APPLIED ACOUSTICS CSP-N Series User manual
CSPN Capacitor Charging Unit
Operation Manual
CSPN Capacitor Charging Unit Operation Manual
CSP-CSPN-8000/1
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Revision History
Issue Change
No. Reason for change Date
1 -
CSPN 2400 Changes
Non AAE Sound Source Guidelines added
Maintenance Checklist added
Schematics updated
HVJ3001 diagrams updated
18/08/15
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Table of Contents
REVISION HISTORY......................................................................................................................................... 2
SECTION 1 - OPERATIONAL .......................................................................................................................... 7
1.1. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS................................................................................................... 7
1.2. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................ 8
1.3. INSTALLATION ......................................................................................................................................... 9
SITING THE CSP-N........................................................................................................................................... 9
EARTHING...................................................................................................................................................... 10
INSTALLATION................................................................................................................................................. 11
OUTPUT CABLE CONNECTION ......................................................................................................................... 11
LINE VOLTAGE CONNECTION........................................................................................................................... 12
AC POWER REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................................................... 13
TYPICAL CURRENTS ....................................................................................................................................... 13
POWER UP..................................................................................................................................................... 13
TRIGGER INPUT.............................................................................................................................................. 13
LOCAL /REMOTE............................................................................................................................................ 14
1.4. OPERATION ............................................................................................................................................ 15
ENERGY SETTINGS......................................................................................................................................... 16
OPERATION OF THE CSP-N WITH A BOOMER SOUND SOURCE.......................................................................... 17
LOAD SPECIFICATIONS.................................................................................................................................... 17
BOOMER LOAD............................................................................................................................................... 17
OPERATION OF THE CSP-N WITH A SPARKER SOUND SOURCE......................................................................... 18
OPERATION OF THE CSP-N WITH A NON AAE SOUND SOURCE........................................................................ 18
DUMMY LOAD................................................................................................................................................. 18
1.5. OPERATOR CONTROLS AND INDICATORS........................................................................................ 19
MAINS POWER SWITCH............................................................................................................................... 19
EMERGENCY STOP SWITCH....................................................................................................................... 19
HV OFF/RESET SWITCH .............................................................................................................................. 19
HV ON SWITCH ............................................................................................................................................. 19
MANUAL KEY SWITCH ................................................................................................................................. 19
KEY POLARITY SWITCH............................................................................................................................... 19
LOCAL /REMOTE SWITCH........................................................................................................................... 19
CHARGERATE SWITCH (LOCATED ON REAR PANEL)..................................................................................... 19
1.5.1 INDICATORS ......................................................................................................................................... 20
EOC (END OF CHARGE)INDICATOR............................................................................................................... 20
FAULT INDICATOR......................................................................................................................................... 20
INTERLOCK INDICATOR................................................................................................................................ 20
TIME OUT INDICATOR ................................................................................................................................... 20
HV FAULT INDICATOR................................................................................................................................... 20
LOAD FAULT INDICATOR .............................................................................................................................. 20
1.5.2. CONNECTORS..................................................................................................................................... 21
MAINS INPUT.................................................................................................................................................. 21
REMOTE ........................................................................................................................................................ 21
HV OUTPUT................................................................................................................................................... 21
TRIGGER INPUT.............................................................................................................................................. 21
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1.6. REAR PANEL .......................................................................................................................................... 21
FUSES ........................................................................................................................................................... 21
CHARGE RATE SWITCH................................................................................................................................... 21
FAN FILTERS.................................................................................................................................................. 21
1.7. PRODUCT RECYCLING / DISPOSAL.................................................................................................... 22
1.8. SPECIFICATIONS.................................................................................................................................... 23
