Seakeeper 1 User manual

JUNE 2020, Revision 1
OPERATION MANUAL

OPERATION
MANUAL
Product:
Document #:
Rev:
SEAKEEPER 1
90520
1
SEAKEEPER 1
OPERATION MANUAL
JUNE 2020
Contents:
Section 1 – System Overview
Section 2 – System Operation
Section 3 – Power Failures, Alarms, and Troubleshooting
Section 4 – Maintenance
Section 5 – Warranty, Limit of Liability, Property Rights
Section 6 – Specifications and Summary
45310 Abell House Lane, Suite 350
CALIFORNIA, MARYLAND, 20619, U.S.A
PHONE: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
E-MAIL: [email protected]

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Section 1: SYSTEM OVERVIEW
1.0 SYSTEM OVERVIEW
The Seakeeper 1 uses gyroscopic principles to dampen cyclic boat roll motions in waves and wakes.
In installations involving multiple Seakeepers, each Seakeeper operates independently of one
another; therefore, this manual only discusses the operation of a single unit.
Reduction of boat roll is a function of the boat’s displacement, transverse metacentric height (GMT),
and hull damping as well as the operating conditions (speed and heading with respect to waves) and
sea state. Seakeeper’s active control regulates the hydraulic brake to ensure the Seakeeper’s anti-roll
torque is maximized irrespective of hull characteristics or operating conditions.
Operation of the Seakeeper 1 requires mechanical, electrical, and plumbing interfaces with the boat.
Figure 1 illustrates the interconnection of these components and their interface with the boat. The
Seakeeper 1 requires a connection to a display to support the Seakeeper Application; display options
include a compatible MFD or Seakeeper 5” Touch Display.
FIGURE 1 – SEAKEEPER 1SYSTEM COMPONENTS
Seakeeper 1 technical specifications provided in Section 6 list the power consumption, total weight,
and dimensions of the major components. Gyroscopic principals that apply to boat roll control
are discussed on Seakeeper’s website at www.seakeeper.com. The Seakeeper website also
contains videos of Seakeeper operation and a variety of different boats operating in waves with the
Seakeeper on and off. It is recommended that the reader play these videos prior to reading the
remainder of this manual.

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Section 1: SYSTEM OVERVIEW
There is a large torque about the gimbal axis when the Seakeeper is precessing. The
Seakeeper 1 enclosure is provided to prevent personnel or equipment from
contacting the Seakeeper while it is in operation. The enclosure should not be stood
on or have anything placed on top. The enclosure should always be in place during
operation. If it is ever necessary to touch the Seakeeper while the flywheel is
spinning, the Seakeeper must be locked at the display to stop the Seakeeper from
precessing. Seakeeper maintenance should not be attempted unless the Seakeeper
is locked and the flywheel has stopped spinning.
Boat operators are advised that the Seakeeper’s sole function is to dampen a boat’s
cyclic roll motions. The Seakeeper is not, and is not intended to be, a substitute for
adequate hull stability about the pitch, roll and yaw axes and the Seakeeper is not
designed to prevent any instability due to improper boat operation, including,
without limitation, any aggressive maneuvers at high speed. During aggressive
maneuvers at high speed, the Seakeeper outputs a constant pitch moment which
can create a small bow-down or bow-up trim change.
Improper boat operation including, without limitation, aggressive maneuvers at high
speed can result in the boat becoming unstable. If you intend to operate the boat in
such a manner, you should lock the Seakeeper in the vertical position before
operating the boat in that manner. This is easily accomplished by turning the boat
to starboard at slow speed in the Stabilize mode. After turning to starboard for 5
seconds, turn the Stabilize mode off while continuing to turn and then go to the
Service Page on the display and confirm the Gyro Angle is within +10 degrees of 0
degrees.

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Section 2: SYSTEM OPERATION
2.0 SYSTEM OPERATION
The Seakeeper 1 requires the ConnectBox as well as connection to either a Seakeeper 5” Touch Display
or compatible MFD. Both the Seakeeper 5” Touch Display and compatible MFD will show the same
Seakeeper Application outlined in this section.
2.1 DISPLAY SCREENS AND CONNECTBOX OVERVIEW
1. When 12 VDC power is applied to the Seakeeper, the ConnectBox will illuminate and the
Seakeeper Application on the 5” Touch Display and/or MFD will initialize. If connecting the
ConnectBox to an MFD and the Seakeeper App does not appear on the MFD, please refer to
appropriate Technical Bulletin to troubleshoot, at www.seakeeper.com/technical-library/ and
select the Seakeeper 1:
•Garmin and Seakeeper Compatibility (TB_90478)
•Raymarine and Seakeeper Compatibility (TB_90479)
•Simrad and Seakeeper Compatibility (TB_90480)
2.1.1 CONNECTBOX AND HOME SCREEN
2. After the Seakeeper ConnectBox and Application have initialized, the ConnectBox and
Application Home Screen will be displayed as shown below.
3. The Seakeeper can be controlled by either the ConnectBox (shown in the left pictures) or the
Application on the Seakeeper 5” Touch Display or compatible MFD (shown in the right
pictures). Seakeeper POWER button: when pressed, the button will change from grey
(Seakeeper Off) to blue (Seakeeper On).
4. Seakeeper STABILIZE button: when pressed, the button will change from grey (Stabilize Off) to
blue (Stabilize On).

