Raymarine Base Station Operation Manual

LifeTag System

Operation Guide

Document reference: 81275-3

Date: July 2006

Raymarine and SeaTalk are trademarks of Raymarine plc

© Handbook contents copyright Raymarine plc

LifeTag System Operating Guide i

Important Information

WARNINGS: LIFETAG SYSTEM

1. The Raymarine LifeTag System is an auxiliary safety system,
intended ONLY to provide additional protection to the vessel's crew.
DO NOT rely solely on this system for crew safety; DO ensure that all
safety instructions and procedures are obeyed in accordance with local
requirements.

2. Failure to operate the LifeTag System in accordance with its
operating instructions may result in unreliable or reduced system
performance.

3. The operation of some medical electronic devices, such as hearing
aids and pacemakers, may be affected if a LifeTag or LifeTag Base
Station is used next to them. Observe the manufacturers'
recommendations for such devices.

CAUTION: LITHIUM BATTERIES

The LifeTag System Tags use non-rechargeable lithium batteries. Do not
attempt to recharge these batteries. Do not incinerate these batteries.
Ensure that these batteries are replaced with batteries of the same type
and check local regulations when disposing of spent batteries.
Incorrectly fitting batteries or using the wrong battery types may result
in unreliable or reduced system performance.

RF Energy

The LifeTag and LifeTag Base Station are low-power radio transceivers. When on, they intermittently
transmit RF energy (radio waves). The LifeTag and LifeTag Base Station are designed to comply with
the limits for RF energy exposure for the general population set by national authorities and
international health agencies, for example BS EN 50371:2002.

Intended Use

The LifeTag and LifeTag Base Station are intended as an aid to safety on leisure vessels and small
workboats.

Waste Electrical and Electronic (WEEE) Directive

The WEEE Directive requires the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment.
Whilst the WEEE Directive does not apply to some of Raymarine's products, we support its policy

and ask you to be aware of how to dispose of this product.

The crossed out wheelie bin symbol, illustrated above, and found on our products signifies that this
product should not be disposed of in general waste or landfill.

Please contact your local dealer, national distributor or Raymarine Technical Services for
information on product disposal.

ii LifeTag System Operating Guide

LifeTag System Operating Guide 1

LifeTag System Operating Guide

The LifeTag system

All Tags communicating with Base Station

No alarm

Signal lost from any Tag

Signal lost

After 10 seconds

Alarm sounds

Note:

A built-in 10 second delay is included, between the initial signal loss and the alarm
sounding, to minimise the likelihood of false alarms occurring.

SeaTalk alarms

If your LifeTag Base Station is connected to SeaTalk, and a LifeTag alarm occurs, a SeaTalk
alarm will also be initiated. For details of how SeaTalk alarms are indicated, refer to the
handbooks for your other SeaTalk products.

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2 LifeTag System Operating Guide

Alarm conditions

The LifeTag system will sound an alarm . . .

after a Tag button has been

held down for 5 sec

If you see someone fall overboard,

IMMEDIATELY hold down the button on your Tag

for 5 seconds, to activate the MOB alarm

if a Tag is submerged

for 10 seconds or more

if a Tag is out of range

of the Base Unit

for 10 seconds or more

IMPORTANT

When an alarm condition exists, the LifeTag system will not initiate
another MOB alarm until the first alarm has been cancelled.

D8883-1

LifeTag System Operating Guide 3

Getting started

1. Apply power to Base Station

Base Station

12 V dc

Check that the Alarm 'chirps'
briefly, as power is applied

2. Ensure Tags are Active

Before issuing Tags to crew members, check each Tag to ensure the
LED indicator briefly flashes GREEN once every 10 seconds.
This indicates that the Tag is ACTIVE.

If a Tag is not active (indicator
unlit), press and release the
pushbutton to activate the Tag.

As each Tag is activated, the
Alarm 'chirps' 3 times.

If a Tag indicator does not flash green once every 10 seconds, then the Tag is

not active. Check the table on page 4 to determine what to do.

3. Issue Tags to crew

Issue Tags to your crew members, then instruct them how to use the LifeTag system.
With reference to this Operating Guide, explain:

What to do if an alarm occurs
How to carry Tags
What will initiate an alarm
How to know if a Tag is active
How to know when a Tag battery needs changing

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4 LifeTag System Operating Guide

Tag LED indications

Color Action

GREEN

GREEN & RED

RED Low battery. Replace the battery as described in this guide.

Brief flash once every 10 seconds

Continuous alternating flashes

Two flashes once every 5 seconds

Continuous brief flashesRED

-Unlit

Meaning

Normal operation. The Tag is active and ready for use.

Searching for Base Station. Wait for a few seconds. If
normal operation does not start, check that the Base
Station is switched on.

Tag is de-registered.

Tag has automatically powered down. Briefly press the
Tag button to switch on.

Wearing your Tag

Ensure each crew member carries an ACTIVE Tag at all times

when on board.

either or or

D8985-1

strapped to belt

(recommended for optimum

performance)

in pocket

Using the strap

with extension

strap

or

without

on strap provided

Use extension
strap, if necessary

D8890-2

LifeTag System Operating Guide 5

What happens when an alarm occurs?

When an alarm is initiated

The Alarm buzzer sounds

Repeat every 1 s
until alarm is
silenced

0123 4

seconds

Optional 12 V output

When an alarm condition exists, the Base Station optional switched output provides 12 V as a switching
voltage, for external equipment, until the alarm is silenced.

