4.0 Power Failures, Alarms, and Troubleshooting

4.1 Power Failures and Alarms Introduction

The Motor Drive Box contains hazardous voltage and the cover should not be removed while the flywheel is spinning and the AC input has been disconnected for at least 10 minutes. This high voltage exists even if the flywheel is coasting down and the supply voltage has been shut off.

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

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The flywheel must be at Zero (0) RPM and AC input power disconnected for at least 10 minutes prior to any service work on the Seakeeper.

The Seakeeper 6/5 has safety features, such as alarms and warnings, that pop-up on the Seakeeper
Application and are signaled on the ConnectBox to protect the Seakeeper as well as the vessel. The brake can be locked from the Application, ConnectBox or by shutting off power at the supply breakers, preventing the Seakeeper from precessing.

In the event of a DC control power failure, the brake automatically locks the Seakeeper so it cannot generate anti-rolling torque loads. When a power failure occurs, it is important to identify the three sources of power to the Seakeeper 6 / 5:

12 VDC powers the Seakeeper for all the control electronics.
12 VDC powers the DC Seawater Pump for cooling water supply.
110 – 230 VAC powers the Motor Drive Box to drive the motor inside the Seakeeper.

These are supplied on cables shown on Drawing No. 90396 – Seakeeper 6 Cable Block Diagram.

4.2 DC Power Failure

12 VDC Low Current

If the +12 VDC control power is disconnected during operation, the display will be blank, flywheel speed will decrease, and the brake will be locked (no precession).

Verify the boat’s circuit breaker supplying +12 VDC control power has not tripped and the AC breaker is On.
When +12 VDC control power is restored, the display will power up, the Splash Screen will appear, and then the Home Screen will appear.
Press Power On/Off button . The progress bar will appear and indicate flywheel speed. When the flywheel is at minimum operating speed, the Stabilize button will appear so stabilization can be turned on. This may take up to 30 minutes, depending on the speed of the flywheel when the +12 VDC is turned back on.

Seawater Pump Power

If Seawater Pump input DC power is disconnected during operation, the Seawater Pump will fail to provide cooling seawater flow when required. The resulting high temperatures would result in the Seakeeper being turned off (no stabilization) due to high temperature alarm(s).

Verify the boat’s circuit breaker or fuse supplying DC Seawater Pump power has not tripped or blown.
When DC SW Pump power is restored, reset any alarm and continue Seakeeper operation.

4.3 110 – 230 VAC Failure

AC Power Failure

If the AC power is disconnected during operation, a notification screen will indicate “AC Mains Low”. If the failure is not corrected within two minutes, an “AC Mains Low” alarm will occur. The brake will lock and the Seakeeper will stop moving if stabilization was on.

Verify the boat’s circuit breaker supplying 110-230 VAC to the Motor Drive Box has not tripped.
When 110-230 VAC is restored, the display will power up, the Splash Screen will appear, and then the Home Screen will appear.
Press Power On/Off button . The progress bar will appear and indicate flywheel speed. When the flywheel is at minimum operating speed, the Stabilize button will appear so stabilization can be turned on. This may take up to 30 minutes, depending on the speed of the flywheel when the 110-230 VAC is turned back on.

AC Power Fluctuation, Spike, or Momentary Failure

If the AC voltage to the Motor Drive Box is outside Seakeeper’s specified range (110 – 230 VAC), the Motor Drive Box will briefly shut down for protection. The Motor Drive Box will continue operation when the voltage returns to the specified range.

A brief fluctuation can happen when the generator is unable to regulate its output voltage, particularly when a large AC load is switched on or off. A momentary AC failure also happens during transition from shore power to ship’s power.

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 damage or personnel injury.

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 and 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. Some alarms require a 15-,imute delay before resetting. 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

At MFD app or 5″ Touch Display, check for alarms or warnings.
Power Supply: Check electrical power source breakers ON or fuses installed and NOT blown.
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.
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. Models produced or updated with software after September 2024 will have the following notifications:

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. The QR link leads one to the Seakeeper warranty registration page of the Seakeeper website.

4.5 Alarm History

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

The ALARM HISTORY page on the Seakeeper application or display shows the recent alarms and warnings. Alarms trigger a pop-up message to be displayed on the display or Seakeeper App. Warnings will be listed in the alarm history but do not affect Seakeeper operation. The alarms and warnings are in chronological order starting with the most recent. Warnings included in the history page are for issues that do not affect gyro operation.

Press the Menu button to show the page options and then the Alarm button to show alarm history.