Tacktick Micro Compass Manuale utente

Micro Compass

UU030 rev5

Micro Compass

GBR

Congratulations on the purchase of your Micro Compass. Tacktick have

combined technological innovation with feedback from top sailors around

the world to bring you the ultimate sailboat-racing compass.

All Tacktick equipment and accessories are designed to the best industry

standards for use in the leisure marine environment. Their design and

manufacture is in compliance with CE Mark requirements,

this includes electromagnetic compatibility.

Please read this User Guide carefully before using your Micro Compass and

keep it for future reference.

Contents Page

1. Registering your Micro Compass............................................. 2

2. Features and Benefits................................................................ 2

3. Definitions and Terminology ..................................................... 3

4. Introduction................................................................................. 3

4.1. Racing and wind shifts........................................................ 3

4.2. What can Micro Compass do for me?.................................4

4.3. Micro Compass layout .........................................................4

5. Operating Instructions ................................................................5

5.1. Switching on and off ............................................................5

5.2. Before the race.....................................................................5

5.3. During the race.....................................................................7

5.4. The battery status.................................................................7

6. Installation....................................................................................8

7. Maintenance.................................................................................8

8. Problem Solving ..........................................................................9

9. Micro Compass Specification ..................................................10

10. Warranty and After Sales Service............................................10

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Micro Compass

GBR

1 - Registering your Micro Compass

To register for your international warranty, complete online at

www.tacktick.com or complete and return the warranty card to Tacktick Ltd

PO Box 27, Emsworth PO10 8YU England. Retain your proof of purchase as

you will need it in the event of a warranty claim. We also recommend that

you keep a record of your purchase:

Date of purchase

Place of purchase

Serial number

Package Contents

Micro Compass

Soft Pack

Mounting Cradle

4 x M4 nuts, bolts & washers for the mounting cradle

User Guide

Warranty card

2 - Features and Benefits

Powered for life with Tacktick’s unique solar system.

Portable, yet rugged with the Tacktick snap in cradle.

No need to adjust for southern hemisphere effects.

Unique tactical mode makes reading wind shifts simple and minimises

button pushing.

Twin displays which are easy to read even when hiking.

Easy to use countdown timer with resynchronisation function.

Waterproof, submersible to 10m.

Low battery indicator.

Automatic power down if no motion is detected after 7 minutes.

Tacktick’s unique technology has patents pending and

GB2321756 granted in the UK.

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Micro Compass

GBR

3 - Definitions and Terminology

True Wind Direction:

The instantaneous magnetic bearing of the true wind.

Mean Wind Direction:

The average true wind direction during the race.

Tacking Angle:

The angle through which the boat turns when changing from one tack to the

next.

4 - Introduction

4.1. Racing and wind shifts

Like most things in sailing, the wind does

not remain constant in either strength or

direction. The crew tend to react

naturally to gusts but find wind shifts

more difficult to detect. The wind does,

however, tend to shift in regular patterns,

oscillating between a back and a veer.

These oscillations give the sailor a

chance to gain an advantage by sailing a

shorter distance to the upwind mark.

In the diagram, the boat on the right sails

a shorter course by tacking when

headed and thereby sailing mostly in

lifts.

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Micro Compass

4.2. What can Micro Compass do for me?

Micro Compass gives you a clear head-up display, which can show:

●compass heading

●tactical heading (for wind shift detection)

●countdown timer

In Compass mode, heading is displayed with digital precision. The 20mm

high characters are larger and easier to read than the compressed scale of a

compass card.

The Tactical mode is for use when beating (tacking up-wind). With a

conventional tactical compass, which has port tack and starboard tack

lubber lines, you are able to read the same number on either tack. In the

same way, with Micro Compass the port and starboard displays show the

heading with an offset applied (just like reading from offset lubber lines), so

that you can read the same number on either tack. Micro Compass adds

half the tack angle to the starboard display, and subtracts half the tack angle

from the port display, so that you are always looking at the same number,

whichever tack you are on. Now you decide whether the wind is backing or

veering, and thus when to tack.