Other SeaTalk products

If the LifeTag Base Station is connected to a SeaTalk system which includes a SeaTalk chartplotter and GPS, and a
LifeTag alarm occurs, a MOB marker will be displayed on the chartplotter at the location of the boat when the
alarm is activated. In addition, the chartplotter and compatible SeaTalk instruments (such as ST60+ and ST290
Graphic instruments) will display a dedicated MOB alarm page.

This occurs only with compatible products on SeaTalk systems. It does NOT occur on other products
connected via NMEA0183.

If a LifeTag alarm is canceled from another SeaTalk product, this will cancel the entire MOB event, so that all
displayed MOB information, including the MOB waypoint, will be removed.

Important: The accuracy of the recorded position of the MOB event is dependent on boat speed, tide, wind
speed etc, so you should take this into account when locating the man overboard.

To silence an alarm

Hold in a Tag button for 5 seconds

Note: This will NOT cancel the alarm, but will reduce the
alarm to 3 beeps every 30 seconds.

0

10 20 30

seconds

To cancel a LifeTag alarm

1. Silence the alarm, as described above.

2. Release the Tag button, then wait for at least
15 seconds.

3. Hold in the Tag button for a further 5 seconds.

After an alarm

After an alarm, when the MOB incident has been resolved, ensure all Tags are active,
by checking that the indicator on each Tag flashes green once every 10 seconds.

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6 LifeTag System Operating Guide

Tag low battery warning

If the Base Station detects that a Tag battery voltage is low:

The Alarm 'chirps' briefly, every 10 seconds

If this occurs, all users should check their Tags for a low
battery voltage indication (2 RED flashes every 5 seconds).
If necessary, replace the battery.

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I

Replacing Tag battery

Before removing a Tag battery, you are recommended to temporarily turn off power to the

Base Station, to prevent unwanted alarms.

Do NOT use a sharp
object to open a Tag

1. 2.

Open the Tag Remove spent

battery

Taking care not to disturb other internal
components, insert a NEW, lithium,
non-rechargeable CR2 3V battery.

Important!

Ensure correct

polarity

CR2 3V

CR2 3V

Do NOT open a Tag in
wet or dirty conditions

Discard spent battery in

3.

accordance with local
regulations

5. 4.

Replace the Tag back
and snap shut

S

p

a

n

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LifeTag System Operating Guide 7

Looking after your LifeTag system

Periodically clean the Base Station and Tags, using a clean damp cloth. Do NOT use chemical or
abrasive cleaning agents.

Periodically clean the straps by washing in fresh water and combing the velcro sections to
remove dirt, fluff etc.

Never open a Tag unless you want to remove or replace the battery.

If you are planning not to use the LifeTag system for an extended period (e.g. over winter),
remove the batteries from the Tags, to increase battery life.

Store all components in a dry location, out of direct sunlight , when not in use.

Troubleshooting

Fault Possible cause Action

D8920-1

Base Station indicator lit but
buzzer does not sound

Cannot register Tag

Base Station indicator does not
light and buzzer does not sound

No indication on Tag indicator
(indicator unlit)

Alarm sounds when there is
no alarm condition

Buzzer connection
faulty

Ensure buzzer is connected to correct
terminals on Base Station

Check that buzzer ‘chirps’ when
power is first switched on

Tag not powered up

Ensure Tag battery is correctly installed

Tag battery discharged Replace battery

Base Station not
powered up

Check SeaTalk cable is correctly
connected and apply power to SeaTalk
Check that the SeaTalk system is
operating correctly

Tag not powered up

Ensure Tag battery is correctly
installed

Tag battery discharged

Replace battery

Tag out of range Perform site survey as described in

LifeTag System Installation &
Commissioning Guide. If unsatisfactory,
redeploy system components to
improve signal coverage

Buzzer 'chirps' briefly every 10 s

Tag LED flashes RED and
GREEN alternately

Tag battery low

Tag has lost contact
with the Base Station

All users to check for low Tag
battery and replace as necessary

Ensure Base Station is switched on. If
OK, de-register, then re-register Tag as
described in the LifeTag Installation &
Commissioning Guide

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8 LifeTag System Operating Guide

General information

FCC and Industry Canada information

The LifeTag and LifeTag Base Station comply with US CFR47 part 15 Rules and with IC
Standard RSS210. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) these devices
may not cause harmful interference and (2) these devices must accept interference
received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Changes or modifications to these devices not expressly approved in writing by Raymarine
could violate compliance with FCC or IC rules, and void the user's authority to operate the
equipment.

Declaration of Conformity

Raymarine UK Ltd. hereby declares that the LifeTag and LifeTag Base Station are in
compliance with the essential requirements and other relevant provisions of the R&TTE
Directive 1999/5/EC.

The original Declarations of Conformity may be viewed on the relevant product pages at
www.raymarine.com.

Approvals

EU R&TTE Directive 1995/5/EC
USA FCC Part 15 FCC ID: PJ5-LTB (LifeTag Base Station) PJ5-LTT (LifeTag)
Industry Canada RSP100 ID IC:4069B-LTB (LifeTag Base Station) IC:4069B-LTT (LifeTag)

D9145--1

Raymarine UK Ltd,
Quay Point, Northarbour Road
Portsmouth, Hampshire PO6 3TD,
United Kingdom.
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

www.raymarine.com

Raymarine Inc,
21 Manchester Street, Merrimack,
New Hampshire 03054,
USA.
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

www.raymarine.com