mcmurdo S4 Rescue SART User manual

S4 RESCUE SART
Service
Service Service
Service Manual
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S4 RESCUE SART service manual Issue 2
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Contents
1. Introduction........................................................................................................................... 1
1.1. Scope ............................................................................................................................. 1
1.2. Applicability..................................................................................................................... 1
1.3. Revision history .............................................................................................................. 1
1.4. Servicing equipment ....................................................................................................... 2
1.5. Safety notices ................................................................................................................. 3
2. Assessment .......................................................................................................................... 5
2.1. Maintenance tas s.......................................................................................................... 5
2.2. Routine testing................................................................................................................ 5
2.3. Assessment .................................................................................................................... 5
3. Maintenance rocedures ..................................................................................................... 8
3.1. Mechanical inspection .................................................................................................... 8
3.2. Self test procedure ......................................................................................................... 8
3.3. Functional testing ........................................................................................................... 9
3.4. Frequency testing ........................................................................................................... 9
3.5. Lea testing .................................................................................................................. 12
3.6. Battery replacement ..................................................................................................... 13
4. Fault finding ........................................................................................................................ 17
5. Re air rocedures.............................................................................................................. 18
5.1. Replace O-ring ............................................................................................................. 18
5.2. Replace PCB ................................................................................................................ 18
5.3. Re-tune PCB ................................................................................................................ 19
5.4. Factory return procedure .............................................................................................. 19
6. S ares.................................................................................................................................. 20
A endix 1: S ecification ......................................................................................................... 21
7. Product Warranty ............................................................................................................... 22
8. End of Life Statement......................................................................................................... 23
8.1. Battery Removal ........................................................................................................... 23
8.2. Disposal........................................................................................................................ 23
This document is McMurdo copyright (©) and contains proprietary owned intellectual property rights and confidential data. All
rights are strictly reserved. The information must not be used except for the agreed purpose. Unauthorized use, reproduction
or issue to any third party is not permitted without the prior written authority of McMurdo. This document is to be returned to
McMurdo when the agreed purpose is fulfilled.

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1. INTRODUCTION
The Search and Rescue Radar Transponder (SART) is a rescue aid designed to detect an X-
band marine radar signal and produce a distinctive radar return pulse which causes a series of
radial dots to appear on the remote radar screen. These dots are recognised as a “distress”
pattern and assist in the location of the SART.
The SART wor s with any radar operating between 9.2 and 9.5GHz. It has a broadband receiver
that detects any incoming radar pulse and “triggers” the SART. Once triggered, the SART
switches to transmit mode and responds with 12 sweeps across the entire 9.2 to 9.5 GHz radar
band. At some point in each sweep the frequency will “hit” the radar’s receiver band and produce
a simulated 'echo'. A total of 12 'echoes' are produced as a radial line on the radar screen, the
innermost 'echo' being the approximate position of the SART.
The SART has four modes of operation:
Off – all functions are disabled. This is the storage condition.
Slee – the receiver is active and ready to respond to a detected signal.
Standby – the receiver and transmitter are active and ready to respond to a detected signal.
Transmit – a signal has been detected and the unit is responding.
Upon switch on, most units will immediately be in Standby mode; after approx 15 – 18 seconds of
seeing no incoming radar pulses the SART will revert to sleep mode to save power.
1.1. Sco e
This manual represents the original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) documentation applicable
to the SART equipment listed below. The manual provides complete instructions for shore-based
maintenance (SBM) providers to enable routine servicing of these products.
1.2. A licability
This information applies to the following SART models. All of these are “badged” versions of the
basic S4 SART.
• McMurdo S4 RESCUE
• SAILOR SART II
• SKANTI SART II
• RFD S4 RESCUE
Each SART version may be supplied as one of three options:
SART with pole and bul head mount
SART with pole only
SART only
1.3. Revision history
The S4 was introduced in 2003.
There have been no product revisions up to December 2004.

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1.4. Servicing equi ment
Detailed SART servicing requires specialist equipment, including a microwave pulse generator
and a spectrum analyser. To reduce equipment costs a dedicated SART tester (ARG 5420) is
now available. Traditionally this equipment is beyond the reach of many service agents and a
lower level of routine SART servicing has become normal. This just requires access to a marine
X-band radar to trigger the SART and view its response on the radar screen. For many service
agents located near a harbour this facility can be arranged with local boat owners. The level of
equipment required can thus be bro en into two categories:
Equi ment for advanced servicing:
a) 9.4 GHz pulse generator with suitable horn antenna
10 GHz minimum spectrum analyser (accurate to 1 MHz) with Rx antenna
or
b) ARG 5420 dedicated SART tester
Equi ment for routine servicing:
Marine X-band Radar within 3 miles (or access to this)
Lea test facility (made on site as required)
Static safe wor area with operator wrist strap
Battery discharge circuit (made on site as required)
Tin can or metallic cover for screening SART radome
Multimeter
Handtools:
Small Pozidriv (PT0) screwdriver
Large Pozidriv (PT2) screwdriver
Torque driver with 2mm hex (allen) bit
Antistatic recautions
The electronics section of the SART is sensitive to electrostatic discharge (ESD). ESD can cause
immediate or hidden long term damage. It is important that the PCBs are only handled under
suitable antistatic conditions.
Ideally, a fully grounded wor station which has conductive surfaces to avoid the build up of static
charge should be used. As a minimum, the operator must be connected to a good earth point
through a resistance of 1Mohm. This is usually achieved by wearing a suitable wrist strap.

