ACR&Artex ME406 Portable ELT - Manual (Page 40)

ARTEX PRODUCTS / ACR ELECTRONICS, INC
DESCRIPTION, OPERATION, INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL
ME406P (453-6611)
25-62-31
Page 40 of 85
JUN 25/13
(5) Read the current draw on the ammeter. Measured current must be  2 µA (micro-amps).
(6) Set the ammeter range to accommodate at least 5 A.
(7) Activate the ELT by placing the control switch in the “ON” position.
(a) Read the 406 MHz burst current draw. The 406 MHz burst will draw approximately 3A to
4A. Burst current should not exceed 5A.
(8) Allow the ELT to transmit a 406 MHz burst, which occurs about 50 seconds after activation.
(9) Adjust the ammeter to a scale appropriate for reading less than 200 mA.
(10) Read the steady state current draw on the ammeter, which must be 95 mA.
(11) Disconnect the ammeter before the next 406 MHz burst.
(12) Deactivate the ELT by placing the control switch in the “ARM” position.
(13) Remove the test fixture and reinstall the battery pack in accordance with SUBTASK 25-62-31-
450-001 on page 71.
SUBTASK 25-62-31-750-009
N. Digital Message Verification – Item 5g
(1) Set the 453-1000 ELT Test Set (ETS) beacon reader to receive and decode the ELT digital
message. Refer to the ETS operating manual (570-1000) for ETS operating instructions and
additional details.
NOTE: A beacon reader equivalent to the ETS may be used, provided it is capable of
receiving and decoding the 406 MHz digital message. Examples of equivalent beacon
readers include the IFR-4000, BT100A, and other models available. Consult
documentation for the beacon tester in question and contact Artex Technical Support
for further information.
NOTE: The SARTECH 453-0131 ELT tester is no longer supported and cannot properly read
the latest generation of 406 MHz ELTs.
(2) Activate the ELT by placing the control switch in the “ON” position.
(3) Allow the ELT to transmit for approximately 5 seconds.
(4) Deactivate the ELT and read the test message broadcast at “turn-off”. Message examples are
shown in Figure 11. Short and Long 406 MHz Message Examples on page 41.
(a) The test message broadcast by the ELT at “turn-off” contains all the information in an
actual distress message, except there is a special digital prefix that informs COSPAS-
SARSAT satellites to ignore the message.
(b) The left hand example in Figure 11. Short and Long 406 MHz Message Examples on
page 41 is an ELT programmed for “User Protocol ELT with Serial Number”, with a test
Hex ID. The right hand example is an ELT programmed for “Standard Location Protocol
ELT with Serial Number”.
(c) Actual messages will vary depending on the protocol and information programmed into
the ELT.