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Section 2: SYSTEM OPERATION
5. On the Application Home Screen view, these buttons can be pressed to toggle Home Screen
views between the Roll Angle Gauge and the Roll Angle Graph as shown below.
6. When the MENU button is pressed, the Menu Bar will appear or disappear at the
bottom of the screen.
7. The Menu Bar is used to navigate between pages. From left to right, the available pages are
Home, Settings, Information, Service, and Alarm History. The selected page is highlighted in
blue on the Menu Bar.

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Section 2: SYSTEM OPERATION
2.1.2 SETTINGS PAGE
8. The Settings Page allows the user to adjust their preferences for the Seakeeper and its display.
It can be accessed by pressing the gears in the menu bar.
9. The language on the Seakeeper Application can be changed using the Settings Page. By clicking
ENGLISH, a dropdown appears, and the desired language can be selected.
10. The brightness of the Seakeeper LED lights, ConnectBox, and display can be changed
individually or synchronized to the local controller (either the Seakeeper 5” Touch Display or
the ConnectBox) brightness by pressing the SYNCHRONIZE BRIGHTNESS Button from grey
(SYNC BRIGHTNESS Off) to blue (SYNC BRIGHTNESS On).
11. When the SYNC BRIGHTNESS Button is Off, the local controller, ConnectBox, and Seakeeper
brightness can be controlled individually. The ConnectBox brightness can be controlled by
pressing the BRIGHTNESS button on the ConnectBox. To increase or decrease the
brightness of the Seakeeper 5” Touch Display, slide the white dot left to decrease brightness
and right to increase brightness on the brightness bar, pictured below on the Settings Page.

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Section 2: SYSTEM OPERATION
12. When the SYNC BRIGHTNESS Button is off, increase or decrease the brightness of the LED
Seakeeper lights with the brightness slider by sliding the white dot left to decrease brightness
and right to increase brightness. When the SYNC BRIGHTNESS Button is On, by adjusting one
of the Controller or Seakeeper brightness bars, both brightness settings will adjust to the same
brightness.
13. On the Seakeeper 5” Touch Display only, there is a sleep timer. Adjust the sleep timer from 1
minutes to infinite using sleep time slider. Touching the screen will wake the display up after
it has gone to sleep. The MFD should be controlled within the MFD’s settings.
14. If the Seakeeper is facing the bow of the vessel, the Roll Angle Gauge should show the blue on
the left (pictured left). If the Seakeeper is facing the stern of the vessel, you should select the
Roll Angle Gauge with the blue on the right (pictured right). A positive roll angle should be
displayed when the vessel rolls to starboard.
15. Change the speed of the Seakeeper between normal operation and low power operation. Low
power mode consumes less power and should generate less noise. The selected speed is
colored blue. When power is cycled (or Seakeeper turned Off), this speed will default back to
the normal operating speed.
16. Change the display between day and night mode. The selected mode is colored blue and to
change between day and night mode, press the button.
17. Change the units of the temperatures displayed on the Service Page between degrees Celsius
and degrees Fahrenheit. The selected units are colored blue.

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Section 2: SYSTEM OPERATION
2.1.3 INFORMATION PAGE
18. The Information Page displays the Seakeeper Model, Serial Number, Software
Versions, Run Hours, Sea Hours, and other information. The Information Pages below are
examples and may not match information details of installed Seakeeper.
2.1.4 SERVICE PAGE
19. The Service Page displays Seakeeper operating information.
2.1.5 ALARM HISTORY PAGE
20. The Alarm History Page shows alarms and warnings that have occurred in the past and
their associated run hours. The Scroll Baron the right is used to move up and down
through the list.

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Section 2: SYSTEM OPERATION
2.1.6 CONNECTBOX OVERVIEW
1. The ConnectBox POWER button will pulse red if the Seakeeper causes an alarm. The alarm
must be addressed on the Seakeeper Application.
2. The BRIGHTNESS button on the ConnectBox will toggle through different brightness
settings of the Seakeeper LED lights and the ConnectBox brightness. The ConnectBox and
Seakeeper lights can be set independently of each other by turning off the SYNC BRIGHTNESS
Button on the Seakeeper App.
3. The WIRELESS button is reserved for future functionality and is disabled at this time.