Vigil - faq

[Гость Николай]

Находится сдесь http://www.vigil.aero/faq.php#how12

1. Why is the Vigil® maintenance free ?

The actual technologic evolution is our partner. As in your car, no maintenance is required for the airbag electronics, unless a red flashing signal appears on the dashboard. The Vigil® concept works in the same way. When you switch on the unit, it performs all necessary internal checks on all parameters automatically. If one parameter is out of specifications, the unit will indicate it in clear language on the screen and will not switch on. In those conditions a factory check up is mandatory.

2. Is the Vigil® waterproof ?

No, the present Vigils® are not waterproof. If your Vigil® is submerged in water, you should send it to an approved Vigil® dealer for inspection.

3. How many jumps can I do with the battery ?

Like every electronic unit with battery, the lifetime of the battery depends on the usage and the storage time (capacity loss is less than 1% per year) although you will do at least 700 jumps or 4 years with a battery in normal work conditions. The battery performance will of course be impacted in function of how you use the unit's features, switch ON for one jump a day or store it for years. For example, we have Vigils® still running with more than 1.200 jumps with the same battery.

4. How to install the Vigil® ?

Once you have received your Vigil®, you go to your rigger, who will install the unit in your rig, as for any standard electronic AAD. The Vigil® must be fit in respect of all recommendations of your harness manufacturer.

5. What about the free cutter replacement, when the Vigil® fired ?

We give a free cutter if your Vigil® has been activated for a real life saving (this must be proved by the internal memory-graph wich can be downloaded). We need also the complete filled in Life Saving Report.

6. Can I install the cutter by myself ?

Yes you can, but we recommend that an approved dealer or rigger does this when he repacks your reserve. It takes less than 10 minutes to change the cutter and to read out the graphs recorded in the Vigil® memories with the I.R. Download Box (optional).

7. How long is the Vigil® life expectancy ?

The Vigil® main components such as cutter and electronic components are designed to have a life expectancy of 20 years from the Date Of Manufacture. It is a third millenium safety device with no imposed maintenance schedule (can be compared to airbag electronics in high class car which will only need maintenance when a red flash indicates the abnormal status).

Every time you switch on your Vigil®, it will start up by a complete check-up of the power pack, cutter and the electronic functions on which it needs to operate.

If one of those factors is out of set specification, the Vigil® will not switch on and needs to be returned to your dealer for inspection.

For your information we produce electronic systems used in industrial automations for more than 25 years and these are still in operation today.

8. What is the warranty period of the Vigil® ?

The Vigil® is supplied with a one (1) year full warranty if the Q.C hologram seal has not been damaged or removed. The lifetime, meaning the time you can use the unit, is 20 years (cutter and main electronic components have been designed for a 20 years functionality).

9. Can I install Vigil® in a rig already equipped with a pocket ?

We have no objections and the Vigil® can be mounted in your rig as any other electronic AADs but local rules must be respected. If necessary, we can supply a new pocket to fit your Vigil®.

10. If the drop zone is lower than the takeoff level, at which height will the Vigil®          fire in case of emergency ?

First of all the Vigil® Multimode has 3 functioning modes of which one can be selected by the user:

Pro, Student or Tandem. They all have different activation altitudes.

PRO Mode

              The Vigil® activates at 256 meters (840 Ft)

              if the freefall speed is equal or superior than 35m/sec. (126km/h - 78 mph)

STUDENT Mode

              The Vigil® activates at 317 meters (1040 Ft)

              if the freefall speed is equal or superior than 20m/sec. (72km/h - 45 mph)

TANDEM Mode

            The Vigil® activates at 622 meters (2040 Ft)

            if the freefall speed is equal or superior than 35m/sec. (126km/h - 78 mph).

The Vigil® user can introduce a positive or a negative altitude correction (by increments of 50 meters or 150 feet) to correct the difference between the departure and arrival altitudes (Vigil® accepts altitude correction from -2000 m to +2000 m or -6000 feet to +6000 feet).

