Using the Acusail Timer
The race timer is called AcuSail and requires just two connections to the outside world to get the unit up and running. Start by plugging the external horn into the Horn Output and then plug the battery into the 12V DC Input. AcuSail will power-up as soon as the battery is connected. In addition to the two main connections you may have ancillary devices (a remote horn switch for example), which should be connected to the Remote Control socket. This connection is optional. AcuSail is fully functional without these extra additions. Once AcuSail is connected to a battery it will display a sign-on message for three seconds, followed by the software version for a second.
Understanding the Display
The display has three main parts. Times are always shown in the Time Display area although occasionally (whilst setting the date for example), this area is used for other functions. The Run Sequence LED illuminates whenever a sequence is running. The Text Display area is used for user prompts and general messages.
Setting the Time
Setting the time requires you to set three, two-digit values. You will first be prompted to ‘Set Hrs’. The relevant digits will flash to indicate the current value. Use the Up and/or Down button to set the desired value. Holding either button will cause the value to change repeatedly. Holding both buttons will increase the repeat rate (the first held button determines the direction of change).
Once you have set the desired hour value, press the Select button to move to ‘Set Min’. Repeat the setting procedure to set the desired minute. Finally, press the Select button again to move to ‘Set Sec’ and set the desired value for seconds. If you now press the Select button once more, you will move back to ‘Set Hrs’. (Allowing you to loop around the entire setting procedure until you are happy with the displayed value). When the time you have set matches the real time, press the Save Time button to start the clock running. The clock starts immediately. This graphic summarises the time setting procedure:
If you are subsequently unhappy with how well the AcuSail time display matches the real time (say for example because you pressed the Save Time button late), hold the Save Time button for at least three seconds. This will cancel the clock and allow you to repeat the setting procedure.
Running a Sequence (to Start a Race)
Once the clock is running, you can choose to start a sequence at any time. Sequences always start with a ten-second beep count and are synchronised with the next whole minute. In order to start a sequence at exactly the required minute, there is a ‘window’ during which you need to press the Run Sequence button. This is best illustrated by a specific example; Let’s say you wanted to start a sequence at 13:00.00. To achieve this, the Run Sequence button would need to be pressed at some point between 12:58.50 and 12:59.49. Any earlier would start the sequence at 12:59.00, whilst any later would result in a start at 13:01.00. The easiest way to visualise this is to remember that you will start a timing sequence on the next minute if you press the Run Sequence button at least 11 seconds before that minute. Once you press the Run Sequence button the Run Sequence LED will light and AcuSail will start counting down. Ten seconds prior to the next whole minute, AcuSail will display a countdown to the first sequence event. In addition to the visual countdown, each second is punctuated with an audible beep.
Stopping a Sequence
AcuSail will run the sequence infinitely (where, once started, it repeats continually until the user intervenes). You can, of course, manually stop a sequence at any time. To do this, simply hold the Run Sequence button for at least three seconds. Once the button has been held for the correct duration, AcuSail will cancel the sequence and confirm this by displaying ‘STOP’. The Run Sequence LED will turn off immediately.
Sounding Manual Horns
You can sound a manual horn at any point by pressing the Horn button. If you have an external Horn button (which is connected via the Remote Control socket) it will function in an identical manner to the one on the main unit.
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