NorthStar NS3100 Multi Instrument User manual

NS 3100 MULTI
Reference
Manual
and
Installation
Manual

FCC Statement
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a normal installation. This equipment generates,
uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this
equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on,
the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
Connect the equipment into an output on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
Consult the dealer or an experienced technician for help.
A shielded cable must be used when connecting a peripheral to the serial ports.
Important
It is the owner’s sole responsibility to install and use the instrument and transducer/s in a manner that will not cause accidents, personal
injury or property damage. The user of this product is solely responsible for observing safe boating practices.
Northstar DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY FOR ANY USE OF THIS PRODUCT IN A WAY THAT MAY CAUSE ACCIDENTS, DAMAGE OR THAT MAY
VIOLATE THE LAW.
This manual represents the NS3100 DEPTH as at the time of printing. Northstar reserves the right to make changes to specifications without
notice.
Governing Language: This statement, any instruction manuals, user guides and other information relating to the product (Documentation)
may be translated to, or has been translated from, another language (Translation). In the event of any conflict between any Translation of
the Documentation, the English language version of the Documentation will be the official version of the Documentation.
Copyright © 2005 Northstar.

7-1 Start countdown timer..............................................................15
7-2 Stop and reset countdown timer...........................................15
7-3 Adjust start time..........................................................................15
8 Systems of several instruments......................................................16
8-1 NMEA..............................................................................................16
8-2 NavBus ........................................................................................... 16
9 NS3100 Multi hardware .......................................................................17
9-1 What comes with your NS3100 Multi ................................. 17
9-2 Other parts required.................................................................. 17
9-3 Transducers...................................................................................18
9-4 Accessories....................................................................................18
10 Installation and setup.........................................................................19
10-1 Installation ..................................................................................19
10-2 Setup.............................................................................................21
10-3 Resetting to factory defaults ................................................21
Appendix A - Specifications...................................................................22
Appendix B - Troubleshooting.............................................................23
1 Introduction.................................................................................................... 4
2 Operation.......................................................................................................... 5
2-1 Turn on and off ............................................................................. 5
2-2 Basic operation..............................................................................5
2-3 Change units ..................................................................................6
2-4 Alarms ..............................................................................................6
2-5 Simulate mode .............................................................................. 6
2-6 Key reference.................................................................................7
3 Speed, average speed, maximum speed, trim speed........... 8
3-1 Set speed and log units.............................................................. 8
3-2 Reset average speed ................................................................... 8
3-3 Reset maximum speed...............................................................8
3-4 Reset trim speed ...........................................................................9
3-5 Set speed damping ......................................................................9
3-6 Set speed resolution .................................................................... 9
3-7 Calibrate speed............................................................................10
4 Log and total log.........................................................................................11
4-1 Reset log........................................................................................11
4-2 Reset total log..............................................................................11
5 Depth, keel offset, too deep alarm, too shallow alarm ....12
5-1 Set depth units.............................................................................12
5-2 Set too deep alarm ....................................................................12
5-3 Set too shallow alarm...............................................................13
5-4 Anchor watch...............................................................................13
5-5 Set keel offset ..............................................................................13
6 Temperature ................................................................................................14
6-1 Set temperature units................................................................14
6-2 Calibrate temperature...............................................................14
7 Countdown timer......................................................................................15
Contents

4Northstar NS3100 MULTI
The NS3100 Multi measures and displays speed,
water depth and water temperature. It can calculate
and display average speed, maximum speed, trim
speed, trip log (distance) and total log.
An installed NS3100 Multi usually has two parts:
The display unit.
Depth and speed / temperature transducers
which are attached to the hull and wired to the
display unit.
The unit is powered from the boat’s power supply.
The NS3100 Multi is part of the Northstar family of
instruments for boats, which includes instruments
for speed, depth, wind and repeaters. These
instruments can be connected together to form an
integrated data system for a boat (see section 8).
For maximum benefit, please read this manual
carefully before installation and use.
How the transducer measures depth
The depth transducer generates an ultrasonic
(sound) pulse, which travels down through the water.
When the pulse meets the bottom, some of the
pulse is reflected back up towards the boat and is
received by the transducer.
1 Introduction
The display unit analyses the reflections from each
pulse. It removes unwanted reflections (from bubbles
and other objects) and calculates the depth by
measuring the time between sending the pulse and
receiving its echo.
How the transducer measures speed
The speed transducer has a small paddlewheel
which spins as the boat moves through the water.
The transducer measures how fast the paddlewheel
is spinning and calculates the boat speed by
averaging several measurements.
Cleaning and maintenance
Clean the display unit and any plastic transducers
with a damp cloth or mild detergent. Avoid abrasive
cleaners, petrol or other solvents.
When repainting the hull, cover or remove any
visible transducers. Depth transducers may be
coated with a thin layer of antifouling paint; gently
sand off any previous paint first.
The NS3100 Multi display unit

5
Reference Manual and Installation Manual
Change the items displayed
The display can show two values at once, one in the
top part of the screen and one in the bottom. If an
item displays as dashes (— —) then it means that the
value is outside the range, for example the depth
might be too deep or unknown.
To change what is displayed in the top part of the
screen, press one or more times to select:
Speed.
Avg speed.
Max speed.
Trim speed.
Depth.
Temperature.
To change the value displayed in the bottom part of
the screen, press one or more times to select:
Speed.
Depth.
Trip log ( distance).
Total log (distance).
Battery voltage.
Countdown timer.
The keys
The unit has four keys, labelled and . In
this manual:
Press means to push the key for less than one
second.
Hold for two seconds means to hold the key down
for two seconds or more.
Press one key + another key means to push both
keys together.
Set backlight level for screen and keys
You can set the backlight to one of four brightness
levels or off. Press once to display the current
backlight level, press again to change the level:
Backlight Level 2
2-1 Turn on and off
2-2 Basic operation
Turn the unit on and off with the auxiliary power
switch on the boat. The unit does not have its own
power switch. When you turn it off, any settings you
have made are retained.
If the word SIM flashes at the bottom, right of the
display, then the unit is in simulate mode (see section
2-5).
2 Operation

