Peak Beam Systems Maxa Beam 400 series Operation Manual

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Searchlight System

Operation Manual

Table of Contents

Overview ..........................................................................................................................................2

Characteristics
Applications
Theory of Operation

Warnings ..........................................................................................................................................3

Searchlight Operation .......................................................................................................................4

General Operation
Programming
Remote Control Operation

Searchlight Maintenance...................................................................................................................9

Focusing the Lamp
Lamp Replacement

Lithium-Ion Battery Systems ..........................................................................................................10

Powering the Searchlight

Recharging the Li-Ion Battery

NiCad Battery Systems ...................................................................................................................11

Powering the Searchlight

Recharging with 5200 Series Chargers
Recharging with 5600 Series Chargers
Recharging with 3100 Series Chargers

Optical Filters .................................................................................................................14

Troubleshooting..............................................................................................................................17

Warranty and Returns to Factory.....................................................................................................19

Equipment and Accessories.............................................................................................20

Appendix – NEW PRODUCTS ......................................................................................................21

Maxa Beam Crew-Served Weapons Light (CSWL)
Computer-Controlled (RS-232) Searchlight Systems

© 2009 Peak Beam Systems, Inc.

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Overview

Characteristics:

The Maxa Beam 400 series handheld searchlights are lightweight, compact, high intensity
illuminators which use a field replaceable 75 Watt Xenon short arc lamp and a precision
electroformed reflector to provide the ultimate source for long range and wide angle portable
illumination. System features include:

• Color rendition similar to daylight (6000°K)

• All functions controlled with one hand

• Searchlight with Li-Ion Battery weighing just 5.3 lbs.

• Field-programmable operational characteristics (start-up beam width, strobe rate, etc.)

• Three levels of illumination intensity

• 1° to 40° motorized zoom focus

• Visible (white) and Infrared illumination capability

• 12VDC Operation; 24V and 48V-12VDC Converters available

• Weather resistant

• Snap on battery modules with built-in charger

• Rechargeable battery belts

• Up to 130 minutes of operation on one Li-Ion battery

• Built-in battery charger recharges Li-Ion batteries in just 3 hours

• Charger operates directly from 11-29VDC or 100-240VAC

• Direct power from 12VDC, 24-48VDC (with converter), or 100-240VAC

• Customizable strobe function

• Flexible mounting options

• Remote models (MBS-430/450) allowing remote control of:
Beam Intensity
Beam Size
Strobe Function
Programming

The 400 series consists of three searchlight models:

• MBS-410 Handheld Searchlight

• MBS-430-Y Remote Control Only Searchlight with Reinforced Spyder Lens

• MBS-450 Handheld Searchlight with Remote Control Capability

Applications:

For over 20 years users in locations ranging from the Sahara Desert to the AlCan Pipeline have come
to rely on the Maxa Beam Searchlight system for:

• Force Protection • Search and Rescue

• Perimeter Security • Tactical Operations

• Infrared/Covert Surveillance • Maritime Navigation

• Night Vision System Enhancement • Still & Motion Picture Photography

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Theory of Operation:

The Maxa Beam Searchlight produces light by passing an arc of electricity between two electrodes
in a quartz tube filled with a pressurized atmosphere of Xenon gas. An extremely precise plasma
ball is formed and precisely positioned within an electroformed reflector by an internal
microprocessor controlling a servo motor.

When the ignition button is momentarily pressed, a high voltage RF igniter produces up to 20,000
volts to ionize the Xenon gas within the lamp, allowing 12.5 to 14VDC operating voltage to bridge
the arc gap and form a steady state. Once the arc is established, gas temperature and pressure start to
climb, forcing the Xenon into a plasma state. The light will come on with a constant high beam for
approximately 3 seconds to assure reliable ignition of a cold lamp and will then go to the
programmed intensity and mode. After ignition of the lamp is complete, the internal microprocessor
takes control of the operation of the electronic focus, power settings and the user programmable
options.

The searchlight contains no internal, user-serviceable parts. The switch mode power supply is
factory set and requires no adjustment (even after a lamp change has occurred) as the control
circuitry is self-calibrating. Internal power regulation keeps both the intensity and color of the beam
constant as the voltage from the battery drops.

Warnings

Do not operate this light in an explosive environment.

Do not look directly into the light at close distances.

Do not immerse the light in water allowing water to enter the case. While the Maxa
Beam is weather resistant, submersion will cause permanent damage to the light.

Do not operate the searchlight if the front lens is damaged or removed.

Do not allow the concentrated beam of light to be focused on flammable materials at
close distances for prolonged periods of time.

Do not touch the Xenon lamp connections during operation or ignition as high voltage
is present.

Do not touch the clear portion of the Xenon lamp. If the lamp is accidentally touched,
clean with alcohol or the solution supplied in the replacement lamp kit.

Always wear protective eyewear if removing the front lens cover. The lamp is under
positive pressure and should be handled with care.

To prevent accidental activation of the light, always disconnect it from the power cord
when it is not in use, placed in storage or being transported.

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Searchlight Operation

General Operation

Setup:

1) Locate light, battery and power cable.

2) Inspect items for physical damage.

3) Attach searchlight to battery by lining up
round feet of searchlight over round holes
on the top of the battery (a). Lower the
searchlight into the holes and then slide the
searchlight towards the connector end of
the battery (b). Check for positive lock by
sliding searchlight away from connector
end of battery. If properly locked, it should
not slide.

4) If desired, attach a battery shoulder strap to diagonally opposite ears on battery.

5) Attach male end of power cable to connector on battery. These are keyed; never force cable
connections. To lock rotate only the locking ring clockwise.