CSP-N SERIES CAPACITOR DISCHARGE POWER SUPPLIES.............................................................................. 23
MODELS AVAILABLE........................................................................................................................................ 23
PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS............................................................................................................................. 23
ELECTRICAL SPECIFICATIONS.......................................................................................................................... 23
SAFETY FEATURES......................................................................................................................................... 24
OPTIONS........................................................................................................................................................ 24
SECTION 2 - TROUBLESHOOTING.............................................................................................................. 25
2.1. INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................... 25
2.2. CIRCUITS AND DESCRIPTIONS............................................................................................................ 26
SYSTEM OVERVIEW........................................................................................................................................ 26
HIGH VOLTAGE SECTION ................................................................................................................................ 27
HV MONITOR BOARD...................................................................................................................................... 27
HV DETECT BOARD........................................................................................................................................ 27
HV CHARGER ................................................................................................................................................ 27
AC SECTION .................................................................................................................................................. 28
CONTROL BOARD AND FRONT PANEL COMPONENTS........................................................................................ 28
CONTROL BOARD........................................................................................................................................... 29
KEY BOARD ................................................................................................................................................... 29
HIGH VOLTAGE /RELAY SWITCHING................................................................................................................ 29
FAULT LATCHES /HV ON CIRCUIT ................................................................................................................... 30
HIGH VOLTAGE ON CIRCUIT............................................................................................................................ 31
FRONT PANEL BOARD..................................................................................................................................... 31
INTERLOCKS /RELAY BOARD .......................................................................................................................... 32
2.3. REPAIR AND FAULT FINDING ON CSP POWER SUPPLIES.............................................................. 33
2.4. CSP-N BASIC FAULT DIAGNOSIS........................................................................................................ 34
2.5. TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE................................................................................................................ 36
2.6. MAINTENANCE CHECK LIST ................................................................................................................ 39
SECTION 3 – CIRCUIT AND BLOCK DIAGRAMS........................................................................................ 40
3.1. INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................... 40
CIRCUIT AND BLOCK DIAGRAMS INDEX ............................................................................................................ 40
SECTION 4 – SYSTEM INTERCONNECTION............................................................................................... 60
HVJ3001 HVJUNCTION BOX ......................................................................................................................... 60
4.1. TRIPLE ARRAY ARRANGEMENT.......................................................................................................... 60
400 TIPS DURASPARK 400 // 240 TIPS DURASPARK 240 // 3BOOMER PLATE S-BOOM..................................... 60
4.2. DOUBLE ARRAY ARRANGEMENT....................................................................................................... 61
240 TIPS DURASPARK 400 // 160 TIPS DURASPARK 240 // 2BOOMER PLATE S-BOOM..................................... 61
4.3. SINGLE ARRAY ARRANGEMENT......................................................................................................... 61
80 TIPS DURASPARK 400 AND 240 // SINGLE BOOMER PLATE S-BOOM............................................................ 61
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4.4. HVJ3001 INTERCONNECTIONS............................................................................................................ 62
4.5. HVJ3001 JUNCTION BOX INTERLOCK WIRING.................................................................................. 62
Thank you for choosing Applied Acoustic Engineering as one of your subsea equipment suppliers.
We hope you experience many years of reliable operational use from our products.
If you do encounter any technical issues with any of our products then please don’t hesitate to
contact our Technical Team via the following methods.
Tel: +44 (0)1493 440355
Fax: +44 (0)1493 440720
Applied Acoustic Engineering Ltd has made every effort to ensure that the information contained in this
manual is correct at time of print. However our policy of continual product improvement means that we
cannot assume liability for any errors which may occur.
These written instructions must be followed fully for reliable and safe operation of the equipment that
this manual refers to. Applied Acoustic Engineering Ltd cannot be held responsible for any issues
arising from the improper use or maintenance of equipment referred to in this manual or failure of the
operator to adhere to the instructions laid out in this manual. The user must be familiar with the
contents of this manual before use or operation.
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WARNING
Information in this manual is copyright 1993 – 2015, Applied Acoustic Engineering Ltd.
This manual is loaned without other consideration than the agreement and condition that it is not
to be reproduced, copied or otherwise disposed of directly, and is not to be used in whole or in
part to assist in or to furnish any information for the making of drawings, prints, apparatus or parts
thereof.
THIS EQUIPMENT CONTAINS LETHAL VOLTAGES,AND MUST
BE EARTHED AT ALL TIMES.
ENSURE ADEQUATE SAFETY PROCEDURES ARE EMPLOYED.
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Section 1 - OPERATIONAL
1.1. Environmental Considerations
Seismic Sound Sources and Marine Life
Although not proven, there is concern in some quarters that marine mammals may be harmed or
their behaviour changed by seismic activity. The sound pulses from sparkers and boomers is much
lower in amplitude and higher in frequency (so it will travel less far) than air guns. However it
makes sense that a precautionary approach to emitting sounds in the whales and dolphins’ natural
habitat should be observed.
