Totem Basic cam User manual

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE
WARNING
• This product is for rock climbing and mountaineering. These
activities are inherently dangerous and entail a risk of SERIOUS
INJURY and/or DEATH.
• It is your decision to practice rock climbing and mountaineering,
so you are responsible for your own actions and decisions. Value
your safety at all times, and weigh up your capacities and the
risks involved.
• It is imperative before using this product to read carefully and
understand the following instructions and warnings, and familiarise
yourself with its proper use.
• Any person using this equipment undertakes all risks and full
responsibility for any damages or injuries that may arise from its
utilisation. If you do not accept this responsibility, do not use the
Basic Cam.
• The manufacturer and retailers of the Basic Cam explicitly
disclaim any and all responsibility and liability (direct, indirect,
incidental or other) for any death, injury ordamage to any person
or property that may arise in relation to the use of this product.

USING BASIC CAMS
• Practice placing Basic Cams when you are still on the ground.
• It is not possible to cover all usage
situations in these instructions. We strongly
recommend to get qualified instruction.
• Pull the trigger to close the cam lobes
and insert the Basic Cam in the crack,
lobes first. Release the trigger to allow the
cam lobes to make contact with the rock
face. It is best for the cam lobes to work
at less than half their expansion range, i.e.
whenthey are between 50% and 90%
closed (see figure 1). Try to avoid closing them completely, as you will find
it difficult to get them out afterwards.
• Ensure that all the cam lobes make good
contact against the rock face, and that the
crack beneath the contact point does not
open (see figure 2).
• Give a tug in the expected loading
direction to check the Basic Cam
placement stability.
Figure 1
Figure 2

• Rope drag could lead the Basic Cam
unit to walk out of its placed position. The
use of long runners helps to avoid this.
• The Basic Cam works on friction between
the rock face and the cam lobes, and any
loose shale, dirt, ice or moisture can reduce
friction and cause the Basic Cam to slip
out the crack.
• Do not use the Basic Cam with the cam
lobes near to fully open. Any movement
in the rope can change the position of the
Basic Cam and it could fail. Use another
larger Basic Cam.
• Align the Basic Cam with the expected loading force (see figure 3).
• Basic 0.70HY and Basic
0.85HY references have a small
sized two cam lobes and another
bigger sized two cam lobes, and
are special for flared cracks. The
small cam lobes must be placed
in the thinner portion of the crack
(see figure 4).
Figure 3
Figure 4

• Do not use the Basic
Cam in shallow cracks,
where the Basic Cam
body can not be
properly aligned with the
expected load (see
figure 5). The strength
is lower in this situation,
and also the device
could slip out.
• Basic Cam cannot function as passive protection, and must not be used
as shown in figure 6.
• Use a carabiner to attach the rope
to the Basic Cam, as shown in
figure
7or figure 8.
• Exercise caution with cracks created
by loose rocks. The Totem Cam
multiplies its pulling force against the
walls of the crack. This can lead the
device to fail or make the rock fall or
break.
• Do not position the Basic Cam at the edge of the crack, especially on
Figure 6
Figure 5

weaker rocks.
• The Basic Cam main wire rope or sling
can be damaged if they are loaded
across sharp edges of rock. Sharp edges
should be avoided if possible. If the main
wire rope is kinked or frayed the Basic
Cam must be replaced. If the sling is
damaged replace it.
• A heavy fall can damage the plastic
cover at the sling attachment point.
Ensure that the inner wire rope is not
exposed. If this is the case, the Basic
Cam must be replaced.
• Do not rely your life on only one piece
of protection. If failure of the piece of
protection would entail a dangerous fall,
double the pro.
• A climbing fall situation can lead to
forces greater than the Basic Cam’s
strength. To reduce this risk, use dynamic belay, shock absorbers and avoid
excessive friction between rope and rock. Caution should be exercised
specially at the beginning of the pitch and with the smallest Basic Cams.
Figure 7
Figure 8

MAINTENANCE AND CARE
• Always check the main wire rope for damage before and after each use.
Slightly bent wire rope is still safe, and you can straighten them manually.
If the wire rope is kinked or frayed, you must replace the Basic Cam
immediately.
• If the webbing or stitching is frayed, melted or torn, the sling must be
replaced. We offer a resling service for Basic Cams.
• If your Basic Cam has sticky action, make a solution of warm water with
mild detergent at appropriate solution (pH range 5,5-8,5), swish the cam
lobes in this solution while working the trigger, and dry completely avoiding
direct sunlight and heat sources. Use a watery wax lube solution to lubricate
the axle and springs after washing, and wipe away excess.
• Trigger wire ropes can be replaced with thin tennis cord. However, we
recommend you use our trigger wire rope replacement service.
• We recommend you carry Basic Cams at the top of your bag, to prevent
any undesirable bending of wire ropes and cam lobes.
• Basic Cams should only be stored while completely dry, in a dark ventilated
clean, chemically neutral environment, well away from heat sources, high
humidity and any type of corrosive agent.

REPLACE A BASIC CAM IF:
• The main wire rope is kinked or frayed.
• The cam lobes have been damaged in a fall.
• The plastic at the sling attachment point is damaged, so the inner wire
rope is exposed.
• The axle or stem is bent.
• The cam lobes are so worn, that trigger wire rope supporting hole is
damaged.
• Replace frayed, melted or torn slings.
• Replace kinked or frayed trigger wire ropes.
• The Basic Cam’s estimated lifespan is 5 years from its first usage.

QUALITY & CERTIFICATION
• Basic Cam is CE-certified, and meets the EN 12276 standard.
• Each Basic Cam is tensile-tested to 60% of its rated strength.
• Each Basic Cam has an exclusive serial number on the upper trigger plate.
The first two digits show the year of manufacture. We use this code to
ensure the traceability of all Basic Cam parts so we know the material batch
used for each part in your Basic Cam and the related test results.
WARRANTY
• Totem products are warranted to the original retail purchaser as free from
material and workmanship flaws for a period of one year from purchase.
The product will be replaced without charge if, following our inspection, no
misuse or alteration isdetected. Totem offers no other warranty either
expressed or implied.

MARKING
• Logo and trademark.
• TOTEM: Company name.
• Basic 0.65: Reference.
The number means the approximate covered crack width in
inches at 33% of expansion range (0.65 given as an example).
• CE 0082: notified body number delivered the CE certificate and for the
CE quality control system for the final product.
Basic Cam is CE certified by:
APAVE SUDEUROPE SAS
BP 3 - 33370 ARTIGUES près BORDEAUX - France
Notified body number 0082.
• 7kN: rated strength (7kN given as an example).
• Serial number: there is a 7-digit serial number on the upper trigger plate.
The first two digits show the year of manufacture.

SPECS CHART
Reference Color Strength Width Weight

TOTEM MT, Koop. E.
Florida, 56 - 24b
20120 Hernani (Gipuzkoa)
Phone: [phone]
e-mail: [email protected]