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1.5. Safety notices
Please read the following for your safety:
This product has been assessed as presenting negligible hazard in a sealed serviceable state.
Safety analysis
The following table summarises the nature of the hazard which may be present when the unit is
opened or serviced; each hazard is discussed at greater length in the detailed sections.
Hazard cause Hazard identification Precautions
Lithium battery Explosive ris , corrosive fumes,
fire, biological hazard
Handle appropriately, avoid
contact
Radio frequency
radiation
Physiological hazard Avoid close or prolonged
exposure
IPA Irritant, highly flammable Avoid contact, ventilate well
Lithium batteries
Hazardous chemicals Wear gloves
The batteries used in these products contain Lithium (Li). Lithium is inflammable, reacts violently
with water and constitutes a biological hazard. These batteries are HAZARDOUS if short-
circuited, punctured, incinerated or deformed.
Lithium batteries must not be short circuited.
Lithium batteries must be handled, transported and disposed of using appropriate safety
precautions. The use of rubber gloves as a routine precaution is recommended.
In the event of lea age of the battery electrolyte (which can be recognised by a pungent odour),
ta e care to avoid contact, particularly with open wounds; do not ingest the material. Do not
attempt to discharge a lea ing battery – remove it using appropriate handling materials and seal
in a plastic bag, then dispose of it through an approved environmental disposal agent, or in
accordance with local regulations.
Radio frequency radiation
Radio frequency radiation
A SART produces microwave radiation when it responds to a radar. The radiated level is below
2W with a duty cycle below 1%. The low duty cycle means this is not considered to be a hazard.
During SART testing, ensure compliance with Health & Safety instructions when wor ing in close
proximity to the ship’s radar.

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General recautions for chemical agents (adhesives, greases, IPA)
Observe all safety precautions relevant to the country of operation. As a general rule, protective
overalls, gloves and goggles should be worn when handling these chemical agents, but different
countries may have additional requirements which must be observed.
Ensure that all chemical agents are handled in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions,
and that suitable protective clothing is worn.
Ma e sure that the wor ing area is well ventilated, and that chemical substances are not left
exposed. Observe good hygiene practices; do not eat, drin or smo e when handling chemicals.
Cyanoacrylate adhesives bond instantly on contact. If s in is bonded, it can usually be released
by a gentle peeling action; above all, do not panic and avoid direct pulling on bonded s in.
Read the manufacturer's instructions before using any chemical agent.
Wear goggles Wear overalls Wash hands Wear gloves

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2. ASSESSMENT
2.1. Maintenance tasks
Service agents (Shore Based Maintenance (SBM) providers) are reminded that it is their
responsibility to ensure that good common practice and the procedures herein are followed and
that only McMurdo approved parts are fitted.
Routine service agents can provide:
• Assessment
• Functional test
• Lea test
• Battery replacement
Advanced service agents can also provide:
• Microwave testing
• Frequency adjustment
2.2. Routine testing
Every SART should be tested monthly by its owner to ensure its functionality.
Whenever possible the SART should be inspected for mechanical damage.
It is strongly recommended that the SART be functionally tested every year using a radar signal.
The SART should not be opened during this test. An approved service label showing the date of
test should be affixed to the outside of the SART.
Every time the batteries are replaced, the SART must receive a functional test and a lea test, as
shown in the table below.
Frequency of testing:
INTERVAL PERFORMED BY
Self test Function test Leak test
1 month  Customer
1 year   Customer or SBM provider
Battery change    SBM provider
2.3. Assessment
Every SART returned for servicing, of whatever nature, must be fully assessed to determine its
operational status. The diagram shows the tas s which must be carried out for each servicing
situation. This must include a functional test and a lea test.

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Assessment form
The assessment form overleaf serves as a prompt to ensure no assessment steps are left out. It
may be used to support customer billing, and must accompany any warranty return to the
manufacturer.
It is important that as much information as possible is recorded on the form. Procedures for the
assessment are detailed in section 3.
ASSESSMENT
Inspect
Self test
Receipt
Functional test
Return
No fault
Lea test
Disassemble
Change
battery
Reassemble
Disassemble
Repair
Reassemble
Battery change Fault found
Lea test

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S4 SART ASSESSMENT Ref No.
Serial No.
Customer/Comments Date.
Ins ection Remarks
Casing intact YES NO
Pole intact YES NO
Pole extends correctly YES NO
Lanyard OK YES NO
Frangible tab intact YES NO
Battery expiry date OK YES NO Date:
Self test
Un-triggered (sleep) state PASS FAIL
Triggered (active) state PASS FAIL
Functional test PASS FAIL
Frequency test results
Upper frequency
(9.53±0.03 MHz)
PASS FAIL Value: MHz
Lower frequency
(9.17±0.03 MHz)
PASS FAIL Value: MHz
Number of sweeps
(12±1)
PASS FAIL Value: sweeps
Pulse length
(95±13 us)
PASS FAIL Value: us
Battery voltage PASS FAIL Value: volts
Leak test (if opened) PASS FAIL
Date Name of tester Signature
Conclusions
Parts
required:
Brac et 
Pole 
Frangible tab 
Radome 
Battery it 
PCB module 
Spring 
Sealing it 
Other