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OPERATION____________________________________
Does the Lifesaver require an arming switch or special procedure before each flight?
No. The Lifesaver gyro is designed to be completely automatic. During flight, you treat this gyro the same as any other electric unit. In the event of a power loss, however, the amber annunciator will flash and you must press the small black button on the front of the unit to confirm you want the unit to run off internal battery power.
At the end of each flight, the unit will run off the battery with a flashing amber annunciator for approximately one minute. Nothing needs to be done at the end of the flight and the unit will automatically shut down. Any necessary recharging of the battery is automatically maintained by the battery's advanced circuitry.
How does the Lifesaver know when there is a loss of main power?
The special circuit in this instrument senses a drop in voltage indicating a loss of power. Once power gets below 10 volts, the Lifesaver' switches to its internal battery and flashes an amber standby power status LED on the face of the unit. If aircraft power recovers to greater than 10 volts, the unit will revert to ship's power and automatically recharge the battery. Any future loss of power will re-initiate the power loss sequence. Refer to installation manual and pilot's guide.
What does the Lifesaver do at the end of a flight?
The Lifesaver' Gyro senses any power loss to the unit including shutdown of the avionics master at the end of a normal flight. At the end of each flight, the amber standby power status annunciator will flash for approximately one minute, indicating loss of power. The unit will automatically shut down.
CAUTION: Pressing the black standby power function switch next to the standby power annunciator will instruct the unit to run off of battery power until the battery is exhausted. If this happens by mistake, maintenance or replacement of the battery may be required. Consult an authorized avionics shop to determine the appropriate action.
What is the "pull to cage" knob and when should it be used?
The "pull to cage" knob is used to momentarily erect and align the gyro mechanism to zero degree (after power is applied for approximately 5 minutes). The "pull to cage" knob should be pulled immediately after start up, then again after about 3-4 minutes. It is commonly called a "quick erect" knob as well.
Is it necessary to pull and lock the caging knob in the fully extended position for shipping?
No.
How long will this unit run under normal duty without the battery engaged?
The Lifesaver Gyro is designed to achieve a mean time between failure of 7,500 hours under normal flight conditions. Maintenance is only required on demand if the unit exhibits suspicious indication or if the operator suspects a problem with the indicator. Consult an authorized avionics or instrument repair facility.
Will this unit run my main battery down or require additional recharging?
Similar to any normal electric attitude indicator, the Lifesaver Gyro will only run off of ship's power when the avionics master is engaged. After normal shutdown of the aircraft, no drain is applied to the main ship's batteries. The Lifesaver has advanced circuitry that monitors its internal battery and recharges it as needed. A test may be run using the function switch on the front of the unit to determine if there is one hour of battery capacity. If the aircraft operator suspects that the battery may be drained or not working properly, an authorized avionics shop can further test the battery, recharge the battery or replace it as needed. This replacement can also be done in the field by the pilot or aircraft owner.
What is the run time on the battery?
The battery can run for 60 minutes or more when fully charged and in temperatures from 32° to 120° Fahrenheit.
Can the battery run other units/accessories?
No.
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