Remarks:

a) This altitude correction is limited to 500 m below sea level (M.S.L.) or 1090 mbar, if set below -500 m or 1090 mbar, the Vigil® will indicate "Invalid" - "Alt cor" .

B) For Vigils® produced before October 2004 or hologram n°C180, this will be 1034 mbar or sea level at maximum atmospheric pressure. If you jump regularly below sea level (for ex: Dead sea -398m) we can upgrade your Vigil® free of charge by changing the max. acceptable Atm pressure of 1034 mbar to 1090 mbar.

On days with extremly high atmospheric pressure at sea level (more than 1034 mbar), you might be unable to switch on your Vigil®. To be able to use your Vigil® in these extremly rare conditions, you should introduce an altitude correction of +50m / 150 Ft or send us your Vigil® for a software update. (Again this applies to Vigils® manufactured before October 2004 or below hologram n°C180).

11. When will the Vigil® go from a stand-by to an active mode ?

When the Vigil® is switched ON (the LCD display shows the pre-determined mode and the eventual altitude correction), it stays in a stand-by mode and recalibrates itself automatically every 32 seconds at takeoff level.

During the takeoff and after passing 150 ft (46m) above or under takeoff level, the Vigil® will switch to an active status in a time of max; 32 seconds. Vigil's® active status will be confirmed by 3 short flashing of the green LED.

The minimal level for the Vigil® to switch to the active status will depend on the ascend rate of the plane above the 150 ft (46m). The Vigil® will be in active mode in a time of maximum 32 sec (next calibration) after crossing the +/- 46m altitude level.

12. How can I change the battery ?

Your rigger (or reserve parachute packer) can replace your power pack very easily.

It will take less than 5 minutes to do this. The procedure to follow is explained on page 29 of the User's Manual.

13. What is the difference between A, B, C and D series ?

This used letter on the Q.C. (Quality Control) hologram is corresponding to a production batch of 1000 pieces (A000 to A999, B000 to B999, ...). This number has nothing to do with a version of Vigil®.

14. Does the Vigil® keep its previous settings ?

Yes it does. No matter what your settings are (mode, altitude correction units, etc...), Vigil® keep all settings in memory. When you switch on your Vigil® it will selfcheck itself and switch on in the same configuration as it was before it last switched off. It will be up to you to change your Vigil's® settings in function of your needs.

15. How can we download the graphs ?

To download the graphs, you will have to acquire an I.R. Download Box. Simply load the supplied software on a PC and plug in the I.R. Dowload Box in a USB slot of your PC. Then you need to place in the control unit of your Vigil® in your I.R. Download Box to download your graphs by a simple push on the Vigil® push button.

16. Can the Vigil change from one mode to another by itself ?

No, this is impossible, the mode of Vigil can only be changed by manipulation.

In order to change from one mode to another you must switch off your Vigil, switch it on again and enter the setup menu where you can choose the mode you want to use your Vigil in. (Pro, Student or Tandem)

Please remember that no matter the AAD you are using, you must check before each jump if your unit is still on and that nobody implemented an undesired altitude correction which could have the same result as changing the mode. (See example)

While doing this visual check (which requires less than a second on most rigs) it is very easy to READ the mode and/or the eventual implemented altitude correction the AAD has been set in.

This means that any skydiver performing his mandatory pin check properly will automatically know in which mode his Vigil is set.

For example, if you implement a positive altitude correction of 1200 ft on any AAD it will also activate 1200 ft higher (at 2040 ft for Vigil) if your falling speed is still superior to 35 m/s which would be the same as changing Vigil from PRO to TANDEM mode.

17. What happens if I forgot to shut down my Vigil when I travel in a moving   

            vehicle (Train, Car, Bus...) ?

Vigil is the most accurate AAD on the market. It becomes operational in a zone of 150ft/46m above or under takeoff level. To avoid unexpected firing, you must switch OFF your Vigil before traveling in a closed vehicle (boot or trunk) due to possible air pressure variation.

However, there is no inconvenient to travel in an open vehicle at the drop zone altitude.