The CSP energy sources described in this manual have the ability to “soft-start” and increase the
energy emitted in the water slowly over time and this technique will give any marine mammals
nearby the opportunity to escape before maximum signal amplitude is reached. It will also give
them a chance to get used to the noise if they choose to stay (!) rather than being subjected to a
sudden shock of a full power seismic signal.
The procedure is quite simple:-
By using a slow repetition rate – say at 1 pulse per 15 seconds and by using the “Auto” charge
rate, the energy will slowly increase over the course of several minutes. Once full power has been
achieved, the repetition rate can then be slowly increased until the rate desired for the survey has
been achieved.
Another factor to consider is to ensure that the start of any survey line is not in such a location that
any cetacean is trapped by the vessel and the noise, for example in a small harbour. In such an
instance, the survey should start in such a place that any cetacean in the vicinity has a clear and
rapid means of escape into open water and away from any unnatural noise source. Further details
and advice can be obtained from the following web site:-
http://www.jncc.gov.uk/pdf/Seismic_survey_guidelines_200404.pdf. This web site refers to UK
waters and relates to air guns as the sound source (in many ways different to a sparker or
boomer), but should serve as a useful guide nonetheless.
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1.2. Introduction
The CSP-N is an evolution of the CSP-D range of seismic power supplies. The CSP-N has a high
voltage charger rated at 2000 joules per second, and can supply up to 1200 or 2400 joules of
energy per shot into the seismic sound source for example Dura-Spark. The CSP-N allows the
user to select HI and LO power levels this can effectively tune the source to a lower frequency
response.
The CSP-N incorporates many common parts to the CSP-D, -P, -S range of power supplies and
apart from utilizing negative High Voltage can be considered essentially as the same. All units
feature a switchable soft start ‘power save’ circuit; AVIP (Automatic Variable Input Power) which
allows the units to be operated from reduced generator sizes when operating at low output
powers:-
Traditional high voltage power supplies (bang boxes) will charge the energy storage capacitors at a
fixed high rate for example at 1500J per second even when the average energy drawn from the
capacitors is less; a typical example may be 100 J at 3 pps (300J). This results in a rapid capacitor
charge rate for 67 mS followed by nothing, until the next discharge / charge cycle. This charge / no
charge operation can often result in generator hunting as the load changes, and may mean that a
larger generator is needed than would be the case if the power requirement was averaged over
time. By reducing the peak charge rate, the generator hunting is all but eliminated, and a smaller
capacity generator is required. The AVIP circuitry will automatically adjust charge rate from 20% to
100% of specification, thus lowering the peak charge rate to just 300 J / second compared to
bursts of 1500J/second. The circuitry also features a soft start function, which may take around 20
seconds before the charge rate is ramped up to the correct amount for the task in hand.
The CSP-N allows the user to effectively ‘tune’ the sound source to operate at a lower frequency
by lowering the operating voltage and increasing the capacitance to supply the correct energy to
the sound source. This may be effective in certain instances where more penetration is required.
The CSP-Ns monitor the output of the system for open circuit fault conditions and over current fault
conditions, limited to approx. 9000A.
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1.3. Installation
Siting the CSP-N
The CSP-N deliver high energy, high voltage pulses, yet still emit minimal electrical emissions, and
so can carry the CE mark.
The CE marking ensure that the CSP-N can be sited next to sensitive electronic equipment which
carry their own CE marking (for susceptibility to emissions) and will be unlikely to cause them
interference. However it is often more convenient to locate the CSP-N nearer to the back deck and
the deployment area so that the high voltage ‘output’ cable run is minimised.
As high voltages are present, the CSP-N must be located away from water spray and
condensation, in an environment which is not allowed to become too hot. Care should be taken to
allow safe and easy access, and that high voltage cables are out of harm’s way. It should also be
possible to switch off the unit quickly without having to reach over it!
Ventilation should also be present. All units draw air in from the rear and exhaust air from the front.
For operation in high ambient temperatures, the rear cover of the transit case should be removed
to allow a good air flow.
If condensation is allowed to develop serious damage may occur. Good room ventilation should be
ensured, with no sudden change in temperature (i.e. bringing the unit into a warm room from a cold
area) and allow the fans to operate for 10 - 15 minutes before switching on the high voltage.
