Gentex PHONETALKER III Manual

Care and Use Instructions
NAVSEA-Approved
Phonetalker Type III Helmet
© 2013 Gentex Corporation

When you replace components or install additional components on
Gentex products, always use genuine factory-new Gentex parts. This
will ensure a correct t and maintain the safety of the product. Use
of non-Gentex parts (salvage, refurbished, etc.) for replacement
or additional installation will void any product warranty and may
compromise the safety of the user.

Contents
FEATURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
COMPONENT DESCRIPTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Helmet Shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Retention Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Pad Suspension System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
HELMET FITTING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
MAINTENANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Preventive Maintenance Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
COMPONENT REPLACEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Replacing Chin Strap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Replacing Nape Pad. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Replacing Retention Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Replacing Pad Suspension Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
PARTS LIST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

1
PHONETALKER TYPE III HELMET
FEATURES
• Thehelmet(Figure 1)isdesignedtoaccommodatevariousheadsets,
includingsound-poweredheadsetsusedonnavalvessels.
• Inadditiontoprovidingballisticfragmentprotection,thehelmetalso
providesballisticprotectionagainsta9mm124grainFMJatminimum
1400FPSvelocitywhentestedperProductSpecication0902.
• Areducedproleprovidesexpandedupwardandperipheraleldofview
forimprovedsituationalawareness.
• Afour-pointadjustableretentionassembly(withfrontreleasebucklesfor
easyinterfacewithheadsets)providesstabilityandcomfort.
• Thewater-resistantpadsuspensionsystemisdesignedforuniform
compression,asnugt,andcompatibilitywithheadband-styleheadsets.
• Thehelmetisauniversalsizeinlusterlessgraywithablackretention
assembly.
Figure 1. Phonetalker Type III Helmet
Helmet shell
Pad suspension
Retention
assembly

2
COMPONENT DESCRIPTION
Helmet Shell
Theballisticcompositehelmetshell(Figure 2)incorporatesstate-of-the-art
materialstoenhanceprotectionwithreducedweight.
Retention Assembly
Theretentionassembly(Figure 2)promotesstabilityandcomfort.Itincludes
anadjustablenapepad,anadjustablechinstrap,andfrontandrearslide
adjustments.Areleasebuckle(onbothfrontstraps)canbefastenedbetween
theheadsetmicrophoneandthewearer’sheadtoaidinproperpositioningofthe
microphone.
Figure 2. Helmet Shell and Retention Assembly
Chin strap
(adjustable)
Nape pad
(adjustable)
Rear slide
adjustments
Release
buckles
Helmet shell

3
Pad Suspension System
Yourhelmetisequippedwithapadsuspensionsystem(Figure 3),which
consistsofasetofeightwater-resistantpadsattachedtohookdisksonthe
insideofthehelmetshell.Thesetcontainstwotrapezoidalpads(oneincenter
frontandoneincenterback),andsixoblongpads.
Inthestandardpadconguration,thetwooblongpadsinthecrown(top)ofthe
helmetareplacedclosetogether.Inanalternateconguration,thesetwopads
canbespaced1½to1¾inchesaparttoaccommodateaheadset.
The05D11950-5pads(¾inchthick)areinstalled.The05D11950-6pads(1inch
thick)areoptional.Thedifferencesinthicknessallowforpropert.
Figure 3. Pad Suspension System
Hook disk
Oblong
pads
(crown)
STANDARD CONFIGURATION ALTERNATE CONFIGURATION
Trapezoidal pad
Oblong pad Oblong pad
Trapezoidal pad
Oblong pad Oblong pad
Trapezoidal pad
1½ to 1¾ inches
Oblong pad Oblong pad
Trapezoidal pad
Oblong pad Oblong pad
Hook disk
Oblong
pads
(crown)
The helmet is impact-qualied using the standard pad conguration.
This pad conguration provides the required impact protection at all
required impact sites. Alternate pad congurations may not provide
optimal protection at all required impact sites.

4
HELMET FITTING
1. Ifnecessary,spacethe
twooblongpadsinthe
crown(top)ofthehelmet
1½to1¾inchesapart
toaccommodatethe
headset.
2. Donandadjustthe
headsetaccordingtothe
headsetinstructions.
3. Donthehelmetover
theheadsetanddothe
following:
a. Onthesideofthe
helmetclosesttothe
headsetmicrophone,
unfastenthefrontstrap
buckle(Figure 4).
b. Positionthefront
strapbehindthe
microphone,and
fastenthefrontstrap
buckle(Figure 5).
c. Ifnecessary,unfasten,
reposition,andfasten
theotherfrontstrap
forproperinterface
withtheheadset.
d. Leavethechinstrap
unfastenedfornow.
(Continued on next page)
Figure 4. Front Strap Unfastened
Figure 5. Front Strap Behind Microphone
Ensure that all helmet adjustment mechanisms are properly adjusted
for a snug, secure t at all times when the helmet is worn. Failure to do
so can result in an unstable helmet that will not protect the wearer.
Front strap
buckle fastened
Chin
strap
Front strap
Front strap
buckle
unfastened
Front strap

5
4. Allowthehelmettosettleontheheadforafewminutesbeforecheckingthe
heightofthehelmetonthehead.Ensurethatthefrontedgeofthehelmetis
positionedjustabovetheeyebrows.Ifitisnot,dooneofthefollowing:
• Ifthe1-inch-thickpadsareinstalledandthehelmetistoohigh,remove
the1-inch-thickpadsandinstallthe¾-inch-thickpadsasshownin
Figure 6.Ensurethatthepadsarermlyattachedtothehookdisks.
• Ifthe¾-inch-thickpadsareinstalledandthehelmetistoolow,remove
the¾-inch-thickpadsandinstallthe1-inch-thickpadsasshownin
Figure 6.Ensurethatthepadsarermlyattachedtothehookdisks.
(Continued on next page)
Hook disk
Oblong
pads
(crown)
STANDARD CONFIGURATION ALTERNATE CONFIGURATION
Trapezoidal pad
Oblong pad Oblong pad
Trapezoidal pad
Oblong pad Oblong pad
Trapezoidal pad
1½ to 1¾ inches
Oblong pad Oblong pad
Trapezoidal pad
Oblong pad Oblong pad
Hook disk
Oblong
pads
(crown)
Figure 6. Pad Suspension System
The helmet is impact-qualied using the standard pad conguration.
This pad conguration provides the required impact protection at all
required impact sites. Alternate pad congurations may not provide
optimal protection at all required impact sites.

6
5. ReferringtoFigure 7,dothefollowing:
a. Bucklethechinstrap.
b. Adjustthenapepadforasnug,secure,comfortabletatthenapeby
movingthetworearslideadjustments.
c. Tightenthechinstrapbypullingontheendsuntilthetissnug,secure,
andcomfortable.Reattachtheendstothepilefastenerwhenthedesired
tisattained.
(Continued on next page)
Figure 7. Chin Strap and Slide Adjustment
End of chin strap
(both sides)
Chin strap buckle
Rear slide
adjustment
(both sides)
Pile fastener