E.A.R. MiniCanal Series User manual

P.O. Box 18888 | Boulder, CO. 80308 | U.S.A.
303-447-2619 | 800-525-2690
www.earinc.com | www.eartactical.com
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Serial numbers are imprinted on the
back of Full Shell, Half Shell, and CIC
(Completely in Canal) models, and on the
shell of MiniCanal™ models. The serial
number for Behind-The-Ear (BTE) units
can be found inside the battery door or
imprinted on the shell.
Full Shell, Half Shell, and CIC (Completely
in Canal) models are marked with a red
dot on the back of the instrument to indi-
cate that the unit is intended for the right
ear and a blue dot to indicate the left ear.
Some MiniCanals™ feature a red shell (right) and a blue
shell (left). MiniCanals™ with beige shell feature a red
indication (right) and a blue indication (left).
3
IDENTIFICATION
2
Full Shells – Rear View
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Identification .................................................3
Features: Full-Shell, Half-Shell ...................................4
Features: Rechargeable, , CIC (Completely-In-Canal) ...............5
Features: BTE (Behind-The-Ear), MiniCanal™ ......................6
Healthy Hearing/ Noise Levels ..................................7
Battery Installation and Removal ................................8
Battery Warning...............................................8
Volume Control Adjustments ...................................9
MiniCanal™ ..................................................10
Application and Removal of Silicone Tip.....................10
Inserting and Removing Your MiniCanal™ ...................10
Rechargeable ................................................11
How To Charge...........................................11
Half Shell Models .............................................12
Inserting Your Half Shell ..................................12
Removing Your Half Shell .................................12
Full Shell Models .............................................12
Inserting Your Full Shell ...................................13
Removing Your Full Shell ..................................13
Behind-The-Ear (BTE) Models...................................14
Installation and Removal of the Battery.....................14
Volume Control Adjustment ...............................14
How to Wear Your BTE ....................................15
Removing Your BTE.......................................15
M-T-O Switch ............................................15
Using the Private Ear™ Option .................................16
Multi-Memory Button .........................................17
Music Monitor Option.........................................17
Select-A-Vent System .........................................18
Care and Storage .............................................18
Use of the “Wax Loop” ........................................19
Personal Sound Amplification Products (PSAPs) ..................20
Volume Control ..........................................20
Installing the Battery .....................................20
Universal-Fit Over-The-Counter (OTC) Hearing Amplifiers..........21
Troubleshooting Guide ........................................22
Repair and Service............................................22
Limited Warranty.............................................23
MiniCanal™
BTE

FEATURES: RECHARGEABLE
5
Volume Control
Programming Socket
Your hearing protection may have different combinations of these features. Your hearing protection may have different combinations of these features.
FEATURES: FULL SHELL
FEATURES: HALF SHELL
4
Removal Line
(Lanyard
Placement)
Removal Line
(Lanyard
Placement)
Removal Line
(Lanyard Placement)
Removal Line
(Lanyard Placement)
Multi-Memory
Button
(Digital Only)
Lanyard
Audio Input
(Optional)
Audio Upgrade
(Optional)
Battery Drawer
Microphone Port and
Wind Screen
Microphone Port and
Wind Screen
Tone
Adjustment
(Advantage Only)
Tone Adjustment
(Advantage Only)
Receiver
Port
Receiver
Port
Volume
Control
Volume
Control
Volume
Control
Microphone
Port
Battery DrawerBattery Drawer
Microphone
Port
Select-A-Vent (Optional)
Private Ear™ (Optional)
FEATURES: CIC (COMPLETELY ICANAL)

7
HEALTHY HEARING
Proper use of your
hearing protection
is crucial to reduce
the risk of hearing
damage due to
high-level noise
exposure.
It is highly recom-
mended that you
have an annual
hearing evalua-
tion by a licensed
Hearing Healthcare
Professional. This
will keep you
informed of any
changes in your
hearing.
Many things con-
tribute to hearing
loss, including
natural aging,
diseases and lack of protection from high levels of noise.
Your hearing protection can reduce the risk of hearing
damage when used properly. Use your hearing protec-
tion when sound levels are greater than normal everyday
levels (i.e. gunshots, motorcycles, etc.)
FEATURES: BTE (BEHIND-THE-EAR)
6
Microphone Port
and Windscreen
Potentiometers (Featured
on various SHS units)
Ear Hook
Volume Control
Battery Drawer
FEATURES: MINICANAL™
Removal Line
(Lanyard Placement)
Microphone Port and
Wind Screen
Volume Control
Battery Drawer
Tone Adjustment
(Analog Only)
Receiver Port
Removable Silicone Tip
Your hearing protection may have different combinations of these features.