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Earthing
The CSP-N MUST be earthed. The M8 earth bolt on the front panel should be connected to the
vessel earth by a heavy gauge wire or cable. On larger ships, earth is usually a steel bulkhead, but
for smaller fibre glass / wooden vessels a sea earth is necessary. A sea earth can be constructed
from a 25 mm2 or larger copper cable with 1 – 2 metres of insulation stripped off with all the
exposed copper conductor in the water. A weight will be required to ensure that the sea earth cable
is in the water at all times during towing activity even during heavy roll.
It is recommended that earthing arrangements are checked regularly as corrosion or abrasion (or
metal cutting gear!) can cause damage which may result in the equipment becoming unsafe from
having an ineffective earth.
The CSP-N range of Capacitor Discharge PSUs are compact and easy to operate. However, the
units still generate lethal voltages, and the operators should make themselves aware of all
necessary safety procedures. The equipment is designed so that there is no need for the operator
to go inside for anything, except major repairs. We cannot be liable for any consequences should
the units be opened. Health and Safety guidelines and our own Safety Policy strongly suggest that
factory training is received before opening the top cover.
This manual is supplied in three parts:
Section 1 Basic operation information details.
Section 2 For manufacturer trained technicians only
and provides troubleshooting advice,
schematics and circuit descriptions.
Section 3 Provides block and circuit diagrams.
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Installation
The CSP-N Unit will normally be supplied from the factory in a ‘Hardigg’ transit case. As is the case
with all electronic equipment, care should be exercised in handling. For maximum airflow in high
ambient temperatures it is recommended that the anti-vibration housing rear panel be removed.
The CSP-N should be positioned on its base in a dry ventilated area. Airflow for cooling is from
back-to-front of the unit; there must be at least 50-60mm clear room from the rear panel to any
obstruction. If the unit is to be operated in very warm ambient temperature (25°C or above), for
optimum performance an air conditioned environment is strongly advised. If the unit overheats, it
will switch OFF for a few minutes until it is cool.
Although the unit produces minimal interference, and carries a CE mark, it is often good practice to
put the CSP-N away from the navigation and survey equipment and somewhere where cabling to
the sound source can be run conveniently and safely. It is this cabling which is the most common
source of electrical interference.
EARTHING - FURTHER REMINDER
THIS UNIT MUST BE EARTHED / GROUNDED BEFORE ANY POWER IS APPLIED. FAILURE
TO DO SO MAY REPRESENT A SEVERE HAZARD TO BOTH EQUIPMENT AND
PERSONNEL.
The front of the CSP-N must be grounded to the ship’s ground system. This is achieved by
attaching a short length of thick wire or earth braid from the CSP-N front panel earth stud, to an
appropriate earthing point on the vessel. If a suitable earth cannot be found, the CSP-N earth stud
should be connected directly to the water using an adequate length of heavy wire, with the
insulation removed from the submerged end in the water. A weight will also be necessary to keep
the wire submerged when the vessel is underway.
Output Cable Connection
ENSURE POWER TO UNIT IS TURNED OFF BEFORE ANY CONNECTIONS ARE MADE.
Connect the high voltage cable to the CSP-N front panel using the high voltage connector. The HV
connector has 2 small sensing pins which will deactivate the high voltage if mains power is applied
without the connector in place. Ensure the HV connector is fully mated to the unit. The two larger
sockets should never be at a high potential but it makes sense never to attempt to touch these.
If you have our HV junction box, the two conductors of the acoustic source - boomer plate or
sparker should be connected to this before connecting to the CSP-N. The terminal wing nuts
should be tightened onto clean copper or tinned copper terminals. A good connection is necessary
as high currents pass through these terminals. Ensure that the +ve or red terminal is connected to
the + mark inside the HV Junction box. The black or –ve terminal should be connected to the –
mark inside the HV junction Box. Ensure that the microswitch ‘clicks’ when the top cover is
secured. The HV Junction Box can be bulkhead mounted before the cover is secured.
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Output Cable Connection Continued
In the situation of the power cable / sound source being caught on an object, the HV cable is pulled
from the HV Junction Box, rather than the CSP-N unit being pulled onto the floor.
The junction box is usually supplied with a 1.5 metre lead, terminated in our HV connector. The
junction box is fitted with a microswitch which is connected to sense pins in the HV plug, i.e.
deactivating the high voltage charger if the lid is removed and the ‘INTERLOCK’ light will
illuminate.