Micro Compass’s start timer is simple to operate, yet flexible enough to

deal with any starting sequence. Once past the start the timer will begin to

count elapsed time.

4.3. Micro Compass layout

Micro Compass’s twin display

gives you an exceptionally wide

viewing angle, allowing you to see

critical race information from the

cockpit or from the trapeze.

The mode and set keys are

operated from the top of the unit,

and are located to the side of the

solar cell.

4GBR

mode key set key

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Micro Compass

5 - Operating Instructions

5.1. Switching on and off

To switch ON Micro Compass automatically switches on when you take it

out of the soft pack. This is because it responds to the

increase in light level at the solar cell. To switch the unit on if

the unit is already out of its soft pack, you must cover the

solar cell with your hand, then uncover it. Note that indoor

light may not be sufficient to make your unit switch on.

To switch OFF First put your Micro Compass into its softpack so that stray

light cannot turn the unit back on again. Now press and hold

down the mode key until the display clears (this will take 2

seconds)

If Micro Compass detects no movement for 7 minutes it will power

down (this does not happen at sea).

5.2. Before the race

Before the race, you will need to set up

the countdown timer. To move between

the three modes (Compass, Timer and

Tactics) press the mode key. To start the

countdown timer, you need to be in Timer

mode.

Setting the Countdown Timer

1. Check you are in Timer mode.

2. If you need to change the start time

(eg from 6 minutes to 10 minutes),

then “stab” both mode and set keys

together (i.e. briefly press and release

them). Adjust the time up or down with

the set or mode key. When you have

the right time, “stab” the mode and set

keys again.

GBR

The set key can be used at any

time whilst in Timer mode to

resynchronise the timer to the

nearest whole minute.

The countdown timer can be set

up to 20 minutes. Between 10

and 20 minutes the display will

show decimal minutes rather

than seconds (e.g. 12:5 means

12 minutes, 30 seconds).

Look for the Timer mode

indicator at the top of the display.

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Micro Compass

3. Press the set key to start the countdown. Audible beeps will count you

down to the start.

4. If the initial gun was not timed accurately, press the set key at any

subsequent gun to automatically resynchronise the timer to the nearest

full minute.

5. When the countdown reaches zero, Micro Compass returns to the mode

it was in, before the countdown timer was set.

For rolling starts, count the number of fleets ahead of your start, and

multiply the start time accordingly. This procedure ensures you have

an automatic transition to the main page at the start.

Establishing the wind patterns

To establish the wind patterns, you will need to arrive in the starting area

early and spend time sailing up the first beat. During this time, the Micro

Compass should be in Tactical mode and you should:

Check the tack angle is correct for the conditions. If you find the wind

direction reads higher on starboard tack than on port tack, you should

reduce the tack angle and visa versa. To change the tack angle, press the

set key once, then use the set or mode key to adjust the flashing “tack

angle” up or down. After 5 seconds, the screen will automatically revert to

Tactical mode.

Watch the wind direction for some time, to establish its average value

and the size and frequency of changes.

Changing the resolution of the tactics scale

Trials have shown that the optimum resolution for the tactics display is 5˚.

This allows sufficient resolution to detect meaningful wind shifts, but

eliminates the distraction of small errors in the tack angle.

The adjustment range is 1˚, 2˚, 5˚or 10˚. To change the resolution, press

AND HOLD the set key for 2 seconds, then use the set or mode key to adjust

the flashing “resolution” up or down. After 5 seconds, the screen will

automatically revert to Tactical mode.

6GBR

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Micro Compass

Establishing the line bias

With Micro Compass in compass mode, sail along the start line on

starboard tack, and note the bearing. Add 90˚and you have the line

direction. Now point the boat towards the wind, stopping the turn when the

Micro Compass shows a heading equal to the line direction. Now if the wind

is coming from the starboard side, the line is right biased, if from the port

side, it is left biased.

