
Solar powered with 1 standard rechargeable AA battery
Red backlight
Class compliant and upgradable with the Windows PC software ‘SUNTACK
NOVASAIL Wireless Manager’
Introduction
NS-SunTack Operating Manual
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The can be easily installed with the NOVASAIL cradle on
the mast. The Velcro dual lock or the metal rail provided can be used to secure it.
Note: the mast bracket is an optional part purchased separately.
fig.1 Device installation example
Note: If your isn’t facing the same direction (Y axis in the
above figure) as the boat, you can compensate this difference with the parameter
’OFS’. Please refer to the “Device offset: oFS”, page 16 for more details.
NotE: After each usage the may be rinsed with fresh water
and stored in a dry environment.
Installation
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Buttons and display
Switching power on and off
Should you need to replace the rechargeable battery (a low self discharge
type must be used as indicated in the
NotE after), make sure it is installed
with the correct polarity with the positive pole inserted first.
Press to start the device. A beep will be emitted.
Battery level
Backlight
Solar
charge
indicator
Timer
Operations
Lower
line
Upper
line
Angle shift
indicator with
bar graph
Angle
reference,
timer or
heading
Heading or
timer display
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Press and hold for more than 4 seconds until the screen displays
OFF and the sequence “3”, “2”, “1” is finished. A beep will be emitted when
the device turns off.
The device will turn off automatically when it remains in the horizontal position for
more than 3 minutes. A beep will be emitted 3 seconds before it turns off.
Note: If the device does not turn on, you need to check that the battery
compartment is dry and the polarity is correct.
Note: Rechargeable batteries with low self discharge rate MUST be used
because standard rechargeable batteries lose their stored energy quickly even
when not being used. Recommended batteries are SANYO ENELOOP/PRO, GP
RECYKO+ or UNIROSS HYBRIO. This kind of rechargeable battery will last for
approximately 200 hours without solar energy.
Note: A non rechargeable disposable AA battery may also be used but in that
case you will not be able to take advantage of the solar power. When using a non
rechargeable battery it is recommended to remove it if the device is not used for a
prolonged period of time (in order to avoid a possible leakage inside the battery
compartment).
Battery recharge
The icon shows the status of the solar panel recharge:
no icon is displayed in dark conditions; the battery will not recharge.
under cloudy conditions is displayed; the battery will slowly recharge.
under full sun is displayed; the battery will recharge at a faster rate.
Note: If the battery is empty it may take up to 40 hours to recharge it under full
sun conditions.The battery is able to recharge when the unit is turned OFF
(although no icon is displayed when the unit is switched OFF).
Operations
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Switching backlight on and off
Press and hold for more than 1 second until the icon is
displayed on the screen. If the OFF sequence starts, simply release the
button
before the sequence “3”, “2”, “1” is finished.
To turn off the backlight, press and hold for more than 1 second
until the icon disappears from the screen.
Display
After switching on, the heading mode is displayed by default. Push to
switch the upper line to the timer mode and start the countdown timer.
While in timer mode push to switch the upper line to the heading mode
again.
The lower line is dedicated to the angle shift indicator and the secondary display
to the timer or the angle reference.
Heading mode Timer mode
Operations
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Heading mode
The magnetic compass heading is displayed on the upper line (the sensitivity can
be adjusted in the SET mode, see “Compass heading sensitivity : MAg”,
page 16).
The lower line displays the angle shift variation. By pushing the lower
line will alternatively display the angle reference captured on port/starboard or the
current timer value.
Operations
NS-Suntack Operating Manual
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Manual capture of port and starboard reference
angles
Push to capture the port reference angle.
Push to capture the starboard reference angle.
Example: Capturing the port reference angle (with 3 degree resolution bar graph)
1.Push to capture the port reference angle (165 degrees).
2.The shift indicator will show a 6 degree difference “Lift” above the reference
angle.
3.The shift indicator will show a 3 degree difference “Header” below the reference
angle.
Wind Wind Wind
1.Heading 165 degrees 2.Heading 171 degrees 3.Heading 162 degrees
Operations
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