Line Voltage Connection
Mains input is connected by the 3-Pin Amphenol on the left of the front panel. Nominal input
voltage is 230VAC 45-65 Hz. The wiring to this connector is as follows:-
A Ground / Earth
B Neutral
C Live
If a ready-wired plug is supplied, it will be supplied from the factory with the following colour
coding:-
Green/Yellow Earth
Blue Neutral
Brown Live
The operator must ensure that the ac supply is capable of supplying sufficient energy to power the
CSP-N unit. Although the unit will operate from most generators of 4 kVA, the quality and
regulation vary considerably from make to make and how well they have been maintained.
A voltage stabiliser is not necessary as any reasonable variation of the AC supply will not affect the
output voltage (hence power) unlike older designs.
NB Some older ‘inverter’ type generators do not work well with the CSP-N.
The AVIP technology inside the unit can be utilised to reduce the generator requirements. The
CHARGE RATE switch has two positions (Located on rear panel)
OUT : High Charge rate.
The charger delivers the full charge rate (2000 J/sec peak) on demand to charge
the storage capacitors.
IN : Auto Charge rate.
The AVIP (Automatic Variable Input Power) circuitry is operational. This adjusts the
charge rate automatically to suit the capacitor selection and the repetition rate used,
and ensures that a constant current is drawn from the AC mains supply. It is a soft
start circuit and adjusts the charge rate by 5% per sample; a sample occurs each
trigger pulse. AVIP will adjust the charge rate from 20% to 98%, thus allowing 100J
3pps operation from a 500 VA generator. Note that it can take up to 16 samples for
the charge rate to be set to the correct amount.
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AC Power Requirements
Voltage ratings are quoted elsewhere in this manual.
Typical Currents
At 1500J at 1 pps (AVIP out of circuit); Non PFC charger, the following currents apply:-
Voltage Peak Current Average Current
240 VAC 50 Hz 19.5A 7.9A
(At 60 Hz, the peak currents are slightly smaller)
To see clearly the effect of the AVIP board the following measurements are typical:-
240 VAC at 50 Hz supply. 100J at 1 pps output power
Peak Current Average Current
AVIP IN 2.58A 1.06A
AVIP OUT 9.51A 1.11A
FURTHER REMINDER
If the unit has recently been moved from a cold environment to a warm one, condensation may
have developed, which may cause arcing in high voltage equipment. The operator is advised to
switch the unit on and run the fans for 10-15 minutes before allowing the high voltage to be
switched on. This will allow the unit to warm up to the room temperature, and any condensation
will disperse.
Power Up
When suitably connected to ground, the transducer and AC mains, and the transducer is in the
water, the power can be applied using the ON / OFF switch and circuit breaker. The fans will run,
and the HV OFF / RESET button will illuminate. Select the appropriate power output required and
press the RESET button to reset the internal circuitry. Turn and hold the HV ENABLE KEY &
simultaneously press the HV ON button: there will be a small delay before the HV relays engage,
and then the high voltage will come on as indicated by the illuminated HV ON switch. Any changes
in system parameters (such as power change) will cause the HV to switch OFF, and the unit will
need to be RESET before the HV can be switched on again. If the INTERLOCK indicator
illuminates, check the HV plug / HV junction box.
Trigger Input
Trigger input is by BNC connector. The unit accepts +ve trigger (triggers on rising edge) 5 - 20
volts. opto-isolated, or by contact closure, as controlled by the KEY switch. (OUT for +ve key, IN
for contact closure.) The manual key button can be used too and this also shows, by illumination,
when a key pulse has been accepted. (A lockout circuit limits the unit to around 6PPS maximum.)
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Local / Remote
The LOCAL / REMOTE switch allows connection of remote box for operation from the laboratory or
instrument room. Using the remote box is achieved by turning the LOCAL / REMOTE switch to
remote. The high voltage can only be turned on from the instrument room and not from the CSP-D
Unit. The high voltage OFF button is operational from the CSP-D Unit and remote box. The CSP
Unit can also be keyed from the remote box via a BNC socket. The remote also monitors the
status of the key detect circuitry, and the key
LED will only illuminate on reception of a valid key pulse within the CSP-D itself, thus the
operator can also see if the interconnection cable is OK. The remote also has a FAULT LED, as
well as high voltage ON and high voltage OFF indicators.