5.3. During the race

Using the Compass mode

In Compass mode, the mode indicator shows “Compass” at the top of the

display and your Micro Compass displays the magnetic heading 1. You can

use this precision heading reference to site marks, to check the line bias, or

to detect wind shifts (although Tactical mode is recommended for detecting

wind shifts).

Reading wind shifts whilst beating upwind

Make sure the Micro Compass is in Tactical mode. On port tack look at the

port display, and on starboard tack look at the starboard display. If the wind

shifts, then you will see the displayed number change accordingly.

When on starboard, if the number gets smaller then you should tack (tack on

-). When on port, if the number gets bigger then you should tack (tack on +).

Elapsed time

Elapsed time can be accessed during the race by pressing the mode key

until you see the Timer mode indicator at the top of the display.

5.4. The battery status

The battery status is shown for 5 seconds after the Micro Compass is

switched on, or once every 4 minutes if the battery falls below 20 hours of

charge remaining. The number indicates the hours remaining assuming the

sun does not shine at all, and from a full charge this will be 200 hours. If the

battery life is less than 50 hours, you should place your Micro Compass in

BRIGHT sunshine for 2 days, with the solar cell facing directly the mid-day

sun. Note that if the sun is hidden by thin cloud the effective charging time

will be weeks rather than days and that under thick cloud the unit will not

charge at all. Do not worry if the unit turns itself on during charging,

STRONG sunshine charges the unit rapidly, even when its operating.

There is no compensation for magnetic deviation, so do not site your Micro

Compass near a conventional compass which is magnetic.

GBR

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Micro Compass

8GBR

6 - Installation

Mount the Micro Compass within 20˚of the vertical to ensure the compass is

able to operate accurately. Mounting at a more extreme

angle will cause deviation errors.

Mount the cradle to a bulkhead or a bracket supplied by Tacktick. Now

simply clip your Micro Compass to its cradle each time you sail.

When you leave the boat, do remember to take your Micro Compass away

with you IN ITS SOFTPACK to ensure it cannot switch itself on and

discharge. Remember that Micro Compass switches on by responding to an

increase in the light level at the solar cell.

7 - Maintenance

The Micro Compass is totally sealed against water and is not serviceable.

Any attempt to take the Micro Compass apart, other than as described in

this user guide, will invalidate the warranty.

To clean, use only a damp soft cloth. No detergents, solvents or abrasives

should be used.

To avoid damaging the Micro Compass and to ensure it remains switched

off, always store the Micro Compass in its soft pack.

When sailing in bright sunlight it should not be necessary to recharge your

Micro Compass after use. If the battery level falls below 50 hours, recharge

by leaving on a windowsill facing outside towards the sun until the battery

level is recharged to 200 hours.

Approximate recharging times

Bright sun 2 days

Thin cloud 10 days

Dull days no charging

Indoors no charging

Ensure the mounting bracket is secure and check that the security

bolts are tight before each race.

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Micro Compass

8 - Problem Solving

GBR

8. Problem Solving

Problem Possible cause Action required

Micro Compass Micro Compass Turn Micro Compass on

turns itself off is on land and again and ensure movement

stationary every 7 minutes.

Low battery Check battery status screen

power (battery status section). If

battery power is close to

zero recharge batteries

(maintenance section).

Compass Micro Compass Ensure the mounting angle

deviates from is not mounted is within 20˚of the

the expected correctly vertical.

heading

Magnetic objects Remove magnetic objects.

are within 70cm

(2ft)

Micro Compass The sound is the No action required - this

‘rattles’ when internal liquid is normal.

shaken damping system

Micro Compass Unit is not being Store Micro Compass in its

loses power stored in its soft pack, otherwise it will

when stored softpack. switch on when the light level

increases.

If you still experience problems contact your local Tacktick dealer.

www.tacktick.com

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