Goto Section: 2.1507 | 2.1511 | Table of Contents
FCC 2.1509
Revised as of October 1, 2008
Goto Year:2007 |
2009
Sec. 2.1509 Environmental and duration tests.
The environmental and operational tests in Sec. 2.1509 (a) through (e) are to be
conducted on a single test unit in the order given below. This sequence of
tests also includes the electrical tests in Sec. Sec. 2.1511, 2.1513 and 2.1515 of
this part. The test unit is not to be adjusted, nor is the battery to be
replaced during these tests, and a log of battery on-time should be
maintained. The above tests are to be performed on the same test unit. The
tests in Sec. 2.1509 (f) through (i) may be run in any sequence or may be
performed on separate test units.
(a) Vibration test.
Step (1) Secure the EPIRB to the vibration table. The EPIRB is not to be
operated and should not activate while being vibrated.
Step (2) Subject the EPIRB to sinusoidal motion parallel to one of the three
major orthogonal axes under the following conditions:
A. Frequency (Hz) Peak amplitude (mm)
4–10 2.5
10–15 0.8
15–25 0.4
25–33 0.2
B. The frequency is to be changed either linearly or logarithmically with
time between 4 Hz and 33 Hz such that a complete cycle (4 Hz to 33 Hz to 4
Hz) takes approximately 5 minutes.
C. The EPIRB is to be vibrated for at least 30 minutes or six complete
cycles.
Step (3) Remount the EPIRB, if necessary, and repeat step 2 for each of the
other two major orthogonal axes.
Step (4) Upon completion of the test, perform an exterior mechanical
inspection and verify operation by turning the unit on and observing the RF
power indicator on the unit or monitoring the transmission with a receiver.
Record test results.
(b) Thermal shock tests. These tests are to be performed on EPIRBs which are
required or intended to float. (1) Low temperature thermal shock test.
Step (1) Place the EPIRB in a temperature chamber for at least 3 hours at
−20 °C or colder. The EPIRB is not to be operated while being cooled.
Step (2) Immediately place the EPIRB in water that has been maintained at
+10 °C or warmer.
Step (3) After 15 minutes, perform as exterior mechanical inspection and
verify operation by turning the unit on and observing the RF power indicator
on the unit or monitoring the transmission with a receiver. Record test
results.
(2) High temperature thermal shock test.
Step (1) Place the EPIRB in a temperature chamber for at least 3 hours at
+55 degrees C or warmer. The EPIRB is not to be operated while being heated.
Step (2) Immediately float the EPIRB in water that is maintained at +25
degrees C or colder.
Step (3) After 15 minutes, perform an exterior mechanical inspection and
verify operation by turning the unit on and observing the RF power indicator
on the unit or monitoring the transmission with a receiver. Record test
results.
(c) Salt fog test.
Step (1) Place the EPIRB in a salt fog chamber for a period of at least 2
hours at a temperature of 35 °C ( ±2 °C) before exposing it to salt fog. The
EPIRB is to be turned off during this test.
Step (2) With the chamber temperature maintained at 35 °C, introduce salt
fog at the saturation point for 48 hours. The salt fog is to be prepared
from a 5% ( ±1%) salt (sodium chloride solution. For detailed guidance on the
preparation of the solution and the apparatus for generating salt fog, refer
to MIL-STD-810D (19 July 1983), method 509.2.
Step (3) Upon completion of the salt fog exposure, the EPIRB is to be
airdried at room temperature for 12 hours and operation verified by turning
the unit on and observing the RF power indicator on the unit or monitoring
the transmission with a receiver. Record observations.
(d) Drop test. This test is to be performed on EPIRB which are required or
intended to float.
Step (1) Turn the EPIRB on, log the time and drop it three times into water
from a height of 20 meters. The water is to be deep enough so that the EPIRB
does not touch bottom when dropped. Each drop should be initiated from a
different orientation as follows: antenna vertical up; antenna vertical
down; antenna horizontal.
Step (2) Upon completion of the drop test, an exterior mechanical inspection
is to be performed and operation verified by observing the RF power
indicator on the unit or monitoring the transmission with a receiver. Record
observations. Turn the test unit off and log the total on-time.