LOCAL Operation indicated by LED on – Switch OUT.
REMOTE Operation indicated by LED out – Switch IN
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1.4. Operation
Operation of the CSP-N is similar to previous versions of the CSP.
Installation check-list:-
a) The sound source (boomer plate or sparker) has been connected and that it is in the water.
b) A key pulse is connected – either through the front panel BNC connector or through the
remote input.
c) A good earth has been connected from the ‘Safety Earth’ bolt on the front panel preferably
to both the ship and a sea earth.
d) AC mains is connected to the ‘Mains Input’ connector.
e) A safety check has been carried out to ensure that there is no-one in the water and that
crew members know that the unit is about to be operated.
Once switched on, the ‘HV OFF / RESET’ button must be pressed to reset any fault latches and
the light behind the ‘Manual Key’ button is flashing in sequence with the key input signal. The
output power can now be selected by using the two rotary
switches as shown in the accompanying photographs. The two
switches select a combination of capacitor settings (labelled 1 –
12) and voltage settings (labelled LO and HI) so the operator can
choose the power setting required for the job in hand. Please see
next section. Once the appropriate setting has been made, the ‘HV
ON’ button can be pressed whilst simultaneously turning the ‘HV
Enable’ keyswitch clockwise.
A series of up to 5 clicks will be heard depending on the energy
selected as the relays switch in circuit. Once these relays have
engaged, the high voltage is enabled.
If either of the power level switches is moved or if the HV off/reset
button is pressed, the unit will shut down safely. In an emergency,
the red ‘STOP’ button can be pressed.
The maximum repetition rate is governed by the charge rate (2000
Joules per second peak) and the amount of capacitance selected.
For example, at 300J / shot the CSP-N will run at a max of 6 PPS.
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Energy Settings
CSP-N 1200 OUTPUT POWER
SWITCH POSITION HI LO
1 100 50
2 200 100
3 300 150
4 400 200
5 500 250
6 600 300
7 700 350
8 800 400
9 900 450
10 1000 500
11 1100 550
12 1200 600
CSP-N 2400 OUTPUT POWER
SWITCH POSITION HI LO
1 100 50
2 200 100
3 300 150
4 500 200
5 750 300
6 1000 400
7 1250 500
8 1500 600
9 1750 700
10 2000 800
11 2250 900
12 2400 1000
Items marked in red are not suitable for a single boomer.
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Operation of the CSP-N with a Boomer Sound Source
A boomer plate as a sound source produces a single pulse and the amplitude and duration of this
pulse is controlled by the energy going into it. The energy is derived from the voltage and the
quantity of energy stored in the CSP unit. Traditionally, boomers have operated from around 3500
to 3800 volts. However a feature of the AA200 and AA300 boomer plates is that they will produce
a longer pulse (and hence more penetration) with a lower voltage and higher capacitance from the
energy source (CSP-D). The LO voltage setting achieves this so, for example, using an AA300
boomer plate at 200J at 3 pulses per second may be a common way of using the transducer with
the traditional 3.5 kV supply voltage using switch positions 2 and HI. However if position 4-LO is
used, the same energy is being applied to the transducer although at a lower voltage, so the pulse
length is increased.
Load Specifications
The CSP-N units are designed to deliver high currents into boomer or sparker type loads. The
loads are quite different in make-up.
Boomer Load
A boomer plate consists of a coil imbedded in an epoxy or plastic material and thus by its nature is
an inductive load. The inductive ‘kickback’ is controlled by circuitry inside the CSP. Typical currents
into a boomer plate are listed below:-
Energy (HI) AA202 Plate EG+G Uniboom
100J 800A 900A
200J 1050A 1200A
300J 1250A 1350A
The currents will vary according to the length and type of cable used between the load and the
energy source. Note that the CSP-N units are specified for AAE and EG+G boomer plates and
have not – to date- been tested with any other type.
Ensure that the energy and repetition rate do not over drive the sound source! (Boomer plate -
check the boomer plate manual).
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Operation of the CSP-N with a Sparker Sound Source
The CSP-N is designed for use with the Dura-Spark Sparker. The CSP-N is not compatible with
the Squid Sparker range of sparker sound sources due to the polarity of the power supply.
The polarity of the CSP-N reduces tip wear to a minimum ensuring a stable repeatable sound
source.
