4.4 Alarms and Notifications

Alarms

The operator should physically examine the Seakeeper following an alarm. Continuing to reset without service intervention can result in personnel injury or damage.


Sensors, alarms, and shutdowns are provided to allow unattended operation. Sensors measure drive temperatures, gimbal angle, brake pressure, and vessel motion. The Seakeeper controller sends sensor values and alarm information to the display. The Seakeeper locks the brake and shuts down the motor drive in the event of an alarm condition. Seakeeper operating history during faults or alarms is recorded in the controller’s memory for subsequent recall if service is needed. Seakeeper and Seakeeper Dealers may access the Seakeeper’s software to gather run hours, bearing loading, and hull slamming information.

NOTE: Only the MFD app or the Seakeeper 5” Touch Display can identify and address the alarm. The alarm will not clear until the operator presses the Reset Alarm button, AND the alarm condition is no longer present. After the alarm is reset, the operator can then press the POWER button again to resume Seakeeper operation.

  • A view of a typical Alarm screen.
  • To reset the alarm, press the Reset Alarm button:

Troubleshooting

  1. At MFD app or 5″ Touch Display, check for alarms or warnings.
  2. Power Supply: Check electrical power breakers ON or fuses installed and NOT blown.
  3. Mechanical Components:
    1. For temperature-related alarm, verify the coolant reservoir is filled with glycol mixture (50% ethylene glycol/50% distilled water). Verify seawater pump power aligned.
    2. Visually check mechanical fittings and joints for leakage.
    3. Visually check coolant and brake hoses for chaffing and leakage.
  4. Contact an authorized Seakeeper dealer for further assistance in diagnosing and resolving complex alarms.


If a GPS signal is lost, a warning message will appear in the Alarm History and a message will appear on the Home Screen, as seen below. The Seakeeper will not spool down, however the precession rate and angle of the sphere will be reduced until GPS signal returns.


Notifications

Several notifications are programmed to pop up upon certain events. They do not affect the operation of the Seakeeper, and each notification may be dismissed or suppressed.

Rinse Reminder

Upon pressing power button to turn OFF Seakeeper and start coast down, the Rinse Reminder notification will appear to remind the user to rinse the Seakeeper with mild soap and fresh water after use. Pressing the OK button will acknowledge the notification and it will not reappear until the next coast down event.

The QR code links the user to the Freshwater Rinse article on the Seakeeper website. If the Seakeeper was exposed to saltwater spray, it is desirable to rinse the Seakeeper to maintain cosmetic condition.

Maintenance Reminder

Seakeeper recommends routine service every 1000 run hours to maintain the Seakeeper in peak condition. To assist the user in Seakeeper maintenance, the Maintenance Service Reminder will appear after 1000 Run Hours has elapsed since the last reset of the Service Reminder. The “Next Service Reminder” timer can be found in the Service page, as shown below. Below the Next Service Reminder timer is the reset button that resets the timer to 1000 Run Hours.

When the timer reaches 0 Run Hours, the notification will appear in a popup on the Seakeeper app. The user has an option to suppress the reminder until the next Seakeeper power cycle by selecting “Remind Me Later” or the user can reset the timer by selecting the “Reset Service Reminder”.

The QR code links the user to the Seakeeper Recommended Maintenance Schedule on the Seakeeper website.

Warranty Registration Reminder

Before warranty work can occur, a Seakeeper must be registered. Registering your Seakeeper before warranty service is required is recommended to allow for expedient service if needed. Registration also includes the user in any important Seakeeper notifications that may affect their unit.

At 20 Run Hours on the Seakeeper, a Registration Reminder notification will appear on the Seakeeper app. The reminder occurs only once in the life of the Seakeeper. To dismiss the reminder, press OK on the popup window.