6Northstar NS3100 MULTI
To turn Simulate mode on or off:
1 Turn the power off.
2 Hold down while you turn the power on.
2-3 Change units
To change the speed and log units, press until
Speed is displayed, then hold until the units
change; if necessary, hold again until the units
change again.
To change the depth units, press until DEPth is
displayed, then hold until the units change; if
necessary, hold until the units change again.
To change the temperature units, press until
the temperature is displayed, then hold until
the units change.
2-4 Alarms
The NS3100 Multi can be set to sound an alarm
when the water is too deep or too shallow (see
sections 5-2 and 5-3). When the alarm sounds, the
internal beeper sounds, the symbol on the display
flashes and any external beepers or lights operate.
Press to mute the alarm. The alarm stays muted
until the depth becomes returns to the pre-alarm
condition or is within the alarm parameters. The
alarm will sound if the depth becomes too deep or
too shallow again.
2-5 Simulate mode
Simulate mode allows you to become familiar with
the unit off the water. In Simulate mode, the NS3100
Multi functions normally except that the transducers
are ignored and the unit generates this data
internally. The word SIMULATE flashes at the bottom,
right corner of the screen.

7
Reference Manual and Installation Manual
Hold
2 sec
Hold
2 sec
+
+
+
Hold
Hold
+
5 sec
Hold 2 sec
Increase
value or
change
setting
Decrease
value or
change
setting
Turn Simulate
on or off
Reset memory
Change units of bottom value
(e.g. knots, metres)
Change units of top value
(e.g. knots, metres, °C)
Reset bottom value to zero
(Log, Total log (hold for 5 sec)
Start or stop countdown timer)
Reset top value to zero
(Avg speed, Max speed,
Trim speed)
Adjust backlight
(4 levels or off)
Mute an alarm
Change bottom display
(Speed, Depth, Log, Total log,
Battery voltage, Countdown
timer)
Change top display
(Speed, Avg speed, Max speed,
Trim speed, Depth, Tempera-
ture)
Set Speed
Resolution
Set Speed
Calibration
Set Temperature
Calibration
Set Keel Offset
Set Countdown
Timer Start Time
Set Speed
Damping
Set Too Shal-
low alarm
Set Too Deep
alarm
Hold 2
sec
Return to
normal
operation
Return to
normal
operation
Increase
alarm
depth
Hold 2
sec
+
2-6 Key reference
Setup
Turn alarm
on or off
Normal operation
Set Log
Calibration
Set Backlight
Group
Decrease
alarm
depth
Set Speed Mode
Sen(sor) or GPS
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Mode
is GPS
Mode
is SEn
Set alarms
Turn power on

8Northstar NS3100 MULTI
boat speed, relative to when you reset trim speed
to zero. For example, if the boat is travelling at 10
knots and you reset trim speed, then trim speed is
zero. Then:
If the boat speed increases to 11.5 knots, the trim
speed is 1.5 knots.
If the boat speed decreases to 8.5 knots, the trim
speed is -1.5 knots.
The unit can display several speeds:
Speed: The current boat speed.
Avg speed: The average speed since Avg speed
was reset or the unit was switched on.
Max speed: The maximum speed since Max
speed was reset or the unit was switched on.
Trim speed: Trim speed may be used for tuning
racing boats. Trim speed measures changes in
The speed units can be selected to be KNOTS, KPH
and MPH. Selecting one of these automatically sets
the log distance units to NM, KM or M (miles):
Press until Speed is displayed, then hold
until the units change; if necessary, hold again
until the units change again.
3-1 Set speed and log units
Resetting makes the NS3100 Multi calculate a new
average speed:
1 Press until Avg speed is displayed.
2 Press + .
3-2 Reset average speed
Resetting makes the NS3100 Multi calculate a new
maximum:
1 Press until Max speed is displayed.
2 Press + .
3-3 Reset maximum speed
3 Speed, average speed, maximum speed, trim speed

9
Reference Manual and Installation Manual
1 Press + several times until the Speed
Damping screen is displayed.
2 Press or to change the damping.
3 Press .
3-4 Reset trim speed
Resetting sets the trim speed to zero:
1 Press until TRIM speed is displayed.
2 Press + .
3-5 Set speed damping
Waves and wind cause the boat speed to fluctuate
slightly. To give a stable reading, the NS3100
Multi calculates the boat speed and trim speed by
measuring the speed several times and averaging
the measurements. The speed damping value ranges
from 1 to 5:
A lower value averages readings over a shorter
period of time. This gives the most accurate speed
but has the most fluctuations.
A higher value averages readings over a longer
period of time. This gives the most stable speed
but will ignore some true speed changes.
Set the speed damping to the lowest value which
gives a stable speed reading. Values of 1, 2, 3, 4
and 5 average readings over a time period of 6,
12, 18, 24 and 30 seconds respectively. To get the
most accurate, stable trim speeds, you may need to
increase the damping. To set speed damping:
To set the speed resolution:
1 Press + several times until the Speed
Resolution screen is displayed.
2 Press or to change the resolution setting to
0.0 or 0.00.
3 Press .
3-6 Set speed resolution
This sets how speeds are displayed. It has two
settings:
0.0 Displays speeds as 0.0 to 19.9, 20 up.
0.00 Displays speeds as 0.00 to 19.99, 20.0 to
29.9, 30 up.
Damping
equals 3
Value equals
0.0 or 0.00