A sparker consists of a number of electrodes in the (salt) water which creates a sound pulse as the
plasma bubble expands. The current into a sparker varies with cable length and type as well as by
the number of tips and the salinity of the water. Typical values are shown below for the Dura Spark
sparker in seawater with a salinity of 35 ppm.
Energy Dura Spark 80
Tips Dura Spark 160
Tips Dura Spark 240
Tips Dura Spark 400
Tips
300J 1800A 2000A 2500A
500J 2400A 3000A 3500A 4500A
1250J 4500A 6000A 6500A
2000J 8500A
Operation of the CSP-N with a Non AAE Sound Source
The CSP-N is designed for use with the Dura-Spark Sparker and the AA series of Boomer Plates.
When used with sparker sound sources from other manufacturers the operator must ensure that
the operational characteristics of the sparker are within the parameters of the CSP-N. It is
recommended that the operator measures the discharge current level and rise time consulting with
AAE before commencing survey operations to ensure reliability / compatibility.
Dummy Load
AAE manufacture a dummy load with precisely designed characteristics which can be used for
testing of CSP-N units in the workshop to avoid ‘water based dummy loads’.
Please check with other sparker manufacturers whether their sparkers are compatible with the
specifications laid out in this manual.
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1.5. Operator Controls and Indicators
MAINS POWER Switch
Double pole switch that also acts as an over current circuit breaker. It is situated by the mains input
connector. The switch has standard O I positions.
EMERGENCY STOP switch
In the event of an emergency the unit can be shut down. This switch shuts off the control logic of
the charger thus disabling the system. Rotate to reset.
HV OFF/RESET Switch
Needs to be pressed if fault occurs, or if someone has tampered with the controls. This button also
operates as the HV OFF button. Press to switch OFF.
HV ON Switch
Switches in capacitors and HV PSU, (note delays on switching), switch illuminates when the high
voltage is switched on operated in conjunction with the HV ENABLE key switch, thus to switch HV
ON, HV ENABLE needs to be enabled simultaneously.
MANUAL KEY Switch
Triggers CSP unit when pressed. Also illuminates when an external key pulse is detected
KEY POLARITY Switch
Used to select either:
+ve key pulse (3.5 – 20 volts, opto isolated triggers 0.5 mS from rising edge), or
contact closure (triggers 0.5 mS from falling edge or closure).
LOCAL / REMOTE Switch
Controls whether an external remote box can be used, as marked on the front panel.
Note that the unit can be switched off from the front panel and the remote at any time.
CHARGE RATE Switch (Located on rear panel)
As previously described, this switch selects the AVIP circuitry or full charge.
Recommended position : IN (AVIP Engaged)
CSPN Capacitor Charging Unit Operation Manual
CSP-CSPN-8000/1
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Page 20 of 63
1.5.1 Indicators
EOC (End Of Charge) Indicator
LED illuminated when the storage capacitors have reached their potential voltage (~2.5 to 4 kV).
In this way the operator can see if the unit is being run faster than the charger can cope with. If the
operator notices loss of data on the recording system, it may mean the CSP-N is being fired too
quickly, not allowing the capacitors to charge to their full potential. Slowing the repetition rate down
until the EOC LED flashes will ensure the appropriate voltage is reached across the storage
capacitors, also the correct energy is being discharged in the sound source.
FAULT Indicator
This indicator will normally illuminate when the unit is powered up, and will extinguish when the
RESET button is pressed. It will otherwise illuminate during most faults. Please note that the fault
light will not illuminate if the thermal cut-out operates in the charger module.
INTERLOCK Indicator
Illuminated if front panel connector is left out when the unit is switched ON or if the lid of the HV
junction box has not been closed correctly. The interlock LED will also illuminate if the top cover is
removed. You will need to press RESET once the interlock condition has been cured.
TIME OUT Indicator
For safety, the HV is switched OFF after a period of approximately 25 - 30 seconds without key.
This also helps preserve the capacitors, as all pulse discharge capacitors are not designed to sit
powered up indefinitely.
HV FAULT Indicator
Indicates an output overvoltage, (possibly due to an open circuit capacitor), temperature fault or
low input voltage condition.
LOAD FAULT Indicator
Indicates an HV Output over current or open circuit condition. The indicator will be illuminated
together with the HV OFF LED for 10secs before resetting.
This manual suits for next models
3
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