(e) Forty-eight hour operational test. This test includes the battery life
test and all the electrical tests given in Sec. Sec. 2.1511, 2.1513 and 2.1515 of
this part, at various temperatures. The tests are to be performed on the
same EPIRB in the sequence specified herein. Be sure to record the on-time
of the unit during each test. No more than 8 hours of total on-time is
permitted before commencing step 4. When operating the EPIRB in the
environmental chamber, a non-radiating load may be substituted for the
antenna provided it is electrically equivalent to the standard antenna and
does not reduce the battery current drain.
Step (1) Perform the radiated emissions test in Sec. 2.1511 of this part.
Step (2) Perform the modulation characteristic tests in Sec. 2.1513 of this
part.
Step (3) Perform the spectral tests in Sec. 2.1515 of this part.
Step (4) With the EPIRB off, place unit in an environmental chamber at a
temperature of −20 °C for at least 2 hours.
Step (5) With the EPIRB in the chamber, repeat the carrier frequency test in
Sec. 2.1515(d) of this part. (Leave the EPIRB turned on.)
Step (6) Near the end of 48 hours of total on-time for the EPIRB, repeat the
carrier frequency test in Sec. 2.1515(d) of this part.
Step (7) At the end of 48 hours of total on-time, remove EPIRB from the
chamber and immediately repeat the PERP test for the fundamental emissions
in Sec. 2.1511(c) of this part. The unit should be maintained at −20 °C to the
extent possible for this test.
(f) Float free and activation test. This test is required only for Class A
EPIRBs.
Step (1) The EPIRB is to be installed in the automatic release mechanism and
the assembly is to be mounted on a fixture simulating a deck or bulkhead as
per manufacturer' installation instructions.
Step (2) Submerge the fixture in water in its normal mounted orientation.
The EPIRB must float free before reaching a depth of 4 meters and should
automatically activate. Activation is to be verified by observing the RF
power indicator on the unit or monitoring the transmission with a receiver.
If the EPIRB is equipped with an automatically deployable antenna, the
antenna must properly deploy during each immersion. Record observations.
(g) Stability and buoyancy test. This test is to be performed on EPIRBs
which are required or intended to float. This test is to be conducted in
fresh water.
Step (1) With the antenna deployed in its normal operating position,
submerge the EPIRB in a horizontal position just below the surface of the
water.
Step (2) Release the EPIRB and observe the amount of time required for it to
come to an upright position. It must reach its upright position within one
second from each position.
The EPIRB must have a reserve buoyancy of at least 5% of its gross weight.
It must also float upright in calm water with the base of the antenna a
minimum of 5 cm above the water. Record the time required for the test unit
to right itself.
(h) Temperature/frequency test. The frequency stability shall be measured
over an ambient temperature from −20 ° to +55 °C at intervals of not more
than 10 °C. A period of time sufficient to stabilize all of the components
of the oscillator circuit at each temperture level shall be allowed prior to
frequency measurement.
Step (1) Place the EPIRB in the environmental test chamber.
Step (2) Adjust the temperature in the chamber to +20 °C and allow
sufficient time for the oscillator to stabilize at that temperature.
Step (3) Measure the carrier frequency in accordance with the procedure in
Sec. 2.1515(d) of this part. Record the carrier frequency in Hertz. The carrier
frequency at +20 °C is the reference for determining the frequency
tolerance.
Step (4) Increase the temperature in the chamber to +55 °C and allow
sufficient time for the oscillator to stabilize at that temperature. Measure
the carrier frequency using the procedure in Sec. 2.1515(d) of this part.
Step (5) Reduce the temperature in the chamber in 10 °C maximum increments
until −20 °C is reached. At each new temperature, allow sufficient time for
the oscillator to stabilize at that temperature. Measure the temperature and
frequency in each case and plot the frequency vs temperature from −20 ° to
+55 °C.
(i) Leakage and immersion test.
Step (1) Completely submerge the EPIRB in water for 48 hours. The EPIRB is
to be turned off during this test.
Step (2) Remove the EPIRB from the water and wipe dry.
Step (3) Verify operation by briefly turning the EPIRB on and observing the
RF power indicator on the unit or monitoring the transmission with a
receiver.
Step (4) Open the EPIRB for examination. There is to be no water inside the
unit. Record observations.
Goto Section: 2.1507 | 2.1511
Goto Year: 2007 |
2009
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