Volume Control
Allows you to adjust the
amount of amplification
provided by the instrument.
For Full Shells, Half Shells
and MiniCanals, to increase
amplification, turn the
volume control forward,
toward your face.
To decrease amplification,
turn the volume control
backward, toward the back
of your head.
For SHS models, turn the
Volume Control to a higher
number for higher volume.
Powering On and Off.
Your instrument is on any
time a functioning battery is
placed in the compartment,
and the battery drawer is
closed.
To turn your instrument off, fully open the battery drawer
and remove the battery.
BATTERY INSTALLATION/REMOVAL
Your hearing protection uses either a size 13, 10A, or
312 battery. Your hearing professional will advise you on
which battery to use.
Installing the battery
Open the battery compartment
by gently lifting the raised edge
of the swing-out drawer. Place
the battery in the drawer with
the “+” side facing the same
direction as the “+” sign on
the drawer. Close the battery
compartment by gently swing-
ing the drawer until it securely
snaps in place. Remove
installed batteries by fully opening the drawer and pushing
the battery out from the bottom.
If the drawer does not close easily, verify that the battery
is placed correctly in the compartment. DO NOT FORCE
THE BATTERY DRAWER SHUT.
BATTERY WARNING
Batteries are dangerous if swallowed. If ingested,
immediately contact a physician or the National
Button Battery Ingestion Hotline at [phone].
Dispose of used batteries in the proper waste or recycling
container. Keep batteries out of reach of children and pets.
9
Full Shell, Half Shell
MiniCanal™
SHS
8
VOLUME CONTROLS

MINICANAL™
Application/Removal of silicone tip
To apply silicone tip, hold tip between
thumb and index finger. Insert tip of
MiniCanal™ into silicone tip as shown.
To remove silicone tip, grasp the MiniCanal™ instrument and
tip between thumb and index finger and gently pull apart.
Inserting/Removing your MiniCanal™
To insert your MiniCanal™, hold it
with the extraction line between your
thumb and index finger. The micro-
phone opening should be at the bot-
tom. Gently guide the MiniCanal™ into
your ear canal until you feel resistance.
Release the extraction line. Using your
index finger, push the MiniCanal™ in
until it is seated comfortably in your
ear canal. Pulling down on your ear lobe with your other
hand as you push may help with insertion.
To remove, grasp the extraction line and gently pull the
MiniCanal™ out of your ear canal.
1110
DO NOT USE THE BATTERY DRAWER AS A HOLDING POINT
TO REMOVE YOUR MINICANAL™. DAMAGE MAY OCCUR.
RECHARGEABLE
How to Charge
Plug the charge box power
cord into an electrical outlet.
NOTE: Make sure the hearing
protection units are turned
off before charging. Turn the
charger power switch on and
a red light will appear on the
switch. Place the units face
down and level in the charg-
ing cups. A red light will also
glow inside the units to let you know they are charging.
Prior to initial use, the hearing instruments should be charged
for 12 hours to receive maximum rechargeable cell life.
After the initial charge cycle, we recommend 8 hours of daily
recharging time for up to 16 hours use. A routine of daily
recharging (8 hours) should provide maximum cell life.
Charge for at least 8 hours, but no more than 24 hours.
After charging, your units will last about 16 hours.
Recharging the unit for more than 72 continuous hours
may damage the recharging system.
Make sure you turn your charger switch to the off
position when you are not charging your units.

FULL SHELL MODELS
Inserting your
Full Shell
To insert your
Full Shell, hold it
between your thumb
and index finger with
the battery drawer
facing away from
the ear.
Slowly insert the
Full Shell into your
ear canal. Gently
twist it until it is
securely and comfort-
ably seated in your
ear. To achieve
the highest level of
protection, the
instrument must be
properly inserted.
Removing your Full Shell
To remove your Full Shell, grasp it with your thumb and
index finger, and gently twist it as you pull outward.
DO NOT USE THE BATTERY DRAWER TO REMOVE YOUR
FULL SHELL. DAMAGE MAY OCCUR.
HALF SHELL MODELS
Inserting your
Half Shell
To insert your
Half Shell, hold it
between your thumb
and index finger.
The volume control
should be at
the top.
Gently guide the
Half Shell into your
ear canal. Press on
the instrument to
ensure that it is in
place. To achieve
the highest level
of protection, the
instrument must be
properly inserted.
Removing your Half Shell
To remove your Half Shell, reach into the ear with your
thumb and index finger, and gently pull out the instrument.
DO NOT USE THE BATTERY DRAWER TO REMOVE YOUR
HALF SHELL. DAMAGE MAY OCCUR.
1312

