3.0 System Operation

3.1 Introduction

This section describes operation of the Seakeeper 18 system.

3.2 Display Screens: Overview

Home Screen & Menu

1. When 24 VDC power is applied to the Seakeeper, the DISPLAY will power up and initialize. The SPLASH Screen will be displayed.

2. After the DISPLAY has initialized, the HOME Screen will be displayed.

3. The display uses a touch screen to allow users to select functions.

4. When the menu button is pressed, the menu bar will appear or disappear at the bottom of the screen.

The menu bar is used to navigate between pages. From left to right, the available pages are home, settings, information, service and alarm history. The selected page is highlighted in blue on the menu bar.

Settings Page

5. The Settings Page allows the user to adjust the the following:

a. Increase or decrease the brightness of the display, slide the white dot left to decrease brightness and
right to increase brightness on the brightness bar, pictured below on the Settings Page.

b. Adjust the sleep timer from 1 minutes to 60 minutes or on all of the time using sleep time slider.
Touching the screen will wake the display up after it has gone to sleep.

c. Change the sign of the roll angle value displayed in the roll angle gauge so the gauge matches the motion
of the boat. This will depend on installation orientation and will only need to be adjusted once.

• Backward Facing, Seakeeper installation orientation

• Forward Facing , Seakeeper installation orientation

d. Change the speed of the Seakeeper between normal operation and low power operation. Low power
mode consumes less power and should generate less noise. The selected speed is colored blue. When
power is cycled (or Seakeeper turned Off), this speed will default back to the normal operating speed.
Speed selection buttons shown below are examples and may not match operating speed of installed
Seakeeper.

e. Change the display between day and night mode. The selected mode is colored blue and to change
between day and night mode, press the button.

f. Change the units of the temperatures displayed on the Service Page between degrees Celsius and
degrees Fahrenheit. The selected units are colored blue and to change between Celsius and Fahrenheit,
press the button.

Information Page

6. The Information Page displays the Seakeeper Model, Serial Number, Software Versions, RUN Hours, SEA Hours, and other information. The image below is an example and may not match information details of installed Seakeeper.

Service Page

7. The Service Page displays Seakeeper operating information.

Alarm History Page

8. The Alarm History Page shows alarms and warnings that have occurred in the past and their associated run hours. The scroll bar on the right is used to move up and down through the list.

3.3 Start Up

1. Make sure AC and DC power are available.
2. Turn on the boat’s DC circuit breaker(s) that supplies power to the Seakeeper controls and seawater pump.
   
   1. In most cases, the seawater pump will be wired to turn on when the Seakeeper is turned on.  However, in some cases the seawater pump is on a separate DC circuit breaker and it is necessary to turn it on.
3. Turn on the boat’s AC circuit breaker that supplies power to the Seakeeper.
4. When the DC power is turned on the DISPLAY will initialize, and the HOME screen will appear. If a FAULT is present an ALARM screen will appear.

5. To turn the Seakeeper on, press the On/Off button, the button will turn blue. The progress bar will appear and indicate how soon the Seakeeper will be available for stabilization. When the Seakeeper is initialized and up to minimum operating speed the Stabilize button will appear. At this point, the Seakeeper is available for stabilization.

6. When the Seakeeper reaches its maximum operating speed where maximum stabilization is available, the progress bar will disappear and the Seakeeper is available for maximum stabilization.

3.4 Stabilization

To stabilize the boat after Seakeeper is on and above the minimum operating speed:

1. Press the Stabilize button. The button will turn blue indicating that the Seakeeper is stabilizing the roll motion. The stabilization mode starts gradually; it takes 5-10 seconds to reach full effectiveness.

If it is necessary to shut off power to the flywheel motor and slow the flywheel for any reason, press Seakeeper On/Off button; the button will turn grey and the Stabilize button will disappear, indicating the command has been accepted. It takes approximately 4+ hours for the speed to slow down to 0 RPM.

If it is necessary to stop Seakeeper motion for any reason, press the Stabilize button. The Stabilize button will turn grey indicating that the Seakeeper is locked. Never attempt to work on the Seakeeper until the flywheel has stopped spinning. In the event that the brake system has automatically locked the Seakeeper due to an alarm or failure, no attempt should be made to bypass the alarm or automatic lock.

3.5 Normal Shut Down

The Seakeeper should be stopped when pulling into port and stabilization is no longer required.  This maximizes life by allowing the Seakeeper to start the coast down cycle before cooling is shutoff.  Once the vessel is secured, the AC and DC breakers can be switched OFF.  The Seakeeper will continue to spool down to zero rpm.  No cooling is required during this time.

Note: The seawater pump may run for 5 minutes after the Seakeeper is switched off and is coasting (with AC power applied).

1. Press the Seakeeper On/Off button. The On/Off button will turn grey. The Seakeeper will discontinue stabilization and the flywheel will start coasting.

2. Once the vessel is secured in the slip and the crew has shut down the generator and engines, switch the AC and DC breakers that control the Seakeeper OFF. The flywheel will continue to spool down to 0 RPM. This can take 3+ hours from full speed.
   
   When the flywheel has stopped spinning, 0 RPM will appear on the screen.

The circuit breakers should be left on as long as possible while the Seakeeper is spinning to remove heat from the Seakeeper. During normal operation, the Seakeeper should be stopped when pulling into port and stabilization is no longer required. This maximizes long term life as it allows the Seakeeper to start the coast down cycle before cooling is shutoff. Once the vessel is secured in the slip and the crew has shut down the generator and engines, the AC and DC breakers that control the Seakeeper should be switched to the Off position. The Seakeeper will continue to spool down to 0 RPM. No cooling is required during this time. Note Seakeeper will take approximately 4+ hours to coast down to 0 RPM from full speed. The Display will indicate 0 RPM when the flywheel has stopped.

Note: The seawater pump may run for up to 5 minutes after the Seakeeper is switched off and is coasting (with AC power applied).