SSK Industries, Inc.

CYPRES Batteries

rumor, fact and fiction...

January, 1995 - Cliff Schmucker, SSK Industries, Inc.

The following information is being provided to help CYPRES Owners and Riggers understand more about some of the specifics about the CYPRES battery and its' use. This report is based on typical questions that have been received by us.

When does the battery need replaced? Airtec requires that the batteries be replaced the first time the low battery error code (8998/8999) is encountered during self-test, or every two years, or every 500 jumps, which ever of these occurs first. Note that the two year period is from the date of last battery change. The date of the last battery change can be found on an orange label on the cable end of the black plastic processing unit box. As this is packed inside the reserve container, it is necessary for riggers to check out the battery date as part of the reserve inspection / repack.

Further, Airtec recommends to replace the battery if the two year period will be up before the next scheduled repack. This avoids the cost of an extra repack to just change the battery. Note that your rigger can change the battery, the CYPRES unit does not have to be sent to Airtec or SSK.

It is a good idea for all riggers to have some extra CYPRES batteries in stock to avoid extra delays and shipping costs. When stored as instructed the batteries have a long shelf life; the two year period does not start until they are installed.

Should I turn my CYPRES off at the end of the day? There are a number of interesting rumors floating around theorizing that it takes less energy to just let CYPRES turn off by itself after 14 hours. Actually, it doesn't make that much difference.

What can affect battery life is leaving CYPRES turned on, putting the rig in your car, driving off, and taking CYPRES through a 50 ft. or so change in elevation. CYPRES can interpret this as a take off in a slow-climbing aircraft, and go into a higher power mode of operation. This will put an additional drain on the battery.

If at the start of the day CYPRES is still on from the previous day, it is a good idea to turn it off, then on again to reset the 14 hour turn-off timer.

CYPRES users that jump at a DZ with differing take off and landing altitudes should turn the unit off and on again at the takeoff airfield prior to the next jump. (It must always be turned off and back on prior to the next take-off when operating in an elevation split mode in order to re-set the altitude difference.)

OK, but my unit doesn't always turn off. Airtec designed the turn-off sequence timing to be more sensitive than the turn-on. The idea here is to make absolutely sure that CYPRES could not accidentally be turned off. Some owners can turn their unit on, but not off. Recently we had a call from an owner who had 10 other people (riggers and CYPRES owners) try and help him get his unit turned off. Others after months of use can no longer do so. In every case, we have been able to demonstrate turning the unit off, or have talked the owner through the turn-off sequence over the phone.

The main thing to remember is to "click" (rather than "press") the button very sharply and rapidly. After the first click, remain poised and ready for the next click as soon as the red light illuminates.

Generally when there is a problem turning CYPRES off, the operator assumes that the button is not being "pressed" hard enough, and "presses" it even harder. This equates to pressing it longer. About this time frustration sets in, and the button is pressed even harder and longer. When the button is pressed hard or long enough for the first click of the turn-off sequence, the red light will not illuminate at all!

Helmut Cloth wrote the following and faxed it to a CYPRES owner in Taiwan: "Place your pointer finger 5 mm above the pushbutton, the fingertip pointing towards the push button. Don't use your fingernail to click. Then look at your finger and the pushbutton, concentrate on what you want to do and then do a very short and dry "click" on the button trying to do the click very short and in the middle. Then wait for the lamp to show up. If this doesn't work when doing it the first time, then please repeat it. It has to work.

After doing that for five times in a row, try the second part of the exercise. Do the clicking procedure and have your finger remaining in its position after the click. Carry on looking at the finger and at the pushbutton and stay concentrated. As soon as you see the lamp show up, do the same identical click again. Don't wait for the lamp to be lit, but do this second click immediately when you see the lamp start to light.

After doing this five times, start the third part of the exercise. Remain in position with your pointer finger after having managed to light the lamp two times in a row, remain looking at you pointer finger and at the pushbutton and remain concentrated. Wait for the lamp to start to light the third time. Immediately when it appears (not when it is lit) click it again. Wait for the lamp to show up, do it again. By doing all this it will be possible to switch your CYPRES off. Once you have managed it you won't have any further problems in the future."

There are some differences from rig to rig, and some physical differences in the switch's sensitivity from unit to unit. Also, on newer rigs with the plastic control unit pocket, it can be harder to get a short definite "click" than without the pocket. On some rigs, it helps to steady the control unit with the other hand, especially if the mounting allows the CYPRES control unit to rock or press into the rig.

So far, the above techniques have turned off every "problem" CYPRES we have encountered.

SSK Industries is the U.S. CYPRES Service Representative.