15
BEHIND-THE-EAR (BTE) MODELS
How to Wear Your BTE
To insert your custom earmold or foam
tip (shown here), hold it between your
thumb and index finger.
Slowly insert the custom earmold or foam
tip into your ear canal. Gently twist until
it is securely and comfortably seated in
your ear. To achieve the highest level of
protection the instrument must be
properly inserted.
Place the hearing protector behind your ear.
To Remove Your BTE, take the instrument
out from behind your ear and gently pull
the earmold outward.
M-T-O switch
Some BTEs are equipped with an
M-T-O switch. For normal listening
situations, set the switch to the “M”
or Microphone position. When using
the Private Ear™ option, set the switch
to the “T”. To turn the BTE off, set the
switch to the “O” or off position. Some
models feature a Multi-Memory button
to perform these functions.
BEHIND-THE-EAR (BTE) MODELS
Installing the Battery
Open the battery compartment by gently
lifting the raised edge of the swing-out
drawer.
Place the battery in the drawer with the
+ side facing the same direction as the
+ sign on the drawer.
Close the battery compartment by gen-
tly swinging the drawer until it securely
snaps in place.
DO NOT FORCE THE BATTERY DRAWER SHUT.
If the drawer does not close easily, verify that the
battery is placed correctly in the compartment.
Remove installed batteries by fully opening the drawer
and pushing the battery out from the bottom.
Volume control adjustment
To increase amplification, turn the
volume control upward to display a
higher number.
To decrease, turn downward to a
lower number.
14

MUSIC MONITOR OPTION
The Audio Input option gives users the ability to use their
electronic earpiece as a music monitor. This feature is
completely independent from the electronic enhance-
ment aspect of the earpiece and will not rely on a battery
to power it.
The detachable 4-foot
audio cord has a standard
3.5mm stereo jack that will
fit all stereo devices.
USING THE PRIVATE EAR™ OPTION
The Private Ears™ option brings com-
munications from a two-way radio or
cell-phone straight to the ear via an
induction loop system. This feature
enables the user to camouflage radio
commands communications without
any wires to the ear.
The Private Ear™ option is available on Full Shell, Half
Shell, and BTE models and is designed to activate when
used with a telephone or communication radio connect-
ed to an induction loop which transmits to the hearing
protection instrument.
If your Full Shell or Half Shell is equipped with the
Private Ear™ option, activate it by gently toggling the
switch upward.
If you have an instrument with an
M-T-O switch, set it to “T” for Private
Ear™ option.
For units equipped with an “Active
Telecoil”, the instrument will respond
automatically.
The Private Ear™ is also available
in a stand-alone non-custom Micro
unit and features receive-only ability.
17
MULTI-MEMORY BUTTON
Your hearing protection may be equipped
with a multi-memory button which allows
you to select from the different memory
settings that your hearing professional
has programmed for you and will advise
you the on use of.
If the instrument is turned off or the battery is removed
the setting will default to Memory Setting 1.
16
Full/Half Shell
Micro Private Ear™
BTE
Full and Half Shell
1.
2.
3.
4.
Memory Settings/Listening Environments

SELECT-A-VENT SYSTEM
Select-a-Vent technology is ideal for users who also par-
ticipate in non-impact situations such as archery, bird
watching and general communications. This feature will
reduce the overall occlusion effect of a completely solid
earplug and allow the ear canal to breathe.
For those who select this
option and still wish to
have the option of using
their electronic earpieces
within high impact noise
areas, the vent hole can
be closed with supplied
plugs. This will create a solid
earpiece again and protect against high noise levels.
1918
If you use a BTE, clean the earmold by wiping it with a
soft, moist cloth. Inspect the plastic tubing frequently.
Have your hearing professional replace cracked,
hardened, or clogged tubing.
DO NOT wear your hearing protection while showering
or bathing, or otherwise allow any liquid to enter the
instrument.
DO NOT drop your hearing protection.
DO NOT apply perfumes, colognes, or hair spray while
wearing your hearing protection.
DO NOT expose your hearing protection to excessive heat
such as ovens, heat lamps, hair dryers, etc.
CARE AND STORAGE
If you are not planning to use your hearing protection
for an extended period of time, remove the battery and
store your hearing protection and battery separately in
the supplied storage case.
Carefully brush your hearing protection with the supplied
brush tool located in your storage case. Do not push any
earwax or other debris into the openings of the hearing
protection. After brushing your hearing protection, wipe
it thoroughly with a soft cloth.
This device is designed for trouble-
free removal of wax from the ear
canal portion of your earmold
and vent. Insert the loop, at a
slight angle, just into the opening
of the canal to gently lift wax out.
If your earmold has a vent hole
located along the sound channel,
this opening should also be cleaned with the Wax Loop.
For custom instruments, open the swing door sideways
to clean under the door and the surface of the opening.
There is a wax spring basket in the opening which can
be removed, cleaned, and reinserted. Brush away any
wax, dirt, etc. from the surface of plug with the brush
end of the wax loop.
USE OF THE “WAX LOOP”