6) Attach female end of power cable to 4-pin male connector on searchlight. These are keyed;
never force cable connections. To lock rotate only the locking ring clockwise.

To release searchlight from battery pack:

1) Lift lock release lever under searchlight handle (located at the rear of handle).

2) Slide searchlight forward, away from connector end of battery.

To turn searchlight on:

1) Momentarily press the red power on/off switch
located on the handle at front. If the light does not
light in 5 seconds, press the red button again to stop
the starting process and see the troubleshooting
section of this manual.

2) The searchlight will light at high beam and hold this
setting for 3 seconds. The intensity will then drop
to the programmed power setting.

To change the size of the searchlight’s beam:

1) Rock the beam conditioning switch to the rear to widen beam. Rock the beam conditioning
to the front to narrow beam. When you reach the desired beam width, release switch.

a

b

Lock Release Lever

Lock Release Lever

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To set searchlight beam intensity:

1) To increase the intensity of the searchlight to high beam, rock and hold the beam
conditioning switch once to the right. When you release the beam conditioning switch the
intensity will return to its previous setting. (This function can be programmed, see page 6.)

2) To decrease the intensity of the searchlight to battery saver mode, check that this function
has been activated (this position is shared with the strobe function; see programming section
for more information). After activation, rock the beam conditioning switch to the left. This
will set the light into battery saver mode. To return to normal intensity, rock the beam
conditioning switch to the left again.

To override low voltage protection – NiCad Batteries Only:

1) The searchlight will automatically shut down before it discharges a NiCad battery enough to
damage it. At this point, there are usually several minutes of power left in the battery that
can be accessed in an emergency.

2) To access the remaining power in the battery push and hold the power button. Please note
that this procedure may damage the battery to the point that it will no longer accept a charge.

To attach a Maxa Beam optical filter:

1) The Maxa Beam filters utilize a quick disconnect snap lock feature for ease and speed of
installation or removal. To attach a filter, first line up the 3 tabs on the filter with the slots on
the searchlight’s front lens ring.

2) Place filter over front of searchlight.

3) Turn filter counter-clockwise until it is fully seated. Filter will lock in place.

Programming

The Maxa Beam Searchlight provides you with a great deal of operational flexibility by allowing
you to modify the operational characteristics of the searchlight with some simple programming
sequences. This capability allows you to customize the light for a specific application.

For example, if you want to use the light for an extended search operation in a wooded area, you can
program the light to automatically start up in battery saver mode with the beam width at full flood.
Other scenarios include: a surveillance operation where you want the light to start up at normal
power with the beam set to the size of the area under surveillance or a tactical application where the
user programs the light to start up in strobe mode at a narrow beam spread.

Factory Settings:

When you receive your searchlight from the factory it will operate as follows:
Automatic Beam Intensity at Start Up: Normal Power Mode
Rock Conditioning Switch Forward: Decrease Beam Width to Spot
Rock Conditioning Switch Backward: Increase Beam Width to Flood
Rock Conditioning Switch Right: Momentary High Beam
Rock Conditioning Switch Left: Battery Saver (Low Beam) Mode

To modify these characteristics follow the instructions shown on the following pages.

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Explanation of Programming Symbols:

= With searchlight already turned on, press and hold the red power switch down.

= Rock the beam conditioning switch in the indicated direction, then release.

= Release power switch, light will go out. New setting is now saved.

(A) Changing High Beam from Momentary to Timed Mode:

Factory default activates high beam while the conditioning switch is held to the right. To change
function to timed high beam mode follow the below sequence. Once this sequence is performed, the
light will stay at high beam for 16 seconds when switch is rocked to the right.

Repeat this sequence to re-activate the momentary high beam mode.

(B) Changing from Battery Saver Mode to Momentary and Continuous Strobe Modes:

Factory default activates battery saver mode when the conditioning switch is rocked to the left. To
change function to momentary strobe mode follow the below sequence.

To change to continuous strobe mode, repeat the above. Repeating the sequence a third time will
return you to battery saver mode. Note: You may activate either the strobe modes or the battery
saver mode, but not both at the same time. Changing this function will reset the start up power
setting to normal power.

IMPORTANT: When searchlight is running in continuous strobe mode, all other programming
steps will not function (except for (G), below – Changing Strobe Rate or Duty Cycle). To change
programming, first take searchlight out of continuous strobe mode by rocking the beam conditioning
switch once to the left.

(C) Setting Beam Width on Start Up:

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(D) Setting Beam Intensity on Start Up (after 3 second warm up):

To set light to start up in battery saver mode (also sets the left function to battery saver on/off):

To set light to start up in normal mode (factory default setting):

To set light to start up in strobe mode (also sets the left function to continuous strobe mode):

(E) Setting the Smallest Spot of the Searchlight:

Note: If you notice a delay before the lamp starts moving when rocking the beam conditioning
switch backward to move out of the full spot position, this means that the spot position is set beyond
the point at which the lamp is physically able to move. If this occurs, the spot position should be
reset to a point at or within the physical limits of the lamp’s travel. It is also possible to focus the
lamp “beyond” spot to the point at which the beam begins to widen past the reflector’s focal point.
Rock the beam conditioning switch backward to move of this unfocused position and return back to
desired spot position.

(F) Setting the Widest Flood of the Searchlight:

Note: If you notice a delay before the lamp starts moving when rocking the beam conditioning
switch forward to move out of the full flood position, this means that the flood position is set beyond
the point at which the lamp is physically able to move. If this occurs, the flood position should be
reset to a point at or within the physical limits of the lamp’s travel.

(G) Changing the Strobe Rate or Duty Cycle:

To follow this procedure the searchlight must be set in the continuous strobe mode (see section (B)
above).