Uni-Safe BNWAS

Another type of BNWAS made in Denmark. It was type approved for DNV, LR, BV, RINA, ABS, GL, NKK, RS, CCS and KR classification. As a system integrator, we had tested this piece of equipment and found quite easy and straight forward to installation on board ship. It comes with a 24 months warranty, so ship owner can rest in peace for any defect if frequent visit to Singapore as spares were available for one to one replacement. It also comes with motion sensor so ship crew need not reset every now and then when alarm sound after the preset period of between 3 - 12 mins. Please see below for specification.

RS232 Pin-out and self make cable

The purpose of uploading the RS232 Pin-out is for anyone who wish to use laptop or notebook to connect DB9 pin D-Sub for hyper terminal to check/troubleshoot for NMEA serial signal availability or simulate NMEA out from latop to external device.
For new laptop which does not have DB9pin as serial com port, purchase of USB to Serial converter can be easily purchase from any computer shop. Solder a DB9pin female connector with 3 core cable will do the work. Pin 2 = Receive data, Pin 3 = Transmit data, Pin 5 = Ground. When using RS232 com port in laptop to measure RS422 signal on any external device, connect as below.

Laptop            RS422 device output
Pin 2 ---------------- TX-
Pin 3 ---------------- NC(Not Connect)
Pin 5 ---------------- TX+

Laptop            RS422 device input

Pin 2 ---------------- NC(Not Connect)

Pin 3 ---------------- TX-

Pin 5 ---------------- TX+

Sperry Marine Bridge Watch Monitoring System (BNWAS)

This is a  container ship. Ship crew has complaint about the bridge watch monitoring alarm has continuously giving visual and audio alarm once the watch alarm generator switches on. Try to press the reset button on reset unit at bridge did not help. The worst is that the alarm has trigger all the way to all alarm panels including Captain's day room where Captain has difficulty falling asleep. So they have to completely switch off the unit.
I attended the ship and checked all fuses and power supply to main watch alarm terminal module were all present. Checked the parameter by putting dip switch in terminal module from 0 to 1. Put the key switch at watch alarm generator to off position. The word - PRO will present. Checked the parameter in the unit from 000 to 019 and it should be shown as the manual setting. I have selected 001 which is owner setting as per IMO requirement. Lower limit alarm = 3 mins, Higher limit alarm = 12 mins. Delay in buzzer alarm = 15sec. Delay in accommodation alarm = 15sec. Delay in crew alarm = 90sec. You can also set to show count down(CD) in counting down state or dormant state = 1 or 0 in parameter.
Found the problem to the constant alarm been activated was due to one of the reset unit been activated(short circuit)  and causing the unit to permanent reset. Remove the pin 59 - 29 Ext Device which causes the shorting. The watch alarm unit works in a parallel way where either reset unit within the network shorted, all reset unit will be shorted. So looking at the terminal module, 43 - 13, 45 - 15, 47 - 17, 49 - 19, 51 - 21, 53 - 23, 55 - 25, 57 - 27, 59 - 29, 60 - 30 should measure +24Vdc. If no voltage were received, it means one of them must be shorting. How then do you know which one is shorting since all connected in parallel? Removed wire 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 60 and connect to a temporary terminal block. Measured in ohm to 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 30 respectively. Means the red probe goes to 43, the black probe goes to 13 in ohm range using a multimeter. After fixing the problem, tested count down of 12 mins, 6 mins and 3 mins working perfectly ok. Also tested the time diagram works as per IMO requirement.
Please see the parameter setting below and time diagram according to IMO requirement.

This type of BNWAS is simple and easy to install and operate. The cost is also reasonable consider the IMO regulation kick in for most of the ship owner to fulfill the IMO regulation requirement. For enquiry, please contact Sperry Marine for quotation
.

Sperry Marine VMFT Radar

I have to say that so far i have come across quite a number of radars in the market including furuno and JRC radars make from Japan, Kelvin Hughes radar from UK, Kongsberg Maritime radar DB10 from Norway. Furuno radar has quite a big share market in commercial marine due to it's cheap and good nature. I have to say my preference is still sperry marine radar. It was a perfect match when they combine the Decca radar transceiver with the latest technology of display unit - Vision Master FT. This has make it so good and easy to commission and service. The operation aspect is also great as it can combine ECDIS and radar in one console. So ship owner who wanted to fulfill the IMO requirement and wanted to upgrade their radar display with old BridgeMaster E either X or S band transceiver has become much more easy. The time taken to commission a VMFT radar display has shorten very much, so shipowner can upgrade the radar without been delayed for the chartered time and $$ lost due to delay in cargo delivery. Today is New Year Eve of year 2011, I wish all people i know, including my peers, friends, relatives and family member have a good start and great year in 2011. I hope and wish all of them good health, great jobs and all wishes come true.

祝大家新年快乐

C-Plath Gyro Bearing Repeater

This is a tanker. Ship request to replace both port and stbd wing bearing repeaters. Consider very reliable since it has been working for the pass ten years. Checked the bearing repeater by pressing on the sync button. Bearing repeater will spin anti-clockwise for approx. half turn and sync button will blink. Pressing the sync button  again and the bearing repeater will align itself to the correct heading and sync button will stop blinking.
Remember to tape pin 1 and 2 which is the 24Vdc supply. Disconnect the 12 pins from the old bearing repeater and reconnect the new 12 pins. Remember to connect from pin 12, 11, 10....until 1, 2. As try to connect 24Vdc supply last as it will start up the bearing. You will get to see a little spark when connect pin 1 and 2 if you did not switch off the breaker. This is a short cut method if you are running out of time, but was not recommended as it will sometime cause shorting to the equipment. Also remember to connect pin 7 to pin 2.(I.E. Short circuit CP/NMEA to 0V)
After replacement, found the dimmer pot for both port / stbd bearing repeater had jammed and cannot be turned
in either direction. So need to replaced connection box in order to make it work properly. It was a 10Kohm potmeter where LED light on the surrounding of bearing repeater was situated to light up the repeater at night for easy visibility.

C-plath Gyro Mk10 Mode 1 annual service

C-plath Gyro Mk10 Mode 1 annual service

This is a bulk carrier. It was due for annual servicing while ship approx. one year old. New build from China yard. The housing was black in color. No mercury needed for this model of gyrosphere stock no. 074829. Checked the gyrosphere current before switching off for servicing = 237mA, temperature = 46deg. Ph. Bridge = 1 mV.  Locate 24Vdc and 230Vac ship supply breaker. Switch off both power supply to cut the power. Allow gyrosphere to spin down for approx. 1 hr. Remove the container by unplug the supply and pickoff connector and lower the housing by lifting and twisting the unit to the right slightly. As usual, allow the old gyro liquid to flow out from the lower nu with red O-ring. Remove the hex screw from upper housing. clean the sphere. Replaced O-ring. Found that gyrosphere  current can also be observe from R103. By putting multimeter lead across R103 at master board and measured in AC Volt. The value show in Volt or mV is equivalent to Current in mA. Be careful if you observe gyrosphere keep rotating in anti-clockwise direction, make sure the ribbon cable located on the outside of housing was intact. Also open the housing to make sure no foreign object found inside the sphere. Especially not to use tissue paper to clean the sphere as tissue paper can tear and stick onto the sphere and cause problem after overhaul.

GMS Marine Electronic: LAZ5100 Echo Sounder Transducer replacement

GMS Marine Electronic: LAZ5100 Echo Sounder Transducer replacement